My take on co shortage. It's scope and lack of incentives. For bfl last yr, the contingency awards were 95% only boater related. Then they dropped many of the achievable incentives of which taking away the co winning a boat at regional is tops. Let's give the boater a new boat instead, in which they sell asap. Entry fees for regional didn't used to be. AOY used to get a strike king award too to buy strike king/lews product. I didn't get that this year. It just seems they want Co's out and it be the boaters only.

bout time to get it on.!!..and miss kay i predicted a snow this year in march a pretty good one 😂 hopefully im wrong...good show yall

I've zero doubt in my mind, that most of the sports followers, sports participants or spectators in America (or virtually anyone who is alive and present in the world), would off the top of their minds be able to list a few individuals in sports that are native to the country or place. For which there was a before and an after. Years ago when 'Roy Keane' an Irish international soccer player had divided the entire population of 'the island' into two opposing halves one summer. You were either pro- Roy, or you were against (and everyone had to choose which side they were on), that is when the business of sport had trickled into the lives of ordinary folk. Folks such as my mother and her friends, who earlier couldn't name a single player on the international team. After the Roy Keane debacle at the World Cup in 1994, they at least knew one. There was a before and an after. What's different about 'the conversation' that Luke and Kay are holding about competitive bass fishing in 2025 (and bearing in mind 'the context' of sports and competition, and the popular culture across decades and centuries), what's interesting is that we're not talking about how the sport is changing owing to the presence of individuals any more. We're only talking about the presence of machinery. That's what has 'the public' who try to follow competitive angling so annoyed. That we don't get to debate or understand the effect on the game of individual players, and ways of playing the game. It reminds me of something that a guest on 'The New York Times' podcast said recently. We're almost at the point at which, in order to compete and excel, that parents will have to make decisions about intelligence augmentation via micro chip embeds, and the whole conversation coming down the tracks about the human cyborg. When I was growing up this was science fiction, there was Arnold acting in the role. And it seemed far away and distant from us. The guest who appeared on 'The New York Times' podcast explained, that parents not too many generations away from now, will have to think at least about these matters for real. And that is part of what has fuelled the polarity of the debate which surrounds professional bass angling in 2025. It's not by accident, but it's something which people instinctively know is going to affect the mainstream parts, the non- sporting parts of their lives. Not too far ahead in time. The thing about sports (and yes competitive angling is different, there isn't much use in sending 'the competition' back to the time of split cane bamboo fishing rods, and horse hair woven to make a line). The thing about sports is 'the debate' should not be about a new type of leather football, which travels up and down the field at double the speed that it does now. And that in order to succeed in this 'improved' game of football, that participants need intelligence augmentation implants (because the human brain is simply unable to process movement of objects at the accelerated speeds). And that in order to be enabled to enjoy watching the 'improved' game of football from his arm chair, that grand dad will almost need artificial intelligence too. Just in order to be able to understand it as a spectacle. That's really what the folks who object to the dominance of sonar (and 'the MLF' competition at Conroe Lake shows almost, how the limitation on the sonar tech has almost increased the advantage that can be extracted from.using thr sane tech), that's what people have a problem with. At some point we crossed a threshold line, and it happened at the time at which Kevin was winning everything. It was a human and machine hybrid that was winning. There was a before and after. It created the template, that in order to build the commercial success, which carried one beyond the bass fishing sport, into a continued success as a sporting merchanise brand presence, that total dominance that Kevin achieved, by using that human and machine interface, was the way to go. Because that was allowedto happen then, we ended up where we are now. Regards.

Again, as usual, fantastic show. Ya know, If you shake that Mooch Minnow to much, people might start thinking your playing with it. 😁

