League Anglers: FLW Wants Your Input Please [Archive]

Chris Haley

09-08-2006, 10:22 AM

I guess it depends on where the league is headed. If you are going to award a position or two, to the the top finals participants to the "Big Show" you have to leave it a pro-am. To tough to seperate a team in that case. If it is what it is and will never allow a person to "advance" to the big show though hard work. Then you could change to a "Team" style tournament.

I for one like the idea of a "Pro-am" style with out the huge cost to kind of get your feet wet with. There are enough "Team" circuts out there and I'm sure they don't want to see more competition for teams. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

If they want to bolster participation, maybe they should set 1-2 slots aside from the FLW Champuionship for the top boaters and non-boaters of the finals. This would give each even more reason to fish the league.

The bassmaster classic even has a slot for the top "club" angler each year. I know a bunch of guy's that stay with their federations just for that "one in a million" chance.

GO 1 FSHN

09-08-2006, 10:53 AM

I prefer the pro/am. I can't afford a boat yet and this circuit allows me to fish competitively - until I get my own rig. Then it will be nice to try a couple of years on the pro side for the experience before some of the bigger circuits.

Fished One league

09-08-2006, 12:45 PM

I tried the "league" tournaments once this year and liked it. If it were to change, I would probably go elsewhere. There are enough "team" tournaments out there already.

TrollerMan

09-08-2006, 01:19 PM

Greetings!
I believe it is in FLW's best interest to keep the league as a Pro-Am program unless and until FLW creates another cicuit devoted specifically to team competition.
Team formats are fun and challenging (I fished one this year with Billy's Lowrance circuit) but also cut many anglers out of the tournament world due to the time and financial commitments required to do it right.
Pro-Ams are a great way to recruit new participants and begin training the next generation of tournament (and recreational) anglers.

FLW: consider offering a team format in addition to the Pro-Am at the state/regional level. Maybe start with just one tournament per state with a year-end championship or something...
Thanks!
TrollerMan
Waconia MN

Shep

09-08-2006, 03:08 PM

I suggest they stay with the Boater/nonboater format. It seems to work, and I truly think a co-angler has a better chance of getting a good local stick to fish with, than if he enters the Tour events. I've fished in both as a co-angler, and while I've drawn a few good Pro's in the tour, I've faired much better in the League events.

I was looking to joining the boater side next year, but if it goes team, well, I guess I could do that, too.

I don't pay too much attention the the other State's League events. Do they fill the MI and MN events? They don't seem to have a problem in WI.

There are alot of boaters out there that got into this because they were co-anglers.

Tight Lines All,

Shep

jerry unlogged

09-08-2006, 03:15 PM

I am surprised to hear they would consider leaving a successful format like the pro/am and go to a team event. There are already a bunch of team options. The pro/am format should be retained.

wimwuen unlogged

09-08-2006, 05:33 PM

WI doesn't always fill. This year we had good fields, but none over 90. I think that the fields will grow, I have been campaining anglers from the west side of WI to fish this circuit as well. I think the state could be better represented if 80+ percent of the field didn't come from such a small area. Either way, I liked fishing as a boater this year, and will probably again next year.

Keep it pro/am, and maybe start up a team circuit. I would consider doing both of those.

JoeW

09-08-2006, 11:46 PM

I'm in on a team format and I'm sure there will be plenty of others. FLW would put on a great team format I'm sure. Go team.

flat fish

09-09-2006, 04:20 AM

Started fishing Flw leauge this year as a quality partner with a flexable schedule is very difficult to find. The boater-co-boater format was the easy solution.

Going to team format would more than likely reduce fields due to boaters teaming up with boaters. You need a partner that a can

1. provide a second boat for pre-fish if you want to keep up with other teams

2. Get say - Thur & Friday off.

3. Has strong fishing skills and instinct but most importantly can communicate with you in a constuctive manner. Then be able zip the lips. - Fish team events long enough and you'll see teams self destruct due to lack of communcation or communcating with the wrong people.

4. Two good sticks will almost always beat a good stick and a so so stick.

5. Two local Good Sticks will usually beat two good sticks.

6. Non-boaterss are growing and evolving (buying boats)

I'm sure there is a few other good reasons to stay in current format.

Team offers somewhat less travel expenses. Maybe more interesting for teams at say $500-$1000 entry level but would be tough on others.

If Tour went team then the league would have to follow.

They might be thinking to format like Redfish Tour.- Well oiled teams do make for better TV.

Doesn't really make to much sense unless to change as it seemed like they really were getting the ball rolling. But much of the fishing world doesn't make sense these days.

