Sadly I think it's inevitable to some extent once the population grows and the pressure on the resource gets more and more intense. With more and more population growth and pressure, comes more and more regulation. I would hope the independent American spirit of freedom and access for all would counteract this a little, but I'm not optimistic.
I'm not a big bass tournament supporter either, but here in Indiana they have made it so tournaments can't block a public access, and must find additonal parking or they won't be issued a permit. I too dislike the commericialism of the tournaments but to each his own.
I have more of a problem with the unmitigated disaster of overuse I see on my local lakes. A regular fisherman has to compete with bass tournaments, jet skis, power boats, racing boats, sailboats, lake residents who want you off their lake etc. etc. I've actually been on some lakes where you fear for you life due to the massive boat traffic and idiots that don't have a clue. I've had my lines run over and came close to being hit by a high speed boat at night by about a foot with an official DNR decal on the site when I worked for the DNR! Addtionally it's not enough to have one row of year long residents around the lake complete with their concrete seawalls. Many of the lakes in my area have up to three rows of houses around the lakes, and some of the residents will have a cow if you fish too close to their pier even though these lakes have public access. Two large lakes in my area have such a large population on the lakes they have now been annexed as actual towns. It's literally like sitting in your boat on the water in a hurricane on some of these lakes and reminds me of being in the middle of a carnival. It's also hard to troll with all aquatic vegetation that has been clipped with outboard and inboard motor props.
I came up with a solution of a no wake time in the morning and evening to give the average boater a fair playing field but it was pooh poohed by the boating industry here that is very strong and those that don't want it.
I used to be an avid fisherman that went to all the lakes in the area, but for the last two years the boat has stayed in the garage and I even sold my outboard. I have more fun on my ponds anyway and my blood pressure stays calm too. The quality of experience on the public lakes is just not there anymore.
