Ok you dont like AIM, why dont you?

[KHedquist]

I am no part of AIM but all of you experts that are so against it, why dont you get together pool your money and and within 6 months from scratch start your own cookie cutter event:grin:.

So Guest, Guest and his other brother Guest jot down what you think you would do make a better wheel:exactly:
Oh yah after hearing first hand on why AIM is doing what they are doing, breaking the cookie cutter tournament mold, it sounds pretty cutting edge, the muskie and some of the bass guys are going crr what makes it so wrong for the walleye guys?

[bbb]

I would be concerned with the measuring of fish it could show many different variations of measuring. Out of a hundred boaters they could measure the same fish and they could come up with many different lengths so how accurate can that be with $50,000 or $100,000 on the line.

[jerry]

It's interesting that a majority of the responder's have more negative than positive to say about AIM and it's proposed rules. I'm of the opinion that there is a silent majority that is applauding AIM's venture and what it's come up with so far. I think that this format is a long time coming and will be copied by many other circuits, if not all, in the near future. Most of the pros I've talked with are in favor of this method of determining a tournament winner. And just so this response isn't considered biased in any way, I am in no way a part of AIM.

[DiveGal]

Well, I'm not a guest, I'm a registered member, but I'll answer anyway. (Not that you wanted an answer.) I, like most other co's, don't want to fish for nothing. It's not a problem though, I will just fish FLW as a co. I like their format and I like how I was treated as a co before. I enjoy the competition, and there just is no competition in the AIM format for co's. By the way, most people have not said they don't like AIM, most have said they do not like the format. Not sure where anyone got the idea that people don't like AIM or the owners or where they got the idea that people who don't like AIM's format want them to fail. I don't want to see any group fail, I want to see Walleye Tournament fishing grow! Good luck with the AIM format.

Robin

[KHedquist]

Well, I'm not a guest, I'm a registered member, but I'll answer anyway. (Not that you wanted an answer.) I, like most other co's, don't want to fish for nothing. It's not a problem though, I will just fish FLW as a co. I like their format and I like how I was treated as a co before. I enjoy the competition, and there just is no competition in the AIM format for co's. By the way, most people have not said they don't like AIM, most have said they do not like the format. Not sure where anyone got the idea that people don't like AIM or the owners or where they got the idea that people who don't like AIM's format want them to fail. I don't want to see any group fail, I want to see Walleye Tournament fishing grow! Good luck with the AIM format.

Robin

Sure I do, did I say I did not?

Oh yah I am not doing the AIM as pro, I am going to try and do the co side at all cost, I want to learn

[mvguest]

I have been following the threads here and on other sites about AIM. I don't get it. If you don't like the program...don't fish it!! There are other tournaments to fish. Let AIM get started and see how it goes. Some guys must have alot of time on their hands.

[Burr]

I, like Jerry think there is a silent majority out there really behind AIM and hoping for success. I do hope they succeed, and belive an angler owned circuit is a long overdue and good thing, however I would have thought a non-profit would have been the right business structure.

I'm not an owner, and most likely will not ever fish one of their events. But I will say I don't like what I saw in the leaked first view of the rules - that I won't be able to fish with my friends that are part of AIM during a prefishing period. I've been able to spend good quality time with people I consider among my best friends prefishing. I don't like rules that take away the method we've found to spend time with one another.

It may seem pretty trivial, but think about it. If your friend, father mother, son, daughter is a pro fisherman, fishing a couple of full circuits, and a couple of championships, and maybe another tourney or two during the year - well we have 4 + 4 for the two circuits. Plus 2 for championships, and 2 for other tournies. That makes - 12 - with 10 days invested on average in each tourney (including travel time) that makes 120 days dedicated to tournaments. Not much summer left. We haven't even started with public appearances and committments with sponsors.

So when can family and friendships be maintained? The answer has been during prefishing periods.

Doesn't sound like it will be allowed during AIM prefishing, unless your circle of friends and family is complete with other pro competitors.

I mean this as an honest criticism - good luck to the competitor that has a family. Fishing is a FRIENDS AND FAMILY sport - hello??

[just fish]

Burr, the owners of Aim realize some mistakes were made in the first rules draft, and that is one reason for the meeting last friday. Things like what was mentioned by you can be changed. That pre-fish time is very important not only to learn a body of water, but also to bond with friends, relatives, and maybe even make new friends. So don't worry about that rule, Aim is looking at the future of our sport and will be trying to put together a circuit this industry, sponsors, and all of you can be proud of. John Schneider

[Crankbaiter]

A lot has been said about AIM good and bad here lately. Obviously there is interest and that is a very good thing.
But clearly one thing they are doing right, ........is listening. I have heard and read Keith and Gary say it over and over that at this point not much is carved in stone. They are open minded.

And there not just giving lip service to that.

So if your a Pro or a Co and you have a better idea or mouse trap then share it. Let's get all the idea's out on the table. Bashing for the sake of bashing is a waste of time.

It matters not if your just and ocasional weekend warrior or a full time Pro, if AIM wins we as walleye enthusiast win.

Jim Muscat

[blue collar]

I hope AIM is a very successful tourney and there will be growing pains. So far my only criticisims reviewing posted rules are limiting the practice period to four days and the high pro costs to enter a tourney.