Gives a Whole Knew Meaning to Anal Week

There was a Portuguese soccer international team member, very famous player named Figo. The tail end of his career playing on the national team for his country overlapped with the beginning portion of another named Ronaldo. And it's interesting always to observe what happens on these teams at times like that (France, their rugby team has a generational player at the moment who is named Dupont I think). What a generational sports player really is, is one of those individuals who for whatever reason comes along, . . and those who observe the game, and who know it's history and evolution, . . they know that the individual player is acting in the manner of some catalyst. To where the game is changing, or it has to change. There is a before and an after. We don't exactly know how much the individual on their own brings about the change, or if it was already happening. All we know is that something happens, and it seems to happen in particular, when these once-in-a-generation competitors are present. One could argue there have been a few of those in competitive bass fishing. But one could argue also, there haven't been that many who changed the sport. Where there is a before, and an after. And some very successful competitors come along, who don't have this affect on the sport, but have really long and lucrative sports careers. There are other players who have short, scrappy and controversial sports careers, but have a big effect on the game. The John Daly types of competitors in golf, or George Best in soccer. Never were they remembered for accolades or longeivity, but they were remembered nonetheless. I recall when Ronaldo in Portugal played alongside Figo (who at that time was of much more prestige and greater stature as a player than Ronaldo had been). And yet, each time that Figo was in chance of getting a soccer goal in the net. The young Ronaldo would spring out of somewhere, spoil the opportunity, try to chase to the ball first (and predictably 'the team' would suffer for it's efforts because the young Ronaldo was so selfish). He was like the apprentice afforded an opportunity to support the veteran and master Figo player in his final international competition. Yet Ronaldo went in search of his own glory first. Ronaldo make zero mistake, could have and should have been a player of his generation. Last year in 2024, I listened to commentary on a sports program. They talked about Ronaldo's last competition wearing an international gersey for his country of Portugal. And the conversation was that Ronaldo made it all about himself. Portugal as a team were in fact more effective without Ronaldo and could have won games. He'd become such a polarizing figure though by now, and had learned how to rile the crowd in the stadium against the coaches in management. The management simply had decided, if we don't field Ronaldo as part of the eleven line-up, we'll lose our careers. Ronaldo sort of left the stage, in the same way in which he entered. In the beginning he spoiled the chances of Figo to score for his country, to deny another player the merit. And in the end, 'the team' from Portugal in total took a back seat to his ambitions. The point is that, no one can deny it and experts all agree, this was one of the most successful players of all time. Had Ronaldo as a player a lasting impact on the sport? In some ways. But not in proportion to the amount of success and length of career that he did enjoy. There was not a 'before and after'. And yet, sometimes players do come along who play for the weakest teams (George Best played for northern Ireland, who I think once beat Scotland in an international game in which George single handedly made a couple of goals). Which was kind of a joke, northern Ireland had less than one million population. Yet, there was a 'before and after'. His highest point was in 1968 at Wembley stadium in England. At the end of the game a British sports broadcaster said the immortal words, 'The crowd think it's over, it is now". And 'the game' was never quite the same again. Best, Bobby Carlton and Dennis Law had established a new bar, and teams ever since have been measured against it.

Great program! Thx you

Good morning Kay, and A B T 🎣

Great episode! G is spot on with why no one wants to fish the Tuesday nighters on G’ville anymore. I’m not anti-FFS, but the average joe is not gonna hop in a tuesday nighter and be able to compete with the local Bassmaster and MLF pros and local guides that are FFS experts. The bass fishing industry as a whole needs to be intentional about being relatable to the average joe fisherman that works 40hrs a week and fishes because it’s FUN. What does that look like? I honestly don’t know, but I have to admit that I get excited about tournaments where the “old” techniques have a chance of competing with FFS. I was pulling for the guys throwing Traps, like Brent Crow, in the first ABT event on Guntersville. Like I said…I don’t hate FFS, but I do enjoy seeing a variety of different techniques that can compete to win a tournament vs just “pinging” a minnow. I hate to admit it, but I’m quite intrigued with what the MLF Bass Pro Tour is doing this year with only 1 of the 3 periods being a FFS period. I think BALANCE is key….in everything in life and this is no different. Just my 2 cents. You’re doing a great job Mrs. Kay and we (ABT fans) appreciate all you do.

If you don't like listening to the G-Man, you just ain't right. Great show Mrs. Kay.

Thank you, Mrs. Kay, great show awesome

Join crowd swindle I can’t sleep on either shoulder for more then 30 minutes or so

ABT, I've never even come close to making a living on, or off the water from fishing. But I've known a few who have. Kelly Galloup who grew up in Michigan talked about working with a fellow expert angler at a line company for a long, long time (he used a strange phrase, with both anglers at the same company he worried 'if there would be enough mustard in the ball park for both of them'). I assume he was speaking 'American' dialogue, and I don't have a dictionary that converts it into British. His episode ten of his fishing podcast talked about earning a living in fishing, mustard, ball parks and all sorts of things (which seemingly made no sense to a fellow like myself to join together). What I carried away from Kelly's ramble on the subject of working in a fishing industry though was, that it had involved a whole lot of different stuff, that had been stretched out in some curious way over many decades. Starting in the late nineteen seventies and leading until right now. Kelly did share one 'big fish' story at the end of his episode in which a Musky fish mistook a six horsepower engine propellor for a fishing lure and bit it. So I guess that much is true, every true angler has 'the one that got away' classic in their archive.

