RCL 2001

[Tournament Wathcer]

I just went through some of the archives from just before Christmas. It seems there was a lot of discussion on who should be let into the RCL in 2001.

Why dont all of the Tournament fisherman get a hold of who they can at Mercury and Yamaha and let them understand how important it is for everyone to be invited. I am sure with the demise of OMC that RCL and FLW will be calling both of companies soon asking them to get involved. I think it would be great if both companies said great but we want all top anglers to have the ability to play.

I know that when I watch Professional sports I want to and expect to see the leaders in there sport. I will not watch golf without Tiger, nor would I watch NASCAR without the top guys. Wy does RCL believe I would want to watch without all the top players?

I think some of you Pros should get some names and numbers out so other tournament anglers can get there views out to Mercury and Yamaha before the RCL and FLW get a hold of them.

[Juls_WI]

It wouldn't matter what motor is on the boat. It's still an RCL owner's tournament. Boats, Boats, Boats! They're selling boats! Whether or not Merc, or Yam, want to play, is up to them, but they are in not in a position to demand what your saying they should ask. The RCL let's people run motors other than Evinrude or Johnson anyway, and if a competitor decides not to, then he is just not eligible for the sponsor bonus. Seems pretty fair to me.

Keyword is "Owner's Tournament". It's not meant to be fair, it's meant to sell boats.

Happy New Year! Be Safe.

Juls

[Tournamet Watcher]

I understand that part, but a boat does not go very far without a motor and a promotion to sell boats does not go far without coverage. If folks do not watch why would any sponsor be involved. The way you sell more boats is with more coverage. The amount of people that come to a tournament does not account for a any of the percentage it is based on national coverage. If people dont watch it will not survive. People want to see the best anglers not just picked anglers.

If people want to do what is best for professional angling and anglers all should be involved. With OMC gone one of the top sponsors is gone. I do not understand why the Pro Anglers would not want the other Pro Anglers involved. Evidentaly they are not concerned about the sport, just themselves if that is the attitude out there.

[The Sentinel]

>I just went through some of
>the archives from just before
>Christmas. It seems there
>was a lot of discussion
>on who should be let
>into the RCL in 2001.


Hot topic


>Why dont all of the Tournament
>fisherman get a hold of
>who they can at Mercury
>and Yamaha and let them
>understand how important it is
>for everyone to be invited.


How come that is important? It is an owners tournament. Even if they went to anymotor you still have to run a Ranger,Lund,Crestliner boat. And beside that, it was my understanding that the non boater side was to be open to everybody past a certain date.


> I am sure with
>the demise of OMC that
>RCL and FLW will be
>calling both of companies soon
>asking them to get involved.

Dont throw dirt on OMC yet. I am sure the OMC as we know it is dead and gone. However I find it hard to believe that with a 30 pecent market share (even with all the trouble OMC is in)Someone will buy up the company and hopefully to put all the people back to work


> I think it would
>be great if both companies
>said great but we want
>all top anglers to have
>the ability to play.


You dont think like a business man. If any company came on board in OMC place, they would also demand exclusive motor rights

>I know that when I watch
>Professional sports I want to
>and expect to see the
>leaders in there sport.


They all qualify, or train hard to mke the cut


>I will not watch golf
>without Tiger, nor would I
>watch NASCAR without the top
>guys.


Tiger, Nascar? You do realize, that no matter how good a race driver is, he must qualify, with a NASCAR approved car. They have to meet extremely strict standards. and ONLY in an approved car. That means it MUST be a Taurus, Mionte Carlo, or Grand Prix, and new this year, the Dodge that NASCAR has apporved.
Any scmuck with a set of Golf clubs cannot join the PRO Tour either! Many events are invitationals, only those asked have a chance to get in. Even in the OPENs, you must play up to a certain level, withapproved gear, clothing and conduct!


>Wy does RCL
>believe I would want to
>watch without all the top
>players?


Yes, the RCL would probably welcome the top players, but it is an OWNERS tournament. You Must OWN the rigs of choice here. This is a sponsor driven tournament to further walleye fishing, the sponsors lines and the anglers. Which top guy are you that owns a different boat? (Not an attack on you, your post or your opinion, just a question)


>I think some of you Pros
>should get some names and
>numbers out so other tournament
>anglers can get there views
>out to Mercury and Yamaha
>before the RCL and FLW
>get a hold of them.


