Oakley Big Bass/KVD Classic

[Atta]

There was also a high school tourney and a couple club tourneys yesterday at table rock. I'd say 100 boats at mill creek at 6:00 yesterday morning. At first I was shocked thT everyone was waiting to take off. Then someone told me it was a HS tourney lol. Was pack but these lakes in MO are huge!!!! I'm from dallas tx. Heck evens 40-50 member club tourney can make one of our lakes crowded. Fish the Big bass bash on lake fork. 10-15 boats on points. You can high five the guy in the boat next to u. It's a zoo but very fun. I also understand that as a local it can upset you to have to deal with it. Best I can say is deal with it like the rest of us. Getting cut off while fun fishing is not as bad as being cut off while fishing for a 35k boat lol. I've lived here for 2 years now and have enjoyed fishing table rock. It is my favorite lake here in MO!! My job has me going to NC so maybe I can meet the OBBT guys up there and fish a tourney on some new waters!!

[5bites]

Sooooooo anyone with a differing opinion is attacking? Sounds about right for the attitude of the general population today.

I'm not saying you're tournament organization has the capacity, know how, want to, finances, or number of workers to run multiple weigh stations. I am saying it would make an impact positively. If that hurts your feelings then you'll get over it or you won't. A station a Campbell point or shell knob would absolutely offer a ton more options and lighten the fishing pressure. It's a fact.

Also since you bright up Big Bass Bash. They run multiple weigh stations. I realize their agenda is different but nevertheless.

Now more on attacks. This is the first I've mentioned weigh stations. I had a question before about a redundant rule that I got confirmation about my suspicion on. Other than that this is the first "attacking" I've done. Hopefully other forums treat you much better than us individually minded users of OAF.

[roy_eros]

700+ miles of shoreline and 300-400 boats cause this much controversy? There is lots of productive water and areas of the lake right now, we fished this weekend and yea there was boat traffic, but nothing to take away from an enjoyable weekend with plenty of fish catching. What a fantastic lake we are all blessed to get to enjoy!

[Jim Elam]

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

LOL! I mentioned that my father would've probably at least verbally assaulted one of these individuals to my fishing buddy. He would've reacted the same was as Bills Old Codger had he still been kicking...

Here is one example from Saturday. My buddy and I were in the mouth of the James and some guy in a g3 literally passed 40-50 ft away from us on the bank side, I'm guessing we were 80 ft from terra firma. I was absolutely blown away by his rudeness/sheer stupidity. Slipped in behind him and picked up several bass where he had fished, no harm done. It was just mindblowingly unsportsmanlike. That guy couldn't have caught cold...still, pretty annoying.

I think that the big bass aspect and the opportunity for otherwise inexperienced anglers to win money alters the moral code of some of these guys. This fellow was obviously looking to cover water and get a reaction bite , and seemed comfortable doing whatever needed to protect "his bank"!

I do think that entrants should be subject to DQ with video evidence of this sort of behavior. As Bill said, other events use this approach.

BTW, I HAVE NEVER COMMENTED IN PRIOR YEARS ABOUT THE OAKLEY EVENT. NOT PART OF THE SAME GROUP THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED. THAT SAID, I COMPLETELY AGREE REGARDING THE RUDENESS OF MANY OF THE ENTRANTS.

STAFF - YOU NEED TO EITHER LIMIT ENTRIES OR THREATEN DQ FOR STUPIDITY. JUST BECAUSE ITS ONLY ONCE A YEAR AND IS UNIQUE IS NOT AN EXCUSE. EITHER THE EVENT OPERATORS OR THE ENTRANTS NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPACT THE EVENT HAS ON OTHERS. ONE OR THE OTHER. MAYBE THE EVENT COULD BE VIEWED AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH WEEKEND WARRIORS PROPER ETIQUETTE ON THE LAKE, RATHER THAN SIMPLY AN UNABASHED CASH MAKING PROMOTION. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX A LITTLE.

Seriously, It felt a little like opening day at the trout park...

