don't people want a challenge anymore.

[marcnsaugeyes]

As a past tournament director, a helper to the current director and a competition angler for the past 12 years, I can't help but wonder if tournament anglers are afraid of a challenge when it comes to new lakes. I know I'm not speaking of all anglers but many are afraid of trying new waters when it comes to fishing a tournament. They tend to want to fish the same lakes, the same months of the year, just because the bite is the best at that time. Yawn lol
Are we not missing out by not expanding our horizons fishing lakes that are unutilized by anglers. Within a 100 mile radius is many lakes stocked with eyes that have never seen a tournament and recieve little fishing pressure for them at all. Some are 9.9hp lakes and some are unlimited horsepower and all are over 1000+ acres. We only have 20-30 boats so we don't need a hundred miles of shoreline for teams to get on good fish. But you have to fight tooth n nail sometimes to make guys realize that a great bite could be found by traveling to some of these out of the way areas. Granted a few might be a bust but was a tournament without a challenge. Some of the best memories are events where only a few team met the challenge of bad weather/bite and scratched out enough fish to cash a check.. Any ideas on how to get teams interested in hitting new waters? Thanks now for any constructive ideas.

[marcnsaugeyes]

As a past tournament director, a helper to the current director and a competition angler for the past 12 years, I can't help but wonder if tournament anglers are afraid of a challenge when it comes to new lakes. I know I'm not speaking of all anglers but many are afraid of trying new waters when it comes to fishing a tournament. They tend to want to fish the same lakes, the same months of the year, just because the bite is the best at that time. Yawn lol
Are we not missing out by not expanding our horizons fishing lakes that are unutilized by anglers. Within a 100 mile radius is many lakes stocked with eyes that have never seen a tournament and recieve little fishing pressure for them at all. Some are 9.9hp lakes and some are unlimited horsepower and all are over 1000+ acres. We only have 20-30 boats so we don't need a hundred miles of shoreline for teams to get on good fish. But you have to fight tooth n nail sometimes to make guys realize that a great bite could be found by traveling to some of these out of the way areas. Granted a few might be a bust but was a tournament without a challenge. Some of the best memories are events where only a few team met the challenge of bad weather/bite and scratched out enough fish to cash a check.. Any ideas on how to get teams interested in hitting new waters? Thanks now for any constructive ideas.

[ksmntman]

I started fishing tourneys so that I would have a reason to fish different lakes. I live just a few miles from a great lake and always fished it and one an hour away. The tourneys were a great way to "force" me to fish lakes that I would otherwise never have gone to. Maybe setting up a pretourney dinner the nite before would help. My best memories of tourney fishing have been camping out with friends. Of course, that probably says alot about my fishing abilities!! :cheers:

[dutchboy]

Tie the championship into requiring people to fish ALL of your events.
Work out some sort of point system that gets the guys who fish all the events into the championship. Perhaps charge a prorated amount to guys who qualify that DID NOT fish all the events. It's your tour, you name the lakes. People can choose to fish or not fish.

It seems everybody wants their tour to be the PWT or FLW. No need for that. Keep your entries reasonable. Pay down alot of places. Keep things fun. You will always have guys looking for a good time that want to compete.

Good luck. :cheers:

[marcnsaugeyes]

We're using just that system but even though we have directors It's a member thing. The Club makes the rules and picks the lakes during the winter meetings and after the championship dinner. We offer about 15 lakes and they pick 4 for the season and 1 for the 2 day championship. We drop the worst of the 1 day events if you fish all 4 events or can't make 1 event for any reason. Double points for the championship but they vote on the same lakes almost yearly. In the past a couple of new lakes didn't produce as they are used to now they shy away.

[cjbrown]

Four qualifiers. Vote on 2 Lakes, the remaing 2 qualifiers will be put in a hat and drawn at random, not to include any lakes that was fished the previous year.

[rabbit]