As if Merc and Yammi dont even know about this? I'd be willing to bet, they even had a chance at being the motor sponsor already once, a long time ago, and were out bid or turned it down. Again, business decisions. The FLW is one of the most entertaining tournie to watch, and the RCL will take walleye tournies to their next level. The good thing about this? If the economy stays good, there will be many new developemnts to benefit all tournament anglers.
Have a Happy!

[OMCer NOT]

OMC was a sponsor, you can run any moter you want! There was bonus money if you did well with a RUDE or a Johnson hangin on the back of the sled. OMC is only hurting the people who worked for them and the rcl to a point. The circuit will go on, and people will fish it. It is an owner tournety, pure n simple. It is as fair as any private enterprise can be. Their money, their rules, their products.

[Tournament Watcher]

I here everyone say it is a owners tournament. It seems to me everyone is hiding behind this so you all must be RCL owners. I have one final question. When the tournaments are done next year and they have an angler of the year and a championship winner are they going to call them the worls best nations besst, or will they go down the road that everyone is saying and call the the OWNERS best? You can hide behind the owners tournament all you want, we are not stupid though.

[WHALE-EYE]

HEY ! Here is a idea, All this talk about who is the real Champion. What is needed is a TOURNAMENT CHAMPION'S CHAMPIONSHIP.Invite all Walleye Tournament Circuit's Championship Winners to fish this event.In other words who ever win's the Championship from R C L , P W T , USFA-PTW , M W C , W W A , M W T , USFA TEAM WALLEYE , C W A , N W A , K W A , I W A , WALLEYE'S UNLIMITED MT , SOUTHERN ALBERTA TRAIL , MERCURY NATIONALS , S W T , W P A , WALLEYE ANGLERS TRAIL, ECT All these Champions get to fish. This Tournament will end the debate about WHO IS THE REAL WALLEYE TOURNAMENT FISHING CHAMPION.Let's take it one step futher and donate the procedes to charity.That demostrate that we are REAL CHAMPIONS. Now SHUT UP AND FISH.

[Den]

No matter what boat you use, or motor, or even what tournament you fish, you still have to be able to produce fish, and also be able to talk to people without being sarcastic, or demeaning. so who really cares if it is an owners tourney, or the neighborhood store tourney. you still have to produce fish.i dont care if it be the RCL, or the PWT, i envey the guys that are trying to get to be a known name, as well as the big names, i have fished with some of the pros, and also fished against some of the pros, but it seems to me that they all were not a big name right from the start, and none of them got the big name in just one year either, so everybody has a shot at each and every tournament, whether it be a amature, or a pro, you still gotta get fish in the boat on the given day to place. i hope everybody who enters gets their share, and above all, have fun. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[Bison]

> This Tournament will end the debate about WHO IS THE REAL
> WALLEYE TOURNAMENT FISHING CHAMPION.

That would only tell us who made the right decisions over a particular three day period. Take the same competitors fishing the same body of water a week later, and the winner of the first tournament might come in 30th second time around. This happens all the time, where the first and second day leader makes a bad decision and loses the tournament on the third day.

That's the great thing about fishing -- you can't really master it, you can only get better.

[Outsider]

You know, I am really upset because I can't enter the Corvette
club Corvette show....I don't have a Corvette.
Gee what can I do? Oh what, in heck can I do?
This really upsets me! This is not fair! I have a Viper, I should be able to go to any show I want!
This really sucks! I spent all my money on a Viper..those Corvette folks should let me in! I think it must be a right-wing plot! I pay taxes, vote, and belong to a Union and I should be able to get into any show in the US! I am a good driver, my car looks better, and my Viper will kick their Corvette butts.
This sucks and I am upset.
What, oh what can I do, pray tell me?
I will rant and rave and make no sense and if I do it long enough, they will have to let me in !!!
;-) Duhhhhhhhhhh

[Fisherman]

Boy you should get on the "I make no sense programming"!

Get a Life and try to make sense next time.

[SdDoc]

We really cant say that it is an owners tourney can we? Seems to me that some of the boats are really out on loan. They have not been paid for yet, just a promise to pay. No money has exchanged hands yet in some cases. Just a think about it for a few minutes, ok? If we could say that its an owners tourney then those who said they would pay for the boat after using it really dont own it, no payments have been made, and no real owner except for the rcl holding the paper on it, so how can they enter as an owner? I am not jealous, just thinking.....Doc

[MN Man]

You are correct, I do not believe you even have to own the boat know for 2001 as long as you are using one.

