I agree that tournaments, in general, are bad for lakes (not just Grand where you have an emotional attachment). I don't understand, though, how you have such disdain for this one event and then fish tournaments for a living and be okay with it. You would be a contributing factor and acting hypocritical if you are entering and fishing tournaments but then speak out against them with such disdain as you are doing here. It isn't just the Classic on your favored water that causes problems with fisheries, and it happens on other fisheries where you don't have such an attachment--of course--but where plenty of other people do. Without people signing up for tournaments there would not be any (of course). I agree with what your point is here but I don't understand why a pro fisherman that makes and has made much of his living from tournaments would say this. Sort of like slapping the hand that is feeding you. I quit tournament fishing years ago because I saw them wreck many of the places I fish too.

Randy, I’ve followed your channel since you barely had 1k subscribers. You know what would help your channel grow more? A dose of positivity. You are getting more and more pessimistic as time goes on. I appreciate your fortitude and going against conventional opinions, but I feel like you are getting stuck in a downward spiral of negativity. Try being more positive and see how it goes.

Thanks for seeing what recreational fishing peeps have seen for awhile. Tournaments anywhere isn’t good for fishing. I try to fish smaller lakes with poor or smaller ramps. Keeps the bigger and numbers of boats out.

Every tournament exposes the lakes current areas...not just the classic, actually the classic has a way smaller field then the other tournaments. This is a top five rant, so great job on that RB. I bet anything you would be there fishing, if you had qualified.

So you’ve made a living being a professional angler. But the lakes by your home shouldn’t host tournament’s come on man. I agree tournament’s affect fishing but unfortunately it is what it is.

If it was the Megabass Bassmasters classic you’d profess a different opinion By the way Bradley Hallman and Jason Christie are excited You said no one from the area is excited

You are correct about tournaments destroying lakes. Bitter sweet. the very industry that allows you to fish and post videos to support a family is the same one who destroys recreational fishing for "all of us". would every professional angler be willing to lay down their rods and find a different career for the sake of saving this precious resource? same answer as every greedy developer of person willing to sacrifice this planet for quick gains.

You had no problem fishing the BFL there this year. Do a video about why its okay for big tournaments that YOU fish in on Grand Lake is okay but not for others.

Why do you fish in tournaments then? Why did you fish in the classic if it ruins the lake?

I would imagine that Brad Hallman and Matt Pangrac are pretty excited about the classic being held there.

I agree 100%. I moved to the Leesburg Fl area 5 years ago on Lake Harris. This chain of lakes is nearly unfishable for the recreational angler throughout January and February due to the heavy tournament pressure. Year over year the tournament weights are down and my catch weight per hour of angling is down. It’s crazy this sport isn’t conservation conscious!

They are having the bassmaster classic on the lake I live on this year and did in 2019. I think it’s a really cool experience and enjoy it thoroughly. And I have no financial stake in the tournament. The classic has 53 boats, regular tournaments have 100-200

I'm curious Randy don't you plan to fish the MLF Phoenix on Gran on March 4th and if so, please tell us how this Derby is less harmful than the Classic will be?

what about the lakes where you are gonna fish tournaments this year? Dont you think thats gonna have a negative impact on "SOMEONES" home lake? I enjoy most of your videos but you whining about land excavation or tournaments on your home lake seems foolish.You ever heard "you cant have your cake and eat it too"? Its the nature of people to make money to survive and not worry about someones partiality to a parcel of land or favorite lake or fishing hole. Just my opinion and like A-holes we all have one

Randy its not about the lake, its about having a venue close by where they can have the big weigh in and Expo!Very few places that can support a classic! I agree that there are too many tournaments , not just on big lakes but everywhere!

So, now tournaments are bad? Pick a lane. Lol

I try to fish on rainy weekdays. Tournaments have ruined what was once a peaceful pasttime.

