PWT -Change is in the Air

I read on "another" site that the PWT is seriously considering going to 6 tournaments total. 2 Super Pro's and 4 Regionals. Anyone have any thoughts on this one way or the other?

Anyone know when the PWT is going to finalize their details?

What will their event schedule look like now? What happens to the "tentative schedule" they emailed out a few weeks ago? Will the Regional schedule stay the same and they just drop two of the Super Pros? Anyone got any insight?

Thanks

[Burr]

I spoke with JK yesterday. Things are getting very close to final, estimate a week from today.

As far as how many tournaments, any changes to the tentative schedule, we did not discuss that, so I have no info on that.

Weeks ago, I heard a super pro first place payout number that is impressive - but like you, will just wait for the public announcement.

[Eric Schuelke]

If that rumor is true, I think it's good for the PWT. I know the super pros were going to have to fish all 8 tournaments to be able to qualify for the Angler of the year title.

With only 6 tournaments, it's just like it used to be, when they had two divisions.

There are always rumors before something comes out, I'm hoping some of them are true.

As someone that fishes the regionals, I welcome having all the super pros fishing the regionals. That way I can guage where I am competetively, and what I have to work on.

[Juls]

>With only 6 tournaments, it's just like it used to be, when
>they had two divisions.

Not exactly Eric...

Yes, there used to be two divisions, but no one was restricted to fishing less than 6, like they are doing this year.

It used to be that anyone could fish all 6 and take a shot at the "Angler of the Year" title.
If, what I heard is true,(out of the NPAA Annual Meeting), only the guys who are invited to fish the two extra Super Pro events will be eligible to take the "AOY" title.
It was also said, that the majority of anglers going to the championship would come from the Super Pros. I would imagine there will be a small percentage of anglers invited to fish the championship from the Regionals too, like there was last year, but that the majority will come from those who are allowed to fish those two extra events.

Not the same. :shame:

Juls

[wall-nut]

Hey Juls, Theresa here. Was unable to attend the NPAA meeting as planned, hear it went well. Last year they had 30 guys from the regionals go to the championship. Is that changing for this year? All I've had sent to me is the tentative schedule, this is the first that I've heard of these possible changes. I wonder how that will affect sign up for the regionals?

[Juls]

Hi Theresa,
We couldn't make it to the meeting either. I talked to several people that were able to make it though. They said it was a very productive meeting and a good time. ;)
Mark Dorn, Sonny Reynolds, and Kevin Hunt were there representing the FLW, but no one was there from the PWT organization to answer any questions.

There's no way to tell what it's going to be until they actually finalize the details and make it public. When that will happen is anyone's guess. I would imagine the sale of the magazine/PWT has probably put them pretty far behind schedule as compared to other years.

Juls

[Eric Schuelke]

Juls, we finally get to argue about something.

What I meant by the way it used to be was, they had to fish all 6 events to be in the running for angler of the year, just like it will be this year. Only the super pro's have a chance at angler of the year. You are right on that.

Theresa, they technically only took 20 from the regionals for the championship, but it turned out to be, 32nd place from the regionals made it to the championship, because 11 or 12 also made it from the super pros, it may have been 31st place. I can't remember exactly.

From what I understand, the amount of anglers going to the championship will stay the same 30 from the super pro 20 from the regionals. So possibly 50th in points in the regionals could go to the championship, assuming all 30 that make it from the super pro's also qualify from the regionals. They will keep it the same as last year, the super pro's can't block the guys from the regionals from making the championship. That is why I stated 50th place could make the championship.

It will make for a better field in the regionals, they are requiring all the super pro's to fish the regionals to qualify for angler of the year, I think that is why they cut out two tournaments, if that rumor is true, it makes it more doable for the anglers, 8 tournaments is alot of events.

The regional fields should all fill up now, possibly trying to get away from the anglers that only did one or two events. There is also a rumor on another site, that the payouts are going up, also. I sure hope that is true.

you are right that it is taking longer, because of the buyout, it should all be coming out very soon, I did talk with the PWT, and they were very tight lipped.

I for one hope the rumor is true about going to 6 events. I want the strongest field possible out there, so I can guage where I am, and what I need to work on.

Theresa, just a slight coreection, they only took 20 from the regional last year. It ended up being around 30th place to make it with the super pro's that had already qualified.

Jason

[Juls]

>There is also a rumor on another site, that the payouts are
>going up, also. I sure hope that is true.

You forgot to mention that the "other" site also stated that the entry fee was going up too. That's an important little tid-bit to leave out there buddy! (Ok, that's the extent of my "arguing" with you!) hehehe

Hope you've been feeling better since your surgery, and are getting stronger every day!

Good luck this season...;)

Juls

[wall-nut]

Yup, I was thinking 30 because of the guys from the Elite side that qualified from the regionals. Everyone from 60th place on up had a chance to make it, depending on Bay De Noc. Hate to hear the fees may go up though. Arg....