merc national , winnebago

[lip ripper]

what are these bozos thinking? i've never heard of anthing so stupid as saying you have to have a mercury outboard to fish in a tournament. i think they have gone a bit over the edge, and i for one won't ever enter a tournament where the main focus is advertising and not fishing in general. if anyone has a good explanation for this it would be greatly appreciated.

[MERC MAN]

It's there tournament they can do what they want, just as the RCL is doing. Better buy a MERC!

[Orion's Avatar]

A good example of this trend is the RCL tourney from last fall. Just think, in order to fish all the tourneys in the future, we'll need 2 or 3 fully rigged walleye boats to cover ourselves in the future!

[W'eyes Guy]

First, I'd just like to say that Merc Nationals Pays out OVER 100% payback in this tourney; they should be allowed a few stipulations in their rules. Second, This was brought on by the limited field in RCL( we fish a Warrior so we like to say we were "over Qualified"). However, i dont feel RCL was a bad thing,it brought a lot of coverage to the walleye scene, and will do so again. I believe other manufacturers will se this as a challenge, and follow suit( i.e.Mercury); thus bringing more coverage to the sport. I predict, in the not so distant future,we will see $1,000,000 prizes w/o bonuses. This will take walleye fishing to the next level, to where we will have tourneys similar to the Bass Masters Classic. And eventually, all these tourneys will be open to all makes and models.
I'm from Green Bay, WI so I got to witness the RCL. I thought it was an awesome production, and foresee nothing but good coming from it.

N.P.A.A. #610

[walleyechaser]

The merc nationals/Walleye Weekend was from the start a family oriented walleye tourney. There are fathers and sons, husbands and wives etc.. It's just about family. I can't believe mercury would do this. Ya know maybe mercury should make one more rule like if you don't own a mercury you can't attend walleye weekend. SHAME ON YOU MERCURY!!!

[Lund_Dude]

I give Merc credit for having the guts to do it. It is nearly impossible for a new person to get into the tourney. So, if they can only take a few people, they should take the ones that have pledged their alliance to Merc.

[Chad]

Geez guys, give it a rest.

Why should a company basically sponsor an event for people who do not use their products? Is that good business? I dont think so. I work at a bank and we always have a booth at the Home & Garden Show. Every year we give away a prize of some sort to people that register. Past years have been a gift certificate to a hardware store. We have switched to giving away a certificate stating that you will get 3 free payment on a consumer up to $300/mo. We havn't had any backlash. this is the same idea as The MERCURY Nationals requiring a MERCURY to enter. We want to give a prize to our customers and not just the people looking for free stuff. Mercury wants to give something back to their customers. They also hope to sell more motors. Sounds like good business to me and also like a few people have sour grapes.

[Bayside]

It's kind of funny Mercury didn't think of doing this before the RCL, it makes you wonder about their true motive. Remember Mercury is the one that has always billed the tournament as a "family" event. I guess it still is as long as your in the correct "family", it's unfortunate that tournaments are begining to discriminate against people that don't own a certain boat or motor.

P.S. I do own a Mercury but will not fish Merc Nationals this year.

[Get with it]

Tournaments starting to discriminate?? Are you nutty? Tournaments have always discriminated against one group or another, all of them! Remember discriminate is your word not mine. You have to use a certain minimum size boat, that must be equipped with a livewell etc. There have always been tournies that have dictated what boats or motors or club or association you must belong to in order to fish. It is and always will be a fact. You have rules much more stringent than state laws is that Fair? Is it fair that not everyone can take home a check in every tournie? Come on and be real here. Mercury Nationals, Mercury run, Mercury Tournament. Suprise!! If you want a family tournament, fish Otter Street or start another circuit. It is Merc's decision, deal with it. Life isn't fair, deal with it. And just so you know, I don't fish the Merc nationals.

[1-800-psychic]

How did you know they didn't think of it before? You are really good, reading people's minds and knowing what they have an have not thought of before. PS, I'm on an elevator, what floor am I going to stop at Mr. Know-it-all?

[Rip Lips]

Its a Merc tourney they can do what they want.You dont like it fish Otter Street,WWA,Team Walleye,Mwc,Fleet Farm.Congrates to Merc!!Jamie Friebel

[Orion's Avatar]

Just curious, has anyone considered trading or selling their other brand of motor just to fish Merc National? Just an honest question; nothing more. I haven't had the luxury of entering the tourney myself. I do own a Merc for the big motor and a Johnson 6 hp kicker motor.

[Jim]

What these so-called bozo's, "as you call them" are thinking is this.

There were approximately 80 teams, a good majority of these teams are Mercury and Mariner owners. (loyal customers) That were turned away last year because of the overwhelming number of tournament teams that applied last year.

So there are no options but to open the door for these Mercury and Mariner owners to enter the tournament this year.

Call it what you want, but it all comes down to Mercury and Mariner customer loyalty.

Jim.H.H.