[SPIN DOCTOR]

JULS, I THINK YOU ARE WRONG ON THIS ONE . THE WERE ALL RUNNING EVINRUDES. SCOTT GLORVIGEN HAS FROM DAY RUN YAMAHAS AND IN THIS RCL HE HAD A EVINRUDE ON HIS BOAT . CHECK IT OUT

[JigBite]

I think that on days 3 and 4 (after you made the cut)the boats were funished by the RCL, all rigged the same with Evinrudes. They had Rangers,Crestliners and Lunds .. you fished out of the type of boat you owned.

[Which is better]

But if the corvette people go around saying that their car is the fastest and wont race any other cars (or in RCL terms best in the world without all the best present) how can they prove it, and should anyone really take them seriously.

[Dunn]

I usually do not post in response to these type of messages on here, but I will put in my two cents worth.

I think it's a plain and simple phrase to describe the situation:

"If you don't like it, don't fish it."

Fish the PWT if you dislike the RCL format.

It's designed to be an Owners Tournament. FLW is Ranger boats, RCL is Ranger, Crestliner, and Lund.

Untill the PWT or another circuit can make the coverage, and money ammounts of the RCL (expected) you will just have to fish the PWT.

Now I realize it restricts some competition. However, it opens the door to anglers who might not be seen as good due to lack of openings in other circuits, and well the PWT is led by a group of guys every year. It's a battle between a dozen or two guys all the time. It's time for a change, time for new guys to be able to rise to heights. And without that walleye fishing will become stalled in the water of progress.

Just my opinion though.
-----------------------
Marshall J. Dunn

[gonfishn95]

Having participated in the RCL was great, To the top 12 they are all great. Watching the final results on TV WAS STILL a thrill,(From my rocking chair) Watching PAT B. GET AS EXCITED as he did netted a nice fish was great,Listening to him talk about the aches and pains of tournament fishing and wondering how when he reached a age would he still be going, (he will.)
Watching Mike G. trying to decide to keep a fish or throw back.
John C. DOING the same.
As stated only 1 of the top 12 qualified for the full bonus. It is an owners tournament, not a tournament of all the best Walleye fisherpersons in the world. Keeping in mind some of the very best were there. Also you see some other top names driving a different boat, they made a committment to their sponsors years ago and stay with them that is their decision.
I firmly believe there are fishermen/women out there who do not fish tourneys who could beat most any of the top names on any given day as well as consistently but for their own reasons do not care to participate in tournaments. There are a lot of tourneys all over for everyone.
I would like to state MERCURY TRAILER WAS THERE, AS WELL AS QUANTUM/MOTORGUIDE FOR THE SUPPORT OF US WHO CHOOSE TO USE THESE PRODUCTS. MY THANKS TO ALL OF THE TECHS WHO WERE THERE.
I look forward to the RCL IN 2001 AND IN YEARS TO COME.
Just my reflection.
Larry Dawson, MPLS,MN.

[Juls_WI]

That was the last day. The last day the pros were put in fancied up sponsor boats, and since OMC was the motor sponsor, they had the right to put the boys in boats with OMC products on them.
The first three days of qualifing for the fourth day, Scott was in his own boat, with the Yammy on it.

Just thought I would clear that up for you.

Juls

[Darrell]

Juls
The anglers or pros as they are refered to, fished day 1 and day 2 out of their own boats and when the field was cut to 12 for the 3rd day of competetion with the co-anglers or ams, they were put in either a new Ranger, Lund, or Crestliner boat. If the anlger owned a Ranger, he was assigned to fish out of a new Ranger. If he owned a Lund, he was assigned to fish out of a new Lund, and since there were no Crestliner owners that made the cut, they were not represented by the final 12 anglers that fished on day 3. Then on day 4 when field was cut to 6 I am sure they kept the same boats as they fished out of on day 3.
FYI
Darrell

[Juls_WI]

Thanks for the correction Darrell. Heck, I was at the lauch each morning, and I guess they only impressed me on day four..LOL
I don't remember them on day three, but I'm sure your right...;-)

Happy New Year! Best wishes for 2001.

