Pete Harsh Speaks Out!

The "good ole boys concept" that Pete was talking about was the death of the PWT in the end. I served on the PWT advisory council for three years, and the protectionism and entitlement of most "touring pros" made format changes that would in any way level the playing field and grow the sport impossible.

Prior to 2002, the PWT only let 5 pros from each division qualify for the championship and they let 40 out of the 50 "touring pros" qualify.

In 2002, they opened it up so that 10 from each division would qualify for the championship. That year saw the largest number of entries in PWT history. There were roughly 150 rookies that year, and the level of competition went through the roof!!

After seeing the growth, I recommended that we take it a step further and really focus on inclusion and competitiveness. I recommended that we even the playing field by eliminating the championship qualification benefits given to the “tour pros”. I proposed that we make the championship be the best 50 anglers from the season… a championship of 50 with 25 from the west and 25 from the east.

My theory was that the long term health of the sport required that competitiveness be rewarded and new guys coming up had a legitimate shot to make it. In professional sports, competitiveness and new blood every year is a MUST. Without that, you have a club not a sport.

The good ole boys were furious that all these new guys were coming in and taking a piece of what they felt that they were entitled to (i.e. a limited field, limited competition on the water and for sponsors, and a nearly guaranteed championship berth).

The “touring pros” knew that they had the advantage in sponsorships if they maintained a perceived “elite” status. They pushed for the PWT to institute rules and formats that would stack the deck in their favor no matter what the level of competition on the water did.

Needless to say, my proposal was killed in the smoky back room of the PWT advisory council before it ever saw the light of day.

Soon, the “good ole boys” got what they wanted in the “Super Pro Series”, and the PWT soon folded.

[GiddyGills]

sawit...you have just summed up what the biggest problem is with the way tournaments are set up and ran...good job.

Great summation...there should have been another angler advisory council of the 75 anglers that had also invested thousands and all got together to tell the PWT we were all going to walk if the so called elitest, (and they still think they are...) got their way...This is why Aim also will fail miserably and many folks that were involved as well as many sponsors now understand that these 5 to 8 guys will steer it right into the ground to get what they need......obviously nobody really cares what these so called super pro's do anymore...that was never what the tour was ever about...now I know everybody will say sour grapes and give it a chance...but those people really don't understand what we have experienced...those guys are so selfish they feel they are better than the tour itself.....look at the boards...look at the rules committees, look at the advisory councils not just this year but every year for the last ten...One of them were always on one of those committees and most years they were all on them with exception of the token newer guy who got out voted every time...Don't think the almighty director of Aim can over rule any one of those guys and keep his job...now they are having an invitation only to Bay Mills? Way to throw Casino money down a rat hole cause nobody even cares...there will be 13 people at the weigh in...FLW would be smart to keep them out...it is still fun to watch the kids come up and win one...

[Jim Ordway]

Some here have raised some interesting view points that I have not previously understood. It would seem that some/many have felt that despite their best efforts, they felt excluded from the organizations in which they sought to make a statement. This should not be the goal of any organization that seeks to grow their following and base of competitors. No organization can succeed without hungry competitors ready to step up to replace any natural attrition in the ranks. Tough financial times such as we are all experiencing currently should put an emphasis on the need for inclusiveness.
I am a little baffled in the arguement that certain people control all the committees and organizations.
I would speculate that many are asked to step up, but few volunteer. All organizations, big and small, are operated by the few who are willing to do the work and spend the time on committees. It is time consuming and mostly thankless.
I am rooting for AIM to succeed and the FLW and all others as well. How can the average guy have too many options? I understand the some feel it is a zero sum game, that all the formats are drawing from a limited pool. If so, may the best format win. Some of the very elite can make a living at this game thru their talents,personality, and years of relationships with sponsors. I give then all the credit in the world for doing it their way. I never understood the math myself, and always saw it as an expensive hobby.
Take care,

[GiddyGills]

Don't take it back down a bashing AIM path...it's not just about AIM. Every aspect of the walleye tournament world is failing here. From the formats all the way down to the attitudes. There is one, and only one main reason it is failing and that is the whole concept of the tournaments, from the structure to the egos, in no way matches reality. Everyone is expecting way too much from a recreational activity. If some people want to fish competitively then by all means go for it...but stop pissing and moaning every time it doesn’t garner the public attention you want it to...and for the love of Pete stop acting and trying to become the main guiding beacon for the sport of fishing. In the big picture it has no importance to 95% of the people who fish.