On the topic of spawning, I don’t think there should be tournaments during that time. I understand that’s subjective. As you said with Classic venues, it’s the same lakes over and over again.

Were you conflicted about fishing the Classic (or any high level tournament for that matter) when you qualified? Not trying to be a smartass, honest question.

This happens to lakes all over the country, why don't you come up with a list of lakes that you love and maybe you can ask all bass fisherman to not fish there. You get to pull stringers of fish out of these lakes for 55 years and I can't. Just let me know where I can fish and what equipment I can use, maybe this way the bass fishing world can make Randy happy. It gets old. Ban me please.

What about Guntersville, Toledo Bend, etc. if you grew up on those Lakes. You fished MANY tournaments on different Lakes. How do you think those Locals feel? I live close to 2 small lakes here in Missouri (North of you) They have small tournaments on these just about EVERY weekend starting this month until late Nov. What can you do about it? If you find out let me know. My suggestion is to LIMIT the number of tournaments and Boats. But its not up to me.

I completely agree. You can't seem to get away from competitive fishing these days. Now they have donkey tournaments too. It's almost impossible to find someone to fish with that doesn't compete. About there being less bass. We all need to step up and support a local club. That stocks our favorite lakes. Thanks if you do so already. Also b.a.s.s. should pay an impact fee. To restock places that they use. I can go on and on

I live in oklahoma and I am going to go fishing up there do you have any good spots?

Also, they are going to weigh those fish in Tulsa. That’s an hour and a half drive with those fish bouncing around in the livewell. Then, IF BASS actually takes the live ones back and hour and a half, most of those fish can’t survive that. Just sick. Catch, weigh and release right where they were caught like the BPT does! I do agree that the amount of tournaments are out of control everywhere.

Is the tournaments hurting the fisheries by actually reducing the number of fish in a lake or is the fishing pressure only educating the fish on striking lures? I may be wrong but I think it is the later. The say fishing pressure has reduced the fish in a lot of the Florida lakes. But go to those lakes with live bait and you can catch in upwards of 50 bass a day from 2 to 8lbs. I wonder what the actual fish studies are showing. Just wondering, would like to know for myself.

This is the same guy that fishes 170 boat tournaments with co-anglers…..the classic has a fraction of anglers. There’s tournaments everywhere now days; it’s just a part of reality.

I fished grand lake this last weekend it was so much fun livescope bass out of 30 feet of water I think me and my buddies coming up every weekend

This is true. Unregulated tournaments are definitely taking a toll. It's especially hard on the bigger lakes that can hold the bigger tournaments and the same places get pounded over and over. Maybe Grand lake will draw attention away from Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn!

Totally agree with this. Used to love fishing Grand. Last time I was there they had a 600 boat event followed by a 400 boat tourney. The fishing sucked last couple trips so we quit going. That lake is just pounded relentlessly

Can't speak for Grand Lake, but Guntersville (where I fish) seems to be impacted in the same way. Big tournaments going on almost every weekend. Pro, High School, College, etc. etc.I would think the cities around the lake would want to have a focused program for restocking/maintaining the lake. It draws thousands of anglers who spend millions of dollars in the local community. Taking care of your asset would seem smart to keep the lake strong. As far as I know there is only one tournament that restocks is Heartland Anglers. I applaud them for making that effort. They seem to get it. I have a couple more thoughts/complaints about things I see here, but will keep them to myself to eliminate hate mail. I watch your channel all the time. Thank you for what you do!!!

The one thing for sure there's always gonna be a winner and a lot of winers it was the same shit before livescope just different things go fishing or stay home

100% correct! I too fished here since 70s. Crappie too. I used to shame people keeping little sunfish sized crappie at ozarks. They thought I lied when I said crappie in Grand were often small mouth bass size. Now hardly catch good keepers of either ever. Ruined like Lake of Ozarks, etc. Hate watching people that ruined other lakes now coming here. Trash in lake is way up too.

