Pete Harsh

[Jbob]

This may have been discussed before but I missed it. What boat is Pete fishing out of now? I was told that on Friday night of the walleye expo Pete was to be in his new boat outside at 9 PM. I left before then and missed it if it happened.

[pa walleye]

talked to pete this past sunday, he said he would anounce in 2 weeks what he would be running. and said it definetly would not be a warrior.

[David Anderson]

Interesting comment. My apologies to all you Warrior owners, no offense intended, but without knowing all the facts......it sounds like the same old negative publicity cloud that hangs over Warrior. Before I bought my Ranger I was moments away from a 2090. Assurances that all is good with Warrior, like the boat, motor, layout, and even talked to Pete a few times at the shows. Couldn't shake the 1 in 3 who loved their boat, sick of the hassles and attitudes of the owner.
I have no first hand experience of this, never talked to the managment, and I am only speculating. Maybe Warrior is making room for a bigger gun than Pete. Time will tell. I think Warrior has raised the bar on the big tillers and I hope that they will continue that trend. I seriously doubt that my 620 would even be an option without the 2090. I hope I am wrong...............on the other hand, this is a forum!

[Juls_WI]

I don't think they were making room for a "bigger gun" than Pete. Heck, Pete was Warrior! I'm keepng my fingers crossed to see that big teddy bear fishing out of an R, C, or L this year!

I love surprises....can't wait to hear what he's going to be running!

Warrior is a great product, and business is business, but Pete's personal business is really none of our business! He will be a great representative of whatever product he chooses to endorse, and I'm sure he won't endorse a product that he doesn't beleive in.

Just my opinion...

Juls

[TR from OR]

Right on, Juls

[concerned2]

juls rules!!!

[Ristorapper]

And it will probably be a big boat exactly like Juls is running(ranger 620) and for reasons unknown only to those that are very competative, he's probably doing it to run in the RCL and PWT this year among other tourneys. Best of luck Pete and know you will fish better concentrating on the fishing aspect of the tourneys and not worrying about the next question on what procuct you are going to endorse. I feel a lot of pros are in deep trouble knowing that Pete is after all of them!! He'll represent himself well as usual.

See ya at the Championship!!

[Rick]

I hope Pete doesn't just cave in to marketing pressure simply to fish the RCL. We would all be better off without this closed circut approach to tournament fishing. I don't know his reasons for leaving Warrior but I do know that limited participation based on brand of boat is certainly not good for the sport no matter how much money Irwin Jacobs puts up in prize money.

[Goldpig]

Your entitled to your opinion about the RCL, and I will respectfully disagree. It is certainly bringing more exposure to the sport, which in my opinion is a good thing. But, we have hatched this out before and really isn't the point of this thread.

As far as Pete, the only person that knows whats best for Pete is Pete. Whatever his decision is, I am sure that it will suit him perfectly. Best of luck.

[W'eyes Guy]

I talked to Dick Stille (Warrior field rep.) At a local boat show on saturday, And He thought Pete would opt for a Lund because he liked the Warrior Tiller so much; and figured the Lund to be the most comparable. But he was just guessin'. What ever Pete decides on, they will not find a better representative. Good luck Pete, there'll be alotta pros sweatin' this guy.

#610

[How come]

How come no one cried fowl when,

BASS made it mandatory to fish the championship from the sponsor boats
When Campion had their Tournament of Champions series
Skeeter had their Owners tourney
Yar Craft has their owners tourney
Merc made it madatory to have all Merc power?
While I agree there was some muttering, there was none like the level the RCL takes every week here. Oh wait, I know, it is the MONEY! Get your boat owners group to do the same or shut up and fish

[Oxbow]

Did it occur to you that it is possible Pete was asked to leave?

[4EYESONLY]

Whatever Pete decides to run doesn't make a bit of difference on how well he fishes.......money or no money he is one heck of a fisherman and the boat isn't the reason why. I will be pulling for Pete wherever he fishes or whatever he fishes out of. Sometimes I think people need to pertain to the business that sits right in front of their own noses......... of course thats just my opinion.

[TJ]

I'll take a guess....a 620T

[Todd_NE]

#1 - A lot of folks were up in arms over the BASS decision about sponsor boats, racing, etc. Are you saying that people should be up in arms about the RCL decision since you lose this example? You lost me.

#2 (Champion, Skeeter, Yar, Merc) Unless I missed it, all of these tourneys were/are originally billed as owner's tournaments and were not marketed as the "best of the best" as the RCL originally was. There is a fine line in marketing an owners circuit, it simply is not fair to say the "best" anglers participate, you can say the best anglers with brand "x" participate. I've used this example before, if NASCAR only allowed Chevy and Pontiac, it just wouldn't be NASCAR - that's not a knock - it's just a fact.

#3 The RCL is taking heat every week here? I sure don't see it. If anything, the PWT takes it on the chin for just about everything without a lot of defense thrown up, even by their own staff. Even a simple PWT question becomes an RCL promotion thread here most of the time. Perhaps that is because the PWT deserves it, but also because a lot of people have other interests at stake. Example, the PWT gets bashed when people ask about fishing as an amateur on a big circuit saying all you get is prizes, etc, yet no one mentions how few people make it to the third and fourth day of the RCL - it's not a good or bad thing, it's just a different format - on the PWT everyone fishes three days. Bottomline, people should gather the info and choose what fits best for them, their schedule, and their desires for tournament fishing as a pro or amateur.

