No recognition from PWT

[Russ B]

I was just wondering why after a PWT tournament the winning lures (brand, size and color) are not publicized if the manufacturer is not a sponsor of the PWT? Is this the right way to promote the best lures and techniques for catching walleyes? All of these records are broken (big fish / amature, big fish / Pro) at an event and not a word is spoken about on what they were caught.
Do you think this is right?
Does In-Fish really provide us with what we need or want to know?
Why not give credit where credit is due?
These are but a few burning questions I have about the "Professional Walleye Trail".
Good fishin' to all,
Russ

[I'll tell ya why-]

Well Russ, it goes like this, the PWT is a for profit organization. There lure sponsors, or all the sponsors in general, pay for the privalage of being an exclusive sponsor. Therefore, the PWT doesnt publish the names of non sponsor products due to the conflict it would create. Just imagine the flack they would get from brand x product if the PWT headline was, "Angler Skip Horslag wins Erie PWT on Brand Y product!" What then is the brand x sponsor paying for? I dont necesarily think this is a bad thing. But it is sure not the free flow of information some anglers think it should be. But you know what? The PWT is not a free flow of information in its press releases and coverage, but a report of a business undertaking. You don't exactly hear them blowing the horn of the company that makes Dan Plautz's boat, or any winner, unless it is a sponsor made boat. I do feel, in this day and age, it is up to the anglers in attendance to spread the word of what was hot, and up to the top finishing pro's and amatures to promote their sponsors products wherever and however they can. That then is where this message board really shines. Every one of us is a student, teacher, reporter or sounding board at one time or another here. That's why Walleye Central is such a great place to be. (That was my weekly sucking up,;-)!

[Chris K]

This is kind of like what I saw when I was watching Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World on TNN. Keith Kavajecz was fishing Erie in December with planer boards. On the show there was a text segment they stated they were using Storm Thundersticks in purples and blues, but were actually trolling eredescent Reef Runners. Well with his sponsorship by Storm they got their mention but what was really catching those fish? The publication of what works and what did not and who is the sponsor will decide what information that is released to the general public and they beleive it to be the truth. Chris

[Erie_Tournament_Troller]

Check out my post on second page of fishing reports. Reef Runners rule!!!

[Fishdude]

HOW TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris K]

I checked it out ETT. Good to hear the record fish was caught on a Reef Runner. Chris

[FOOTDOC]

I am equally disappointed in the information regarding what was working at the PWT event last week. I drove over to watch the weigh in on Friday night and there is a lot of wasted time, laughing and joking and little time spent on technique. Locations were vague, sometimes, the pros were quizzed as to what was working, but I never did hear anything about trolling speed, type of line used or other pertenient material. Overall, it was fun to watch, but the details were lacking for anyone truly interested in what worked and how. Fortunately, I went to the Point after the weigh in and Dan Plautz was there and I point blank asked him to describe for me his crawler harness and he was kind enough to draw it out for me. I also appreciate the information from people like ETT and Airwave and others on Erie.

[eyetaker]

Well, I guess I never mentioned anything to anyone who didn't ask.

My week (practice and the tourney) saw 4-10lbs - 2-11's 1-12 and of course 1-14.64# all my big fish came on Reef Runner Deep Divers 65-80 feet behind the board. Purple Demon, Eriedescent, Rainbow, Bubble Gum and Black were the hot colors.

I trolled them real slow (.8 - 1.5 MPH)the big fish wouldn't chase. the attractive tail kick of a Reef Runner at that slow speed, caused the sluggish females to take a snap at it. With the sharp VMC outbarbs, thats all it takes to put one in the box.

Hope this helps your information stockpile.

Dave Kidd

[FreeByrd]

Dave,
Thanks for the info and congrats on the big fish and a great day 1.

