PWT amatuer prizes

[Brent]

I am entering the PWT as an amatuer for the first time. I have found out from some of the posts that most of the prizes is merchandise. I didn't know that going into the tournament. Can anyone tell me exactly what prizes they give out? What do they do with the Big fish split if you win that with your pro? Is that merchandise too? Could someone please tell me what the prize structure is? What would I get if I won $3000.00? Have they changed the prize structure from past year?

Thanks for any info.. Brent

[Dav e in Walker]

Let me see, I fished the Leech Lake one in 97, finished 16th as an amateur and won $750 worth of equipment, coolers, battery chargers, hydrofoils, tackle, odds and ends most of which I already had and remember it is suggested retail prices of the prizes they go by so it isn't as much as you think. Also, you fill in a tax slip for the IRS and have to pay taxes on your winnings. As far as big fish split I made an agreement with the pro to split it if I won or vice cersa so I guess that one is negotiable with your partner. Things may have changed but thats the way it ws in 1997.

[Ristorapper]

So you are going to settle for 3rd place eh??

Here are some of the prizes I won last year at Sakakawea PWT for third place:

1. Underwater camera Aqua view
2. Lowrance global map 100 gps hand held
3. Ray 53 marine band radio
4. Flambeau tackle system soft tackle bag
5. lazy mack storage system
6. on board charger single Guest
7. drift control sock
8. boat buckles
9. 3 pinnacle reels spincasters
10. 3 rods (two spin one baitcast)Pinnacles/fenwick
11. coleman ice chest New thick insulation 5 day (Nice)
12 prop wrench
13. Berkley digital scale 0-20#
14. Berkley fillet knife
15. Transom mount 40# thrust Minnkota trolling motor turbo thrust
16. the judge ruler
17. $100 gift cert. from Bass Pro (bought camo colored rain jacket)
18. $179 gift cert. Ocean wave sun glasses Nice wrap around style
19. 35 crankbaits assorted but too many ristoraps!!!!!!!
20. 7-8 assorted Powerbait
21. 7-8 assorted Berkley mono and fireline
22. 1 gal oil
23. misc. hooks, jigs, beads, clipper and jig eye buster.
24. bazooka looking thing for rod storage/travel storage.
25. 3rd place plaque
26. I may be overlooking some smaller items but that is most of it.

I had use for most of the items won. I have been chasin walleye for 5 years now and some of the items I would never have owned or bought for myself if I wouldn't have won them. Being fairly new to the sport the few iems I doubled up on were the transom trolling motor, digital scale, prop wrench and fillet knife. (All for sale by the way)


The thing I didn't care for especially this time of year is paying cash in taxes for prizes won on the trail. BUT I went into this thing hoping only for someone to basically show me some spots on this lake that I have not fished. I generally know the east end and west end of lake sakakawea so I went into this tourney hoping for a nice three day "guided" trip of the lake for the $575 entry fee. Done deal. Day one rookie pro took me north(Berthold bay) from launch, day two 7/8 year pro took me up to the west boundry(resort area and Deepwater bay) and day three rookie pro took me into Douglas Bay. All areas I Have never been to before (other that deepwater), so I basically got out of it what I wanted. Prizes>>> big bonus!! Taxes>> expect the unexpected!!

What I didn't expect is to have three class quys to share the day with. Hey forget the lunch these guys wanna fish and you can't blame them; they have twice the money invested in entry fee alone not counting travel, gas, bait, expenses and lodging. Another side to all this is that you are expected to offer the pro $40 to help defray the cost of bait and gas.

As far as big fish goes the pro/am split the CASH award for this. We had a big fish (am) on day two and took the lead when we crossed the stage (we were the first ones in!! lol) We eventually ended in a tie for fifth place big fish .05 pounds out of the money!! .05 pounds is .80 ounces!! So much for the other bonus!! It was fun watching the weigh in knowing you may end up with some cash at the end of the tourney.

It's a wonderful experience, one I will never forget for a long time and am just waiting till I can do it again; Maybe Devils lake this year. I was a little sleep deprived because of all the excitement but there is plenty of time to catch up on that when it is all over. I did not, by the way have any problem staying awake during the day!!

Hope this helps you in your decision. There are many friendships that can be made along the way during this event be it other amatuers, pros, media or even event organizers and volunteers. I have been a volunteer at the Championships in Bismarck since it first came to town here, that's how I got involved.

