Should Walleye Central add a Tournament Discussion Forum?

[Bad Finger]

[Eyez]

Yah, I think it's a good idea. Tournaments are a seasonal thing, mostly open water, and the general disc. board is very busy nowadays. I have to read 3 pages down just to get one days worth of topics. I'm not complaining, and I do not want to have 15 different forums, but I think that general disc. needs to have some load moved off of it, whatever that forum ends up being.

My $.03


Eyez

[Bad Finger]

Added the poll based on input from prior post. I voted for "Don't Care" because this time of year tournaments are interesting General Discussion, but not for everyone. Keep in mind that this is prime time tourney season and it beats Glass is better than Tin!!

[Bad Finger]

Eyez, you beat me to the first post.... My comment was not a response to your opinion.

Thanks,

[SLIPKNOT]

I voted for don't care. Sure the gen discussion page is bussy but tournaments are a big deal. On the other hand, it would be nice to have a seperate page just dealing with tournaments. I think the real question is would people correctly post there? A lot of times people (myself included) forget what board they are on and post a fishing report in boats&motors etc... or it might turn out like the pro Q&A thing, its a wonderful idea, but nobody really uses it. So to sum it up I don't care:)

[WAeyes]

I agree they should have their own forum. To me it is completely different than your average guy out fishing for the day and really doesn't interest me. I find myself spending less and less time here because of all the tournament talk. I have no problem with guys who tournament fish...just not my style.

[BlackSilver]

Not trying to start a fight, or slam anyone elses idea of enjoyment, but mixing fishing and "competition" is a turn off for me, so I'd enjoy _not_ seeing it here in the general discussion area.

SET the hook!!!

Hans/MN

[john mannerino]

Come hans,, put up your dukes!!!! You have the right to your own opinion. I say if it aint broke ,dont fix it. Leave it the way is with no seperate forum,It will hardly used 6 months out of the year.
John

[Anti Tourny]

I disagree that tournament discussion only lasts 6 months. Maybe the tournaments only last 6 months, but the discussion about it seems to last year around.

[stevefellegy]

I think that if "tournament talk", on an annual basis, is weighed against "general talk", there would be no reason for a separate page.

In my opinion, sprinkling a little tournament talk into general discussion only adds to the thought processing everyone uses to enhance their walleye hunting ventures, tournament fan or not.

I also think, as the sport grows, and coverage of the competitive angle of fishing creates more 'human interest' stories as the other major league sports have done to create their fan base, tournament related discussion will be welcomed entertainment. Recent postings involving tournaments, good and bad stuff, is healthy related discussion, and should continue to be a part of "general discussion".

[Backwater Eddy]

Tournament questions may be more of a specific then a general topic and possibly one more suited for the “Ask the Pro’s Forum”?

Either way is ok with me.

[Hawgeye]

I tend to agree with you Hans. Tournament fishing is somewhat of a turn-off to me too. I am an ultra-competitive person and fishing has been my release to get away from that. I have had to "make" myself stay away from the tournament scene to keep away from getting into it. I know I would become addicted once I started because of my competitive spirit. Nothing against the concept in general, just a personal thing. I know my wife would appreciate it if I don't start as well. I would then have to use the old saying, "I'm gonna miss her"

[mac]

I agee with Hans

[The Great Guide]

I think that a tournament forum would be a good idea. I have no intrest in tounaments and never read a post concerning them. However, I think that those who do have an intrest would have better and more access to information and opinion in a concentrated enviroment.



TGG

[Interested]

To the top

[KevinA]

I'd agree with Hans. While the tourney thing may be a focus for some it really is a niche deserving it's own section...."Tourney Central"...a nice place where those boys & girl can discuss the critical points of the day. I'm sure it would be a lively area.

[stevefellegy]

Interesting....how most are wanting to or thinking they can or should distance themselves from the tournament talk and related discussions. It's interesting to me that this is the reaction when most can really gain from paying attention to how or where the events are won. And the info, both good and bad, about equipment used in these tough situations should be priceless for the consumer, who doesn't have anything else but a salesman's word.
I don't think a special page for tournaments would be used by tournament anglers as much as tournament talk should be from the tournament guys and gals to the fishing consumer and angler on the general discussion page, as it is now. In fact, I think there should be more interaction from the tournament scene, in general, with the walleye world.
It sure seems obvious, that what does come out of competitve fishing, is followed pretty closely by the walleye world, based on sales and popularity of many related aspects of fishing. Interact more within the tournament world....and take advantage.

