RCL or PWT ?

[Average Guy]

Both the PWT and RCL are coming to my home town this summer(Oshkosh,WI).I was thinking of entering one as an amature or co-angler.I would like to hear pros or cons for either one. Thanks.

[s.f.]

you might have to flip a coin. both these circuits will offer you a great experience. consider what you want to learn. maybe the time of the year of the event will offer you more insight into a certain type of fishing you want to learn more about. the 'cut' that the rcl format offers is very exciting...kinda making more than one tournament
out of one tournament. the pwt history speaks for itself. both great events at a great lake.
#49

[Fritz]

I'd go with the PWT because you are going to fish for three days for sure VS. the high probability of fishing only two days with the RCL.
On the other hand the RCL awards cash prizes for the co-angler VS. a bunch of "door prizes" that equal the value of your winnings. Both tournaments are well run and I had a great time in the 1 PWT that I did on winnebago. I live on the north end of the lake and have fished it my entire life. I would not participate as an amatuer on my home waters again, even though I had a great time and did learn a few things as well. If you are a proficient fisherman on winnebago and feel that you are a well rounded angler you may become a bit frustrated on the amatuer side. You are required to keep your Ideas and fishing areas to yourself. That is very hard to do when you have a Pro (that put up his own money to fish his way) cruising past a bunch of great spots.
If your just getting started on winnebago this is a great way, no, the best way to cut years off your learning curve on this sometimes very complex system.
I would love to go to lake erie and fish on the am side, or maybe fort peck. I have never been to those places.
You know what? Know I'm all excited,I'd probably still do the am side on winnebago, any time you can go fish in a tournament of this size it's fun. You get to meet some of the fisherman you've read about or seen on TV and that to me was very interesting. Plus you don't have the travel expenses. JUST DO IT!!!

[Juls_WI]

Take into consideration that the RCL will hit the waters of Bago first. Then there will be the Merc Nationals, and then the PWT. If you want to fish the lake before all the tournament pressure hits, fish the RCL.

The RCL puts on a great show, and if you've never been to one, I can guarantee you will have a great time!

Whichever you choose...PWT or RCL you will not regret it. It's an experience you will never forget.

See ya there!

Juls

[JimRK]

Juls,

You forgot to mention the Otter Street Tournament on Father's Day weekend. The best tournament run on Winnebago IMHO. For the month of June, there are going to be a lot of Walleyes with sore lips.

[Difference.....]

I have fished both and without a doubt the RCL is a better experience. I tell people that compared to NASCAR, the PWT is the Busch Series and the RCL is the Winston Cup.

The competition and atmosphere is much better in the RCL. The PWT has a bunch of "names." Like an "old timers" game. ( : The PWT is nice enough to send you a 1099 for a bunch of over valued stuff you would not buy. Look for Risto Raps in 2002 at every PWT stop!!!

Also, don't get buffaloed by the "boat" excuse. NASCAR only allows Chevrolet, Ford, Pontiac, and Dodge. The RCL only allows Ranger, Crestliner and Lund. If the "names" weren't affraid of the competition they too would get a qualified boat and test their skills against the best. Oh, and the sponsor exposure excuse....The PWT is sponsored by just "fishing" sponsors. The RCL is sponsored by big time, mainstream companies, much like other professional sports. Could you impagine if Baseball relied on baseball industry sponsors or NASCAR relied on automotive sponsors? None would be where they are today. The "pro's" who use the sponsor exposure excuse you can bet are sponsored the same fishing sponsors as everyone else.

The RCL has brought out the best, because the money is worth coming out for. I watched the championship at Green Bay and I am so charged I can't wait till Bago! Winston Cup or Busch? I am a Cup guy, Go RCL!

[Right On!]

Best analogy I have heard. There is a difference, and you summed it up.

[Fish-on]

There's a lot of flaws in your analogy. First of all. Only Ranger, Lund and Crestliner boats are allowed because they are all owned by Genmar and so is the RCL. The only way other boats would be allowed is if they sold out to Genmar. The PWT is picking up more non -industry sponsors as are all circuits (Realtree, ocean waves, Carhartt, Coleman, DeeZee, Leer). Heck even the Iowa Walleye Trail has US Cellular and PEPSI. Many tournament anglers have been sponsored by non-industry businesses for some time and that's growing as businesses realize how huge fishing is, and how they can benefit by being a part of it. The RCL has the advantage of having many non-industry sponsors because they have been able to carry them over from the bass tournaments which are 20 years ahead of walleye tournaments in this area.

True, cash is cash. But most of the stuff you'll win on the PWT is good stuff and the prizes are well worth-while. Besides, the PWT can pick and choose their anglers, while the RCL, being new, takes anyone who sends in the entry fee. If your desire is to fish with a well-known top walleye pro, your chances are a little better in the PWT thant the RCL at this point.

You really can't compare NASCAR to tournament fishing, but both can give a company good value for their advertising dollar. In NASCAR, you can have your logo flash by the TV screen every lap, but in fishing, we have to be a little more creative in producing consumer impressions.

Sounds like you have an axe to grind against the PWT, but both circuits have strong points. The simple fact that there are two to choose from is good for all of us: Pro, Am or spectator. Competition makes us all better.

[Doug Burns]

First off let me state that I am a Ranger ProStaff member and therefore qualify to compete on the RCL circuit. In fact, I have fished both RCL Championships and they are a fine organization. It is great to have them raising the standards in competitive walleye fishing. However last year I chose to fish the PWT circuit and will again choose to in 2002.
Why? Because I have other sponsors, that I have been with many years, like Bottom Line electronics and Mercury outboards and I continue to look for more sponsorships that may not be on the approved RCL sponsor list. If I can't promote my sponsors on the tour I compete on it is very difficult for me to be of any use to them. The sponsors I have now are good to me and I a continue to grow more valuable to my sponsors over time.
As for the "names" being afraid. That is simply ludicrous! Gary Parsons, Kieth Kavajecz, Gary Gray,Kim Papineu I don't believe these guys are afraid of competition. In fact, they relish it. Other guys like myself, Mike Gofron and Ted Takasaki for example, still believe the PWT is a great circuit and believe it is the best place for us to compete. I hope that in 02 I can do both circuits, that is my goal. But until then I will stick with the PWT.
I beieve Fish-on is right you have a vendetta against the PWT. Maybe you should take it up with them directly. As to the original question PWT or RCL, I don't think you can go wrong with either, but if were an amatuer looking strictly for a learning experience, I would choose the PWT.

Doug Burns