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I want to get some feedback about some ideas I have. If you are currently in a bass club and you fish tournaments with 5-15 boats would you be interested in fishing in a series of tournaments open just to members of a club instead of fishing a series of tournaments with just your individual club. I'm the president of WBA located in Lynwood so I'm speaking mostly about Western Washington, but say we call it the western Washington club championship circuit. All the interested clubs agree on a 6 tournament schedule and fish for $40 entry fee and $10 big fish option. Instead of 36 tournament weekends going on a year with roughly 10 boats per tournament there would be 6 Club level tournament weekends with upwards of 50 boats per tournament and it's still very affordable and you can win enough money to pay for your weekend of fishing. Point distribution of course could be done by each club however they want and the championship event of the circuit would be the club fish off where the top ten performers from the year in each club will represent their club as they go head to head with the other clubs.

Please comment and give me feedback

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dan Haddrell on July 30, 2014 at 10:46pm

Make it happen PJ!

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on July 31, 2014 at 11:53am

I think that sounds like a great idea. Its much more rewarding to do well in a 50 boat turnout than a 5-10 boat turnout. And with the west side condensed as it is, its completely viable. You may get some new blood in the game with a big tourney feel, yet low entry.

My 2 cents for what its worth.

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on July 31, 2014 at 12:14pm

I love it, great idea PJ. Clubs could still keep their own points and have AOY and even awards on a club level if they wanted to. It seems like there are some club anglers that need to have that feeling of winning, even if it is just over 5-10 guys. They will still have that within their club at these events, but there will also be an overall winner. Win/Win.

The only downside I see is the lakes you are able to fish. With 50 boats, some of the smaller bodies of water that traditionally hold club events would be out of the picture and you then might have to work schedules around the larger circuits and prefish on the bigger lakes.

Permalink Reply by Joel Alinen on July 31, 2014 at 5:45pm

I agree with jordan...what bodies of water could hold 50 boats...lake washington, sammamish, whatcom, tapps, riffe?

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on July 31, 2014 at 5:57pm

I don't necessarily think the schedule would have to involve just western Washington I was just thinking clubs based in western Washington would be involved and have a suitable schedule with some travel.

Permalink Reply by Rodney Heupel on July 31, 2014 at 7:21pm

Make each tournament a 2 day event. Entry fees kept low at $30, broken down as $25 entry and $5 big fish pot. This way every angler is in and makes for easier administration of pay outs. Also this would encourage an angler who knows he may not place in the top 3 to go for that big fish.

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on August 1, 2014 at 1:44pm

Rodney, the idea of keeping entry fees low seems like a good idea until you put the numbers to it, and paying the top 3 in a 50 boat tournament seems like it would be hard to pull anglers since it'd be hard to win any money at all. Granted I understand that to some people winning money is not what club angling is about and I get that, but 3 in 50 doesn't really make sense. I'm not saying that I want to offer the Obama-style bass tournament where everyone wins by any means but payout should be a few more places down with so many people.

So for fun let's say at 50 boats and a one in 5 payout (which is generous), you would be paying 10 places. If entry was only $25 per boat you'd have a total of $1,250 IF you did not keep a percentage for the club for permits and such. Payout on $1,250 down 10 places would probably only give first place maybe $350-$375 or so. I don't know about most guys but your expenses for an entire weekend considering truck gas, boat gas, oil, entry, food, hotel (even camping), etc... if you are on the opposite side of the mountains, you might net $100 total for the weekend if you win and do everything on the cheap. Even if you bump it down to 1 in 7 payout which is pretty standard in my opinion. You are still paying 7 spots at 50 boats and maybe instead of $350 you pay $400 now. Still that doesn't make much sense. So for fun let's put it at the top 3 get paid and you do a 45/35/20 structure. That would pay $562.50/$437.50/$250. So the guy who wins a 50 boat tournament walks away and nets a couple hundred bucks for the weekend. The guy in 3rd might break even if he is cheap. I'm not sure about you, but if I place 3rd in a 50 boat tournament and break even I'm not very satisfied.

The trick is finding that in between entry where it makes sense to the club level angler and isn't too much money but still attracts the guys who would like to have their weekend paid for and maybe make a hundred bucks. I think the $50 entry does that. Everything is more expensive these days and I for one certainly don't mind spending $50 to enter a tournament if I can walk away after a weekend with a couple hundred by placing in the top 3, or win my money back and pay for some expenses by barely being in the money. In addition to the $50 entry I agree that a $10 big fish option is a must.

Just my two cents. We're still friends, just trying to make a point and suggestion :)

Permalink Reply by Chad Simon on August 1, 2014 at 6:56pm

With Evergreen, traditionally participation is best with the closer tournaments. It doesn't matter what body of water, or what time of year. Just make them close. Don't try to copy what's already available, be different. People like new ideas. One day tournaments make a lot more sense in Western Washington for a variety of reasons. Sponsorship should become more easily available in the next few years. Think outside the box, and good luck!

Permalink Reply by John Ellison on August 1, 2014 at 7:02pm

I like the idea. With the state charging $200 per event it is a great way for the clubs to save that cost. As far as entry fees I think $50 is fair considering. I believe the sport as a whole could use more competition at such a level. Enough money and time invested in a tournament like this to get serious about it, but not enough that your bummed out if your not in money. Different clubs hosting every different tournament would lighten the load as well. Good luck with this and I will bring it up at the next meeting to see how the rest of the club feels about it.

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on August 1, 2014 at 7:11pm

Thanks everyone for the response. Please do take it back to your clubs and seriously bring it up. I'd be willing to visit and pitch the idea to clubs. It may be too late for 2015 season but I think more collaboration is possible for 2015

Permalink Reply by Zach Chandler on August 2, 2014 at 7:41am

Not being in a club and not being a tourney guy, 50 buck entry sounds like a very affordable option. I mean think what you blew 50 bucks on in the last week. Sounds to me like a great idea, and could draw new blood.

Permalink Reply by Rodney Heupel on August 2, 2014 at 4:19pm

The fee for a fishing contest permit is $24.00 (no more than seven permits will be issued to any one permittee during the calendar year). Effective March 1, 2013, an application fee of $70.00 will be charged for each application submitted (RCW 77.65.480).

It's $94 per tournament.

John Day said: