Cpa - Central Pro Circuit - 10/11/14

[Bill Babler]

It never ceases to amaze.

Those on message boards discouraging others from fishing a tournament because of the lack of anglers fishing the tournament and in turn to the lack of payback.

It is possible that the lack of participation is partially due to the number of people doing this?

Probably not, that would assume that people on message boards have some influence.

They don't.

More likely the economic downturn and it's effect on small business owners ( the bulk of those that fished regional tournaments) is to blame for the lower numbers.

But as the all knowing, all powerful old guard of everything fishing it is important that you get out there and do whatever you can to destroy a tournament organization trying to attract new anglers.

Rave on! About the days when you used to fish and how you only broke even on by winning $20k in an 8 tournament series (that must of been a lot of cold cuts and oil at $2500 per derby...)

Beat down! Those wanting to try a new format, it doesn't fit what you think is right and true about fishing.

Enlighten! The young tell them it's not worth it, stay home, don't fish, don't enjoy competing in a sport they love.

Eventually, the good old days you rave about will return.......

I'm sure you know best sitting in the glow of your computer screen at home vs. fishing competitively at any level.

Enlighten us all with your wisdom and save us from the error of our ways.....

While we build the monuments you so richly deserve....

We are not worthy of your fishing message board greatness

Before you start disparaging anyone on this forum come on here with your real name and as you say, make some enlightened comments about more than tournament fishing.

I simply think the world of Mike Webb and this thread was never to discourage anyone from fishing any derby they wish. It has been pointed out however that tournament fishing is for sport and it is very hard to make money doing it. Of course that is not the main principle. Most of us love the time on the water and we see and visit old friends and have friendly competition.

Heartland buddy circuit was fished in 3 states under very highly competitive terms in those days. 75 plus boats were the norm, not the exception. Entry fees were $275.00 per team. 8 derby's and a two day fish off. As I said Tim and I won close to 20 grand. That is 10,000.00 each.

We practiced 3 full days before each event, to be competitive with the best local tournament fishermen of the day. Had we not spent time on Truman, Lake Of the Ozarks, Grand lake of the Cherokee and Bull Shoals we would not have won the circuit.

For that circuit we put in close to 40 days on the water each fishing out of separate boats from daylight to dark in preparation for each derby. In reality that is 80 man days. We pre-fished 5 days for the fish off and came in 3rd. in the fish off after being the points champions for the year. We were edged on Grand by two local teams fishing brush piles they had put in.

We fished to win, not to just compete. You want to question my math, we'll dig out the old tax statements.

This years CPA year end fish off was again won by my good Friend Tim Sainato. Tim is an excellent fisherman and knows Table Rock from Stem to Stern. For the fishoff he pre-fished 5 full days again from daylight to dark. There is a reason he won. He put in the time and the money. Very, very seldom is it possible to show up the day of the derby and win anything but a hardy handshake and a pat on the back. Take a look at who is winning these derby's and see how much time they are putting on the water in advance of them. For me I have not figured out a way to make that free.

Not one person here has said one negative word about Mike or CPA. If he does anything this year as far as a Solo Pro, I'm in. Just have been questions about the profitability of local tournament angling, and probably the most important question,

Where are the fish that were removed from Table Rock this is a very simple question that folks are asking.

This has just about ran its course.

[Old plug]

TRAIN ANGLER-----I do not support tournament angling because I KNOW to many out there are breaking the family piggy bank to fish and keep up with the cool crowd. It can also result in family and marriage distress. I know more than one person that lost his family over fishing. I think it is also responsible for the high cost of tackle. I do not like to see the prices people are paying for what they THINK is a quality item are a lure they just got to have to be successful. That is all that concerns me. I have only fished 4 tournaments in my life that covers 65 yrs of fishing. I do not worry about people catching all my fish as someone alleged on here. I fish about 2 hours a day and rarely more than two miles from the house. I catch all the bass I need to catch and they go back in the water right away. I have heard stories about dead bass floating all over the place after a tournamet so I question the pactice of carring dish around in a live well all day.