Disagree

09-09-2006, 08:43 AM

I take it that you are a co angler. Look at the MWS in WI. They have some pretty good fields, granted they are not full they see 80-100 in the field. Now if the FLW, who can probaly increase the payouts and provide a slightly more professional forum increase these fields. second of all the good stick vs the very good local stick I just dont belive in . I have seen some very good professional sticks get it handed to them on thier own waters by young sticks with limited equipment and little knowledge. just doing your homework and a positive outlook is all it takes some times. Looks like you better Find someone with a Boat who wants to fish as a TEAM.

tcfish

09-10-2006, 08:35 AM

I had a talk with FLW at the rules meeting and here my thoughts. With the current format The boaters alreay own a boat and it's a stepping stone to the big show. For the Am's they get to ride in all kinds of differnt boats and fish with differnt equipment, these are the people in the market to buy lets say a Ranger boat or other FLW sponsored idems. I don't like the team format due to the fact of the bad egg(s) that fish in them, mostly in no cull tournaments. I think they already made up there minds and it will be a team format next year and we all will see if it draws more people. I wonder how they are going to do it, will it be 3 states with 4 tournsaments each like now or will they do 4 tournament in 4 differnt states like a MWC format?

John Gildersleeve

09-10-2006, 11:17 AM

I believe the Pro-Am is more interesting to fish. It makes a boater really use his skill's to compete when you have no idea who your partner is going to be. You get to meet new angler's at every tournament where a team event will be more tight lipped and come with controversy of following the rules FLW has established. A dominate team will make some angler's not sign up. On the other hand the Team format would help defray the cost's incurred with fishing. Example gas would run me $500 for one event as a pro-am and $250 as a team event. Then they could raise the entry fee to get the payout's higher to bring more people in to fill them.
I myself still prefer the pro-am event for the reason of meeting people and learning new techniques. So my vote is for Pro-Am.

John Gildersleeve

no to teams

09-10-2006, 11:46 AM

No way, teams leave the door too wide open to the less than truthfull sorts!

dh unlogged

09-10-2006, 01:29 PM

I say leave it the way it is now, it was designed to give anglers new to the Tournament scene a chance to get their feet wet without going broke. There are enough team events out there already. MWS, MWC

SLIPKNOT

09-10-2006, 05:33 PM

Whatever happens they need to raise the entry fee so some money can be made!!

BobB(MI)

09-10-2006, 06:29 PM

Fished MWT for 4 years and had a good time in that team format. Fished the FLW League in 2004 and 2005 and had a ball with that as well. All the co's that I was able to fish with were great guys - only had one poor experience and even that wasn't so bad - just some broken equipment he didn't offer to replace.

The team events are fun, but sometimes hard to find someone to commit to the entire circuit. Also, without pay changes, much less money as the split for us was always 50/50. I really enjoyed the boater/non-boater format and meeting new people...the worst was that you had to spend 8 hours with someone else who liked to fish.

At the league level, I tried to take most everything in stride and fish for fun - nobody out there was doing it at this level for a living - some people were a bit more wound up though. My opinion is that the team format tends to be more serious, but who knows?

I'd like to see it remain as a separate format, reduced to 3 events with the payout and entry raised to the same level as the total 4-event format - ie: take the money from the 4th and distribute it among the 3 events. That way the outlay is the same for everyone, yet we are fishing for a slightly bigger purse and do not have to take as much time off. Maybe it would open up more time for prefishing, too? Would also like to see it grow to 100 boat fields. Just thinking out loud.

I enjoyed meeting the new people...hope it remains a boater/non-boater event and I'll probably be doing it again in 2007. If it is a team event, I may or may not...we'll see.

Bob

hump4cy

09-10-2006, 07:37 PM

I can’t believe you guys, the ones who want to change to a team format. I know easily 90% or more of you fished as a co or am at one time. I have never yet met a tournament angler who didn’t start as a co or am. When I ask a successful tourney angler, what should I do to get started in the tournament world, they all say “START AS A CO FOR A FEW YEARS TO GET YOUR FEET WET”. I personally was planning to start to compete next year as a co as a part of a plan to work myself up through the ranks. The ones who want to change the current format all have the equipment, boat, and most of, all the experience to do so. Why would these people want to cheat us newcomers and current co’s out of the boater/co format? PURE GREED.
Basically what I and rest of the co’s are supposed do is dump a heck of a lot of cash on a rig, equipment, and pay the new jacked up entry fees, without any solid tournament experience. How is that good for the future of competitive walleye angling?

I personally spoke with Sonny Reynolds 6 weeks ago about the FLW league and told him how excited I was to compete next year. To hear he may now change the system, it truly breaks my heart.

My hat is off to the veteran folks who really get it and support the co concept. They truly care about walleye angling and its future.