2.4 million In earnings but half that is entry fees that’s what Is sad. I hope one day fishing gets where it needs too

Need more Swindles in the sport for sure

Thanks

Great show!

I was on Rainbow Drive in Gadsden Saturday Night. Top of the River people were parking ON Rainbow Drive. The Hotel across from the Mall didn't appear to be an Empty Parking spot. Longhorn had about 30 People Standing outside. Yet (Gadsden) can't make it without Tournaments. I'm going to keep spreading the Word to the DNR that we can make it with a Slot!

I hope the 14 to 20inch slot goes statewide. Tired of seeing dead fish after tournament weight-ins

Make the 14 to 20inch slot statewide. Tired of seeing floating bass after tournaments.

Was watching from SC, great job by Luke, Darrien and Jason. Loved your “Morgan Freeman” introduction for one of the teams at blast off

I love watching y'all. Everyone does a great job! 👍

Yes ma'am Mrs Kay, I plan on being back home with the ABT next year.

I enjoy your videos

Can you zoom in closer?

What do You get when You combine a Failed FLW Pro and Failed Singer and a Fired Boat Part Salesman😂Dunkin Donuts😂

Wow

Bassmaster Brown lines out it's time for the weigh in Guy let's freaking go

I was gonna watch until I heard luke dunkins voice. Have no use for that guy.

Some hammers fishing today

Show Will Collie fishing please….

If you can do live coverage you can catch weight and release.

The proposed slot limit will help our Coosa river lakes big fish population and we all know it. It may mean that you can't haul those fish around all day. The solution is catch, weigh, and release. Our lakes bigger fish have taken a beating the last several years..... We have to ask ourselves what is more important, revenue or our great resource. Just saying.....

So sorry for your loss. God is on his shoulder.

Thanks.

They need to ban forward facing sonar in tournaments it’s killing the fish population

Great coverage and glad to see Luke back up and at them again. Best this coming year

Awesome run trail the ABT i watch them all and i dont even bass fish anymore 😂 old habits ya know ..i still love watching tournaments of mutiple species i love watching these guys break down a lakes

Loving the ABT from TEXAS!!! 🤠

Loving the ABT from Texas!!! 👍👍👍

Good morning Kay and ABT Family 🎣

I have mixed feelings about the changes proposed. There are to many fish dying and too many tournaments happening week after week, however, I do believe that Kay is sincere and has bass fishings best interests in her efforts. I appreciate you Mrs. Kay and I hope a compromise can be reached that will benefit the bass, the waterways, and all of the people and businesses involved. Sounds as though you want the same. Thank you.

Good morning Kay and ABT 🎣

Kayaks don’t catch, weigh and release. They catch, measure, picture and release. Then the picture is upload by the angler.

Happy Thanksgiving ABT!

I can wait on the decision on slot limits. But I’m still upset about Alabama restrictions on out of state anglers not having a state that requires a boater safety certificate. I can either take one in Alabama for $66 or one from my state for $10. I have to buy a test at Walmart, take it to TWRA make an appointment that Tennessee doesn’t want to do. Then pass the test just to fish in Alabama 5-6 times a year. I was born and raised in Alabama , when they came out with the license I took the test and had a V on my license. Then my job moved me here and they don’t have one. It stinks but I’ll do it just to come home. I may not like it but I will.

My opinion only. I believe the state of Alabama, is looking to put a strangle hold on bass fishing tournaments. By doing so, that will strongly limit the large amount of out of state anglers that go there each year. I’d say, if this is passed, it will bleed its way across the state and they will apply this to ALL of the large tournament lakes. I think a soft start was the implementation of everyone that boats on an Alabama waterway to have a boating permit. Not a bad thing, it will just stop a large amount of people from visiting the state. Again, just my opinion.

Ask any biologist that specializes in bass and big bass and they would probably agree. If your population size is good and your size is small it more times than not has to do with too many smaller fish competiting for a limited food source then add in an aggressive spotted bass competiting for the same food source. Your largemouth can't get big. It sounds like there needs to be more harvest of 12 inch largemouth and alot of spots reducing the competition for the forage

There are so many Pot tournaments that need to be regulated. They should have to purchase permits. Our fisheries are being hammered. I caught 4 fish this year over 20 inches on Weiss. I was not in a tournament. They were released where they were caught.This is just my opinion. If there is anything I can help with,please let me know. I'm off Friday- Sunday.

Dang I was hoping Luke's dad made it to the award banquet to honor his wife before he died