Your Opinion! - Are the Glory Years of Walleye Tournament Fishing Past?

[GM]

Just wondering what your opinions are.

Walleye Tournament fishing has seem to taken a downturn in recent years. Look at participation and coverage on TV.

Obviously the economy hurt sponsorship which effected tournament backing and the economy also effects how individuals decide to spend the money they have left after essentials but there was always excitement waiting for the new PWT season and watching how the coverage improved over the years. I always bought the season tournament tapes and got to know the old and new pros as well. Plus having a magazine like the Walleye In-sider covering tournaments and techniques in detail was cutting edge for the time. Everything in the industry was being developed/improved each year from boats to motors to electronics to equipment. Everyone was absorbing new techniques being developed that were winning tournaments.

Then when the FLW entered giving large 6 figure payouts for pros and co anglers it almost seemed like walleye tournaments were going to the next level like Bass tournaments.

What do you think are some of the reasons for the cool down on participating and following of walleye tournamnts?

Do you think the best years are now behind us?

I think things are on a down turn. But will struggle back in the next few years. But only with One main event and its FLW from what I can see. They have it all and sadly AIM may go to the bone yard. I like the idea but we may not be ready for it. And with 30 team per event even the sponsors will see the issues. Got to have interest and its just not there. Hope I am wrong but think not.

[Robert M]

Untill the economy turns around and who knows when that will be I dont see much improvement in anything. I think there will still be enough interest and participants for 1 major walleye tournament tour but not sure if 2 can make it in these times.

[teamlund]

all done...... There will still be a small segment of large tounreys for advertising sake but with fuel and boat prices the way they are I think its just about done.

[thump55]

Originally Posted by teamlund

all done...... There will still be a small segment of large tounreys for advertising sake but with fuel and boat prices the way they are I think its just about done.

Here's something that's interesting to me. The biggest tournament on the Winnebago system is NOT the Merc Nationals or Otter Street or the MWC or the FLW or AIM or any bass tournament. Not even close.

The biggest tournament on the system is the "Battle on Bago" ice fishing tournament. Why is it so big? Because they pay out down to 300th place (not every spot of course) and anyone feels they have a chance to win at least something.

Apply a similar approach to open water tournaments, and you will have full fields. Full fields people. You will bring average fishermen into the tournament ranks, and you will keep them there longer even if they are relatively unsuccesful. You will have weigh-in crowds beyond belief. You will have a successful circuit my friends.

The model has been used, proven, and in regards to getting people involved it blows all the other tournament models out of the water.

[Wheres Waldo]

Originally Posted by thump55

Why is it so big? Because they pay out down to 300th place (not every spot of course) and anyone feels they have a chance to win at least something.
.

Sorry, but this sounds like our school systems and goverment. If you work real hard and do your job your not going to get rewarded as much because we can't insult anyone. So we decided to pay all the way down to the people who are getting D's in class or the people who don't want to work.

Also, AIM pays half the field, does bago?

Is baseball done? attendance down in most markets. NBA - 22 of 32 teams losing money.

We are in a tough economy and you need to make choices with what extra money you have. I think walleye tourneys will never be as big as bass tourneys because of the basis of people who fish for them. Just like hockey will never be as big as football.

I love walleye fishing and hockey. I hope when the economy gets better so do these.

[stevefellegy]

Originally Posted by GM

Just wondering what your opinions are.

Walleye Tournament fishing has seem to taken a downturn in recent years. Look at participation and coverage on TV.

Obviously the economy hurt sponsorship which effected tournament backing and the economy also effects how individuals decide to spend the money they have left after essentials but there was always excitement waiting for the new PWT season and watching how the coverage improved over the years. I always bought the season tournament tapes and got to know the old and new pros as well. Plus having a magazine like the Walleye In-sider covering tournaments and techniques in detail was cutting edge for the time. Everything in the industry was being developed/improved each year from boats to motors to electronics to equipment. Everyone was absorbing new techniques being developed that were winning tournaments.