#4 - It's all about the money huh? Well, the one thing I've seen EVERYONE agree on it's great to have the RCL tournaments for added sport exposure (i.e. attract viewership, interest, and sponsors) and to drive up the purses in tournament fishing. Some RCL owners have continued to fish the PWT exclusively, or both, that's great too.

Personally, I won't defend anyone who tears at either circuit because has their place and I'm glad they are both going full-bore. Both circuits have their benefits and compromises. It's too early to tell, but I do hope both circuits continue to thrive.

I wish you the best "How Come", but I certainly do not think the WalleyeCentral community is anything but polite and supportive about the RCL.

Todd

[Fish-on]

Todd I cannot ever recall the RCL promoting themselves as the "best". If you have some proof of that please come forward with it. And remember that until recently, (this year maybe?) NASCAR only allowed GM and Ford cars.

The RCL does take some heat here, and so does the PWT. I'm glad to have the opportunity to hear how others view things like these tournaments, and I agree that we shouldn't defend those who sit back and take cheap shots. But I do uphold the privilege of everyone to put forth their well thought-out opinions even if it differs from mine. For the most part you post is on the money in my opinion.

[Backwater Eddy]

For those of you who know Pete Harsh can you please pass along a message for me.

This fall he was hunting in ND at my Brother in Laws and somewhere along the line he passed his card to him to give to me concerning a outing on the Red.

Anyhow, it was his old card and so far I have not been able to return his call, stuff changed.

If convenient could you please pass along a message that he can shoot me a email at his leisure, or a message here on the WC board or at my web site.

I am sure he is a busy boy right now but if the opportunity pops up please pass my message along.

backwtr1@msn.com

Thanks,

Backwater Eddy.....><,,>

http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/home.html

[The best]

They certainly have and did. The first tournament they held at Green Bay you heard nothing but the tournament having the best walleye anglers in the world.

[Fish-on]

Show me. I have a copy of their brochure. Show me where they said it. Some people here may have said it but they did not, they never claimed to have the best.

[Todd_NE]

Fish-On, ask and you shall receive.

#1 July 12, 2000 MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The nation's best walleye fishermen will take to thewaters of Lake Michigan atGreen Bay, Wis., Oct. 3-7, 2000, to compete in the $1.4 million Wal-Mart RCL....

http://www.flwoutdoors.com/rcl/pressReleases.cfm?strObjectID=908D8ABF-58E9-11D4-A3A000508BCA3C8F&displayMonth=ALL&displayYear=2000

Fish-On, if you have more time than me, go ahead and search some more. As I said, originally RCL used "best" a few times and I compliment them for stopping this.

#2 NASCAR did not force Dodge out, Dodge chose for years not to field a team. I am not a NASCAR fan, it's just an analogy I chose because I hear walleye fishing compared to NASCAR as a future growth sport.

Again, I am not condemning the RCL or pick a figh FO, quite the contrary I hope. I think the RCL adds great things to competitive walleye fishing and I have nothing but respect for everyone involved there working so hard to make it succeed.

Peace

Todd

[the best]

Todd's press release shows exactly what I am talking about. If you were anywhere in western WI at that time you couldn't help hearing or seeing that claim on radio/tv/print.

Ironically, the claim is more true now than it was then. Most pros are switching over to those boat companies, and the promotion is working well for Genmar. Ranger boat sales were up 80% january to january. At the Minneapolis show Crestliner sales were double last year and Lund increased more than 40%. Its working. Just feel bad for those guys that try and get contracts re-upped after everyone switches. You heard it here.

By the way, I think the marketing plan by Irwin (specifically the RCL end) is a stroke of genius. He figured out that if you can get enough money in a tournament you can be sure that your boats are always in the winners circle. Magnificent. However, it does distort the real basis of boat purchasing decisions. But thats why it falls under marketing not sales.

[Fish-on]

You have proven me wrong.

[Todd_NE]

Thanks FO, I appreciate that sentence an awful lot. I also logged in so people can judge/question my objectivity or accuracy on their own.

Todd

[TJ]

>>However, it does distort the real basis of boat purchasing decisions.

I would think this is only true for the tournament fishing crowd.

[Eyez]

That's where it starts yes, but non tournament fisherman are heavily influenced in their boat purchase decisions by tournament fisherman, whether they know it or not. Tournament fisherman are a driving force in what boat mfr's make and sell, and tournament fisherman are often the ones that know more about more different boat models than a non tournament fisherman. All you have to do is take the advice of any one of the very knowledgable big names that frequent this board, and there's a chance that you're being influenced by a tournament fisherman's knowledge. I did not say always, but this is the case many times.


Eyez

[ristorapper]

One cannot fish more BIG tourneys in a Warrior. From what I understand he wants to dive head first into the tourney world and what better way to fish both PWT and RCL. And we all know you can't do that without one of the Ranger/Crestliner/Lund boats. I don't believe he was asked to leave. I think he just wants to test the waters fishing a few more competitive tourneys. Good luck Pete!

[Eyez]

Well, after all this discussion, all I know is that I'm pulling for the guy that brought tiller boats back in style. He was a great rep for Warrior, and I know he'll do a good job for whatever boat mfr he represents next.


Eyez