[Jim Elam]

700+ miles of shoreline and 300-400 boats cause this much controversy? There is lots of productive water and areas of the lake right now, we fished this weekend and yea there was boat traffic, but nothing to take away from an enjoyable weekend with plenty of fish catching. What a fantastic lake we are all blessed to get to enjoy!

You are right. It is all about what you let bother you. We caught lots and hade a great time Saturday, but I do think the events should generally promote things like C&R, safety on the water, and etiquette. Lots of other sports have shown this to be successful if prioritized. Oakley and Johnny will still make lots of money...

[Atta]

Before I got started in bass fishing I had ways heard the stories. Now I am reading about them.

We must all understand that for every Guy cutting someone off, there is also the guy that complains that the entire shoreline is his. What is exceptable? I have pulled up 100-150 yards away from a guy who got ticked off cause I cut him off and cranked his big motor to pull 10' in front of me and stop. The stories can go on. We all have them. Some about people cutting you off or running to close and some about the jerk that got mad cause you cut him off or for to close.

OBBT puts on a good tourney. If you don't like what's going on in the event then go fish a diff lake while OBBT is on table rock.

[dtrs5kprs]

Aw geez, not this again...

I actually think the format is kind of a neat idea.

But...with 300-ish boats, there are many more things to consider than just a well organized and well run weigh in site. It is not a unique problem. Most of us remember the Great Big Ranger tmt several years ago (aka the fog tmt), when 400 or so boats were cut loose in some of the worst fog we had seen. Those of us who have had the experience, know things get hard to deal with past 100 boats or so. Even the old Water Patrol out of 13 used to be a handful.

And for all that folks may not want to admit it, the format does kind of draw the least common denominator. For every great father-son story, there are as many "My Name Is Earl" types, who bring the thing down.

[Feathers and Fins]

I have been following this thread and reading it over the years and read the rules and regulations as I actually thought about entering it at one point just for fun and here are my takes for what they are worth.

1^st addressing payout /return.

I fished many tournaments for years and have heard anglers wanting to know the return for their money. This is how I looked at it, If I went to a Casino and put 100.00 in a slot machine and never got a win then it was Zero payback and unless you are in a position in a tournament for a payout then it is a zero payout.

Tournaments cost money to put on to name a few only ( Prizes, Permits, Advertising, Labor “yes labor someone has to pick up entry fees and do the paperwork etc, Marketing to get sponsors, taxes etc )

I challenge anyone to go to a Department store and demand they show them the cost for each item they will never do it!!!! And a tournament shouldn’t need to either. If they have 400 Boaters each paying 100.00 most people can do the math on the payouts and percentages. It is not hard to do You take 400 people times 100 dollars and get 40,000.00 dollars. Minus out the prizes say a 20,000.00 boat then Cash payouts and also non-monetary prizes. Hey most those are on the web look them up. You quickly find out the payout / return. If a person chooses to enter he knows the cost to enter and the Prizes it’s the anglers choice to enter or not just like if a person goes to a casino its all a gamble you may win.

2^nd Multiple weigh-in areas.

Though this sounds like a good idea at first glance it is also an added cost to any tournament as they must have permits for each location but worse is the area they take up for a stage and parking. There are many other people who use the lake not in the tournament and multiple weigh-in spots severely limit those people’s ability to utilize the ramps/lakes. I have heard it from non-anglers and non-tournament anglers, and seen it for myself. It is a great idea IF no other tournaments were going on that weekend and IF only tournament anglers use the lake.

Remember the Army Corps guidelines for the lakes, if they get to many complaints by the public that the tournaments are detracting from their ability to also use the lake ACE I am sure will act and probably in a negative manner to tournaments. I am surprised it hasn’t happened yet.

3^rd Rudeness on the water

Tournaments need to start requiring some sort of identification for participants ( Flag, sticker anything) and if a participant acts in any inappropriate fashion and it is turned in to officials then they should be Disqualified with no return of entry fees. Put a 100 yard restriction from other boats in effect and a no wake rule when approaching other boats.

Enforcement of this could be difficult as most people suck at gauging distance but at least it gives a guideline. Evidence would need to be by photo or now a day’s most cell phones have video options so either of those two options will work.

