marcnsaugeyes
12-10-2004, 03:38 PM
The grapevine is great, not always accurate but great. The newest rumor out there is that Gander Mountain is going to come out with their own Walleye National Team Championship. I thought I'd post what I'd like to see in a WNTC, and if you think about it also post your feeling and what you'd like to see and maybe they will take some suggestions if they decide to host one in the future.
First I believe Cabela's had the right idea of qualifying entrants from local organizations. This is the roots of all tournament anglers. Offer two or three spots to every organization out there that is interested for thier top teams. Divide it only same ammount of places goes to all the organization. So what if you have 200 team on one circuit and 20 on another only take the top teams. Make it something your really have to compete for.
Hold it on Neutral water. There are enough walleye/saugeye lakes out there with no local organization within 200 miles or so to hold events for the next 15 or more years. For walleye tournament angling as a whole to progress we have to get more areas interested. If I'm not mistaking Indiana has quite a few "eye" lakes but lacks clubs and circuits covering the state. How about Kentucky and Tennessee? Cumberland has a bounty of large eyes and is one of several large lakes in Ky. Center Hill, Old Hickory (25pounder) and Dale Hollow the most well know Smallmouth but a fantastic Walleye Lake are a few in Tenn.
Hosting a NTC on a neutral Lake puts all contestants on a level playing field, and at the same time promotes walleye angling and Gander Mountain or any host in a new area. Announce the next years event during the banquet at the championship. You won't have to put out a press, because the anglers at the event will do it for you. It will hit the internet most likely before the banquet is over. Everything will be in place and anglers know when to expect it. You'll get more positive feed back this way.
If a boat manufacturer wants to give a way a boat, make sure it's two boats. One for each of the two anglers from the winning team no matter if they own one of your boats or not. None of that "You can only win a Ranger if you already own a Ranger or get a second one if you already own one." crap. I always thought they were top of the line not only as a manufacturere but in their ethics until last years Cabela's event. It those of us who slave in lower paying jobs just to support our families and hopefully have enough to fish a few events and take our vacation for a national who come and fish these. Great for those who can afford a $40,000 boat, they have theirs. But we have looked forward to a chance at a new boat just like them, and then to rub it in that we are 2nd class citizens so we can't compete for one just really rubbed me wrong.
There's more I'd like to see but that should be a start. I'm driving a semi-across country and only have time to get this post started. Help me out and reply, let's tell these large event organizers what the anglers want to see in a National Tournament.
First I believe Cabela's had the right idea of qualifying entrants from local organizations. This is the roots of all tournament anglers. Offer two or three spots to every organization out there that is interested for thier top teams. Divide it only same ammount of places goes to all the organization. So what if you have 200 team on one circuit and 20 on another only take the top teams. Make it something your really have to compete for.
Hold it on Neutral water. There are enough walleye/saugeye lakes out there with no local organization within 200 miles or so to hold events for the next 15 or more years. For walleye tournament angling as a whole to progress we have to get more areas interested. If I'm not mistaking Indiana has quite a few "eye" lakes but lacks clubs and circuits covering the state. How about Kentucky and Tennessee? Cumberland has a bounty of large eyes and is one of several large lakes in Ky. Center Hill, Old Hickory (25pounder) and Dale Hollow the most well know Smallmouth but a fantastic Walleye Lake are a few in Tenn.
Hosting a NTC on a neutral Lake puts all contestants on a level playing field, and at the same time promotes walleye angling and Gander Mountain or any host in a new area. Announce the next years event during the banquet at the championship. You won't have to put out a press, because the anglers at the event will do it for you. It will hit the internet most likely before the banquet is over. Everything will be in place and anglers know when to expect it. You'll get more positive feed back this way.
If a boat manufacturer wants to give a way a boat, make sure it's two boats. One for each of the two anglers from the winning team no matter if they own one of your boats or not. None of that "You can only win a Ranger if you already own a Ranger or get a second one if you already own one." crap. I always thought they were top of the line not only as a manufacturere but in their ethics until last years Cabela's event. It those of us who slave in lower paying jobs just to support our families and hopefully have enough to fish a few events and take our vacation for a national who come and fish these. Great for those who can afford a $40,000 boat, they have theirs. But we have looked forward to a chance at a new boat just like them, and then to rub it in that we are 2nd class citizens so we can't compete for one just really rubbed me wrong.
There's more I'd like to see but that should be a start. I'm driving a semi-across country and only have time to get this post started. Help me out and reply, let's tell these large event organizers what the anglers want to see in a National Tournament.