Adam

Fishbomb

09-10-2006, 08:03 PM

I have tried to vote on this and the first time I tried it said I had already voted when I hadn't but anyway I would like to see the FLW League go to the team format. I am in MI and my partner and I have been mulling over the MWC but with them going to NY twice next year we won't be doing that circuit due to the travel costs associated. Not crazy about the MWT for various reasons so we would welcome the FLW League in MI with a team format.

walleyewarrior

09-10-2006, 08:06 PM

Being a 20 year old college kid, with no boat, with a goal of becomeing a professional walleye fisherman i think the team format would hurt the sport, i fished 2 league events this year and had a blast and learned a ton. The reason why i choose to fish the league events was beacause of the low entry fees, being a college kid, i cant afford to fish the FLW tour as a co. So the league events offer a cheap way for a kid like myself to get tourny experience.

Juls_OH

09-10-2006, 08:19 PM

You need to be logged-in to be able to vote.

Juls

Sully

09-10-2006, 08:51 PM

I would like to see the present format retained for many of the reasons already mentioned.

I agree with folks that see the present format as a great way to help grow the sport of a tourmant walleye fishing, it got me into the game (the disease) :D, but the hard truth is this is a business. The word is they are not making the profits margins they want.

I would suggest raising the entry fee with the current format. I think it would increase the fields and provide more profit to the FLW.

I chatted with someone that had a personal conversation with Charlie Evans after the annoucement at the meeting and it sounds like it's a done deal in going to the team format. The comment Mr. Evan made was that the FLW can't continue to spend $10 to make $1.

I had planned to continue to fish the League next year as a Co and do one event on the tour, but with the new format I will still only be able to do one tour event and not fish the league at all.

I hope the FLW is still keeping their ears open to feedback. This would be a big change that needs to be well though out.

Sully

unbelievable

09-10-2006, 09:30 PM

adam I cant believe you made a statement like that. I fished in the league off and on since it began and from what i have seen the people who are co's when it first started are still co's now. very little of the co's step up to the plate even though they probaly could. talk about greed. some of you dont even have courtesy enough to give gas money, talk about greed. Also walleyewarrior I started as a co for a while also and if you are in college then focus on school. I was not able to own a boat untill I was in my upper twentys. I earned my way in the hard way, nothin wrong with that. It seems that the only people having problems with this is the co-anglers who wont be able to fish cheaper than hiring a guide for a day of fishing.

to many teams

09-11-2006, 07:43 AM

I had planned on fishing the Leauge next year as a boater. There are enough team tourneys in mn and the us to fish. It is hard to find a good team partner. I'm lucky I have one of the best partners you could ask for, but it is a bear to make each others scheuldes work. I know a lot of cos that fish and they won't fish if it is a team circut just because they don't have the equipemnt or the money to do it. What will end up happening is the 90 pros you get now will turn into a 45-55 boat field next year. If the FLW wants to make a team format swing for the fence and compete for the MWC crowd! Have a 70,000 pay out like the Wave Wacker or FLW tour has. That is at least worth while for most guys who want to do team stuff. They'll put there money were there mouth is. Maybe I'm wrong but I won't be doing the FLW Leauge if it is a team tourney, I can fish one of those every weekend from april to oct.

Dan R

09-11-2006, 08:24 AM

If you want experience then you better be fishing more than the FLW leage events to get you feet wet. You need to get out to your local lake on your free time and try to learn something new every trip. I am for the Team format. One question though, Do you need to have the same partner for every event or can you have a sub? I'm sure it wouldn't be to hard for co's and boaters to find each other on the Web. I do like the idea of 3 events at higher entries with bigger payouts.
Fish-On

JDH

09-11-2006, 08:51 AM

I don't seam to be able to vote so I will cast my vote here. Stick with the current format. I enjoy fishing with new people and have made new friends this way. It can also be hard to find people to commit to a team circut, this way if you don't have a regular partner you can still participate as much as you want. I also think you get a fairer event by not having two good sticks together or "super team" as someone else put it plus there is less chance of cheating.

limitout

09-11-2006, 09:32 AM

I would prefer a team format.

E Double

09-11-2006, 10:01 AM

Keep the boater/non-boater format. Reduce the number of events to 3 and increase the entry/payouts. Also if we are continuing with one day tournaments make them on a Sunday. It would give many of the weekend anglers a chance to prefish without using another day of vacation.

EYEFISHN

09-11-2006, 10:05 AM

I would love to see this done in a team format.
FLW runs great tourneys. I have 6 teams (all friends) that will enter from my area.

EYEFISHN

flatfish

09-11-2006, 11:18 AM

Just hope they put in place regs that make your 12 man team fish the entire curcuit instead of letting you cherry pick your hometown event.

Rather not see it go team but if it does, hope for:

1. Manditory - fish the entire curcuit to enter. (meaning pay for the entire curcuit/no refunds-if you pull out after the event at your favorite lake is over your money stays.)

2. No subs.

koenigsfelds

09-11-2006, 11:36 AM

I would like to see the league stay as it is. I realize that in Mi. the FLW is having a hard time getting boaters and I am not sure why this is. I know the economy is part of it. I started as a co and am now fishing the league on the boater side.
I know several people who would like to fish as a co next year.

dpfish

09-11-2006, 11:56 AM

I would like to see it stay the way it is. I am a boater and have someone who does team events with me, but there are enough team circuits/events out there now. I really enjoy the random draw and fishing with new people along with the added layer of accountability/integrity it brings to the events.