Gas is the biggest,time off from work, entry fees,then the lodging,preventive maintenance,food etc...
I believe everybody wants the challenge but we all have the same addiction -"Catching Fish"- and with times being limited finacially it's a localized thing now for most.
My vote would be to go ahead and fish those familiar waters but do surprise boundaries & hook and line limitations. The rule would have to be within what every boater has available to fish with and would have to be within the law. Change the limit and incorporate a slot and still be below the State limit and do not allow the extra fish to be brought in. This would attract people towards the tournament that normally hate tournaments coming to their areas because of the fish getting pounded for 2 weeks straight.... ...For example: The club votes to fish Saginaw Bay Michigan for 2 of the 4 qualifiers. At the captains' meeting everybody gets a slip of paper that MAY read only 1 fish over 26" and 2 under 17 per angler in boat for each day of the tournie...
. This would be a surprise and a challenge and they still can catch fish...The tournie director will decide this prior to getting on stage at the meeting.
In the rule book allow 1-3 days of pre-fishing or no pre-fishing
Nobody should know from one tournament to the next what to expect as far as boundaries,limits and equipment that can be used...
If you actually want to go to an unfamiliar lake. For most it will have to be economically capable. You wouldn't want to roll 30-200 teams into a lake that has only one motel and service station for 40 miles. What are the local lake fishing people going to think? Sometimes that boost to the economy in that area shouldn't be put in lieu of local fisherman's thoughts about it!
Personally I would like to see pre-fishing tournaments shortened drastically. 3 days tops... That would help alot of budgets and make it more competible....I could go on and on but this is just a few ideas.
One more thing. The use of cell phones and modern technology is unstopable now rule or no rule. So the people that are working their network cliques will always be there. If the pre-fish was shortened or stopped that would slow down but not stop the network crews. I would say tell all the info you want,even out on the water. That doesn't mean you are going to catch fish like the one giving the info. It would be one less thing to worry about as a director...So, make the pre-fish 1-3 days call and tell your buddies all you want even during tournie time and it will be fun anyhow!!!Fish on...Paul

[AllenW]

""""""""""
It seems everybody wants their tour to be the PWT or FLW. No need for that. Keep your entries reasonable. Pay down alot of places. Keep things fun. You will always have guys looking for a good time that want to compete.
"""""""""

I think that's a good point, if the entry fee's are high enough, for many it becomes a serious endeavor instead of just a day on the lake.

They are going to want to fish where know the lake, least most that don't have a lot of disposable income would. imho

Al

[bradley894]

in the late 90s we usta love these sunday events spread out a hundread or two hundread miles from home... same old competitors with a few locals mixed in... good times as stated above... but we could fish on a shoe string... show up pre-fish the day before sometimes two days , maybe no pre fishing and compete for a top ten points position in the state by the end of the year. gas was 75 cents a gallon entry was 150 bucks , a room for the night was 40 or 50 and split with another team. , it was fun... now fuel runs 200 for the weekend , the room is 90 bucks entry at a low level is 225-250 and with a 500 plus dollar investment yu better pre fish to compete , now there are 30-50 local anglers because the purse is higher and your not just rubbing elbows with your base 50 boats or so; compition yes,, you better pre fish a few days more time off work more fuel , add another 400 dollars and and 2 or 3 days off of work costs real money.. not to mention you not just gone sat night your gone from home for four days and you need to settle up with the wife.. too... thats why its not popular.. go back to points, 100 dollar entriefee and if the payout drops the pre fishing and local entries will drop, back to good competitive fun! i dont care if the entry fee is 50 dollars or 500.oo FACE IT ! your not good enuff to make money or come out ahead at the game anyway.. so whats the point of 3 days pre-fishing and spending a grand on a weekend when first place is 2 or 3 thousand bucks and anything out of the top 3 is a loss. drop the fees and they will come. maybe.

[b894]

yup yup thats the ticket, drop the entry to 100 bucks , a big fish pot that pays 2 or three spots. sunday tourneys within 50-150 miles of your base, and they will come. father son, daughter wives, club shirts. big sparkly rigs or a 16 footer no matter. a room a tent a truck camper for the night before.. a pre-tournament meating the night before at a nearby eating and beverage establishment, some playwood for the top 5 and there will be goodtimes for all, making money in the game is secondary , reality weather you fish the pwt flw ,mwc , or whatever is that at the end of the year ill bet less then 5% break even or come out ahead, just bigger noumbers. just because you spend more doesnt mean you can win more.. when the year is done its still a hobbie... dont lie to yourself

[b894]

just 1 more thaught ... yes a championship for the top whatever in points. and yes 5 tournament to qualify but let the folks skip 1 event or have 1 sub available in case of conflict, count there top 4 events out of 5 and throw out the crappy day on the water. make the chamionship a two day event in a place where you dont need a big boat to fish or offers a river system in case of bad weather for cover or small craft... i have a large boat but many have a 16 or 17 footer and cant run 20 miles on the great lakes. may take a few years but good times and good freinds and it will grow into a good option for many.

[marcnsaugeyes]

Thanks guys you've all made great points. It takes alot to make a good circuit and it guys like you that helps with ideas, that can help make a great circuit.