How do u think the north guys feel about a elite series on the st Lawrence in August when all the fish are in 50 foot of water I'm predicting 80 percent post release mortality

One of our area lakes gets absolutely beat to death March thru May. There are 2-3 tournaments every weekend. The saving grace for us is the lake doesnt allow any tournaments from Memorial Day until close to Labor Day. Granted, they did that because of the sheer number of boats on the lake. But, it does give the fish some kind of break.

I agree Randy. I live in Lake Wales, Fl. Lake Kissimmee gets the same pressure. I see the bass boats from Tampa for example hit this lake every Saturday. I have been out to Camp Mack which is just one of many fish camps. Hundreds of boat trailers are there. It is a shame and no end in sight. I just don't know the outcome. This is one of the big bass areas in the United States. Any ideas would help.

I do think there’s a lot more people fishing because of social media. I also think lakes have their up cycles and down cycles. I do agree tournaments do effect the lake’s. My home lake is Chickamauga and evidently a large tournament is coming soon. I went 2 days ago and there was a lot of wrapped boats on the water. I will say that my extremely killer spots I had 3-4 years ago just don’t produce like they did. I think it’s a combination of grass being either killed off by TWRA/floods,tournaments and down cycles of the lake. Do I like that some of my best holes ever just don’t produce what they once did? Hell no it sucks but I can’t change that. I don’t know what to tell you Randy except it’s just life. I am 59 years old and fished the Chick for probably since I was 15 probably. I guess I just hope that I find some more sweet spots on my home lake or the ones I have relied on come back.

Would you suggest other lakes in Oklahoma or midwest that would be better but still be accessible to those in the Rocky Mountain West or West? Assuming other lakes like Eufaula, Tenkiller, or Ozarks have same issue?

So now you're against tournaments on your local lakes ? Didnt you just fish in one on table rock.🤔 im confused

They just did the tackle warehouse tournament right in my backyard at Clark's Hill lake earlier this week. It is a massive fishery but it doesn't get alot of attention & big tournaments like Murray & Hartwell does. It's about 20 minutes from my house. I like it not being crowded, there's days I go & don't see anyone in places I fish, or very few. I hope it stays that way & doesn't get more attention!!!

The same way you feel about Grand is how I feel about Guides , Captains have ruined our fishery in south Louisiana , they put 4 to 5 people in a bay boat charge 200 a head and fish everyday the problem is there is way too many guides , in every area down here and they have ruined it

If tournaments are killing off our fish resources, why are yall doing it? Bassmaster needs to re-do the rules. MLF has a great system which needs to be applied to all tournaments to keep the fish populations healthy for ALL anglers.

Living in east Tenn. For 12 years now and being from florida I can say the same thing ur saying about here in east tenn. Tournaments every week. And the classic is coming to east tenn. One month after the classic here in tenn. I caught my personal state record for tenn. What I dont understand is why are we not having classics in the Everglades. It's such an amazing place. Once thought of producing double digit size bass and possible records. My opinion is they should have a classic in the Everglades somewhere.

It's the summer tournaments where there's not a weigh and immediately release that kills the fish.

Al Ive heard from anyone in the fishing industry is we need to grow the spport. Well its become what yall wanted. Dont get me started on the high school tournaments.

Grand lake is a little over 40,000 acres. Same thing happening to Lake Fork in Texas, a little under 30,000 acres.

I agree abolish tournaments all together. I hate going to LOZ and every single weekend there is a tournament with boats flying around like their life depends on them getting a fish and they dont care about anyone else on the water. Serious but not all together serious. They need limits and way more regulations about time of year and amount of boats to name a couple of things.

Could not agree more. When MLF came to my local city lake Athens, it has never been the same. Place is a madhouse on the weekends.

I agree with your video... But how does your LAKE MAP BREAKDOWNs... not do the same thing? .creating more pressure... .for those fishing those lakes as their home lake ? ...