EYEFISHN

09-11-2006, 12:32 PM

I like your idea Flatfish.
Everyone signs up for the whole series.

Great idea

Were in!

EYEFISHN

dustyfish

09-11-2006, 01:01 PM

strongly agree with everything you guys are saying... I like the way this format is set up... I have made some very good friends this year Boater/Co format... I trully belive this helps a boater prepare for the FLW Tour also for a co to be a boater. I also think the co's learn so much...there is other ways of getting more boaters and co's instead of changing to a team format...

FLW should reconsider...

Crazy Loueye

09-11-2006, 01:02 PM

Is there anyway the FLW would drop their 250 HP rule. Verado is making the 275 and Yamaha makes the 300. This rule seems obsolete if the boats are rated, let them fish?

John in Mn

09-11-2006, 01:38 PM

I believe if the FLW league started out as a team format, it would have gone under by now.

If it aint broke, .........

JDH

09-11-2006, 01:51 PM

Scott, Michigan has the Michigan Walleye Tour, a team event, which draws many potential people away from the league. A lot of guys do both, but with the economy the way it is, it has been hard for most of us to do both the past few years.

What if

09-11-2006, 01:53 PM

What if the FLW has a pay out of 100,000 for first much like the tour has. Would you be in favor then. 4 events, no divisions, with a top 50 championship. I would be all for it. I would not like it if they kept the payouts like it is.

kannon

09-11-2006, 03:09 PM

I think the pro/am format is the best bet, the only problem is the low payout compared to the cost of all things needed to fish and prefish a one day event. What i think is that guys like myself that cannot fish the entire tour, I could only do two events Detroit and Green Bay are going to be left out this comming season. Last year i think there were around 120 pros fishing all four Tour events. That does not leave much room for a person that cannot afford, to have 4 1/2-5 weeks off work. Alot of guys I know from Michigan would fish the Leauge events if #1 entry fees were higher. #2 payout were higher and paid down to 40th place(to offset the cost of doing buisness per say). #3 each leauge event were two full days of competion, saturday and sunday or friday and saturday. I think most aspiring walleye pro's would love to have a series that is just one small step under the full Tour events. I would do it in a second and I'm sure there are alot of others that feel the same way. Hopefully! Kannon Kares

Jonny Rocket

09-11-2006, 05:02 PM

I would imagine that the FLW would like to change it to a team format and make a Walleye series similar to the FLW Red Fish Tour. It would then compete against the MWC. I would also think it would no longer be divisions but rather 4 events with a championship and would probably pay pretty good money.

This is all speculation but if I were the FLW this is probably what I would do. Not saying I agree with or disagree with this idea.

Shep

09-11-2006, 05:46 PM

First of all, who are you kidding when you say a team format would save money. If you are truly a team, you and your partner would both be prefishing, in your own boats. That's two boats, twice the expenses. If you think both partners will prefish in the the same boat, then I'll show you a team that is behind from the start. Your expenses may be half, but your winnings will likely be none.

Also, I think alot of co's will chip in for gas/bait. But I wouldn't hesitate to not chip in if it was demanded by the boater. If you think the only reason the co's are entering is to get cheap guide days on the water, I'm here to tell you that you are wrong. That may be one of the reasons, but not one of the biggest reasons.

Tight Lines All,

Shep

NEBRASKA.GUIDE

09-11-2006, 07:28 PM

Teams. Ha!!!! I HAVE FISHES TEAM CIRCITS AROUND HERE . WHAT A CROOKED JOKE. YOU ALWAYS FIND BUDDYS THAT HAVE TO CHEET WHEN EVER THERE'S MONEY INVOLVED!!!! IT HARD TO DO SOMETHING ELAGLE WHEN YOUR WITH SOME YOU DO NOT KNOW. LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS.

Hunter88

09-11-2006, 07:41 PM

For all the reasons already stated, leave the format as is. I probably won't fish the league next year if the format is changed.

Terroreyes

09-11-2006, 07:54 PM

From a possible future competitor, I'd like to see it stay the same. Lots of team events to enter from local, regional, to national, but the League lets you get your feet wet for the boater/co format. Not many other lower cost tourneys do. Unless the FLW wants to change the tour to a team format, I think it would be counterproductive.

As far as the networking. I'd think the networks work better with them spread over more boats, not bunched into less.

Visit DOWNRIVER TACKLE in the Walleye Central Directory
http://www.walleyecentral.com/wcdirectory/yellowresult.php?goal=Detail&ckey=47&primaryField=description&category=Bait+%26+Tackle%3A+Manufacturers&textToFind=

Sunshine

09-12-2006, 06:44 AM

I think that the FLW is making a big mistake if they change the format.

