no more tunnel hulls in BASS opens

[Melton Jason]

Mr. Defoe won’t like that rule.

I'm sure, he has spent some coin on that very nice setup.

[Bub]

That does it! I was going to go pro but with this announcement, I've changed my mind!

(J/K of course)

[dartag1829]

I was thinking what boat company would come out with a Tunnel Hull boat next year.

I like the idea of the No Pierce Cull Clip rule. As a tournament director we see lots of fish with the lower lip ripped out. Now if they would outlaw the pro's throwing all 5 fish on the floor to pick the smallest one. Does not look good on camera.

[kry29]

Break out the participation trophies. Bunch of damn crybabies

[jcdogfish]

Rules banning equipment is a slippery slope. If they don't want people to run in those places, put up boundaries. Its that simple. Will they limit fast boats, lithium batteries? What about the innovations in sonar technology? Reels that cast longer distances? What about the radar used a while back? Hydraulic Jack Plates? Sight fishing glasses? Water guns with Dawn detergent? Power poles? My favorite to ban...spinning rods? On a real grassy lake, a MK trolling motor is an advantage. Where will it stop? Rules need to be basic, let innovation have its place. Its either that or let BASS bid out the boats every year and provide the exact equipment for everyone. That probably wouldn't work either, pretty soon they would have to add sandbags to the little guys boat to make it weight the same as the big guys. Its silly if you really think about it. These fishermen must really be a bunch of complainers.

[Iowa Bass Hunter]

Je$us... Just tell them they have to use fiberglass hulls made by Ranger, Skeeter, Nitro, Triton, Phoenix, Blazer, Charger, Bullet, Bass Cat, ect... And engines made by Mercury, Yamaha, Evinrude, Suzuki, Honda... Prop made by... Fishing reels made by, Fishing rods made by... Lures made by... Line made by... Hats made by... Shirts made by... Pants made by... Underwear made by... Sunglasses made by... Dan

This^^^.

[Iowa Bass Hunter]

Next they will ban Bullet, Allison, and other go fast hulls because of unfair advantage being to fast.

And Stroker.

They aren't mass produced so are they already illegal ?

[bernieh]

Let's ban boats with more than 2 depth finders, Why do you need 3 and 4 screens, I think that offers an unfair advantage. What about "Spot Lock" trolling motors another unfair advantage where does it stop? The participation award crowd is getting involved. All of these things to level the playing field look what it's done to Nascar is our sport next?

[188Musky]

If it saves the feelings of one Prostaffer by preventing him from being embarrassed at a weigh-in by a local, it's worth it.

[Fishfelon]

If 95% of your business comes from guys using a traditional boat and they are getting beat by the 5% in special boats you better outlaw the special boats guys like b.a.s.s. did or else you're gonna lose half the traditional boat guys for those kind of tournaments.

[FishingRaptor]

Bad rule

[JoshKeller]

Guess I'll never fish then from my custom built tunnel hull, stick steer, jet boat with 40 gallons self installed gas tank

[BigSexyPhoenix]

Didn't BASS already change the opens to where it is going to be cost and time prohibitive for many people to fish them?

[grout-scout]

I listened to a Defoe interview and he talked about the lack of true steering with his boat, I'd imagine the rule is just for safety.

[Cfrench085]

Why not just set proper map boundaries if worried about that? Who is more likely at this point to try and access some of these places in a traditional boat... sponsored professional or weekend warrior? Too many rules. Just go fish.

[RFeyoMN]

What about standard, mass produced jet/tunnel combos???

BASS is pathetic.

[Steve@BMS]

If tunnel boats have advantage, why wouldn't all the pros use them... Its a crazy rule, doesn't make sense.

[5-Dinks]

So alluded to above, another new rule stating piercing cull clips are no longer allowed. Is that true and if so will that apply at the Federation levels as well?

[Basscatfrank]

So alluded to above, another new rule stating piercing cull clips are no longer allowed. Is that true and if so will that apply at the Federation levels as well?

We were not permitted to use them at the regionals this year.

[kvandammit]

Really.....the only real loser here is the guys trying to make a living out of modifying boats or custom building them. As far as the fishermen... thats just one less thing to have sleepless nights over.

JMHO