Tournament Fishing Participation - How do you decide?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ben Hanes on February 2, 2016 at 9:01am

Now we're talkin'......This is good stuff!

Jordan is right, get the boat numbers up! (I like either the "Options" idea or an "Am League" idea, or maybe even a combination of both!) 

Once the boat numbers are up(i.e. # of competitors), the boat incentives kick in and with the example he provided it could be a pretty huge payout with incentives.

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on February 2, 2016 at 10:30am

I think that if all the circuits started handing out Participation Trophies they could alleviate a lot of the hurt feelings, and draw some people back into the game.

One thing that I think everyone is missing is that a lot of the guys that made up the additional numbers have retired from competitive fishing. I can think of quite a few who consistently made up entries that have died, quit, or just got too old to do it.

Not to disparage the "yutes" (Juan aka Snake) but many of the younger generation don't enjoy the outdoors based on a percentage of the population as the generations before them. Not because the old guys don't share or aren't welcoming - they just have other interests. I have paid for several entry fees, and loaned my boat to young guys just to give them the experience of a tournament - but the seed didn't germinate so to speak. I saw this in a previous hobby of mine - there just wasn't the interest in the younger generation (at the time I was the younger generation) for the activity. I may be wrong, but I would guess even though they are selling more licenses at the State level, it's a smaller percentage of the population.

Permalink Reply by Josh Potter on February 2, 2016 at 11:12am

I am 100% emotionally unattached to this subject because my life's priorities have changed and I am unlikely to fish more than a single event for at least the next 5-6 years. My boys are 12/13 and competing in sports 12 months out of the year. I have no intentions of missing a moment of any of that. These stupid fish will still be swimming around when that's all done. Shoot....a SM that's 10" now will finally be big enough to take to the scales by the time I make it back. That doesn't mean I don't care about the sport. I have made some great friendships that would have never happened had it not been for tournament fishing. I hope those of you that remain engulfed in it keep it alive and growing.

Eventually the circuit with the best value proposition will choke out the rest. That's just the way free markets work. The first circuit to figure that out will consolidate the base back to a size that attracts the majority of the competitors and make it "worth" it again. Or....it simply becomes a game of attrition and the 1 or 2 circuit's with the most staying power will be the last standing. That scenario isn't innovative and does nothing to elevate the sport.

Currently their isn't much that differentiates one circuit from the other. Participation levels prove that! There was a time when 1 circuit (NWB) was clearly perceived to be the best based on it dwarfing the other circuits/events. When there is no clear cut "best" option then minor inconveniences and other circumstances become deciding factors when they would never enter the equation if there was a truly "best" option.

Some of these new ideas you guys are coming up with might be the answer. There might even be an idea that hasn't been discovered that really changes the game. I don't know.

Unless this is a dying sport/industry and then nothing will prevent the inevitable. That's always a possibility but I doubt it.

Permalink Reply by Josh Potter on February 2, 2016 at 11:17am

Hard to disagree with any of that. It's also hard for "yutes" to buy a used tournament boat for 35k.
Jon Sessler said:

I think that if all the circuits started handing out Participation Trophies they could alleviate a lot of the hurt feelings, and draw some people back into the game.

One thing that I think everyone is missing is that a lot of the guys that made up the additional numbers have retired from competitive fishing. I can think of quite a few who consistently made up entries that have died, quit, or just got too old to do it.

Not to disparage the "yutes" (Juan aka Snake) but many of the younger generation don't enjoy the outdoors based on a percentage of the population as the generations before them. Not because the old guys don't share or aren't welcoming - they just have other interests. I have paid for several entry fees, and loaned my boat to young guys just to give them the experience of a tournament - but the seed didn't germinate so to speak. I saw this in a previous hobby of mine - there just wasn't the interest in the younger generation (at the time I was the younger generation) for the activity. I may be wrong, but I would guess even though they are selling more licenses at the State level, it's a smaller percentage of the population.

Permalink Reply by Josh Potter on February 2, 2016 at 11:20am

I see the short term problem as getting participation consolidated. The long term problem is growing the number of new competitors to replace the drop off in the older generation.

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on February 3, 2016 at 10:14am

Inevitably, something like that would happen with this format, but that team/angler would need to look at it this way: they finished 5th out of 100 and won money on their basic entry ($50) which was a good return. HOWEVER, if all the anglers ahead of them were in all the options and they did cash in on the $350 big stringer option, than they also finished 5th out of 33 which understandably, they would not be cashing a check for. 

