PWT AOY

[PWT Angler]

I just read on another site that the PWT is going to have 4 regional and 2 "Super Pro" events this year. To win angler of the year, you have to be one of the choosen few that fish the Super pros. Should'nt the guys that fish the 4 regionals and fish against a full field and have the best finish's be the AOY. This means I can have a Win and 3 top 10s and still not win it.

I don't think that just because they make you fish two more tournaments make you the best that year!!! What does everyone think.

[bw]

I think they took a step back instead of forward. Next year they will change the format again and leave you boys hanging wonder whats going to happen. Just my thoughts.

[Eric Schuelke]

I think they took a step forward. When you see the payouts you will see that. I don't know if they are going ot have a regional champ this year, like they did last year. I fish the regionals, we will be fishing against the best, thye will be fishing 6 events, to our 4.

Okay, you have the finishes that you said, lets just say for sake of arguement, that you had the chance to fish all 6, you take last in the two super pro events, where does that leave you? Not angler of the year.

If you have the finishes you described, you will be in the super pro next year, then you will have a chance at angler of the year.

If you have been doing the PWT for years now, and you haven't qualified for the super pro's, whose fault is that? Not the PWT's

They were going to make the super pro's fish all the events to qualify for angler of the year, at first they came out with 8 events. That may have been too many for most of them to do, but with 6 events, that's more doable. Plus, this should insure that there are full fields at each event, with less people being able to fish 1 or 2 tournaments.

In essence what they are doing is making the regionals a feeder league, to get to the super pro's. Where everyone that fishes the PWT should want to be.

They will never please everyone, and I guess you are one of them

[bw]

Eric how many super pros are they going to have this year do they have a set number or did that change?

[Eric Schuelke]

I'm not exactly sure, i don't want to say, and it be wrong.

[PWT Angler]

If you honestly believe deep down just because someone is in the "PICKED" field of "SUPER PROS" your the best keep dreaming. What part of AOY don't you understand. " ANGLER OF THE YEAR " is just that, the best competing that year against everyone in the fields. Not just half of it. It has nothing to do with what has been done in the past or the future. Plus I've always said the "Super Pro Events" should be stand alone set of events and then if you qualify for them it means something. It takes away from guys fishing the regionals to have a career making season and not win what they had earned. You also said last year that by opening the fields up for 1 and 2 timers it would grow the sport! Now you same guys are changing direction and saying you don't want to play against the locals. MAKE-UP YOUR MINDS!!! You can't have it both ways. We did'nt fill the fields last year and by making the 60 "Super Pros" fish the 4 regionals that means they only need 60 more anglers to fill the fields. Then the total anglers involved will be 120 and that HUGE number will impress the sponsors,eh?

[bw]

Exactly PWT Angler what would you like to fish against 50 or 60 guys for AOY or 120. Next year or next month the format could change.

[bw]

I forgot to put a smiley face behind my last reply.:-)

[Eric Schuelke]

PWT angler, where in my post did it say, I didn't want the guys that fish 1 or 2 events? All I said is, that less people would be fishing 1 or 2 events.

I don't remember saying that by allowing guys fish 1 or 2 events, that would grow the sport. maybe I did, but, I don't think I said that.

Before last year they had the east and west divisions, The angler of the year came from the guys that fished all 6 events. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I know for a fact they didn't have 120 anglers fishing all 6 tournaments.

They are having two super pro events, only the super pro's can be angler of the year. If you want a chance at angler of the year, then have a good enough season to be in the super pro's next year.

Before last year, everyone wanted a change, so they tried something, it didn't work out, so they are trying something different again this year. entry fees for the regionals are going up $50, and the payouts are going up substantially, which people wanted.

You know, I'm a nobody in the walleye world, but at least i'm man enough to post my name, not just say I'm a PwT angler. Most of the guys that do fish the PWT don't come on here, because they do get ripped to shreads.

In my opinion, they are making some changes for the better, PWT angler, who ever you are, apparently you don't care for the changes. That is your choice.

