Heartland Tourney

[getfished]

I fished as an amatuer this year with Heartland also. Any body have any comments on the two teams from another big bass tournament getting invited to fish the Heartland team championship?

GETFISHED !!!

[S&M]

What is the scheduled date for the Heartland tournament at Truman lake ?

[getfished]

The Team Series Championship is October 18th, and the Pro-Am is October 19th held at Bucksaw Marine on Truman Lake.

GETFISHED !!!

[S&M]

Thank you for the date information, GETFISHED.

Mike,

[Hogfan]

I fished as an amatuer this year with Heartland also. Any body have any comments on the two teams from another big bass tournament getting invited to fish the Heartland team championship?

GETFISHED !!!

I've got mixed feelings about these teams getting to fish the Championship. In one hand the tournament they qualified through was for a great cause and by heartland allowing the top two teams to fish the team classic probably got a few more boats to fish that weekend which in turn raised more money. On the other hand the other qualifiers (even those who won an event) had to fish 5 of the 6 tournaments, pay membership fees, entry fees (6x$270=$1620)and spend thousands more to have a chance to qualify. What I really don't like is the fact that they qualified at Truman and now the championship is held on the same lake. They could've gave the winners a years worth of free entry fees and that way they could've qualified the same way we all did.

My partner and I fished every event and just like everyone else we spent a lot of money to get the chance to fish the championship. Not just on lodging, meals, and gas but we took time off from work prior to every tournament. I feel like we earned our way to the championship and feel a bit cheated to know you could fish one event and make it as well.

Just my opinion......

[getfished]

I've got mixed feelings about these teams getting to fish the Championship. In one hand the tournament they qualified through was for a great cause and by heartland allowing the top two teams to fish the team classic probably got a few more boats to fish that weekend which in turn raised more money. On the other hand the other qualifiers (even those who won an event) had to fish 5 of the 6 tournaments, pay membership fees, entry fees (6x$270=$1620)and spend thousands more to have a chance to qualify. What I really don't like is the fact that they qualified at Truman and now the championship is held on the same lake. They could've gave the winners a years worth of free entry fees and that way they could've qualified the same way we all did.

My partner and I fished every event and just like everyone else we spent a lot of money to get the chance to fish the championship. Not just on lodging, meals, and gas but we took time off from work prior to every tournament. I feel like we earned our way to the championship and feel a bit cheated to know you could fish one event and make it as well.

Just my opinion......

Well, I feel little better after reading your response. I fished the Team Series and the Pro-Am this year. I fished all 6 of the tournaments. I qualified with overall points for the Pro-Am championship as an amateur. On the Team Series circuit I was in 33rd place prior to the last tournament at Grand. We had a good tournament for us but not good enough and we fell out of the top 40.

I did not fish the Big Bass Tournament at Truman. I agree with all the points you made and I think that Heartland could have accomplished their goal in a more just way without alienating some of their steady supporters. I committed about $10,000 to those two circuits not to mention a boat and a truck and my time. I didn't speak to Heartland about it because I'm not sure I could get my point across and that it would just be mistaken for sour grapes.

My main perspective accepts the fact that the Tournament director can make these kinds of choices and I don't have to like it. The big issue for me goes to the Tournament structure or format these two teams were chosen from. I didn't read the entire rules but when tournament fishermen are allowed to start fishing anywhere on the lake you don't have to be a rocket scientist to see the potential for fraud. A simple lie detector test doesn't minimize this potential any. I know Heartland probably feels like everything is on the up and up. I would prefer Heartland choose these invites from a tournament format that is more of a standard format and more credible. I mean, come on, ... catch one fish in one tournament that you can start anywhere on the lake?

I'm going to fish the Team series and the Pro-Am again for 2009 but if I still feel this way it may be my last season for Heartland.

(PS) I think some of the apathy from the pros if there is any is because someone else picks up a lot of their expenses .

GETFISHED !!!

[captmac]

I think an email to heartland from those of us who are concerned, will either clear up the directors reasoning or at least let us know where we stand. Mine is being written now

[getfished]

I think an email to heartland from those of us who are concerned, will either clear up the directors reasoning or at least let us know where we stand. Mine is being written now

Captmac, You make a good point. I'm sure they quite likely have what they feel is sound reasoning for their choice.

When you see my signature in all caps it is a clue indicating a couple of things.

1) I have a lot of passion

2) When one's fuse is too short, it's difficult to wrap it very tightly. ha,ha.

For those reasons some (including myself) mistake my comments for a rant, a vent, a diatribe, wah,wah.

I still believe we have several legitimate points.

I certainly don't begin to point a finger at these two invited qualifying teams. They very well may be just as upstanding and honest as the day is long. I feel that giving a team an invite to a tournament with such significant payback and nominal odds coming from that type of format is a slap in the face to all who fished the circuit that year whether they made the championship or not. Rule 21 as it is worded is not a good rule in Heartland. The specific Tournament these teams come from should be clearly noted in the Heartland Team Series so that all who fish are fairly informed as to how rule 21 can

be unfairly administered against any who fish and invest in this circuit.

I've got a two page letter I wrote on the 13th to Heartland but I'm hesitant to send it.

GETFISHED !!! :

[techo]

Did I mention I don't think I am fishing Heartland next year? A great group of fisherman though. I won't air my issues with them on a public forum, but there were quite a few issues with them this year.

Just for the record.....many of the sponsored Pros have to work very hard and get very little in return sometimes. Most of them still pay their own way into tournaments. They get boat deals and first in line for service, but they certainly don't fish for free. I know it depends on the sponsors.

[Gone Fishing]

Glad to see everyone else expressing some of the issues I agree on. My partner and I ended up in the top 15 teams. But used most of our vacation days, thousands of dollars, and alot of time away from family pre-fishing and competeing. I know this is what we signed up for and am fine with that. Just thought everyone else fishing for a chance at the championship would've had to do the same.

Like Hogfan said, Truman is the lake they qualified on. Just kinda pouring salt into the wound if you ask me.