I think you are right about the pressure tournament put on all lakes the scheduling of bass tournaments there should be a season to protect the spawn. I live in northeast Ohio I fish Pennsylvania and New Your many times every year these 2 states have season protecting the spawn they were great 40 years ago and they are great today As far as people coming to Grand Lake because of the Classics you're talking through your hat I don't think there's a bass fisherman worth his salt that doesn't know about Grand Lake The devolvement ,disappearing habitat whether it's around water or your favorite section of woods it's all about the money not about us

I have followed your channel for quite awhile now, i appreciate all the advice and tips! That being said, isnt it a little hypocritical bashing on tournaments when that is how you made your living? Not trying to put you down, just seems off to me.

I understand what you are saying!! Just this week on lake Eufaula Alabama there was a bass tournament where there were 220 boats in it !! It was the Bass Master Invitational !! This is just the beginning for this lake it’s way over fished !!!

I agree that tournaments are terrible for lakes but it’s not going to stop. I wish they could do CPR catch, photo release but that would be next to impossible for those type of tournaments. That’s why I kayak fish. Sometimes I miss my huge bass boat but enjoy the simplicity of just being out there.

Where does all the money that the Classic brings to Grand go? Local businesses must love it, but doesn't some of that income go back to improving the fishery itself??

Great video as always. How about a video where you think the Classic should be at. I have no dog in this fight and would like to here your thoughts. Thanks

Same thing is happening at Sam Rayburn. Sabine River Authority has announced a mega facility for professional tournaments, Toledo will be next. So what does the retired and weekend angler to do? We can’t compete with all that money. It used to be fishing was the pleasure, now it’s competing for money that is desired, sad.

Until Bass boat Tournaments go the catch /photo /release method of scoring like KBF tournaments, Bass Tournaments are going to negatively effect the fisheries.

Tournaments always seem to happen during the spawn or pre spawn. The fish get massacred, the cameras roll, the money grubbers rub their fat bellies and boast about how good they are for the locals. And after the glitter is swept up the fishing sucks for the locals who supposedly benefit.

What he describes about tournaments happens at lakes everywhere. In my area the popular lakes get hammered every weekend in the spring and especially during the spawn. The guys profiting from running the tourneys have no concern about the fisheries. I don’t understand how you make a living fishing tourneys when you know they are bad for lakes. It makes you just as guilty as the people promoting the tourneys.

It maybe that tournament can make fishing tougher on a body of water. Most lakes of any size have tournaments almost year-round. The Bassmaster Classic in size is fairly some tournament compared with the 100 to 250 boat field that are frequently on a lot of lake. I cannot understand your disdain for this tournament. You have made your living fishing tournaments including BASS. You have helped popularize the sport and are trying to capitalize on it with your jig. I do not understand why you are so negative. Please take a step back and look deep within a try to see where this coming from. I thought this was a sport you loved.

Catch Photo Release needs to be implemented more, no need for weigh ins they are anti climatic anyways and are simply not good for the fish. But I think the natural course of things will reduce the number of tourneys on a fishery as the quality starts going down and eventually an opportunity for the fishery to recover will occur.

Can we not stock it?

Same thing is happening on Lake Martin here in Alabama. I've had some of my best areas ruined by development and Golf Courses. It's awful.

I agree Randy the Grand Girl needs a rest. When I lived and worked there the GRDA was a pleasure to deal with. I realize they are about power and safety first.

With all your years of experience . . . where would you suggest a good lake to host the classic Randy?

A lot of the popular lakes are way too overfished with big tournaments. Look at the recent Elite tournaments at Okeechobee and Seminole. A few big bass were caught but not as many as in years past. I remember reading about 10 pounders being weighed in during the tournaments but haven't seen that in a long time. Plus some of the pros commented on catching the male bass then a while later catching the female off the bed too. So that pair is not likely to spawn this year and multiply that happening over and over again it has a detrimental affect to the fishery. Tournaments treat bass as a commodity and lose sight of why we like being on the water in the first place.