Good luck

BW(ND)

[RodWrap]

I signed up this week, and before I did, I called PWT, and they said what I was told last year, that the prizes are valued at prices in Cabela's and Bass Pro catalogs. The "full list" is another rumor, I guess. My reason for fishing is simple: 3 days with 3 pros. I looked at the other pro-am circuit, and if full, only 13 percent of the amateurs fish all 3 days. Same price, fish 2 days or 3 days. I want to fish with the pros to learn. I hope you do the same. This isn't meant to argue, just to set the record straight. It's not one against the other, but each person must make decide.

[Reels]

Same here, main reason I signed up was to learn to be a better walleye fisherman. If I win some prizes, bonus!

As for paying taxes, Im not CPA,but I think you can write off your expenses such as hotel, entrance fee, etc. if your lucky enough to win.

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[curt quesnell]

Nice job Ristorapper.

I have read posts beefin about the PWT and prizes instead of cash
for while now and it always reminds me there are many ways to look
at the same deal.

Heres what I think
Anything that you win fishing as as amature in PWT is a bonus. What you pay for, what you get is a 3 day education in Walleye fishing spending time with the worlds best Walleye anglers. You will wind
up spending some money, and there is a chance that you wont "click"
with every Pro Partner you draw. You may not get your partner on
his best day. Overall its got to be a positive experiance because
people keep signing up.

The best thing that could happen is you might learn much more than
you ever thought possible and make 3 really good friends and finish
just out of the prizes.

Its not for everybody...but then, there's not room for everybody.

Curt Quesnell

[sakman]

I entered my first PWT last year fishing on Sakakawea. What an experience. I was not able to pre-fish. On day one we headed toward the north boundary. The bite was very good that morning, we finished up early and had a good catch.(ended up with Storm Heavyweight for the tournament).I fished with the eventual winner. I was in the lead on the am side for day 1. Day 2 we fished staight across from the Beulah bay, again we finished up early, but stayed out all day trying to find a big one. After day 2 I was still leading. I fished with the pro who ended up finishing #2. on day 3 the pressure was very intense, we ended up about 20 miles west and found good fish, however we came up short for the day with only 5 fish. I thought that I was going to drop a few places, but luck did prevail and I ended up winning the am side. We also won 1025.00 for a big fish on day 1, which the pro and I split. I would just like to say that the pros I fished with were true gentlemen and sportsmen. I've even made some new friendships along the way. The prizes I won were the boat, motor and trailer, some cash and gift certificates and a rod, soft tackle box and too many ristoraps. It was a time I will never forget and I will be back.



Sakman

[rogerm52]

Just out of curiosity, what was the boat/motor prize for 1st place am.

[sakman]

The boat was a Lund 1700 Angler, 50 hp Merc. and a Eagle bunk trailer.

[Ristorapper]

Great job Scott! We were taking a shot at you on day three as we came to the scale with six but were waiting for the big one and of course it just didn't happen.

We weighed in somewhat early on day three and the am right behind me to the scale bumped me out of first before I got down off the stage so it was nice that the only other bump I got was from you! Good fishing

BW(ND)

[eyecatcher_1]

how much do you want for the trolling motor? email me at danforthr@hotmail.com. Thanks

[JohnF]

You will have to pay tax for the prizes and you will be allowed to deduct the expenses that (combined with expenses of other like activities) exceed 2% of your AGI. I'm not a CPA but that is what I have been told. Maybe someone knows some other tidbit. I would be very happy to listen.

I'm paying taxes for 9th place, Lake Francis Case, last year.

John

[Jesse-WI]

I placed 3rd at the same tournament. If you report the income as misc. or hobby, you are correct. The 2% rule will kill most people. There are also rules that allow you to reduce your winning if you can prove that the actual retail price is lower than the suggested retail price you were stuck with.

Since it was a business endeavor where money was made and expenses occured, you can use schedule C. This will allow you to offset earnings by deducting entry fees, mileage, hotel expenses, etc. As long as you remain completely honest and show some profit, you will have no problems. The IRS does frown on people trying to use this form as an excuse for paying for your hobby. The easiest way to show a profit is to not take all of your deductions, there is no law that forces you to claim expenses.


Jesse Fletcher
7 PWT/amateur, 1 RCL/co-angler