But again not all anglers fishing on tournament days are tournament fishermen so you HAVE to have a way to tell who is who for the rules enforcement. And I have seen many non-tournament anglers get angry during tournament days after being forced off a spot, waked or other behavior by tournament anglers that they get in the ( **** ** attitude) and just add to the problem even more.

You cannot stop the non-anglers frustration and anger, but you can stop tournament angler bad behavior and by doing that possibly cut down on over-all instances.

Bottom line is if you enter a tournament you know you’re paying (X) amount to fish it with a hope for (X) prize possibly and you know the Location of the weigh in going in to it. Those two things are Known and Given. Attitude on water needs to be addressed for this tournament certainly and without question. But after it is addressed in the rules it must also be enforced, a few DQ’s and the behavior will stop. This tournament cannot address other tournaments or non-tournament anglers behavior but MUST police its anglers actions.

[jolicious]

My partner and I had a blast, as usual (4th year for me, 1st year for him). I still haven't placed for an hour, but that's a bucket list item to which I am committed. We caught over 150 fish between Saturday and Sunday, and did so in very different spots - from James River in Cape Fair to Cow Creek.

Never could get anything over 2.5 pounds though.

We will be back next year, and we're looking forward to two weeks from now on Grand Lake - where I'll continue my search for an hour's place!

Thank you to OBBT staff for helping us weekend guys feel like pros every now and again.

Thank you Mr. Babler for your friendship and mentorship.

God bless!

[Jeremy Rasnick]

I'll make one final effort here to reply but in the last 6 years that we've been doing this event it's the same individuals on this board attacking the event, the anglers competing in it and those of us running it. Our event is no different than a BASS Open or FLW Rayovac or Big Bass Bash event visiting this lake in terms of numbers and impact.

The event has grown in participation each year and 99% of our anglers provide positive feedback from our events. Please don't take this the wrong way but we are more than willing to listen to feedback and comments regarding those who fish with us. Those who haven't who come on this board to complain are doing so with an agenda and opinion of our events with no basis in facts or experience with the event. So while I consistently and respectfully address your questions/opinions/insults I take it all with a grain of salt.

Here's some facts for you naysayers to consider:

1. Anglers from 20 different states traveled to this event to complete this year. That's real money in your local economy to business owners that you know and call friends. It's also additional money as they come to pre fish for this event or travel back to this beautiful place because we introduced them to it.

2. A big bass event has far less impact on the fish due to limiting the number of fish in the live well during the event and the fact that we weigh one fish instead of 5. This isn't a matter of opinion it's a simple fact of the math.

3. We are meticulous with our fish care and only lost three (3) fish the entire weekend across both days of the event. We release them back healthy for future anglers to catch and hopefully release.

4. We respect the fisheries that we visit and all of the hosts and people that we work with and anyone who says otherwise is simply looking to cause trouble and is making those statements again with no basis in fact.

Last point for me today. The kid who won this event was 19 and fishing with his father for the first time in a tournament. When he weighed in his dad yelled so loud it was incredible. They are grinning ear to ear. To James I say, they have just as much right to enjoy this fishery and compete in this tournament and your arrogance around being a "5 Fish" angler is shameful. 99% of the people who fish our events love fishing and are weekend anglers at best. They have every right to enjoy our resources and compete in an event. So they might "get lucky' in your opinion but I'll bet you $1 dollar they couldn't possibly care less what your opinion of them is at this moment.

Sincere thanks to everyone who fished with us this weekend and congrats to those who cashed checks. Huge congrats to Brendan Madden on his first ever tournament win fishing with your dad. Well done. Enjoy that Nitro.

Take care everyone.

Obbt. I couldn't agree more. I've fished as many tourneys as many on this board and by far this one was the most exciting. I fished between the dam and long creek and never felt crowded to the point of not being able to fish. For those who couldn't find water to fish on table rock in mid May to put their clients on fish, I'm sorry. Find new water! A 19 yr old won a new nitro and several "non traditional" tournament anglers won lots of money. This is a no brainier tournament if u are

eligible.

Great job OBBT Staff!