Randy I don’t know of any public body of water in the US that’s as good as it was 20 plus years ago. There’s no fisheries management for them and it’s a problem.

So I'm assuming you think that about each tournament then. You cant feel this way about 1 destination an not no other. All tournaments are done the same, they all attract attention. So why bother to keep fishing the circuit then? You cant feel this way about your favorite place but if it was done on table rock be good with it. I think anyone an their favorite lakes feel that way.

Tournaments on grand are bad unless Randy is fishing them

So it’s alright as long as it’s not in your backyard? I think you’ve fished the classic a time or two.

you are spot on Randy

It’s half the anglers of an Elite event and 1 less day. And Of course, it’s about money look at Okeechobee. It just had MLF Bass pro tour event. Followed by a BASS elite event. All of these well-known lakes get pounded by every organization out there it’s not just the BASSMASTER classic. The only way to stop it is stop all Tournament fishing something you’ve been doing most of your life.

I agree 💯 Tournaments are bad for all lakes.

Why do you tournament fish at all if this is how you feel? every lake in the country that's any size is just beat to death with tournaments all the time.

Love the Expo, hate the tourney. Tennessee River (Loudoun, Tellico, Watts Bar, Chick) are suffering from all the exposure.

Sounds like Grand Lake needs to take some lessons and advice from Texas DNR Lake Management & Share Lunker Programs. The lakes in Texas get better with tournaments. Yes, it's about money and money can make the lakes better. The fishing created the economy around Grand Lake. Yes, all lakes cycle, but proper management works and maintains any lake. Ask a Texan... Mississippi is slowly coming back by working with Texas. Thank you for sharing, Randy.

I remember hearing about that spot Rick Clunn won that classic on cranking on getting ruined after his win. I believe it was him that said it too.

Same thing happens when lakes are put on the "Top 100" lakes in BassMaster. My home lake was only 1000 acres and it was put on there years ago. It is just barely beginning to recover. Catch Photo and Release tournaments would put an end to this impact on the fish's life cycles and disruption of their spawn and distribution throughout the lake. THAT is a fair compromise Randy never mentions, for some reason.

It’s bad news for you because you won’t be in the tourney, and there’s nothing for you to capitalize/prosper on! If you were in the tourney, then all your subscribers would be routing for you, and that would be good news for you….but all BASS events will always be bad news for fish sustainability.

I heard the weigh in will be in downtown Tulsa ? Thanks for the video ✅ 26

I don’t know why we don’t have more tournaments on the Illinois River. Pretty hard for anglers to hurt the bass population here. There’s no really deep water and I’m not sure if livescope would help that much here?

Large scale competitive fising is not good. Period. It gives value to the fish but sacrifice the respect it needs. Things need to change, especially the current weighin method and livewells. I detest is. A fish should be released immediately after being caught and in the same spot it was caught. But it will never happen, because the world needs to be screwed. And nothing that is goodmust be allowed to get better…

The exact same thing happened at Kentucky Lake!

What about other people that have had there favorite lake ruined by you and the guy's you fished with over the years, by fishing the tournament's that you fished in? Stop putting all the blame on others.

Any big tournament is bad for the fisheries! If they released the fish after catching them I would b way more ok with all big tournaments. Catch them, weigh them then release. No reason through them into a live well & then release them in totally different locations! Exspecialy close to spawn!!!

I have said the same about tournaments for many years and have seen fishing get worse and worse. Maybe if the fish are caught and released right away it would not hurt the fish population. Many fish are killed and most fish do not return to where they were caught. Typical - follow the money, that is what these tournaments are all about as are many other things.

Thank God I’m not near heavy pressure fishing here in the northeast corner of this continent only has two good size fisheries that I don’t even touch because there’s enough out there that tournaments dont fish

I'm with ya, Randy. And it is all about the money and who is the biggest bidding.

