Chris Jones leaves FLW

[MikeD]

wow, big loss. wonder what happened

this just in from Charley Evans via email:

I wanted to notify you of a new change within FLW Outdoors. Chris Hoover, who has been serving as a tournament director on the Walmart FLW Tour and FLW Series BP Eastern Division, will be taking over the tournament director role for the west effective immediately. Many of you know Chris as a long-time employee of FLW Outdoors and know his knowledge and experience will serve him well in his new role.

With this change comes another in that Chris Jones is no longer with FLW Outdoors. We wish him the best in his new endeavors.

going to miss hearing about my <kentucky drawl> "five bass limit"

[StockOption]

Yep, I was surprised to see that in the mail too......huh?????

[Mike]

WOW! That does suck! Chris is a GREAT guy and wish him lots of luck. I just hope he went out on HIS terms. I'll miss him at the Delta events.

[GKramer]

There comes a time in every employer/employee relationship when the arrangement is no longer beneficial (on the same level) to both parties. It's probably not a bad thing, over time. But no one likes to see a familiar face move on.

gk

www.kramergonefishing.com

[RipnRog]

they should get fish fishburn...... he is the man......

[cleb19]

NO BUENO for FLW. Chris was hands down the best TD Ive ever known. He loves us out here out west. He reads the blogs guys and appreciates all that us west coast guys have done for the sport of professional bass fishing. Chris good luck in the future buddy I know Ill miss the "ALL IMPORTANT FIVE BASS TOURNAMENT LIMIT" You made it famous.


Chad

[DeltaDan]

WOW! That does suck!

So does sitting in a hot parking-lot at Walmart for 3 hours ~ only to hear Mr. Jones announce .......

<kentucky drawl here >

".. With a SIXxxxxx bass over-limit -- And DQ'ed....... "

[Sean Graf]

WOW! That does suck!

So does sitting in a hot parking-lot at Walmart for 3 hours ~ only to hear Mr. Jones announce .......

<kentucky drawl here >

".. With a SIXxxxxx bass over-limit -- And DQ'ed....... "

BAN DAN!

[Hollywood]

WOW! That does suck!

So does sitting in a hot parking-lot at Walmart for 3 hours ~ only to hear Mr. Jones announce .......

<kentucky drawl here >

".. With a SIXxxxxx bass over-limit -- And DQ'ed....... "

lol

[Mike]

WOW! That does suck!

So does sitting in a hot parking-lot at Walmart for 3 hours ~ only to hear Mr. Jones announce .......

<kentucky drawl here >

".. With a SIXxxxxx bass over-limit -- And DQ'ed....... "

lol

See you tomorrow

[Hollywood]

So does sitting in a hot parking-lot at Walmart for 3 hours ~ only to hear Mr. Jones announce .......

<kentucky drawl here >

".. With a SIXxxxxx bass over-limit -- And DQ'ed....... "

lol

See you tomorrow

ya right, like wednesday? I heard Brian asked you? I was waiting all day wednesday, even parked in front of disco and the condos your living in waiting for you but you never showed. im up here till sunday Mike, i am not hard to find!

better yet, why wait for tomorrow? how about now?

[Mike]

I like to watch you squrm. Dont let me get into your head...... Good luck tomorrow!!!!!

[littlebailey]

i sense hostility Film it, i want it for the next dvd.

[Hollywood]

I like to watch you squrm. Dont let me get into your head...... Good luck tomorrow!!!!!

You don't get into my head mike, I think it's funny, all talk no action...
Thanks for the good luck, I will need it for sure!

Why are you not fishing this event?

[Mike]

Who said I wasnt??

[Hollywood]

Who said I wasnt??

I looked for you at the draw and was told you wernt fishing cause you didn't get on them the last 2 days?

[Mike]

I worked all week jack a$$. See you tomorrow


Sleep Tight!

[cleb19]

I like this one lol Good Luck Kevin go catch em


Chad

[Hollywood]

I like this one lol Good Luck Kevin go catch em


Chad

Thanks Chad! You should be here! Your the only one from the double down on 18 crew that isn't here!