[swspreck]

King Karma, from what I can see the answer to your question is that AIM was invented be a business to make money. So what is the problem with that? Capitalism works, if you can make a better widget than the last guy go for it. AIM also is another choice to fish, and all anglers benefit from that if they choose to go the tournament route.
If you dont like whats on TV. turn the channel. If I dont like something I just dont go there anymore, but I dont try and get everyone else not to like it either.
I hope AIM succeeds as I hope FLW and MWC succeed. More is better when it comes to choices.

[Raybob]

Originally Posted by swspreck

King Karma, from what I can see the answer to your question is that AIM was invented be a business to make money. So what is the problem with that? Capitalism works, if you can make a better widget than the last guy go for it. AIM also is another choice to fish, and all anglers benefit from that if they choose to go the tournament route.
If you dont like whats on TV. turn the channel. If I dont like something I just dont go there anymore, but I dont try and get everyone else not to like it either.
I hope AIM succeeds as I hope FLW and MWC succeed. More is better when it comes to choices.

-Most Tournament Followers are only interested in the Eye chase and competition for "that tourney" based on who is the Best Angler.

IMHO ...the MWC & the FLW score high on my card for the true eye-chase and this years startup circuit scraped together from the pwt is not even in the same leauge w/the Big Two...

Also to me...
-the startup circuit seems to treat both non-owner Co's & Pro's as donators for their self-coin cause > rather than equals for the sport of Eye Angling competition...

Why is this???

[Jim Ordway]

The very simple reason that AIM exists is that a group of people put up the money and invested tremendous amounts of resources to starting a circuit. The reason that certain people are leading the commitees is that the investor group nomimated them because they were the most qualified of those who volunteered for the jobs. Nothing sinister, just he same situation that church groups, kiwainis, etc groups face. The many always depend on the efforts of the few.
The investor group believes that there is a better way to run a circuit and protect the resource.
Getting that job done can be very complicated, but the reason for doing so are not.
Take care,

[GiddyGills]

"AIM was formed with the sole intent to make Karma feel inferior and keep him in his place in the world of walleye tournament fishing."

Is that correct? The way you attack AIM you really must have a personal vendetta against the organization so just spill it. Did they not allow you to invest in it? Did they set the investment amount higher than what you had in your piggy bank? What is it?

I personally do not care that much about tournaments but the constant egg throwing that is done at a group of people who invested their own money to start an organization like AIM is childish. You can take a look at any company, organization and even charity and find faults all over the place.

[bdirks]

Pete stuck his neck out and said what was on his mind. So have supporters of AIM. If you want your posts and claims of Professional staus believed "sawit," "7 year PWT Pro," and "reason 1" please put down your real name. I don't care if you like or hate AIM, FLW, MWC, or the Girl Scouts. If you can't validate your claims of involvement by putting your name on your post then most people, myself included, don't believe your prior status. Your answer maybe, "I don't have to answer to anyone or give anyone my name." That is true but remember this, no one else on here is claiming to be a pro. The people that do are putting thier names on their posts. Until you can do so, your posts should and will be viewed as conjecture or fiction. No "Pro" should have any problem expressing their opinion openly on a public website for all to read. Pete did as have the AIM guys including Parsons, Kemos, and Carrol.

This is no different than any sports radio call in show. When someone makes claims that they "Played in College," they are asked to provide their name, school, year, and position. If it doesn't just roll off their tongue and if it can't be verified they are hung up on. Same for you. Again I don't care what your view is, for, against, or indifferent, just validate your claims of being a "Pro."

Brian
Not a Pro
1 time PWT Co-Angler
77th place, Winneconne, WI 2007