Juls

[Bigfish525252]

By your remark's you must not be able to play. Don't cry go by a boat you can play with.

[Jimmy]

This is the first time I have gotten involved in these discussions and I find it quite interesting with all the views that are out there. Being on the Skeeter boat team it bothers me that I cannot play. But I have to admit that what Irwin is doing is good for the sport. I think anyone would have a hard time not admiting that. Ranger and Lund are major players in what we have been able to do and I appreciate them as much as anyone. When I have won Lund boats I have always talked highly of them and sent them thank you notes for helping the sport along.

What bothers me on the inside is that there are a lot of very fine fisherman that many of you easily ignore. These fisherman are some of the finest Walleye Tournament fisherman and have a huge part in getting us all to where we are. Gary Parsons, Keith K, Mike McClelland just to name a few. If we all want the sport to grow we must respect those that have helped get it to where it is.

My hope with many others is that we will get a chance to play with our current boats. If not many will look at other options just to get involved. Others will wish it well and play where they can.

All that I ask is that those that make comments that are Tournament Anglers look at what is best for Tournament Anglers and not just themselves or Genmar.

Best of New Year to You All.

Jimmy Bell

[Allen]

Lots of people here wanting to throw dirt on the tournament. I agree with the NASCAR and Corvette club analogies. It is called an owners tournament. If you can't play either sell your rig or close your mouth. Regarding calling them the best.....well for that day ....they probably are. I was in the Stratos Javelin world championship last year. There were other tournaments going on at the same time. Everstart, plus some other local tournaments. The weights in the S/J world were as good and even better than those in the Everstart and local tournaments. Just because someone is on tour, has the backing etc doesn't mean they got it all together. I've run across more knowit alls who travel the circuit who, when it comes down to it, can't find their ##### with both hands. They either are independantly wealthy or have a line of BS that would make Slick Willy blush. My point is, for that day, at that moment, they probably are the best. Besides that, if they are not.....it is a marketing tool and to say otherwise would be a diservice to the sponsors and the competitors. Hype is what it's all about no matter if you are fishing a local club tournament or the PWT Championship. The hype with the success is what makes it all fun. If it isn't fun, you should stay home anyway.

[Justification please]

IF you want to fish against the best walleye guys in the country, then you better fish the MWC. If you want to join a richman's fishing club, fish the RCL or PWT. The MWC guy's are the real walleye boy's. Many of the pro's who fish the PWT & the RCL also fish the MWC, not every guy in the walleye world can afford to take off all summer to fish, and many of them don't have the money to fish a PWT or RCL circuit. Want proof, take a look at your MWC championship qualifiers, go back and take a look at each tournament, look for your PWT or RCL guys, How did they finish? For the most part not very good, if anyone can tell me what makes a PWT angler or RCL angler a better walleye pro then the top MWC boy's please let me know, it always seems these MWC guy's are slapped to the side, Why is that?

[Justification please]

IF you want to fish against the best walleye guys in the country, then you better fish the MWC. If you want to join a richman's fishing club, fish the RCL or PWT. The MWC guy's are the real walleye boy's. Many of the pro's who fish the PWT & the RCL also fish the MWC, not every guy in the walleye world can afford to take off all summer to fish, and many of them don't have the money to fish a PWT or RCL circuit. Want proof, take a look at your MWC championship qualifiers, go back and take a look at each tournament, look for your PWT or RCL guys, How did they finish? For the most part not very good, if anyone can tell me what makes a PWT angler or RCL angler a better walleye pro then the top MWC boy's please let me know, it always seems these MWC guy's are slapped to the side, Why is that?

[Jimmy]

Justification, if your reply was to me I appologize if you took it wrong. I do believe there are great fisherman in each of the different organizations. My point is that we all do better if any of the tournaments do better.

Our goal should be to grow the sport and respect each other. As far as the PWT and the RCL being the rich guys sport, you are way off base. Most of the folks have families and full time jobs along with fishing. They have just made a larger commitment than others want to. Those that are willing to take a larger gamble many times gain from it.

If you have not fished a PWT event as a Pro I encourage you to give it a try and check the competition and the people involved. I fished the NAWA for 6 years and thought the competition was as good there, I was wrong. I will only point out who won the RCL and how many of the top guys were PWT. They compete at a very high level as individuals, just as I am sure you do as a team on the MWC.