Info on our trips so far this year:
We caught good fish on Friday afternoon about 1 mile NE of "C" can. Reefrunners behind big boards anywhere from 60 to 125 back. Eriedescent and Purple Demon were best. Also caught one fish on a shallow thunderstick back 100' and one on a dipsey with Stinger Confusion spoon. Used Small dipsey down about 25'. We also caught good fish the previous weekend same area but did better up higher. Reefrunners from 35' to 85' back. The key for us so far this year has been finding SMALL pockets of ACTIVE fish and using the plotter to stay on them. We've caught most of our fish in small active pockets less than 1/4 mile area. You should see my plotter screen! When in these pockets, depth hasn't mattered a great deal. Had the shallow thunderstick and the dipsey fish go off within 1 minute of each other on same pass. Our speed has been between 1.5 and 1.8. Good fishing to all.
Steve

[Jeff Reed]

You are very observant RUSS B. It does the PWT no financial good to talk about a lure company that is not paying the PWT to do so. ALL iT does is upset the lure companies that are paying the PWT BIG DOLLARS to talk UP their PRODUCTS. The PWT COULD CARE LESS WHAT COMPANIES LURE DID WHAT. THE PWT IS BEING PAID TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC BAITS MADE BY COMPANIES THAT SPONSOR AND PAY THE PWT BIG BUCKS. FOLKS, this is all about money and your just kidding yourself if you think it isn't. The PWT is under no obligation to tell anybody about any NON- SPONSORING product or sevice or how the tournament was won by this NON-PWT PAYING product. This is why we have independant outdoor writers.

[jeff reed]

You are wise beyond your years and have an excellent grasp of the PWT MONEY GAME and how it works.

[jeff reed]

You caught them red handed. They screwed up big time and got caught bigtime. But this kinda crap has been going on forever and shouldn't surprise anybody, only this time they were stupid enough to get caught.

[Gary Korsgaden]

You guys hit it right on......It looks like the PWT typically selects who they really want to promote along with lures that pay for sponsorship in their publications.

Additionally many of the other outdoor publications and writers have become nothing more than a billboard to promote selected products for hire or money.

I feel sad that sport of fishing has gone this route. Instead of the skill being shared and enhanced it is all about money and promoting of products for sale.

The enjoyment of the experience of fishing has seemingly taken a back seat to profits



>I was just wondering why after
>a PWT tournament the winning
>lures (brand, size and color)
>are not publicized if the
>manufacturer is not a sponsor
>of the PWT? Is this
>the right way to promote
>the best lures and techniques
>for catching walleyes? All of
>these records are broken (big
>fish / amature, big fish
>/ Pro) at an event
>and not a word is
>spoken about on what they
>were caught.
>Do you think this is right?
>
>Does In-Fish really provide us with
>what we need or want
>to know?
>Why not give credit where credit
>is due?
>These are but a few burning
>questions I have about the
>"Professional Walleye Trail".
>Good fishin' to all,
>Russ

[Gary Korsgaden]

You guys hit it right on......It looks like the PWT typically selects who they really want to promote along with lures that pay for sponsorship in their publications.

Additionally many of the other outdoor publications and writers have become nothing more than a billboard to promote selected products for hire or money.

I feel sad that sport of fishing has gone this route. Instead of the skill being shared and enhanced it is all about money and promoting of products for sale.

The enjoyment of the experience of fishing has seemingly taken a back seat to profits



>I was just wondering why after
>a PWT tournament the winning
>lures (brand, size and color)
>are not publicized if the
>manufacturer is not a sponsor
>of the PWT? Is this
>the right way to promote
>the best lures and techniques
>for catching walleyes? All of
>these records are broken (big
>fish / amature, big fish
>/ Pro) at an event
>and not a word is
>spoken about on what they
>were caught.
>Do you think this is right?
>
>Does In-Fish really provide us with
>what we need or want
>to know?
>Why not give credit where credit
>is due?
>These are but a few burning
>questions I have about the
>"Professional Walleye Trail".
>Good fishin' to all,
>Russ

[Airwave(OH)]

Hey thanks alot Steve, now I'm embarrassed -I haven't even put on a STINGER yet.. Geez Confusion is working already. I better get on the phone..LOL See ya on the lake. We need to go fishing together....