If the format is fun and they want to grow the sport you need to be very flexible on practice and be attractive to more fishermen. Juggling practice, work and other local/circuit tourneys will be a logistical challenge. It could also hurt the other walleye circuits too if you cannot be on the tourney water a month before the AIM event.

In my opinion, policing practice rules will be very big challenge too and taking the local guides out of the tourney equation also is not good for a circuit. Can a guide afford to quit fishing to be eligible for an AIM event?

My suggestion, keep it more "blue collar" for the pro's, local guides and your circuit will grow. The PWT had a very hard time filling tournies with enough pro's, including the local guides. AIM cannot afford to be a elite pro tourney. It did not work for the PWT.

Best of luck to AIM!

[Gary Parsons]

Blue collar,
The rules document that everyone read was sent out to the owners for their opinions before our meeting on Jan. 2. It was really never meant for public review as it was in a very first draft stage with many things that would be eliminated and changed. The final rules are coming along quite well as of today, and will be completed soon, before entry fees are to be accepted. There will be no closed period before the tournament. You are right with your concern about local guides and family members not being able to fish if there is a closed time frame and formal practice. Fishing will be allowed right to tournament day. We do not want to curtail anyones time on the water, in fact our goal is to make fishing tournaments fun again. I'm sorry that one of the owners posted a premature copy of the rules and sorry for the confusion. As a side note, if I get attacked for answering this post, I will not answer any more questions on this site, so I hope conversations can be kept civil. Thanks for you insight and interest in AIM. All have a great day!

Gary Parsons

[Awesome]

With no off limits to fish an AIM event that really opens it up. Now you don't need to be a real pro to fish. No more elite or "best of the best" garbage. Just whoever has the money and wants to give it a shot.

That's terrific.

[Burr]

Burr, the owners of Aim realize some mistakes were made in the first rules draft, and that is one reason for the meeting last friday. Things like what was mentioned by you can be changed. That pre-fish time is very important not only to learn a body of water, but also to bond with friends, relatives, and maybe even make new friends. So don't worry about that rule, Aim is looking at the future of our sport and will be trying to put together a circuit this industry, sponsors, and all of you can be proud of. John Schneider

Thanks for the response John, and Gary. I was hoping that was one of the approaches that had not been ironed out, and may look a bit different in the final document. I thought I would at least comment on the reasons I felt it would be a fundamental mismatch - when there may still be time to effect a change.

[Gary Parsons]

The changes have been made and I thank you for the comments and suggestions. Walleye tournament fishing is very important to the AIM members and obviously to many that post here on this board. I commend all of the passion and in moving forward I think that between the FLW and AIM, most of the fishermen/women's desires will be addressed. Again, all have a great day!

[brentfrank]

I believe AIM is heading in the right direction. Give them time and a chance. I also believe if you'r not a registered member you should not be able to post. If can't reveal who you are to the administrators your just like an anonymous* source for the press. NO CREDIABILITY.

[bluecollar]

Thanks Gary for the clarification. Releasing draft rules should not have occurred. Glad to see the right direction and the flexibility. Cannot wait for the first event.

[AllenW]

Isn't a forum a place to voice opinions?

"Don't like it, don't fish it"

What kinda statement is that...?

Considering it appears the final format isn't cut in stone yet, I'd think this or any other fishing forum dealing with tournies would be THE place to voice opinions and get replies, maybe somebody will learn something here..maybe?

Where else can someone voice a opinion and get responses on it, the poster may learn something, the people from AIM may learn, and other members will/may see different points of view, and everybody may just come out ahead.

Flaming of course is a different matter and shouldn't happen.

Just a thought.

Al

[Juls]

I also believe if you'r not a registered member you should not be able to post. If can't reveal who you are to the administrators your just like an anonymous* source for the press. NO CREDIABILITY.

Unless you register with your real name, we have no clue who you are (not counting those we've come to know over the years). Registering only gives you more toys to play with on the site, and some credibility with other posters. That's it.

Juls

[disdp1]

Since this is a thread and hopefully people who make decisions for AIM read them, I'm again stating my disapproval for event #3 date.

Has any other professional walleye division ever scheduled an event on a holiday at a big port? I'm curious since I don't recollect any.

I've fished enough of events to know that unleashing a field of tourney anglers into waters that will have holiday leisure boaters out there is not a good thing.

Dave

[just fish]

Dave, I agree with the fact there will br many pleasure boaters out on the water, and the fact tournaments aren't held during holiday weekends, but it is time for a change in our sport. We want to go outside that box by being at a festival with a huge gathering of potential up and coming tournament fisherman and tournament fans. What better place to do it then around 100,00 people looking for something exciting and new to do. Wouldn't you as an angler love to go up onto a stage were the pictures of you and your partners catch are displayed for everyone to see and be able to tell your story in front of thousands of people in stead of a couple hundred fisherman and there families. Most of the boaters don't get going till the sun gets hot and the girls can wear their bikinis, and I think we as fisherman can get away from most of the areas they frequent. I am excited about it because I feel we need this exposure to grow our sport and the view won't be to bad eather... John Schneider