Best of Luck In Your Upcoming Season!
Jimmy

[Wannabe fisherman]

Dear Jimmy, I read your post and do me a favor, Think of the rest of us when you fish the next Skeeter owners tournament. Go tell them you want the rest of the world to be allowed in to fish.

[Wannabe fisherman]

Dear Jimmy, I read your post and do me a favor, Think of the rest of us when you fish the next Skeeter owners tournament. Go tell them you want the rest of the world to be allowed in to fish.

[Jimmy]

Well I guess that just shows why I dont get into these message boards. You try and make positive points believing that the RCL is a good thing and wanting to be involved and you get run over. I guess trying to understand and get inteligent coversation of what is good for the sport of fishing can't happen in an environment like this.

I will leave the messages to you all and evidentaly you have all the answers.

Best of Luck in Your Season Of Fishing,
Jimmy

[Great Post Jimmy]

You are correct. However, Parsons and the like do fish the PWT. There are a great deal of anglers that do not fish any tournaments. How then can any of them say they are the best of the best when EVERY ANGLER in the world did not compete? If you pay, you play, period. I take nothing away from any circuit. They all have their own rules and all who enter must abide. I cannot afford a full circuit on any of the big money deals, but I bear them no ill will. Who is the best angler in the world? The guy or lady who can go fishing, catch fish, compete if they so choose, remain professional, take care of their surrounding and look out for the future of fishing. The best angler in the world is the person who can not only teach children and newcommers how catch fish, but to respect the resource and do what they can to make the site as pleasant for the next fellow who comes along. I have always said, some of the greatest anglers in the world have never fished any tournament.

[Outsider]

The post would be called an analogy.
Ever hear that word before?
Do you know what it means?
Do you understand the part about having to own a certain brand to participate in an owner's event?

[Me again]

>I here everyone say it is
>a owners tournament.

It is

>It seems to me everyone is
>hiding behind this so you
>all must be RCL owners.


No one is hiding. And I also find it interesting that out of the hundreds of posts about the RCL, it seems to be the same 5 or 6 sour apples that create all the negative posts. Not everyone who supports the RCL concept runs their boats. I run a boat, but not the motor. And it is a tournament put on by a private entity, that has restrictions on what brand of boat. Their rules, their tournies.


> I have one final
>question. When the tournaments
>are done next year and
>they have an angler of
>the year and a championship
>winner are they going to
>call them the worlds best
>nations best, or will they
>go down the road that
>everyone is saying and call
>the the OWNERS best?


More likely the circuits best and circuit champion. You aand others have mentioned the PWT. They have a world Champion and a best of the best, yet every Walleye Angler out there did not fish. How can they be the best there is if all did not compete? I am not picking on the PWT, I have a great deal of respect and envy for those who have the dedication and cash to fish it.


>You can hide behind the
>owners tournament all you want,
>we are not stupid though.


I dunno....coulda fooled me sometimes.

[What part of the post did you not understand?]

It was a great analogy,

M A Y B E W E N E E D T O S P E A K L O U D
A N D R E E E E E A A A A A L Y S L L L O O O O O O W
S O Y O U U N D E R S T A N D !

[That is the whole point]

The Corvette owners are not saying that, and neither is anyone involved with the RCL. Only the nay sayers and sour grapes fishing team is harping that line.

[gonfishn95]

Jimmy you are right everytime some of this hits the conversation board it ends up bashing and badmouthing, Everyone misses the point BE GLAD PEOPLE WE CAN HAVE TOURNAMENTS, If we are not careful some day they will be gone. As stated each circuit has it's own rewards what fun would it be if all were equal.
Larry

[Darrell]

Juls
on day four we were on our way home to colorado so we dont know what happened on day four othjer than the final results. May you have a prosperous New Year.
Darrell

[skeet]

Jimmy,
I enjoyed reading your posts. I hope in the future if you have something positive that you feel strongly about that you share with the rest of us.Don't let a couple of Knotheads keep you from your opinions, because for every Knothead, I believe there are many times over people who are not that use this site.