If they are trying to compete with the MWC, they will loose. The MWC has that niche taken care of. There is not an overabundance of teams waiting to get into a new team circuit at the national or regional level. Others have tried this and have failed.

If the FLW is planning on having one circuit that will rotate around the Midwest, they will not survive. The existing format has worked because participants like fishing close to home and not having to travel. Unfortunately for the FLW, this niche is also filled (at least in Wisconsin) with great established tournaments like the MWS.

If they plan on having team tournaments in individual states they will not survive unless the payouts are significantly higher than existing tournament series.

A comment was made that the FLW can not continue to make one dollar while spending $10. I'm not a business wizard, but if that's the case, how can they survive by making $2 after investing $10. All things being equal, they will have the same amount of boats and will collect twice as much entry fee, but pay twice as much out. How do they increase revenue from this scenario? I'm missing something?

I was/am one of those individuals that others have mentioned in previous posts. I did and continue to do the team thing with my great friend and tournament partner. BUT, I wanted to see if I could do it on my own and survive as an individual. The league allowed me this opportunity and then I moved to doing a few PWT and Tour events. The system and/or process worked for me and others that I know of. Without this opportunity, I would not have felt comfortable trying the Tour or PWT. The league IS growing future Tour competitors and is needed for the future of the Tour.

thump55

09-12-2006, 07:42 AM

I fished all four WI league events and the championship as a co this year. After the first tournament, I talked my buddy into trying one, and after that one, he signed up for the remaining two. I would fish as a boater next year if it stays a pro/am. If it goes to partners, I would not fish it.

I think the question that should be asked is: "What needs to be done to get more boaters to fish the League and keep the current format?"

I believe the FLW should try it one more year with the pro/am. Raise the entries to $225-250, maybe pay the top 15 only (instead of 20) to get the prize money up, but most importantly- PROMOTE!

Dave S

remember back

09-12-2006, 08:56 AM

Anyone remember back when the PWT first started and came out with the ProAm concept? I do. Back when the premier walleye circut was the MWC? A team event. All these "teams" wanting to compete on the the PWT really complained that now they would be split up. But it worked in the end, and continues to work. So, my vote it keep it like it is, raise the entry a bit, and make the payouts better.

Yep

09-12-2006, 09:18 AM

Leave it as a Boater/Non-Boater format. The MWC can;t fill their fields and they've been billed as the premier team events in the country for over a decade.

The only way FLW would have success as team events would be to raise the money to the level of their FLW Redfish series. If they do that with the same kind of exposure the redfish folks are getting then you're on to something.

You'd have the premier money pro-am tour in the country and the premier money team tour in the country under one roof.

Juls_OH

09-12-2006, 09:33 AM

The FLW paid out full prize monies even when they had less than full fields. They will not raise the entry fee if they cannot fill the fields, because that would be bad business. They would be guaranteeing even more prize money out of their pockets if the fields didn't fill.

What is needed here is a show of support by anglers who want to fish the league events. They MUST fill the fields in order to grow it for the future.

The Tour started out the same way, but we showed our support by filling the fields, and believing in what could be for the future. Once we accomplished that, we saw the entry fees increase and the payouts increase.

That is what Charlie Evans was referring to when he made his $10.00 to $1.00 comment. If they raised the entry fee, and didn't fill the fields again, they would be even further behind...bad business, so it won't happen.

Fill the fields and watch what happens in the future. It's up to the anglers to make this happen...or, not.

Juls

Sully

09-12-2006, 09:58 AM

>I think the question that should be asked is: "What needs to
>be done to get more boaters to fish the League and keep the
>current format?"
>
>I believe the FLW should try it one more year with the pro/am.
>Raise the entries to $225-250, maybe pay the top 15 only
>(instead of 20) to get the prize money up, but most
>importantly- PROMOTE!
>
>Dave S

Dave is right on here. The problem seems to be a much bigger problem in attracting the boaters. It seems just about every rules meeting there is a long waiting list on the Co side. In fact, this year there were paying co's to switch to a boater so more people could fish.

So if there is a surplus of Co's and we they can't attract enough boater (largely I believe to low payouts), to me it points again to raising the entry fees.

The guys that are fishing this circuit are not living paycheck to paycheck, I think we would gain many more than we would lose.

Another good point on promotion. There is very little at the local level. We often roll into town and the locals had no idea there was tournament coming to town. I don't want to assume, but I thought the FLW purposely didn't promote at the local level to discourage the local hot stick getting in for one tournament and not the whole circuit.

Juls, I'm almost certain that when we didn't have a full field that the payouts were reduced. Where they reduced enough to help make up the gap, that I don't know.

Sully

Eric Schuelke

09-12-2006, 10:21 AM

I have two thoughts on this subject. I like the way it is done now. Guys use it as a stepping stone to the FLW tour or the PWT. It is way different fishing as a boater, then to fish as a team in an event. Guys can develope their skills as a boater in the league, where the entry fees are not that much.