[jeff reed]

ROCK ON WITH REEF RUNNERS!!!!!!!!!

[Jeff Reed]

This stuff doesnt happen just with the walleye guys. They learned it from the BASS PROS. Remember when that amateur won the Bassmasters Classic. All the BASS PROS and B.A.S.S. completely ignored him. He later died in a plane crash and got more publicity from the crash.

[GetReel]

Dave thanks for the details! It's great to see a local Lure "ReefRunner" and a Local Pro Dave Kidd set a PWT Record which will last a VERY LONG TIME!
Chris
W.C.W.A.

[Russ B]

Thanks Dave, I think that is what people here want to know.
Keep Rippin' Russ

[Russ B]

I remember the B.A.S.S. Thing. Brian Kerchel,(or something very close) I think was his name. An awesome angler in his own right on the right track, but cut short by a freak accident. I want to thank you all for your responses. I always heard of the PWT in advertisments as teaching us all we ever need to know on Walleye, but since the take over I think something was lost.
Keep on Rippin' guys
Russ

[John in MN]

I had the pleasure of observing for Brian when he fished the Don Shelby Bass Tournament on Lake Minnetonka in 1994. This was shortly after he won the Bass Masters Classic. He was a very nice young man and said after winning the Classic, fishing was starting to feel a little more like business. He was a very good fisherman and had phenomenal accuracy pitching and skipping around docks. He had never fished the lake before and ended up placing something like 12-15. I still use his flipping technique when I fish bass in weed beeds. He died in a plane crash shortly before Christmas that same year. When I heard the news, I was deeply saddened since he had a great future in fishing. When I approached him after he weighed in the day after I observed for him, he remembered me and said,"Remember the rock where I caught the big bass with you? I caught the same size bass off it again today!! These bass were 4 1/2-5 pounds each. So in his honor my fishing buddy and I renamed the point where this rock is Kershall Point. I hope I never forget him.

[Jeff Reed]

That's his name, Brian Kerchvial. He beat all the Pros butts and they hated him for it because he didnt ask permission to win and wasnt part of the "IN" crowd. His winning wasnt nearly as advertised or talked up as the big names such as Denny Braur, Kevin Van Dam, Roland Martin. Sort of reminds me of when I used to run my Brittanies field trial dogs in the grouse woods against setters and pointers, the chances of winning are slim even if Jesus ran my dogs.

[Dave]

Glad to see you did so well.Getting more involved this year talked a lot to John W. Keep up the good results.Reef Runners working just as well in Ontario. Karl in N.Y.

[walli]

The PWT should pattern themselves after NASCAR when it comes to sponsors. If Ford was their sponsor, I guartee if chevy won their race you would know it. They would not try to cover it up and i know Ford would not drop there sponsorship of nascar for not covering it up. As far as pros lieing about what they use they are only hurting themselves and there credibility.

[Fish-on]

You people must be asleep at the wheel or drunk or just plain stupid. All you have to do is read the press releases. It says exactly what the fish were caught on, even colors.

The sky is not falling. The PWT and the PWT anglers are still teaching us all to be more effective. The story here is how effective the Reef Runners were and they pulled no punches in saying so. I don't know where you guys got your info, but you should check your facts before spouting this nonsense. READ THE PRESS RELEASES.

[John in MN]

Are these press releases at a web-site or where do you find them?

[Shut up already]

Message to Jeff Reed; Please start up your own website and stop telling us po' folk how to interpret everything! Thank you.