[Aaron Abaurrea]

Interesting reading here. Well here is my 2 cents worth. On a PERSONAL basis, I really like all the folks at In-Fish and the PWT. I also respect the PWT for looking into new avenues for Professional Walleye fishing. I run my own business as I see fit, and have so for nearly 20 years, and although I dont agree with the PWT in some of the business moves they have made, in the end it is their business and they will run it as they see fit. I told Charlie that the way the point system was, that qualified anglers for the PWT Super Pro had some huge holes in it, and needed to be addressed. Those were average place finish, money winnings (as super pros had approx 70% more money to payout vs regionals), and other things. I think having it based on winnings only seems as reasonable as anything...HOWEVER, it stands to reason that there must be a minimum number of events fished for a pro to qualify, something like 15-20. I certainly dont think I belong in the Super Pro field now, but in time I certainly hope so. I see guys (actually guy) that had no business in the SP's last year, and guys coming in 2007, that have no business when I see great seasoned anglers on the sidelines. I think a minimum # of events shakes these guys out. Lastly, Eric you must be privy to info that we dont see, as it appears by your statement that you HAVE seen the payouts. Lucky YOU

[Major Holes]

Eric,
Your statement

"They are having two super pro events, only the super pro's can be angler of the year. If you want a chance at angler of the year, then have a good enough season to be in the super pro's next year."

is faulty primarily because it is called "Angler of the Year" If it was truly AOY then all those competing would have a chance to win.This is not a measure of who really is the "best" for that season but rather, best of a group they (PWT) think is better, elimating the rest of the competition
You could have a stellar year and have far better finishes than any of the Super Pros and not get anything except a "I did pretty good" In my mind that's not fair to someone such as yourself that COULD very well have a once in a lifetime year and not get the accolades that you desrve

THis really should be called Super Pro of the Year as the only people competing for the award are Super Pros and they are not picked by simply their results from the previous year but by a series of criteria established by the PWT.

Make it a "True" AOY

Just my view

[akuff]

OK fellas play nice! At the danger of being torn to shreds I am going to stick my neck out. The PWT listens to the anglers via an advisory board made up of PWT pros. At the same time they have a buisness to run. Not everything that is done is going to be explained to the general public. Even though I am not the general public and have fished for 10 years now I still don't have privilage to all the whys either. Sometimes I am disapointed in their decisions too but it is not my buisness to tell them how to run theirs. Last year the top touring regional angler received plenty of recognition and I am sure it will be likewise again. So if they want to have an AOY choosen from all 6 then they can do that. As for who gets to fish the super pros: I am sure that not everyone is going to be happy about who does and dosn't but they did have criteria. It is not like they just said: "hey you, want to be a super pro"? or "hey you deserving guy, we won't let you be a super pro, go sit down". Now maybe it isn't agreed upon how that criteria was selected or orchestrated but once again there was angler imput from some of the most respected anglers and best anglers on the PWT. There will always be some bias in every decision but I like to believe that it is the good kind and necessary (well maybe not always), everyone else can believe what they want. Just the fact that there is even a board like this is kind of remarkable about our sport. And I am from Detroit where the weak are slain and... well you get the point. So don't shoot the piano player ok?

Andy Kuffer

[Eric Schuelke]

Aaron, I missed typed, I said the payouts were going up substantially. The email we got said each tournament will pay out significantly more cash then last year.

I don't know that much more then the rest.

I totally agree with the way you put it. It's a business, and they have to run it their way. Just like in any other job, my job, the company does some very stupid stuff, no matter how pissed off it makes a lot of people, it's their business, and they can run it the way they want.

[Eric Schuelke]

PWT angler, after talking with another angler that has been around the professional ranks for forever, and is almost older then dirt. I now know where you are coming from, and in some ways now agree with you on some of your points. And I retract some of the things I said towards you. I understand how you feel.

[PWT Pro 2]

The payouts will NEED to go up substantially. A 50% increase in the Super Pro entry fees ($2000.00-$3000.00) is a little steep. Hopefully the payout increases will match the entry fee increases.

[bw]

Good one just like last year the payouts were going up. Last year they gave out 18' Lunds instead of 20' Lunds and didnt the First place cash end up being less at the tourney.

[Trinidad]

>The payouts will NEED to go up substantially. A 50% increase
>in the Super Pro entry fees ($2000.00-$3000.00) is a little
>steep. Hopefully the payout increases will match the entry fee
>increases.

OUCH!!!

[PWT Fan]

BW,

The boats last year that were given away were 18 ftrs. with 175 Opti's on them for the regional field. The super pro fields got 19ftrs with 175 opti's. They obviously couldnt give out 20footers at all the regionals and super pros. Being in the Super Pro field does have a few more perks, but it's also guys that have paid there dues and have worked hard to get where they are! Also, payout was a little less last year because enty fees did go down due to the pros wanting them too.

As for the entry fees for the Super pros, that changed due to the advisory counsil and the pros wanting it to go up. Not neccesarily the PWT people!

[bw]

Even after they lowered the entry fee's they stated a first place check was going to be a certain amount and it ended up being less.