Jeff McBroom said:

Jordan,

I think something along the lines of that could work -with some minor tweeks. (I know you were just giving examples). I'd hate to be the team that finished 5th out of 100 boats, didn't catch a big fish & might not have gotten big stringers per flight. They would get a small return on a great finish. But the payouts could be adjusted.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Fancher on February 3, 2016 at 12:10pm

Josh,

I'm with you. I fished some tournaments 15 years ago and then my kids/wife needed my attention. I was able to coach sports and watch all their games and still fun fish, but I was not able to put in the time necessary to do well in tournaments so I stopped. Now the kids are out of the home and I just can't get myself motivated to do a circuit. To do well it does take a TON of work, time and money. I enjoy the competition so I will do a club tournament or two near my home. In the end, I'd still rather go out and fish a lake with no tournament where I have most of the lake to myself. However, I'm an adrenaline junkey and love a tournament once in a while. I do like the idea of less expensive entry fees. That would lure me to do a bigger tournament without needing to do so much prep. With age, I have become smarter with my finances/time and don't like giving my hard earned money away to Hobbs. I've always felt that a person is either born with this sickness to need to fish or they are not. I also, think it is getting harder to get kids to put down video games and phones and pick up a pole. I think Sessler is correct on that point. I also believe anyone can win, they just have to put in the enormous amount of time and have a little luck. Now that I've taken time off, I have had a chance to look back and determine if I want to jump back in. Bottom line is that I've gotten lazier and re-prioritized my life (God, family, friends, fishing) and it is hard for me to get motivated to put in the time necessary when there are other important things to do. Everyone's circumstances are different. That is what makes it hard to figure out. Some aren't competitive and just enter tournament to be social; some have lots of money; some are single; some have families that like going to the tournaments (not mine); some go to church on Sundays, etc. I don't know what the answer is, just thought I would provide why I stopped and have only restarted with some open tournaments.

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on February 3, 2016 at 12:54pm

Still think this is a good idea....tell me why it's not.
 
Jon Sessler said:

The BEST solution for multiple circuits in my opinion would be the following (with no preference for a particular circuit):

Perhaps the BBTT coordinate with ABA (or NWB) and run a dual tournament on the same permit, body of water and date. You can enter both or one tournament therefore consolidating expenses. This tournament would run either the week before or the week after a competing circuit on the same body of water. That would make each tournament a pre-fish for the other circuit.

Good financially, good for time commitments, and pretty good for the anglers. Hell we're there already, why not have a tournament?

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on February 3, 2016 at 4:33pm

I'll start by saying that I like the idea.

BUT, if I had to play devil's advocate, I'd say that if you don't do well you're losing alot of money in a short period of time if you're not on 'em. Plus you would still have people complaining about prefish time leading up to the first tournament. Again, playing devil's advocate, I may even argue that prefish would be even more important since there's so much on the line going into these three tournaments that those who have a more flexible schedule really would have an advantage with these events being grouped up. 

Jon Sessler said:

Still think this is a good idea....tell me why it's not.
 
Jon Sessler said:

The BEST solution for multiple circuits in my opinion would be the following (with no preference for a particular circuit):

Perhaps the BBTT coordinate with ABA (or NWB) and run a dual tournament on the same permit, body of water and date. You can enter both or one tournament therefore consolidating expenses. This tournament would run either the week before or the week after a competing circuit on the same body of water. That would make each tournament a pre-fish for the other circuit.

Good financially, good for time commitments, and pretty good for the anglers. Hell we're there already, why not have a tournament?

Permalink Reply by Ben Hanes on February 3, 2016 at 7:56pm

I just have to say....I don't think Ron Hobbs has said anything.  Ron Hobbs.....?  :)

Permalink Reply by Rodney Heupel on February 4, 2016 at 12:23am

After being entertained by all this reading, I believe I see a simple answer for most concerns. First let me establish I am happy fishing club level. For those angler's that want to live the dream and advance to higher levels of competition I understand and respect that.

What if all tournament directors placed his/her tournament lakes totally off limits for 30 days prior to the tournament? Look at all the issues regarding pre-fish that would be gone, the money saved, less wear-n-tear on boat and tow vehicle. More quality family time would happen, divorce rate drops. Would have a positive effect for leveling the player field. Those who can't normally get all this time off to pre-fish would be more likely to get involved. Those angler's with a lower income level may get involved. May reduce tournament date conflicts. May allow you to fish all tournaments of multiple circuits. You may realize you have forgotten the reason you fish is to have fun. Maybe the deciding factor that convinces you to pack your bags and move to Florida.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on February 4, 2016 at 6:13am

Ben,
Of course I have an opinion, but I don't think it matters the most, I fish already, I think your opinion matters, Jake opinion matter, Rodney opinion matter, these are the guys that the tournaments need to appeal to, not me.



Ben Hanes said:

I just have to say....I don't think Ron Hobbs has said anything.  Ron Hobbs.....?  :)

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