A couple guys have mentioned the redfish series, look how popular that has become. If the FLW would make a team series, where they were offering big paydays, I think they would blow the MWC off the map. They would really have to go after this thing. $100,000 for first place. I would think you would get the big names in the walleye world fishing team events as well as the regular tour events. We all say, we want walleye fishing to get where bass fishing is. I think it could get there that way.

But then you would lose the junior circuit.

If the FLW is losing money with the league events,, they have to do something. It's not smart business to continue something, if you are losing money.

If they go the team route, they have to make it attractive. To make it attractive to me, that means to raise the payouts.

League Angler

09-12-2006, 11:56 AM

I believe the payouts were adjusted according to the # of participants. At least it appeared that way when I looked at the results for this year in WI and compared it to the published payouts in the details section on the FLW website.

Yep

09-12-2006, 01:11 PM

Erc S. is right. The league isn;t working right now. No promotion no value to anglers, no value to the sponsors some anglers are attempting to acquire.

If the FLW put the effort into a team walleye series similar to their redfish endeavor they'd crush any opposition. The MWC would have no chance. They barleyt get support from their ownership and sponsors as it is.

How cool would it be to have true pro teams liek on the redfish tours and still have true pro-am formats like FLW Tour and PWT.

Of course, the structure would need to be more inclusive like the FLW Series for bass where pro walleye teams get to fish out of their owns boats, regardless of manufacturer or wrap, for all tournament days.

Tolden

09-12-2006, 01:41 PM

Why not let a local team fish just one team tourney. More money in the pot and they don't have to commit to the entire trail. Have it like most team circuts, you have to fish all 3 or 4 tourneys in order to compete in the championship or be invited to some bigger tourney.

If you do sign up for a circut and your partner has vacation planned, so what you fish it alone, but have your partner keep in mind that all prefishing and tourney expenses are still split down the middle since your both still working towards a bigger picture.

I had to do this, this past summer and won the tourney as well. So it is still possible to do it alone.

I am for the team format. Would be nice to have one more large team format around all though I am looking at fishing as a co in the FLW when it makes its way a little bit closer to home.

firetech

09-12-2006, 03:32 PM

I wish to keep the pro/am format. I have fished every League event in Michigan, and 3 championships. The people that I have met along the way have been great. The learning curve has been emmence and for the coming year I was going to try the boater side on the events that my 17ft could safely handle. For this past year I rode with two guys who only did a single event. To make this program work we as anglers need to promote the heck out of it get guys to fish more than there home waters. Co's need to help cover expenses better,$60 bucks for a tank of gas, and we may only give the boater a $20,we need to aninty up and help on the cost of the day better. FLW needs to get us the dates and pamplets before the sportshows start so we can get them out to potental copmpetiors. And WalMart is not the only place in town to put the info. Please FLW if we are to keep the format give us the dates and info in a timly manner. If the entry fee goes up thats ok,they haven't raised the cost since it stated 4 yrs ago. Everything else has gone up. I'm sure FLW's costes are up too all busness costes are up. Thanks for my 2 cents worth. Herb

Chris Haley

09-12-2006, 04:07 PM

I'm telling you. Set aside 1-2 slots in the FLW championship for the top angler in the finals. You will see EVERY league event fill as 75% of the divions fill with anglers fishing for that golden chance. Four league events at $150 for a boater to move on to the finals and if you place 1st or 2nd, you get to fish for $300,000. Who wouldn't do it? I know of BASS Federation clubs put together each year just for those state tournament slots. Learn from this.

Chris Haley

09-12-2006, 04:08 PM

And the last 25% will be the locals fishing on their own water. They will fill!!!

FishinBemidji

09-12-2006, 04:18 PM

Ever hear of of a kid named Bryan Kerchal??

Juls_OH

09-12-2006, 04:24 PM

Not a bad idea Chris, but here's just a little correction in your post...the top prize for the Tour isn't 300-400K anymore, it's 100K to win and up to 150K if you have the contingencies.

I kind of like that idea myself...but I would make it only one spot avaialable. The League Champion should be the only one to go fish the big show.

Interesting thought Chris...not bad...not bad...;)

Juls

Juls_OH

09-12-2006, 04:25 PM

That's exactly who I was thinking of when he mentioned his idea...;)

Juls

FishinBemidji

09-12-2006, 04:47 PM

Even one spot would bring a number of guy's fishing a whole division for that chance.

Chris Haley

09-12-2006, 04:55 PM

Actually, I'm also FishinBemidji. I tried to change it to my real name but it won't for some reason. I would probably look at the MN division if the golden ring was attainable.

Juls_OH

09-12-2006, 10:36 PM

Yes, you're right...my mistake. I think it was only the championship that was a guaranteed payout.

