Oakley Big Bass/KVD Classic

[Jerry Rapp]

I have no dog in this fight, but I will say when someone asked what the payback percentage was you dodged around it. This is simple math and should be easily answered. And I also agree there should be more weigh in locations, which to the detriment of others here, would increase your turn out. I will now sit back and watch.

[OBBT Staff]

Hard to have sensitivity with the core group of respondents here who've continue to offer their thoughts and opinions. It's year 6 and the same replies/attacks. Check the threads over the years and my proven patience and continued efforts to reply.

As I mentioned on the previous posts we focus our customer service efforts on our customers, not those on a forum board who continuously attack our event. Thanks for your feedback regardless.

Cheers,

Mark

[Iclass]

Wow a guy responds to being attacked and he's insensitive? Oh yeah I forgot this is a forum to speak your mind as long as you agree with certain members...Geez

The OBBT staff must have worn jerseys, that makes them jerks/insensitive/ego maniacs

[OBBT Staff]

I have no dog in this fight, but I will say when someone asked what the payback percentage was you dodged around it. This is simple math and should be easily answered. And I also agree there should be more weigh in locations, which to the detriment of others here, would increase your turn out. I will now sit back and watch.

Jerry, thanks for the reply but I'm pretty sure I answered with a percentage related to this event in years past. In each of our six years we have raised the payouts at this event, along with every other event that we host. As the entries increase we increase the both associated payout percentage and number of paid places. We advertise a guaranteed payout regardless of entries. That means we take all the risk as we could have 1 entrant or 1000. Our rules, entry information, payouts, etc are there for everyone who enters our events to see. There's no smoke and mirrors. They know the boat they are going to win and the amount of hourly cash that is guaranteed at our events.

Also, I answer the additional weigh in request every year. We are here at this event because of Bass Pro Shops and to host the event at their Long Creek Marina property. The weigh in location isn't changing and we will NOT be offering multiple weigh in sites. It simply does not work for our set up. Not sure why this is continually brought up when we've made it clear that there will only be one weigh in location.

Thanks

Mark

[Ketchup]

From what i posted on the other OBBT thread, what i seen today at the weigh-in, it was a smoothe system. The guys i seen working were very polite, and professional. Great job guys.

As far as multiple weigh-in sites, i read in this thread where that was answered. Would it be easier and more convient for mulitple locations? Yep. Would the staff, equipment, costs, etc. be greatly expanded? Yep. Would that effect the prize money by paying for those added expenses? Yep. I like the format, the OBBT gang as a whole, the way i seen it, was done in a professional way, with a nice setup. Could it be better? Possibly, but what in life couldnt.

Im sure those that "choose" to fish any of these events wouldnt do so if they felt it wasnt up to par, so with as many entries as were posted, it looks like the guys and gals who fish it were there happily, trying to win what Brendan took home, a beautiful boat.

As i was leaving, i told the announcer on the stage that the rigt guy won the boat. Very good kid, and for his first tourney, he will remember this for years. I was talking to his mom when his sister called. She didnt believe he won the boat. She will after he gets back to St. Louis with it. It was his parents anniversary this weekend, so a great weekend for their family overall.

[AAD]

Let me start by saying I was not able to fish this weekend in the OBBT. But having fished the KYKX Big Bass Bonanza a couple weeks ago in Texas, I can assure you the rudeness happens everywhere. It's just a fact of life. Some people care,others don't. I even told my brother during it we must be fishing in an invisible boat, after seeing so many guys pull up right in front of us, often within casting distance.

For those that complain about the crowds, go fish somewhere else that weekend. Mark is correct that it brings revenue into the area. I'm sure the event is well put on just like the one I fish in Texas. It is one weekend a year. For guides that work the lake, warn your clients it may/will be crowded, that way they are informed heading into the day, and will know what to expect.

As for the suggestion to have multiple weigh in sites, it is probably more than a weigh in, I'm sure they have vendors, concessions, and other attractions on site. It took me about 35 min to drive to the weigh in at Lake O the Pines, but we knew that going into the weekend. Where we wanted to fish, that was going to be the length of travel. There were probably over 2000 boats, not including the pleasure boaters and other anglers not fishing the BBB. But that fishing format is fun and it gives me and my brother a chance to fish together, and if we get lucky maybe weigh in a fish for money.

Hopefully In a couple years when my son if finished with high school lacrosse, we will get a chance to come to TRL and fish the OBBT, along with everyone else.

[Bill Babler]

AAD, very good points, and this is for sure an event that I have seen unites either father sons or Brother, Brother to fish and enjoy Table Rock lake. personally I don't look at this as the participants being rude or really insensitive.

Frankly there are just not enough places on the lake to fish with a tournament this size, especially when it is operated at the extreme end of the lake and also in a very small confined lake section.

Folks, just have no place to go. The old adage that 10% of the water holds 90% of the fish is just about as right on as can be, and even fishermen with lack of experience soon are educated in where the majority of the fish live.

How close is to close to another angler? Is there a boundary or a limit? Not really, but common sense and past experience on these major impoundments have set presidents on how you should conduct yourself on the water.

Table Rock is a very hard body for competitors to read. It is hard to tell if a boat is going down a bank, fishing a deep point or for that matter just fishing deep. The issues we had were going down a bank and having folks instead of pulling behind us, simply drive around us and throw down a trolling motor within talking distance.

On each issue I simply pulled up my motor and moved. This happened 3 times and I had already told my clients the lake was crowed this weekend but if everyone fished in a common sense manner, we would not be bothered a bit. I just happed to have an older couple that had fished the lake for years and were no longer able to operate there own boat, so I take them. The gentlemen a local said he had fished the Rock and Bull for close to 45 yrs. and had never seen people pull in front of him and start fishing.

The old Codger and I call him this to his face at 86 yrs. young was ready to go to fisticuffs.

I'm sure the OBBT staff has addressed this to their fishermen as it is gone over at every tournament that I have ever fished. If they don't address proper etiquette perhaps that might be a teaching point for in the future.

Both FLW and Bassmaster Elite have protest rules. Something to think about.

I really think the folks running this are doing as good a job as they can, but they really have no control of the participants on a once a year event.

The only recourse is the protest or disqualification rule where if you are called in you will forfeit your entry fee and are DQ'ed.

It kind of reminded me of the events that car dealerships used to have putting a huge bouncy balloon in the parking lot full of 1 dollar bills and then putting a dozen people in a 8'X8' space to grab all the money they could. Just a little out of hand. But Fun.

[Champ188]

Hard to have sensitivity with the core group of respondents here who've continue to offer their thoughts and opinions. It's year 6 and the same replies/attacks. Check the threads over the years and my proven patience and continued efforts to reply.

As I mentioned on the previous posts we focus our customer service efforts on our customers, not those on a forum board who continuously attack our event. Thanks for your feedback regardless.

Cheers,

Mark

Webster defines "forum" as a medium (as a newspaper or online service) of open discussion or expression of ideas. Mark, you are complaining because myself and others "continue to offer their thoughts and opinions" on a forum that exists just for that reason.

For the record, you have no idea whatsoever just how much information I share with OAF members both online and by inviting them into my boat for a day of fishing. In the past year alone, I have taken five different OAF members fishing, provided them with lures to take home, etc. So I'm not exactly the villain you'd like to paint me as.

Bon voyage, dude. See ya next year.

[OBBT Staff]

Yep, see you then kind sir. Look forward to all your positive thoughts and comments. FYI, in most instances you're the one with the brush running through can after can...

Take care.

[Iclass]

Lol... Provided 5 members with tackle and a fishing trip....

Mark just gave a 19 year kid a brand new boat....