[Wannbe fisherman]

Jimmy, I was not trying to bash you. All I'm saying is You are allowed to fish the Skeeter owners tourney and no one is saying anything about that. Yes there are alot of well known fisherman out there that are not going to fish the RCL, but so be it. It is an owners tournament and marketing tool for Genmar. It's another way of thanking those people that are loyal to those boat brands. I also think that the PWT is not the only circuit that has good fisherman in it. If you remember, they said the same thing about the NAWA circuit. That it was for second rate fisherman and the only one to fish was the PWT, and that was not true. The MWC has a World Championship, crowning it's champion. Does that take anything away from the other circuits. Do you think that they should be put down for that because alot of the so called top "Pro's" do not fish it.

All I'm saying is look at the RCL for what it's designed to do and where it's raised the over all level of tournament fishing. It's going to either make the other events around the country step up to the plate or be left on the side of the road. There is going to alot of quaility fisherman in all the events. Remember one thing, the RCL is only going to have 175 entries, which also opens up alot of spots for the guys that can just fish 1 or 2 events a year. This will open it up so they can fish unlike the PWT that you have to apply and jump thru hoops to fish, Or it's who you know to get in.

Thats the way I see it, so Jimmy don't think we're trying to slam you but just trying everyone to take a hard look at the overall picture. If you think this year is something, from what I've heard just wait until next year and the year after in the RCL, you haven't seen nothing yet.

[Yes they did and are]

If you were in Wisconsin in late September or early October it was all over the airwaves that these were the best walleye anglers in the world. A recent press release said that their circuit would have the finest walleye anglers in the world. They have and will continue to set things up this way. The corvette owners must be afraid to race.

[bigbird]

I have nothing bad to say about the RCL. Sonny and his staff did a great job putting on the event. I was a late entry thanks to my wife and friends, they said it was a chance of a life time. I've fished alot of events both bass and eyes over the last ten years with pros and other people like me trying to have a good time and learn about a sport that we like. I met alot fo pros and CEO's, we talked, ate ,and helped each other. I was drawn first on the first flight in the smallest boat, a fourty horse 16ft. tiller. I learned to fish a different way on light tackel both days. I finished 31'st and didn't make the cut but accomplished all my goals ,learn alot,meet people,catch fish and have fun. The RCL made all this posable if I get a chance to do it again I will. Not everyone there was rich we just bought the right boat or motor and qualified in the tournys. I might try to fish the PWT or the MWT with my friends. The RCL got my feet wet.

Tight Lines bigbird

[bob oh]

Duh.....that's called promotion. Is there anything that you understand?
Bob

[Kevin L.]

Welcome to the Irwin Jacobs' Pro Walleye Tour! If you have the right equipment you are a possible winner of as much money as the tourney has to offer. If you don't use the right equipment, well, then you can only win a smaller amount of the prize. We wouldn't want to embarass the owner now, would we?

You can't compare this RCL thing to any other big sporting event or tour. NASCAR does not own any car companies. They don't own any tracks or drivers. The PGA does not own any club manufacturers or ball makers. They don't own any shoe companies or clothing manufacturers. The RCL does own boat companies and they are pushing to sell them to those who want to fish the tournament. It's all about selling a product that is owned by Irwin Jacobs. He's good, real good. He's doing it legal and fair, for a party that he owns. Is it all inclusive? Not really, but nearly so. If you don't run his products you can't win the big stuff, no bonus.

This is like calling the baseball championships "The World Series" when the world is not actually invited to participate. No Japanese teams, no Cubans, no Puertorican teams, hardly any Canadian teams. World Series? I don't think so. World's best fishermen, maybe, maybe not. We'll never really know for sure. Not until Irwin takes that product bias off this tournament or tour will we know for sure if we're seeing the best.

[mnjimcarp]

jimmy, having fun yet? thanks for your insights and comments. remember; most of the walleye central regulars are pretty considerate and very appreciative of other opinions. it doesn't matter if you are on the lake or on the "cyber lake", some folks just lack class. please, keep the good folks in mind when you feel like sharing your thoughts or insights in the future. thanks again for all you do. keep posting!

[Jimmy Bell]

To all that replied to my notes I say thank you good or bad. And I hope that we can all get along in this wonderful sport and I do mean sport. Wether we admit it or not we all compete at some level, it may be against the fish it may be against each other it may even be in Tournaments. It is the competition that drives us all and makes us all so pationate about fishing.