You sort of read to me like someone that has a financial interest in promoting some tournament.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

You cant blame fishing on losing your family, that was a choice they made....wow this thread is getting out there

[Old plug]

Thats right aardhdale. And you cannot blame alcohole for tor alcoholics. But it is still a reason that some do it

[Fishin Hodge]

Probably need to rethink that. I know of but one of two guides that still kill fish. That went out years ago. Even the few that do will only let a person take 1 or two. Most of the very top guides do not and have not killed a bass intentionally in years.

My apologies Bill, was under the impression that clients could request keeping the fish.

[Bill Babler]

Probably need to rethink that. I know of but one of two guides that still kill fish. That went out years ago. Even the few that do will only let a person take 1 or two. Most of the very top guides do not and have not killed a bass intentionally in years.

My apologies Bill, was under the impression that clients could request keeping the fish.

Hodge, no worries if a bass is killed and is legal most guides will let clients keep it. Most often if people want to take fish 90% of our guides will push them to Taneycomo where there is a fantastic stocking program, or in season take them to Bull Shoals.

I have not allowed a client to take a bass, either dead or alive in the last 15 yrs. If we get in on a school of whites, or catch a cat or two that is their fish for the taking. Really of the 300 guide trips per year that I take, I very seldom ever have a client ask to kill a fish on Table Rock. Cannot even remember the last time. As you all know, I turn loose at least 9 or of 10 walleye. Just on a very rare day will I take one home for the grill. Cat fish are another deal, We do eat them.

Taneycomo is a different matter, but not to a great extent. Perhaps 50 percent of the folks want a trout dinner and for sure the ones we take down there from the Rock just to get it.

Good Luck, and lets move on to another wonderful Ozarks Anglers FISHING THREAD

[merc1997 Bo]

Only people who blindly back Bass Pro Shops (including BPS employees) would find anything remotely funny about a tournament organization hauling 40 (or so) bass out of one of the country's best bass fisheries and not returning them.

The number of fish doesn't matter. It's the principle. You can't very well say that you support conservation of the resource when you trailer fish an hour or more to a weigh-in and don't return them to where they belong.

It is a big deal to some of us.

Only people who blindly back Bass Pro Shops (including BPS employees) would find anything remotely funny about a tournament organization hauling 40 (or so) bass out of one of the country's best bass fisheries and not returning them.

The number of fish doesn't matter. It's the principle. You can't very well say that you support conservation of the resource when you trailer fish an hour or more to a weigh-in and don't return them to where they belong.

It is a big deal to some of us.

i will most definitely agree with you champ. there is not one reason in the world to trailer those bass all over the country, and bigger tournament take-offs need to be rotated around different areas of the lake.

and to answer someone that thought more numbers of payouts would increase numbers of entrants for the tournaments, that has proven to not be the case. kelly williamson and it were the ones to start the "during the week" short night tournaments here on table rock. we only paid up to five places. while doing that, we averaged 45 boats per tournament. the same thing went for the all night tournament on saturday night out of mill creek. that tournament averaged 80 boats each week. take a look at any of the tournaments now that pay every tom, dick, and harry that show up. it is very lucky to have more than 25 boats. my dad told me a long time ago, that i could take my trophies and 50 cents and buy a cup of coffee anyplace. there really is not any use in fsihing for "money" if you can not make any. if you are just fishing for the competition with your buddies, why bother fishing for any money??

bo

[Sore Thumbs]

I'm thinking pretty hard about it right now , how hard is the Arkansas river to navigate ?

Not that bad at all. It's always a tough tournament though.

[Champ188]

I see the BFL Ozark Division opens March 7 on Grand and the Okie Division starts there a week later. If I could get on the same bite I was on two years ago, I might fish both.

[dprice]

Just wanted to say I appreciate everything web outdoors has done for the current fisherman and future fisherman . Has to be a massive stress load!