Then when the FLW entered giving large 6 figure payouts for pros and co anglers it almost seemed like walleye tournaments were going to the next level like Bass tournaments.

What do you think are some of the reasons for the cool down on participating and following of walleye tournamnts?

Do you think the best years are now behind us?

One simple reason anglers are not onboard as they used to be. Lack of MONEY! The business model that makes up the tournament world has finally ran out of anglers that are able to support themselves, while hoping to be paid for their efforts some day as pro fishermen. The tournament industry failed to support both sides of the equation and now this is what you have. No different than any other business and or professional sport. MWC, PWT and FLW are a classic example of that failed buinsess model. AIM has no income to do so......but would.

Marketing of the sport to create a fan base? Failed since the beginning.

Money! If the guy bumping the fish gets paid and the angler who brings him the fish doesn't...this is what you get.

Can it change? Sure. Grow? Sure. But not until fishing is not the nucleus of marketing and the industry pays the anglers to show up. People with fishing backgrounds have to quit being the regime and bring in new blood to create the sport into a fan based entity. (Now the Dave Krafts of the world can jump on me again LOL)

I am going fishing. Not another word from me on this as all know my ideas and thoughts from the past. ( say what you want but there is no other reason the past anglers are not here today--and they started to go away long before any recession hit!)

Originally Posted by stevefellegy

One simple reason anglers are not onboard as they used to be. Lack of MONEY! The business model that makes up the tournament world has finally ran out of anglers that are able to support themselves, while hoping to be paid for their efforts some day as pro fishermen. The tournament industry failed to support both sides of the equation and now this is what you have. No different than any other business and or professional sport. MWC, PWT and FLW are a classic example of that failed buinsess model. AIM has no income to do so......but would.

Marketing of the sport to create a fan base? Failed since the beginning.

Money! If the guy bumping the fish gets paid and the angler who brings him the fish doesn't...this is what you get.

Can it change? Sure. Grow? Sure. But not until fishing is not the nucleus of marketing and the industry pays the anglers to show up. People with fishing backgrounds have to quit being the regime and bring in new blood to create the sport into a fan based entity. (Now the Dave Krafts of the world can jump on me again LOL)

I am going fishing. Not another word from me on this as all know my ideas and thoughts from the past. ( say what you want but there is no other reason the past anglers are not here today--and they started to go away long before any recession hit!)

What is the point of dissing Dave Kraft? A man who has done volumes to advance the sport of walleye fishing? Fellegy, you are your own worst enemy when you do things like that. Comments of that nature do not add to the credibility of your replies in my book. Shame on you...

[northshoreangler]

There were good old days. I was part of the good old days. The sport was fun and fishing was competitive. I remember when the ethics were completely different than now. The anglers found their own bites. The competitors policed the ethics. The leaders didn't have to fight off the tail-pipers as much as they do now.
Some of the anglers were actually loyal to their sponsors and didn't change brands for every little monetary gain. Teams were teams. The smallest problem didn't break up the friendships. The business is suffering from desperation. Too many guys have to make selfish, short sighted decisions to just keep the boat floating. Yeah, there were good old days. I have many great friends and terrific memories...I hope the good old days are coming back again.
Some old fashioned ethics and integrity would do the sport well.

[GiddyGills]

Originally Posted by northshoreangler

There were good old days. I was part of the good old days. The sport was fun and fishing was competitive. I remember when the ethics were completely different than now. The anglers found their own bites. The competitors policed the ethics. The leaders didn't have to fight off the tail-pipers as much as they do now.
Some of the anglers were actually loyal to their sponsors and didn't change brands for every little monetary gain. Teams were teams. The smallest problem didn't break up the friendships. The business is suffering from desperation. Too many guys have to make selfish, short sighted decisions to just keep the boat floating. Yeah, there were good old days. I have many great friends and terrific memories...I hope the good old days are coming back again.
Some old fashioned ethics and integrity would do the sport well.

You hit the nail right on the head...