[Jeff]

Does anyone know REALLY what happened or where did he go? Chris is a GREAT TD and he is good for our sport.


Jeff

[Robert F]

Doesn't look like it. I talked to Chris on Tuesday. He was making changes in the Oroville launch location and time. Like always we talked about the "greatest job in the world" (his, not mine) and seeing each other on the stage next week. Definitely not planned.

[ckraft]

doesnt suprise me chris was a straight shooter and big business like flw can be hard to work for if they put you in situations that you are not comfotable with good luck with your endeavors chris.

[Jeff]

I heard FLW was talking about not coming back next year because f attendance and Chris was against it???????

[flippenfool]

Hopefully this will ease some concerns and rumors.
Chris is doing great and is very happy with his new change. This is a big loss to the fishing world and we will definately miss him out here on the West coast . He is definately a true gentlemen and a scholar. As for the rumor of FLW not coming out here next year this is not true, they already have California on their schedule for 2010. Not to say that in todays economic climate that this could not change. Anything can happen just look at what has happened in the last 6 months.
Mike

[MikeD]

Chris is doing great and is very happy with his new change.

pretty thin on info - anything else you can provide in the way of specifics as to why he left and what new ventures he is working on now?

If you are in contact with him be sure to let him know he has left some big shoes to fill and will be missed. Rare to run across a person that genuine at the level of visibility that he worked at. You could tell instantly upon meeting him that he was a class act.

[Robert F]

I heard FLW was talking about not coming back next year because f attendance and Chris was against it???????

Doubt it. Western Strens are doing as well or better than the rest of the Country. You want to see a region that is more likely to be pulled look at the Northeast numbers. Why do you think the BASS Elite guys are fishing up there? Easy path to the Cup.

[redPHish]

Funny how people assume the worst about a company with no information and Chris was an innocent victim. I'm sure if Chris wanted you to know his private affairs, he'd let you know. He knows how to use a computer.

I'd just leave it at the two parted ways and move on. Nobody has to be the evil party in all this. For all we know, Chris screwed up and FLW did the classy thing.

I'm just saying why jump to the worst conclussions on every situation here?

[cleb19]

Nobody jumped to any conclussions buddy, the facts are the facts and no matter what anybody has said on the topic FLW has LOST THE BEST TD that the west coast has ever had. No buddy has bashed FLW on this topic and we all care about Chris in a manner in which we all would like to know what he is up too. Thats it. We all aware he knows how to use a computer also


Chad

[redPHish]

Sorry chad. I guess my point is since we don't have any facts (not sure what you meant in saying facts are facts). Just jumped to conclussions reading this thread I guess:

doesnt suprise me chris was a straight shooter and big business like flw can be hard to work for if they put you in situations that you are not comfotable with good luck with your endeavors chris.

and this one:

I heard FLW was talking about not coming back next year because f attendance and Chris was against it???????

Just sounded like people were assuming FLW did something wrong to Chris or cut him because he didn't share their opinions. I know those folks, and they never seem to operate that way to me but who knows. Maybe he just got a better deal somewhere. If so, great for him.

He was a great TD for sure. I'll miss his "Fishes with the best of them" for sure.

[Robert F]

RedPHish, you are right. There were people making statements without basis. I hope Chris left on his terms, not others. I do know I talked to him days before the e-mail and he did not act like there were plans of a change on his behalf.

[Gary Dobyns]

Chris Jones will be missed. He was responsible for much of FLW's success in the west. We have had two outstanding TD's that really cared about the west, Chris Jones and Randy MacBride. Both are/will be missed.

[Jeff Huth]

Chris will be missed. In my opinion the best tournament director I've seen in over thirty years of tournament fishing, how he could remember names was amazing along with his sincere opinion about the West Coast anglers, he really appreciated us and was not afraid to say it.
Best of luck Chris, you left some big shoes to fill !

Jeff Huth

[wicked28]

Hey look at the bright side maybe the partnering meetings won't be so long. I doubt it but only one can hope.

[BMX Bassin]

Hey look at the bright side maybe the partnering meetings won't be so long. I doubt it but only one can hope.