Story by Brad Fuller | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Professional bass fishing is changing, whether we acknowledge it or not. Some are resisting it. Some are pretending it’s not happening. But the reality is simple: The sport is shifting beneath our feet, and the industry needs leadership—not fear—as we transition into the next era.
At the NPFL, we measure every decision through one lens: Do what’s best for the industry.
Not for convenience. Not for quick applause. Not for tradition alone.
For the long-term strength, integrity, and sustainability of professional bass fishing.
And when you look at the data, the opportunity in front of us is even larger than most seem to realize.
Technology Tilted the Sport … Balance Will Bring It Back
Forward-facing sonar didn’t just influence competitive fishing; it rewired it. When a single piece of technology becomes the dominant factor in how checks are earned, you don’t have innovation … you have imbalance.
We didn’t regulate FFS to be different. We didn’t do it for headlines. We did it to protect the foundation of competitive fishing where awareness, instincts, pattern development, and decision-making determine outcomes.
This matters, because interest in fishing isn’t shrinking. It’s exploding:
- 57.7 million Americans fished in 2023 the highest participation ever recorded. (RBFF, TakeMeFishing)
- Outdoor recreation participation overall reached 168.1 million people in 2022 over half of the U.S. population. (Outdoor Foundation)
That’s not just growth. That’s fuel. And if we want these new anglers to become long-term fans, the sport needs diversity in competition, not a single-screen approach to winning.
Regulation isn’t regression. Regulation is stewardship.
Media Is Moving Fast. The Industry Must Move With It.
Here’s what’s happening across the entire sports landscape:
- Digital sports viewership has surpassed traditional TV for the first time. (eMarketer)
- Streaming usage is up 71% since 2021, while cable continues to decline. (Nielsen)
- Fans want more behind-the-scenes content, more storytelling, and more athlete access. (IBM Sports Fan Study)
Fans don’t want polished, distant coverage. They want transparency. They want authenticity. They want access to the personalities that make this sport special.
That’s why we built FullCom Media—to take control of our content, our story, and our connection to fans. The future of professional bass fishing isn’t in the hands of TV networks or third-party producers. It belongs to the organizations willing to own their voice and invest in reaching people where they actually are.
Sponsorship Has Evolved. So Must We.
A decade ago, a sticker on a boat and a handshake counted as value.
Today, brands want:
- measurable ROI
- year-round integration
- storytelling
- engagement metrics
- authentic partnerships
And they’re right to demand it.
The NPFL tracks, measures, and delivers because our success is tied directly to the success of our partners.
This is the fastest-growing outdoor market in decades:
- Fishing participation rose 6% year-over-year, marking the strongest growth in modern reporting. (RBFF)
- Since 2020, outdoor recreation overall has added more than 14 million new participants. (Outdoor Participation Trends Report)
This isn’t a declining sport. This is a rising tide. But only the organizations capable of delivering true value will grow with it.
Angler Sustainability Isn’t Optional. It’s the Future.
Let’s say what others whisper: The economics of professional fishing are getting tougher every year.
Entry fees, fuel, equipment, maintenance, travel, lodging—all rising. Meanwhile, sponsorship is more competitive and payouts aren’t accelerating at the same rate as costs.
When participation grows by millions at the grassroots level, but fewer anglers can afford to chase professional dreams, the industry has a structural problem.
We believe in a model that:
- supports balanced field sizes
- maintains realistic cost-to-compete ratios
- delivers strong payouts
- provides real opportunities for deserving anglers
- keeps a pathway open for grassroots talent
A sport that prices out its future champions won’t have a future at all.
Fans Will Decide This Era and Tell Us What They Want
Studies are clear: modern sports fans want connection, access, and authenticity. They want real people, real stories, and real emotion, not canned answers and predictable coverage.
And the upside is enormous:
- Fishing added over 2 million new participants during the outdoor recreation boom. (Outdoor Foundation)
- Young audiences, seniors, and underrepresented demographics are entering the sport in record numbers. (Outdoor Participation Trends)
This isn’t just growth. It’s diversification, and diversification is the fuel that builds generational fanbases.
If professional bass fishing leans into storytelling, transparency, and community, the ceiling becomes unlimited.
A Reset Is Coming That Will Make Us Stronger
We’re entering a reset, not a collapse. Not a decline.
A reset. A realignment of values. A return to fundamentals. A renewed sense of responsibility for the sport we love.
The NPFL isn’t waiting for someone else to lead that shift. We’re stepping into it not because we think we’re perfect, but because we’re committed.
Leadership isn’t knowing everything. Leadership is doing what’s right even when it’s difficult.
Where We’re Coming From
None of this will happen overnight and that’s okay. Progress rarely does. But it’s important to understand what motivates the NPFL. Because it’s always easier to trust a direction when you know where the person leading you is coming from.
Our approach isn’t driven by ego, pressure, or the need to prove anything. It’s driven by purpose.
We don’t claim to have all the answers. We’re learning. We’re listening. We’re evolving.
What we do have is the relentless drive to make this sport better, and that starts with us being better—better leaders, better partners, better storytellers, better stewards.
If we can do that … even a little … the sport moves forward.
That’s our motivation. That’s our responsibility. And that’s our commitment to this industry.
We will protect the sport. We will elevate the sport. We will grow the sport. We will do all that because someone has to, and we’re willing to put our name on it. That’s what’s best for the industry. That’s what the NPFL stands for.
And that’s the path forward for professional bass fishing.