Thanks for the correction...;)

Doesn't change my point though, the Leagues still need to get the support from the anglers. They need to support it, to grow it.

Juls

dpd

09-13-2006, 06:53 AM

I have a better idea. How about each division leader on both the co and the pro side going to the big show. You have to fish all 4 of the qualifing events to go. Also have a spot for the Championship winner if he is not the leader in his division. In order to make this happen raise the fees to $200/100 and $300/150 for a super.
I fished the Mi. side as a co this year and I know a couple of boaters that fished only two events and made it to the championship.

Another idea that I have is to give show-up points. That way if you fish all 4 and blank one at least you will recieve points over the person that 2 or 3 events and made it over a person that fished all 4. Afterall he paid his money for all 4 events. How many people out there fished all 4 and did not make it to Escanaba?

If you make it mandatory in the League that the Co gives the Boater at least $30 per event and more if the co has a good time. At least the boater knows he is going to get something back for the bait. Maybe even some gas money. I know I gave at least $30 and some up to $50 depending on how far we ran and how the boater treated me.

Unlogged Kidding

09-14-2006, 11:51 AM

All:

I cannot believe there is an audience that feels you participated in four tourneys by paying and you should get something for that! Please, give me a break. You qualify on your performance. Zip the lips, put your gear to work and catch the fish, let your weight determine your fate. If you are not good enough, then maybe a few weekends of pre-fishing might help or do not get into the tourney. When do we make exceptions for people who have a few bucks mortgaged, inherited, or earned to buy qualifying points? I would love to fish in those tourneys and mop up on some your extra cash.

I would even buy a beer and let you in on the techniques. Locations are where the work is.

UNBELIEVABLE

DPD

09-14-2006, 12:44 PM

This was just an idea to try and get more people to fish more tournaments. BTW as a co I have no say in were the boater wants to go or what baits to use. I know of one boater that only fished in two tourneys and made it over a couple that fished 3. I do not feal that that is fare to the guy that paid his extra dues, time, and money not to make it. I was speaking of the Saginaw bay super tourney. This was a very tough bite. Many blanks from some very good anglers. Yes they caught fish but just could not get the 15"+ fish. Some of these blanks came from local guys that fish almost every weekend. So you do not like that idea. Great. You are only one voice.

River Rat2

09-14-2006, 03:02 PM

So you want an exception because of the dollars.. hmmm, we should offer those who pay an opportunity to pre-fish with other boaters and give away those locations... dollars do not make criteria for championships. Fishing is a risk of catching and NOT catching the right size fish. The money allows you to buy equipment. The weight in each tournament help you qualify for the "big dance". Sorry to those who cannot go to the dance no matter how much they spend.

dpd

09-14-2006, 03:28 PM

What I am saying is that they are looking for a way to get more boaters to show up to all of the tournies especially on the boater side. If a boater thinks he can make it just buy fishing the two Sag. Bay events that is not bringing any more boats to the other two events. By adding a few showup points that will make them fish more. If you don't want showup points how about you have to fish all 4 events to make it to the Finals. I am just throwing out a few different ideas to try and get more boaters and co's. I myself really had a great time, met some new people. I do not want to see this League fold. In a couple of years I am planning on going to the boater side but I would like another 2 years learning from the Pro's before I make the switch. Afterall I am the person that the major sponsers (boats) are looking at now. A future big water boat owner insteal of my 17 foot bass boat.

BrianB

09-14-2006, 03:35 PM

In response to team format I feel it would hurt the guys who
want to fish tournaments but do not have a partner or a boat
which meets the guidelines set by the league.I have fished
as a co-angler and had great partners who have been good teachers
and have developed friendships with which I believe would not have been possible in a team format.

The co/boater format also serves as a great stepping stone to bring
people and dollars into the FLW system who may not otherwise do so.
You would also need to think about how many co-anglers
move up to the boater status each year which creates a need for another co-angler and brings more dollars and another fisherman
into the system.

BrianB

09-14-2006, 03:35 PM

Yep

09-14-2006, 04:08 PM

The boater/non-boater format in theory is the way to go. However, it seems like the FLW Leagues aren't filling and they're trying to come up with a solution to generate more interest/revenue.

If the fields don't fill don't expect the FLW to keep the leagues going. They aren't in business to lose money.

That said, I've notcied that many of their BFL disvision only have 40 or so entrants by the end of the season. Maybe the FLW needs to look at a bigger picture and give it more time and work on actually promoting the events.

Yep

09-14-2006, 04:08 PM

Hookineyes

09-14-2006, 05:16 PM

Here's what would get full fields for the FLW league with the current format.

