Release boats?

[Flysmallie]

8 minutes ago, Sore Thumbs said:

If you aren’t spending every dollar you spend locally then this is a hypocritical statement.

You missed the point. And that is, if you guys are trying to prop up your tournaments on the belief that the economy needs you then you ought to at least take care of the people that do really need you. The hotels can get other guests. The restaurants are doing fine and will so without bass fisherman. But the guys that truly need your dollars, the guys that do depend on your dollars to make it, you just cast them aside because it's easier to order online. Not only are you cheating that business owner but you are also cheating that local community out of tax revenue. But not to worry because those folks in California really appreciate it and are going to send you a five dollar tee so you can promote them some more.

This isn't about where I spend my money. I wasn't the one throwing down the ridiculous statement that all the hillbillies are going to be broke if us bass tournament guys leave. Just stop with that ignorance please.  

[David Unnerstall]

On ‎4‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 4:02 PM, Flysmallie said:

No worries. I would have at least typed something crazy in there and accused me of saying it though. 

You should not have given us ideas.

[MOPanfisher]

1 hour ago, Flysmallie said:

Yep. I have a sibling that spends every weekend at LOZ with spouse and kid. They don't fish. Drop $400 to $500 every single weekend. 

Man I feel like a cheapskate.  

[Sore Thumbs]

A lot of these tournaments are during off peak times of the year. There is a reason hotels are easy to find in late winter and early spring. I’m not arguing the fact that people need to spend local. I sure wouldn’t begrudge someone for doing it. When folks come from out of town to fish they are more than likely going to be prepared before they get there. That being said they are still going to go to the local shop for terminal Tackle,line , oil etc. I’m sure local boat shows get extra business when someone breaks something and needs help. I never said communities need tournaments, but I’m sure they don’t have a negative impact either. Cities bid millions to host tournaments. It’s a fact that the big circuits bring in revenue. Not sure about the smaller ones though.

[Flysmallie]

9 minutes ago, MOPanfisher said:

Man I feel like a cheapskate.  

Me too. But don't feel bad. I've never even been invited to go with them. I'm not good enough to be included. And I'm very thankful for that!!

[fishinwrench]

46 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

Me too. But don't feel bad. I've never even been invited to go with them. I'm not good enough to be included. And I'm very thankful for that!!

You have an open invitation to LO anytime you want.  If I'm too busy to join you just hook up to whatever boat suits you best and have fun.  

[vernon]

3 hours ago, Sore Thumbs said:

I hate that you feel that way Vernon. I fish tournaments quite a bit. I’m not like those guys you mentioned, but unfortunately I know the behavior you are describing. A good friend of mine sells boats and he hates dealing with those guys. He calls them Bassholes. Ha. I like the competition aspect. To see how I stack up. Here lately not so good.  It is a double edged sword. They bring money to the community, but sometimes it’s at a cost. 

Me too but I promise that my position on this deal isn't something that just happened overnight but is the result of over 40 years of experience and observations.

Back in my early 20's I gave a great deal of consideration to tournament fishing.  A couple of guys that I knew pretty well were really into it and one was rather successful on the national BASS circuit in the 70's and 80's and flat out dominated lesser competition on a more local/regional level.  He finally convinced me to go pre-fishing with him prior to an event on Truman just to get a little taste of what it was all about and, quite honestly, I never got the "taste" out of my mouth.

Once on the water he was a changed man and certainly not for the better.  Virtually all of the other guys that he knew that were there pre-fishing were even bigger jerks which was really saying something.  He scared me half to death with how he drove the boat and practically ran over at least a dozen guys fishing in flat bottom boats during the day.  When I said something to him about it he just growled, "Screw 'em.  Let 'em find another lake if they don't like it."

The fishing experience itself was equally unenjoyable as we spent the day racing from one spot to another, dropping the trolling motor, then make about ten casts and then do it again.  And again.

Whenever he did catch a fish he cranked the thing in across the top of the water as fast as he could and slung it into the boat with enough force to knock the fish off into the bottom of the boat and left it there flopping around while he made another cast.  When I mentioned that I didn't see how this kind of fishing seemed like much fun he replied, "This ain't about fun.  This is about money.  And losers don't win any."

When I caught a fish and kind of played it in he would yell, "Quit jackin' around with thing and get in the (expletive) boat!"

Well,  I'm pretty sure that he went on to win that event on Truman but I never went out in a boat with him again and any thoughts that I might have had about becoming a tournament fisherman went out the window as well.

What's worse though is I've seen absolutely zero in the forty years since then to convince me that things have gotten a lick better.  Now there's just way more of these egomaniacs out there running around trying to prove that their's is bigger.

And that mine doesn't even deserve a place on their playground.

Now I love competition as much as the next guy but I gave up higher level golf tournaments many years ago for pretty much the same sort of reasons.  Total disregard for the venue, fellow competitors and even staff and volunteers that were only there to make it all possible.

Big feelin' jerks.

Most of the guys that I know that used to be diehard tournament fisherman gave it up for the same reason.  

It just didn't pay as good as it used to.

Well, if it's truly about "competing" than why do dollars and trophies matter so much more than simple winning and losing and the "spirit" of the competition?

Thumbs, I don't know you but I sincerely believe that you are not one of the guys that I described here.  The problem is I see you as a vast minority in a very large group and, honestly, I don't understand how or why you do it.

Again, that's just me but I promise that my attitude towards tournament fishing is for what I believe to be many very well substantiated reasons.

 

 

[fishinwrench]

Just to be clear, I don't have any hate for guys that are into fishing tournaments.  I know a bunch of them and love most of them like brothers.   All of them that I know would not mind at all if the format changed and demanded immediate C&R, all it would take is for that to be the new rule.    

Matter of fact if it ever changed to a format like that I wouldn't be able to resist getting back out there and doing it.   

[Hunter53]

1 hour ago, Sore Thumbs said:

A lot of these tournaments are during off peak times of the year. There is a reason hotels are easy to find in late winter and early spring. I’m not arguing the fact that people need to spend local. I sure wouldn’t begrudge someone for doing it. When folks come from out of town to fish they are more than likely going to be prepared before they get there. That being said they are still going to go to the local shop for terminal Tackle,line , oil etc. I’m sure local boat shows get extra business when someone breaks something and needs help. I never said communities need tournaments, but I’m sure they don’t have a negative impact either. Cities bid millions to host tournaments. It’s a fact that the big circuits bring in revenue. Not sure about the smaller ones though.

About the part in red. It really isn't the money that is brought in during the big circuit tourny. The big money comes from all the tourist fun fishermen that come fish the lake for years after seeing how good it can be from watching the big tourny.

[Sore Thumbs]

59 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Just to be clear, I don't have any hate for guys that are into fishing tournaments.  I know a bunch of them and love most of them like brothers.   All of them that I know would not mind at all if the format changed and demanded immediate C&R, all it would take is for that to be the new rule.    

Matter of fact if it ever changed to a format like that I wouldn't be able to resist getting back out there and doing it.   

Funny you mentioned this. A small group of us have been trying the MLF model and doing small tournaments. Just trying to figure out how to do it on a larger scale and keep people honest at the same time.