[Dogfish]

Oh now there's an exciting prospect! We could all put stickers all over our boats, 225 hp motors and all troll around the lake to the left. Then every once in a while we could bump boats, someone could wave a yellow landing net and we could all come back to the docks for a beer. Sounds about as exciting as watching Bill Dance catch 4# bass out of his own pond. "yawn!"
Now don't get up tight, I know you were talking about sponsorship and not format, but the above thought popped into my head and I had to get it out. Sorry, :-)
Dogfish

Dogfish

[curt quesnell]

i guess i got the press releases from all three
days....the first two will be vague..the final
usually has particulars...obviously the pros
wont give up much till the end.

if you dont have access to media that will read
the press releases to you why not give the pro
q and a page here a shot...when the tournament
is done.

why are all you guys are tryin to make a stink about this. any pro will spill his guts
after the fishin is done. just ask the guy who
walked up to dan plautz and asked him what he
was using...he said dan even drew him a picture
of what the crawler harness looked like.

the pwt is the only circuit out there i can
depend on to send daily faxes when a tournament
is going one.....(mwc promises them this year)

you may be expecting too much, while reef runners
are fine they werent the only crank catchin fish
and the winner of the contest switched to a
spinner on day 3. if you feel your favorite plug
was slighted then hopefully this thread will make
up for some of it....

but for me...i dont think you guys are being fair
to dans spinner rig


your pal

curt quesnell

[Russ B]

Well curt I just went to this site http://www.in-fisherman.com/pwt/pages/ohresults.html and read all the press releases and the only color mentioned there was of the spinner variety. I have absolutely nothing against spinners, in fact I use them quite regularly. But you said "you got press releases" Did you find them on-line? or do they e-mail them to you special that no one else has access? The only way most of us find this stuff is at the In-Fish site.
I do know that other cranks and patterns probably caught fish there, as surely as the sun rises in the East. I fish tournaments and know that not only does one pattern work for all fish in a given body of water. Everyone has different ideas on what will be the winner, so why not publicise say even the top 5 techniques? Would this be so wrong? Why not mention the brands and colors? Not all of us get the opportunity to talk face to face with the PWT guys, so how will we get them to spill their guts to us?
It was just a thought I had that was in the back of my mind that started this, and I ment no offense. My congradulations go out to Dan for winning the Erie event, and I have nothing against the anglers. Just wondering about the ligitimacy of PWT/In-fish info.
Russ

[Erie_Tournament_Troller]

Show me where a press release says one word about Reef Runners. And you call us names?????

[jeff reed]

Seems like your out to get me. Why didnt you reply to the other folks that said the same thing. Its so fun when I use my full name and wake people like you out of a mental "sleep".

[curt quesnell]

i am real glad you found the press release site.
i get them emailed to me but didnt have one at
home when i made the post...i was beginning to
worry about my memory.

i am a broadcaster and i follow all the pwt events
on the air either in person or thru the press
releases

like i said in the post.....you wont get much
the first 2 days...(or one day in this case).

but when the fishin is done the guts get spilled.

they said what rig won the event....
they said what baits won second place (smithwick
rogues being one of them, not a pwt sponsor).

they were pretty specific about the color, and
gear and tactics of the winner and they mentioned the plugs the second place guy was using.

i'm sure you could write a book going thru each
and every fishermans plan and execution.

tactics change from day to day....hot colors
change from day to day.....beating that stuff
to death today more than likely wont help you
much next week.

you guys want everything handed to you. you still
need to get out and try stuff till you find out
whats working. the pwt press release is a press
release not a clinical study on lake erie that
week.

the pwt gets the fishermen to the location, lets
em fish for a week then they stand by their boats
for a couple hours to answer questions from anyone
who cares to ask em.....

if you complainers really wanted to know this
stuff....i mean really gave a darn...i think you
should have been there to ask those questions.

ok...you dont have time, cant afford it, death
in the family, kids graduation what ever....the
pros q and a on this very web site has the pros
available and eager to answer all you can ask.