1. 3 qualifying events for each division, one river, one inland lake and one Big Water event.
2. Increase the payout on the boater side before contingencies and adjust the entry fee accordingly to something similar to the examples below.
Boater Entry fee - $475-$500
Place Purse
1. 25,000
2. 3,000
3. 2,500
4. 2,000
5. 1,600
6. 1,500
7. 1,400
8. 1,300
9. 1,200
10. 1,100
11. 1,000
12. 800
13. 700
14. 600
15. 550
16-20. 500

OR a $650 entry fee with the following payout

1st $35,000
2nd $4,000
3rd $3,500
4th $2,500
5th $2,000
6th $1,900
7th $1,800
8th $1,700
9th $1,600
10th $1,500
11th $1,100
12th $1,000
13th $900
14th $800
15th $700
16th-20th $650

3. Top qualifiers from each division get a spot in Tour Championship. It should be the top qualifier(s) rather than the league championship top finisher. Awarding based off the accumulated points of the season would almost ensure the angler would have to fish all 3 qualifying events. Thus increasing the field at all events.

4. Make one day tournaments on Sundays if at all possible. Allows weekend anglers to get another day of pre-fishing.

5. Avoid scheduling launch locations in areas were excessively long runs are the norm. More competitors will sign up if the launch is closer to the areas traditionally known to hold the fisheries better fish.

6. Avoid scheduling tournaments that conflict with other major circuits.

Hookineyes

09-14-2006, 05:16 PM

flatfish

09-14-2006, 05:54 PM

Better spread the cash around in the top ten if you want anyone to show up.

flatfish

09-14-2006, 05:54 PM

Better spread the cash around in the top ten if you want anyone to show up.

FishinBemidji

09-14-2006, 09:50 PM

unlogged kidding

Come on, you have obviousiously never fished a tournment!!! Do you honestly believe that just paying for four tournaments will get you to the big show??? The finals are group of guy's that are VERY worthy of being there!!!!!! To beat these guy's is a feather of it's own!!!!!! Take you're sorry @ss comments to a board that doesn't know it's fishing!!!! We are trying to get more qualified boaters to join a Pro-am circuit.

FishinBemidji

09-14-2006, 09:50 PM

Hunter88

09-14-2006, 11:47 PM

I could not have said it better....

Hunter88

09-14-2006, 11:47 PM

I could not have said it better....

dpd

09-15-2006, 06:12 AM

Thanks for the support.

As far as the higher entry fees. Why not make it the same as the Tour. The ones that do fish are a bunch of Weekend worriers. Most of us that do fish will not be able to lay out that much cash at the beginning of the year. I can see raising it a little but the key is to get more boaters. I think that there are enough co's ready to go.

dpd

09-15-2006, 06:12 AM

perchjerker

09-15-2006, 09:02 AM

I thought this was for weekend anglers, not pros.

Marble Eyes

09-15-2006, 09:45 AM

I would choose a 300 dollar per event entry fee, 3 events per division.

5200 dollar payout with a full field.
375 payback out at 20th.

You get the entries to high you are going to price yourself out of part of the boaters in the League events.

Dan(MI)

09-15-2006, 10:05 AM

I would rather see fees the same or slightly higher if necessary. If I were to pay $300 for a day of fishing I might as well partner up and fish the MWC for two days! I like the flw league format. I am not fishing to get rich so if I get a lil check at 17th place I'm happy with that. I too would like to see more teams, but there is competition dividing the boaters and teams in MI.

Keep it the same and the most desirable circuit will win out.

Unlogged Kidding Back

09-15-2006, 12:52 PM

Your sorry reply is a tribute to your knowledge.

I have fished many Tourneys! Many when the 2006 AOY on the FLW tour was running a Stratos instead of a Ranger. Have won, lost, and broke even in many events. You must be the "newbie" and would take great pleasure in putting your money in my pocket. As for your ridiculous reply, your idle comments/threats mean nothing to me. Much like you as in individual do. I cashed checks this season in different states in different tournaments and love the cherry picking. Simply dislike the facts that someone wants "atta-boys" for spending money for tournaments. You are welcome to your comments and how you want to spend your dollars. Losing or Winning. But I would bet you lose and think your learning something....

FishinBemidji

09-15-2006, 03:09 PM

:rotflmao:

Eyeshaveit

09-15-2006, 04:15 PM

>I would rather see fees the same or slightly higher if
>necessary. If I were to pay $300 for a day of fishing I might
>as well partner up and fish the MWC for two days! I like the
>flw league format. I am not fishing to get rich so if I get a
>lil check at 17th place I'm happy with that. I too would like
>to see more teams, but there is competition dividing the
>boaters and teams in MI.
>
>Keep it the same and the most desirable circuit will win out.
>
Dan (MI),

I would like the chance to break even for costs when I fish a tournament. If I finished 17th and got a little check like around $94-$145 I wouldn't be estatic about paying $150-$200 for that opportunity. Nobody is getting rich at any walleye tournaments, but I'd rather break even if possible.

Comparing the FLW league 1 day tournaments to MWC 2 day tournaments is interesting. Doubling the expenses fishing 2 days for the same payout doesn't make sense to me.