I have my favorite lakes that are over run with out of state fisherman all summer, but my town and my job exists because of these same people and the revenue they bring in... can't have it both ways... u can't fish tourneys for a living and then dock ur boat and start complaining about tournaments

dude you are fishing tournaments!! you are guilty too. i live on guntersville and its bad here. its not just grand and its not just the classic. its every televised tourny. tournament fishing exploits nature for profit. period

Randy, The points you make are true regardless of what lake is being discussed. There are not many anglers that want their favorite lake bombarded by tournaments and fishing pressure. I don't want them on my lake either. Tournaments however, are not going away. It may make more sense to focus on "How to Improve the Quality of the Fishery" by making the lake as healthy as possible and then regularly stocking it to replace the fish that are being killed. Maybe those who are making money from the resource should be the ones responsible for providing the funds to maintain and restore the fishery. Just my 2 cents.

That spot evers caught all his fish on day 3 of the classic was a community hole..

So whatcha gonna do? In Colorado elk hunting was the thing. depending if you were a hunter, guide or rancher you had a different view of what was happening. Through time the Owl mountain conservative board was formed with fish and game, hunters ranchers, and guides. They hashed it out and over the years they worked it out and continue to work it out. If its important fight for it. If not than it will continue to go down hill. If its worth it go to the fish and game and start pushing,it wont be easy but if its important it will eventually do some good.

I hate that you are right,I think now every lake is way over pressured.its really hard romwatch your favorite lake become just a mere smere of it's formal self . I know of this personally sux bad and ffs is going to have serious effects on the future of bass fishing

Rules need to change for tournaments. With today's technology, there is no reason to pull a bass off a bed and drive it 5 miles away just to cull it for another bass on another bed.

I agree that excessive bass fishing tournaments ruin fisheries. Nothing will be done about it though. Too much money to be made. The lakes will just keep getting used and abused until a 10lb bag is a good weigh in. Hell, the fact we even still have "weigh-ins" knowing everything we know is just sad.

I’m just ready for some positivity out of this channel. Tired of all the negativity.

My first fish was on grand. I was 3. It was a 5lb black bass. I was with my grandpa, Howard Teel, fishing at Pruitt's Cove, off of a small dock that had washed up in the cove. I was just a goofing off kid, dropping my plastic crappie jig straight down into shallow water. About the time that my grandpa was getting annoyed, and trying to straighten me out, that monster shot out from under the dock and snatched up my jig. I had a little snoopy pole, but i landed it. Grand lake has an emotional attachment to a lot of us. Amen, brother. We really do need to put more pressure on these arrogant bm classic boys to be more respectful. The lake needs about a 5 year break from tournaments. It would make a night and day difference. Right now, they have to stock it, to maintain a noticeable population of lm bass. But, too many people love money, and will sacrifice anything to get it. Anyways, great message.

Ivan Martin introduced me 2 grand, 03'.. Liked the area enough to purchase 4 properties fairly close.... I've said it from day one,,, the locals do not understand the "resources" they have... it's a spirit that controls most of that region/ where u live also Randy😉.... fish tournaments are way down the list, when u step back...over development , water runoff, livestock pooping, hazardous waste, stripping the land of its ability to purge/sponge runoff...let's not forget the 100's of boats that tie up to "raft" together thru-out the summer.... go dive the bottom, there are literal reefs formed out of all the human waste products..... Same spirit that controls grand ,wants to ruin lake Hudson with proposed mega boat ramps..... Same with lakes across the land...nc to Oklahoma to Michigan to Florida.... The agent on the MATRIX , said it best... "you humans are like a virus...."

💯 right Randy, but they won't listen. Money over the bass. Makes me sick too!!!!

Are you saying Grand Lake has more tournaments than say Lake of the Ozarks, or Table Rock? Yeah fishing changes over the years, thats every single lake. I really dont think tournaments play any sort of a major roll in "ruining a lake".