Central Pro-am Or Heartland?

[Donna G]

I haven't fished any other circuits besides CPAA, with the exception of the WBT when it first started. I always fish amateur side and I competed in every CPAA tournament this past year except Stockton, including the championship. I realize there has been a lot of controversy, but I can only speak from my personal experience. Although each pro I fished with had a different style and personality, I was treated with respect and never unfairly. Yes, I didn't always get a prime cast, but no one ever deliberately front ended me and many of the pros were more gracious than I would have expected. Heck, they are paying the bigger entry fee, the boat payments, insurance, most of the gas and oil and doing all the practicing. I always think of my competition days as a cheap guide trip by a top-notch angler. I have learned an awful lot in the back of the boat.

That's not to say I haven't heard some horror stories from my fellow amateurs, but it never happened to me and anglers, pros or amateurs, are just people. Some of them are nice and some of them aren't. I've been lucky, I guess, but I make a real effort to show respect and courtesy. I never assume the worst when I climb in someone else's boat. I believe it has been an asset.

Doesn't answer your question Heartland vs CPAA, but just my two cents on recent CPAA experiences. Not sure how the new one-day pro-am format will work as opposed to two days. We'll just have to wait and see. On the plus side for me, I can fish amateur on Saturday and me and Champ188 will get to fish team on Sunday. I like fishing with my main squeeze.

Donna G

[Jeremy Rasnick]

Champ and Don,

You both bring up points that I haven't thought of, nice work. From a birds eye view, guiding and tournament fishing seems like peanut butter and Jelly.

Keep up the good work and stay warm the next few days.

JR

[CaptainJoe]

Eric,

Congrats on the TD assignment......the CPAA did a great job picking you.

Good luck,

[Bill Babler]

Donna, great to see ya back on the board.

Guiding and tournament fishing are just about as polar opposites as it comes. The boys did a great job with the reply's. 4 years ago when Tim Sainato and I won the overall points championship in the Heartland Buddy division and came in 3rd in the fish off on grand lake, I believe we won a total of about $19,000 for the year in all the stuff we fished. With missed guide trips and the practice days we put in, my lost income alone was over $20,000.

I had the resources for this loss, and it was not a problem. Most of the guides don't. They can't take a week off prior to the derby and fish for the type of fish you need to win these events, they have to take clients to catch fish. IF fish are not on live bait or drag baits, you are really in trouble, as most of these wonderful folks, just do not have the ability to catch them. AS for myself, I for the most part would have a hard time hitting the water out of the Titanic.

As Champ pointed out, we just don't fish that much. I probably don't fish 50 days a year, and I guide 250. Yes, I know where concentrations of catchable fish are, and seasonal patterns but catching derby fish is a complete nother matter. Also as Champ pointed out. When the limits were high, we were great. I remember when the Shell Knob derby used to be 10 fish. We could win it anytime we fished it, as 10 keepers, were no problem. The only problem, was guide trips paid more than the first prize of the derby.

This Summer Bill Beck fished a 2 day derby on LOZ. He practiced 3 days before the tournament. That was 5 days at the height of our season, and he missed a corporate two day trip that he is usually on, plus 3 other days of guiding. Well over $2,200.00 not even including tips. This group is big tippers. Usually between 50 and 100 bucks per day. With expenses and entry fees even if he won, he was not going to breakeven. Bill has the resources to do this. again, most hard working guides do not. Could you tell your wife, I'm going to blow off $3,500.00 for a chance to win $1,900. Most of us can't.

Look at some of the area derby winners. Most have very good jobs or have investments an retirements with income in the 6 figure range and also the ability to take time off when they want. Some don't mind ya, but go down the CPA or Heartland money boards and you can pretty much see that these guys have the time and resources to do what they want.

When the prize money is not important and it is just for the winning and the compitation, that is when you will do your best.

I still have to work as do most of the guides here, and that has nothing at all to do with tournament fishing.

Tournament fishing is for fun. Guiding is going to work. Work pays the bills, derbys just cost money.

[techo]

I think guiding is real similar to us other working stiffs. I am always on call and have to ask permission to leave the city. I still fish two or three days a week. I fish more than any other guy I know in my friends circle. Tournament fishing is just plain fun for us. We always hope to win, but don't expect it. We just like hanging out with the guys who fish the tourneys. I know this is a CPA or Heartland thread, but AIA is cheaper for us working stiffs and the service is outstanding. They treat everyone like a Pro. My favorite part is the visiting before take off and during weigh in. You have to have your own boat in this one though. It wouldn't work for guys wanting to learn from Pros and be in the back of the boat.

You have to be willing to sacrifice much and have the right situation to be a tournament angler who makes money. Even Snowden does some guiding when he can.

[Don House]

I think guiding is real similar to us other working stiffs. I am always on call and have to ask permission to leave the city. I still fish two or three days a week. I fish more than any other guy I know in my friends circle. Tournament fishing is just plain fun for us. We always hope to win, but don't expect it. We just like hanging out with the guys who fish the tourneys. I know this is a CPA or Heartland thread, but AIA is cheaper for us working stiffs and the service is outstanding. They treat everyone like a Pro. My favorite part is the visiting before take off and during weigh in. You have to have your own boat in this one though. It wouldn't work for guys wanting to learn from Pros and be in the back of the boat.

You have to be willing to sacrifice much and have the right situation to be a tournament angler who makes money. Even Snowden does some guiding when he can.

Techo, your right on the money, tournament stuff is just for fun for me also.. I would love to win some money but don't plan on it very much.. Just nice to go out and fish and not have to hold hands or tell everyone else where to cast and watch.. Tournament time is my relaxing time, plus the love the hunt..

CPA and Heartland are really good series to learn if you are on the AM side of the boat. Most Pro's are very willing to teach you what you need to advance in the ranks, if you want to learn from the best in these waters, worth every pennie.

Good Fishing Everyone

Capt. Don

[snakem]

Techo, your right on the money, tournament stuff is just for fun for me also.. I would love to win some money but don't plan on it very much.. Just nice to go out and fish and not have to hold hands or tell everyone else where to cast and watch.. Tournament time is my relaxing time, plus the love the hunt..

CPA and Heartland are really good series to learn if you are on the AM side of the boat. Most Pro's are very willing to teach you what you need to advance in the ranks, if you want to learn from the best in these waters, worth every pennie.

Good Fishing Everyone

Capt. Don

OK CAP. Don This is old Snake, Met U at the humming bird thing with the wife months ago U helped me out with my graph. Ive run in to u a coupel of times on the lake,down at Baxter. I would like to be an amerture in the back of your boat or mine in a tourny. Any time.

Snakem Out.

[Don House]

OK CAP. Don This is old Snake, Met U at the humming bird thing with the wife months ago U helped me out with my graph. Ive run in to u a coupel of times on the lake,down at Baxter. I would like to be an amerture in the back of your boat or mine in a tourny. Any time.

Snakem Out.

Snakem, Thank you for the kind words, maybe someday we can get together and go play.. Hope that unit is working well for you.

Merry Christmas

Capt. Don