If you fished in the 1980s or 1990s, you got to see the premiere of the Professional Bass Tournament. Yes, tournaments were around before that, but they did not receive the national attention that legends like Bill Dance, Rowland Martin or Hank Parker drew. Part of this was due to televised events, and part of it was due to these pros and others, like them, launching separate careers as fishing personalities. But, depending on who you ask, if you are fishing today, it might mean seeing the end of professional bass fishing — at least as we know it.

If you look purely at the numbers, professional bass tournaments appear to be doing better than ever. Major League Fishing reported a new record for minutes viewed on their platform. The MLF Heavy Hitters Special saw a 5% increase in viewership, making it the most waters fishing program of 2024. Likewise, Bassmasters reported “record viewership” in 2024 and followed up with expanded coverage for 2025. But this is only part of the picture.

Although large, televised events still draw in viewers, the same can not be said for the smaller, local tournaments. Not only are these events not drawing public interest, but they are also experiencing a decline in participation among anglers. With fewer anglers competing at the lower levels, fewer potential anglers are moving into the significant national events. If this trend continues, it will eventually lead to problems filling the considerable events with seasoned, fun-to-watch pros.

Some of the decreased interest can be easily explained by factors such as increased fuel, license, and equipment costs. If the economy takes a positive turn, these can be overcome. However, other factors are not so easily countered, which may have a long-term, negative impact on the sport.

Although not a bass event, the 2022 cheating scandal at a Lake Erie walleye tournament has soured a lot of people on professional fishing in general. Where the average angler once dreamed of catching a trophy on the professional circuit, they now feel that it is all a facade.

In April of this year, a professional tournament angler fishing at an MLF event at Lake Smith, Alabama, struck a boat with three recreational anglers onboard. All three gentlemen were killed, and the investigation showed the recreational craft was struck by the fast-moving bass boat. While this was an accident, and there is no reason to believe the pro angler ever intended to hit the other ship, it highlights a growing concern among local anglers fishing in tournament waters. An increasing number of locals have complained about the speed at which pro anglers zip around the water, their attitude towards non-tournament anglers, and a general lack of respect.

Finally, there is the question of conservation. It is no secret within the industry that tournament fishing can be devastating to the local fishery. Even when fish are returned to local waters, they are rarely returned to the exact location where they were caught, but rather to a point within the same waterway. Add to this the stress of being caught, spending an extended period in a live well, and then bagged for a weigh-in and public presentation, and you are bound to see an increase in mortality. Several well-known and highly publicized studies support this. This has led many anglers to adopt the practice of catch, measure, and release. Although many smaller tournaments have also adopted this practice, the major bass tournaments are reluctant to do so. This reluctance is starting to cause one-time fans to question the ethics of professional tournaments.

Although I do not believe that tournament fishing will ever disappear, professional tournament fishing, as we know it, is facing numbered days. To survive the primary tournament circuits will need to regain the trust of fans, be once again welcome on local waterways, and evolve with the times.