Art Moraski
05-11-2001, 10:35 AM
I have read several messages about which circuits to fish and the payouts, etc. I would like to add my 3 cents as an old tourney angler whose fished walleye tourneys, Scott's B.A.S.S. tourneys as well as many, many local tourneys with many top ten finishes and some wins including the 1978 Nat Walleye Tourney in Wisconsin (where I grew up -- but now live in Spokane WA). I used to teach at the IN'Fisherman Schools (I was known as the Nightstalker)and grew up knowing and fishing with or (in the same party) the best in the business; Al and Ron and sons Jimmy and Billy Lindner, Gary Roach, Dave Csanda, Dan Sura, Mike McCelland, Bob Propst, Ted Capra, John Peterson (Northland Tackle) and so many more I couldn't even begin to mention the names. In every tournament I fished I figured 90% of the fishermen in the tourney were equal to or better than me and could win any tourney they fished in -- if they figured out the conditions for the day -- worked hard -- never gave up -- had a little luck -- and listened to their inner voice and went with it. The payoff? TO WIN. There is nothing like winning -- nothing! It's the high; the excitement; the recognition from your peers; the offers?; the cash; the prizes; the fame?; and all that stuff -- but it is winning that carries you forward.
Now, the more realistic tidbits that comes along with fishing tourneys: 1) Because everyone is working at their best to win -- you will learn more earnestly what fishermen do use; under which conditions; tricks you've probably never seen before; you see experts practicing their trade under the most stressful and demanding situation of their careers -- because to win is to remain fishing by being supported through fishing and not some job that allows you to fish when you can. 2) The caliber of fishermen is higher than any other fishing adventure you could go on. During precious practice time -- Chris Houston (Jimmy's wife) and Jimmy found me stranded in a forest on Rodman Res. off the St. John's River while practicing for a Scott's BASS. They took hours to help me -- that's the kind of people you find fishing tourneys -- competitive but human! 3)Kids watch fishermen through TV shows, Sport Shows, Boat Shows etc. Everything you do is important and watched by some kid somewhere. Whether you like it or not, you become some kid's hero because the excitement of it all is catchy. Take a kid off the streets and stick a rod (fishing rod) in his/her hand you have probably saved a kid or helped to develop one. Better yet, teach em'. What does that have to do with the tourneys? This! Tourneys pave the way for pros/am/ and children to become interested in the sport. The Tourney Directors need to put more cash into tourneys and pay-down further and develop leaders in the business. These are the leaders that give others hope; keeps people in the business who should be there; and helps them support their families. The money has to be there. If I hear of someone earning $300,000 over a period of ten years or so -- that's $30,000 a year -- not too impressive from a financially successful operation point-of-view. If you're not sponsored properly because you only have a year or two in, it is truly tough. The prizes are great (I won a Ranger 1850 I/O with a Merc-Cruiser with Cleaver prop, and E-Z Loader Trailer and had to sell it to keep fishing), but the bottom line is the bottom line that keeps you out there. The rest of it is pure heaven with one exception: the occassional tourney angler who takes too many chances that may someday take a life. Other than that: Companies: please continue to sponsor pros, and up and comings (develop your spokes-people); Fishermen: continue to fish and learn; and Tourney Directors: make it more profitable to keep fishermen in the program -- the payoff is down the road. And one more parting shot: My strength is in Reserviors and lakes -- stick a bunch of current in there and poof, I'm history. I have a real problem with rivers. I would love to fish a few river tourneys as anything am/pro/side-kick just to learn to be more productive on rivers. That's another payoff you must consider if you plan to fish tourneys or to be better on a home body of water. It education: and learning what to do with the education you get. I'm older than Santa Claus, but younger than dirt: and still learning! Good luck! Art Moraski My e-mail is A-Morask1@msn.com
Now, the more realistic tidbits that comes along with fishing tourneys: 1) Because everyone is working at their best to win -- you will learn more earnestly what fishermen do use; under which conditions; tricks you've probably never seen before; you see experts practicing their trade under the most stressful and demanding situation of their careers -- because to win is to remain fishing by being supported through fishing and not some job that allows you to fish when you can. 2) The caliber of fishermen is higher than any other fishing adventure you could go on. During precious practice time -- Chris Houston (Jimmy's wife) and Jimmy found me stranded in a forest on Rodman Res. off the St. John's River while practicing for a Scott's BASS. They took hours to help me -- that's the kind of people you find fishing tourneys -- competitive but human! 3)Kids watch fishermen through TV shows, Sport Shows, Boat Shows etc. Everything you do is important and watched by some kid somewhere. Whether you like it or not, you become some kid's hero because the excitement of it all is catchy. Take a kid off the streets and stick a rod (fishing rod) in his/her hand you have probably saved a kid or helped to develop one. Better yet, teach em'. What does that have to do with the tourneys? This! Tourneys pave the way for pros/am/ and children to become interested in the sport. The Tourney Directors need to put more cash into tourneys and pay-down further and develop leaders in the business. These are the leaders that give others hope; keeps people in the business who should be there; and helps them support their families. The money has to be there. If I hear of someone earning $300,000 over a period of ten years or so -- that's $30,000 a year -- not too impressive from a financially successful operation point-of-view. If you're not sponsored properly because you only have a year or two in, it is truly tough. The prizes are great (I won a Ranger 1850 I/O with a Merc-Cruiser with Cleaver prop, and E-Z Loader Trailer and had to sell it to keep fishing), but the bottom line is the bottom line that keeps you out there. The rest of it is pure heaven with one exception: the occassional tourney angler who takes too many chances that may someday take a life. Other than that: Companies: please continue to sponsor pros, and up and comings (develop your spokes-people); Fishermen: continue to fish and learn; and Tourney Directors: make it more profitable to keep fishermen in the program -- the payoff is down the road. And one more parting shot: My strength is in Reserviors and lakes -- stick a bunch of current in there and poof, I'm history. I have a real problem with rivers. I would love to fish a few river tourneys as anything am/pro/side-kick just to learn to be more productive on rivers. That's another payoff you must consider if you plan to fish tourneys or to be better on a home body of water. It education: and learning what to do with the education you get. I'm older than Santa Claus, but younger than dirt: and still learning! Good luck! Art Moraski My e-mail is A-Morask1@msn.com