[BlackSilver]

>Interesting....how most are wanting to or thinking they can
>or should distance themselves from the tournament talk and
>related discussions. It's interesting to me that this is the
>reaction when most can really gain from paying attention to
>how or where the events are won. And the info, both good and
>bad, about equipment used in these tough situations should
>be priceless for the consumer, who doesn't have anything
>else but a salesman's word.

Steve,

Since you specifically brought out my name to give your lecture, I'll take the opportunity to respond, hopefully in an evenhanded way without making it seem like some kind of a word-fight.

I have a lot of respect for the obvious amount of knowledge guys like you have in the sport of fishing. I enjoy your column in Outdoor News and read it faithfully.

But I am a recreational fisherman, happiest on a hidden bay trying out my own techniques or polishing an old trick I used as a kid, or just helping one of my kids/grandkids enjoy Gods nature. In over 50 years on the water, I've accidentally gotten to be a pretty good waterman and fisherman in my own right. I'm happy to share, without commercial endorsement, that knowledge.

But the idea that this should be "competitive", with all the NASCAR-like hype and commercialism is personally a turn-off to me.

I'm not knocking your opposing viewpoint, or trying to banish tournaments, but just saying it would be nice if that part of the walleye sport had it's own place here on Walleye Central. Tourney boys and girls are not bad people -- I just don't happen to enjoy that aspect of angling.

Looking at the poll results, about 75% of the folks who bothered to vote seem to have a similar viewpoint. I don't think that's any kind of slam against competitive angling, but just a statement of preference.

Maybe to put it in a little different light, I'm sure that NASCAR competition has some downstream benefits to regular 'consumer' automotive technology too, but hanging around the Texas Motor Speedway message board isn't my idea of interesting either.

With all kind wishes for a successful season,

Hans/MN

[Finaddict]

Just post on the fishing report board like always.

[KevinA]

I'm typically not a "what the other guy said" sort of fellow, but again Hans has said it well. Without intending disrespect to you or your profession I would be willing to bet that if it disappeared today (or never started to begin with) then folks would probably be going fishing & catching walleyes and having fun just as they are today (though possibly with less tackle). Maybe they wouldn't catching as many, or maybe they would, but once you've boated a few fish over the years it really doesn't matter. An experience from a long time ago, about 12-14 years now, comes to mind. A buddy & I went up to LBdN (the good old days?). He's mostly a hunter and to look at his fishing tackle you would agree. I had all the latest rigs tied up with all the latest tackle...probably right out of In-Fisherman or the Walleye Insider. We hit the river area up on top of the bay. It was a rainy & cool day, only one other boat up there, if you can imagine such a thing. I told my buddy to grab what ever he needed from my tackle box. He said thanks & then wandered through his selection of 5 hooks, ties one to his line, grabs a chunk of nightcrawler & over the side it goes. Naturally I rig up with my stuff and we start working the areas. After his 5th fish to my zip I decided to give the simple hook, split shot & crawler rig a try. In a few minutes I too was into fish.

Again, I'm not trying to get an argument going here, but personally I don't buy into the "all walleye fishermen owe a debt of gratitude to the pros" thing. The world could carry on whether they are around or not, we'd still fish, we'd still have fun, we'd still cook our catch around a open campfire, we'd still look forward to & wonder how we'll do tomorrow.

[River Guy]

It's almost 9 to 1 in favor of making a dedicated section just for tournaments. Let us have our own space.

RG

[LCFISHERMAN]

I would vote yes, if it was only for members

[Dutchman]

There was at one time a pro tourney message board, I think it may have died from lack of use. I feel no matter what level you fish at you can gain something from what happens at tourneys on any body of water. Techniques that can be learned and duplicated producing fish is a winning ticket for all anglers. I think any format is a great format if you can gain infomation from it.....




" Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope "

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