Many people have gained from Tournament Angling, from boats and motors to tackle and rods and reels. If we all continue to grow the sport in whatever fasion we can we will all be better off. I do not beleive any of us want to see fishing as we know it go away. The number of fisherman in our country has not grown in many years and what ever we can do to change that the better off all of us will be.

If it takes an RCL to do that more power to it. The way I see it opportunity always comes with change. We all got into fishing for one reason because we enjoyed it! Lets keep that focus and support each other as much as we support manufacturers and grow what we love.

Thanks Again For the Supportive Notes,
Jimmy Bell

[Scott]

I'm not real familiar with the ciruit you spoke of. I am familiar with RCL and PWT. I wonder how much of the "other " fisherman who do well in the other circuit do it as a local type basis. I've seen big time bass pros roll in to local or regional tournaments and get waxed by local guys, regional guys too. I'm not saying this is the case here, but just curious.

One more thing....I see a lot of complaints here and most of it is because it's an "owners" circuit. Gripes about this are like me going to Pebble Beach and pitching a ##### cause they won't let me throw my money in the pot and play. There are prerequisites and if you don't meet them, there's no sense in crying now....ask the FLW protesters.

[Duhhhh]

Well there is a really original thought, Kevin!
Why has nobody typed this out before?

[Gary Gray]

I have read a lot of the comments, reguarding the RCL, PWT, MWC, and all of the other circuts." They are all comments", just that! I started fishing tournaments in the first MWC events, and that was the only circut around. I fished the MWC for 8 yrs before the PWT showed up, and then I jumped into the PWT also. I fished both circuts for 6 more years, before it got to be to much. I have fished every yr the PWT has been there, to include the inaugrual event on Mille Lac's. This is where the Walleye tournaments started to grow. I am still fishing the PWT, and some other events such as the Mercury National's, and some local events. I fish about 15 tournaments a year now. My point is:

My hat is off to RCL, for taking the Walleye game one step further. Al Lindner took it one step further when In-Fish started the PWT. This competition thing can only go where some organization takes it. I look at it as a competition for the PWT, and all other circuts to stand up and take notice. I own and fish for Yar Craft Boats, I'm not mad, I'm glad. Thanks RCL for stepping up and taking the Walleye game to a higher level I was at the RCL last yr, and their show was Great, run well, and they have a good guy running it, (Sonny).

It takes competition to make competition, so now we have RCL, PWT, and many more circuts, Just think if the MWC, or the USFA where the only game in town.( I am not picking on any one circut, so please don't take it that way, just stating an example). Or for that matter, what if NAWA was the only circut, think of where it would be now, GONE!!! We need the competition amoung circuts, to keep the move going upwards, so ONWARDS!!!!

To all circut Director's: Great Job, keep moving upwards!

Just My Opinion,

Gary Gray, #10

[T-Mac: Super Post! Gary]

Very nice, Gary.
Jimmy Bell, nice job as well.
Your posts are good, sensible additions to this ongoing discussion that has gone all over the place.
Thanks!

[gonfishn95]

Gary and Jimmy great post, This is why they are where they are today.

[skeeter is that you?]

what da ##### der hey

[Hans]

>IF you want to fish against ......

"Against"??????

What a strange idea!

Hans

[ETT]

Mr. Bell,
Nice seeing you here on walleye central. As you have readily seen, you must be a little thick skinned to show up here. Hope you are not a stranger.



An other Jim from Ohio

( Jim Stedke)

talk to you soon.

[Jimmy]

James, Good to hear from you. Yes you are right, my first time into one of these so I still have some things to learn. I think most people have good intentions. I will give you a call Thursday. I was thinking about you just the other day. Hope you and your family had a great Holiday Season!!

Jimmy

[Skeet]

No it is not the Skeet or Skeeter from Winnebago Walleyes. It seems a few other people are using those names. I did not register my nickname on Walleye Central so I guess it was up for grabs. From here on in, I'll be using my real name to avoid confusion. Thanks Ron Floyd

[ETT]

We are all peachy!! Trying to get set up in a Ranger for April RCL on Erie. and maybe saginaw.

We had a pup (Drahthaar) for 3 weeks over Christmas, for my 4 year old granddaughter's christmas present. In Memphis now.


Quite sure you're right about the good intentions. Just some guys can't pass up the oppertunity to make an idiot out of themselves. You'll learn when to read only and not reply. Hope to see you somewhere in the summer.