i'm not against nasty things(i have done some
myself)

but i cant imagine why you are all so quick to be so negative about this stuff like someone is trying to pull a fast one on you all. go back
to the russ b. post that started this...."how come
the winning lure isnt mentioned if its not a pwt
sponsor"? well russ the winning BAIT was a spinner
not a lure...and it was described!!!!!!!!!!!
the second place lures were smithwick rogues (again, not a sponsor) and rapala husky jerks.

some of you guys might not be husky..........

people read this stuff you know......its not too
much to ask that you think before you type.

still your friend, i hope

curt quesnell

(when i get out of line...i depend on my friends
to tell me)

[fathead]

Just ran across a site publishing stories from the PWT guys. Looks like only one report on there right now, but its a good one from Jim Klick. Got some other good sticks on there...should be interesting
http://www.walleyepros.net

[Mark Sak]

I have been covering the Michigan Walleye Tour for The Woods-N-Water News since 1996 and am now a rookie pro on the PWT. We are working on a web site called discoveroutdoors.com and will try to provide "A blast from the inside the PWT" We are not sponsored by anyone and are interested in passing on pertinent info to further the sport. I'll advertise my sponsors on a different page. The MWT has always had the top ten finishers sign a hot spots map where the winners caught their fish and how. Maybe we can put something similiar together for the PWT. I'm open for suggestions. Thanks Mark Sak

[basspoint]

ok, thats pretty cool. Are they going to do more? Nobody ever talks about the experience itself.

Basspoint

[Mark Sak]

We are going to try to provide everything possible from the inside. We will never get everyone's deep dark secrets but when your a part of the tournament itself you get a different flavor. One thing I saw during the event and heard from several amateurs is no one got a ton of bites during this event. As you can see there were only 16 limits on both days. Two of the top five boats got less than 12 bites over the two days but landed all of their fish... Amazing.

[Sheila]

Wow, it's sad to read this PWT bashing! This sponsorship stuff is plain ol' silly. The 140 pro's in every tourney use all kinds of brand names and even home-made stuff. AND, they will talk about it if asked or the right opportunity presents itself. I've learned so much from attending PWT weigh-ins and tournies, pre-fishes, and talking to pwt friends (both pro & am) that I guess I never would notice when one or more press release(s) doesn't mention the extreme detail you're looking for. (guess that's why we rely on these boards for more info!) So what if the pwt writes what they want. It's a fantastic circuit all the same! They do one heck of a great job!! Oh and while we're at it, thanks to the pwt sponsors too!!! Good stuff!

Guess you gotta get out there and experience it for yourself, get in a tourney (annual pwt signup is always right around Christmas - a wallet killer), or try to attend a weigh-in show whenever you can. Chatman (Tom) and I had a blast watching the Pt. Clinton weigh-in. We do it everytime we can! We had gobs of opportunities to talk to anyone and everyone including lots of pros and hammer away at any details we wanted. (be careful when making sideline big-fish bets with pros like i did...i lost but it was fun anyway)

Oh well, bottom line is: lighten up, be humble, give up bashing, and have fun!!!

[Hawkeye]

Your dead on, Sheila. I fished the PWT as an amateur, and the pros are first-rate fisherman, and good guys. To a man, everyone I spoke with answered my questions, if you approached him in a friendly way.

The pros definitely talk about lures and products that the PWT doesn't get sponsor dollars from. Dan Plautz won using spinners, so there was no crank bait to tout. Even though I've fished Lake Erie for fifteen years, I've learned plenty from the PWT pros.

Until the early PWT tournaments, 99% of Lake Erie fishermen used jig/minnows in early spring, and then weight forward spinners the balance of the year. The pros really popularized early season trolling for big females, and this led to the explosion of crank bait sales on Lake Erie. I didn't even own a crank bait until 1992, and not I have about 100 of them.

I don't understand the negative attitudes expressed in some of these posts. Being a pro fisherman is tough, and they have to fish in some NASTY weather as evidence by day two of the tournament. Two enthusiastic thumbs up for the PWT in my book.