|
|
| So let me get this right, AIM had a grand total of 30 boats and supposedly, those are the best fishermen in the world. AIM was going to take the world by storm and be the next big deal. 30 boats does not sound like a big deal to me. Now the MWC just had 130 boats or so and I saw several of the AIM guys fishing it. Is AIM pretty much dying or is the MWC pretty much winning. Maybe these two companies need to talk. No offense, but 30 teams for a "MAJOR" tourney does not seem so major to me. I did notice that the MWC had little coverage compared to AIM. Maybe that was because the bassmaster boys were in Wisconsin. Come on now, I am not ripping either circuts, just seeing what all of you think. You all must have seen both events, after seeing the reports on this forum and yet noone has said a word! | |
| | |
| It really is too bad they did not have a better turnout with the bite being so good. The format is extremely fun to fish for both the Pro's and Co's, since you don't have to worry about dead fish and all. Watching the weigh-ins the pro's that had never fished CRR seemed to enjoy it. It is just frustrating to see such a poor turnout.
However, it does sound like they are going to have their biggest turnout ever at Green Bay! Maybe this Pro Team Challenge deal will be a huge success? All I know is all the tourney trails better get to work or they will all disapear. None of them come close to comparing to the glory days of the PWT, | |
| | |
Location: Rhinelander | 'AIM was going to take the world by storm and be the next big deal.'
I don't think that is or was the message at all. CRR definitely is, and should be used in all pro events for more reasons than just keeping the fish alive.
AIM is an Angler Owned circuit and focused on the Pro-Co format. MWC is a team oriented event, and has had some very tough times as of late as well. A Winnebago event when the bite is on like it has been SHOULD draw local teams, and it did.
Many of the original owners don't fish competitively any more or have cut back due to sponsorship cuts and/or costs , and a few are sponsored to fish FLW and can't afford to fish two circuits; really they can't 'afford' to fish one. Remember FLW's issues not long ago? Small fields in a couple, smallish in a couple, smallish payouts and tiny championship payout in comparison to previous years....because big sponsor dollars dried up for competitive angling. If the Armed Services are prohibited from advertising in Sports, that could be an issue again.
What AIM needs is additional sponsor participation. Thank goodness for those who see the value in showcasing some of the top anglers in the country. Does AIM need a TV show? You tell me. What Zach said in the AIM Erie thread is dead on:
'I don't get real hung up on numbers like some people do, esp for AIM events. The tournaments are just as exciting.
One real eye opener for me the past several years, being at countless PWT and AIM events (and more recently, BASS) is how good these guys are. I think that fact has been lost over the years, how skilled the core group of traveling AIM (and FLW) pros are. It's a completely different type of event than a large derby like Merc, Otter Street, or an MWC. It's literally a showcase of the best of the best, an elite event.
The only thing that would make it more interesting would be a closed period and strict information sharing rules similar to BASS, and a short prefishing window, something like R Eberly has been preaching for years. Problem is, there are 10-15 guys that would be really, really hard to beat in that type of format.'
I have a somewhat extreme position regarding anonymous and even logged in critics who offer nothing but negative rhetoric:
You are either part of the problem, or part of the solution. If you are part of the problem, you are bad for this sport. Take Stacker and Tyee, for example...critical commentary, but offering reasonable and well thought out solutions to improve the fan's experience and grow this sport.
I want to see competitive walleye angling prosper, and I believe there needs to be more than one Pro style circuit to avoid monopoly...ask the Pros who have been at this for 30 years what I mean by that.
Do you?
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Psychologically, IMO when an event has few participants, it draws fewer viewers, the competition at least seems less competitive, less exciting and in essence easier to qualify or win in that event. Of course, in reality this is not the case considering the calibur of the fishermen fishing in it. But again, the BIG EVENTS with small turn outs seem to loose clout in the eyes of the public as it did with the original poster. I once fished a river tournament and won it. There were 386 entries. I didn't out fish 29 other guys, I out fished 385 of them. The prize was still the same as it was guaranteed. But the attention it recieved (back then) eclipsed the prize won. IMO We need to support all the tournament circuits in any and all the ways we can, for a lot more reasons then comparing field sizes, or that ever popular Mines bigger then yours. 
Edited by walleye express 7/4/2012 9:41 AM
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Dan trust me, yours is NOT bigger than mine. Lol | |
| | |
Member
Posts: 1406
| OHOH! Don't drag me in to this!. I think my old age has left me with a lot fewer words on this subject. However there was a time and place for my opinion. If this 300 billion dollar industry ever got organzied it would be deadly! However, I'm not too sure what the real impact of a tournament angler is these days.
Good Luck
Tyee | |
| | |
Member
Posts: 45
Location: Suring, WI | my point exactly..... | |
| | |
Location: Rhinelander | fish-n-hunt,
It's easy to critique, but sponsor money trumps cool ideas every time. The walleye tournament industry is way smaller than most think. There have been some great ideas posted over the years but the cost to implement most in personnel, advertising costs, etc are prohibitive. The simple stuff like posting the field weeks in advance sounds good until you look at when the cutoff is, and when the field is finalized. When we did the Live Leader Board before the circuits all put their own into play, we usually did not receive the fiield until the day before the event.
TV is in play on the FLW side. Expensive, and was not an option the AIM owners and Board have been able to get approved for a number of reasons. I'd love to see TV coverage, as that would draw in more sponsors because of the current paradigm (which IS changing fast...).
What are your suggestions? | |
| | |
Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | sworrall - 7/7/2012
What are your suggestions?
I've always invisioned a Pro versus the Best Local Stick competition. Local Sticks always believe in their hearts their better then the Pros on their own water anyways. Both competitions pay the same AIM entry fee, compete and share the stage side by side until the final day shoot-off. Where the winning local competes heads up with the winning Pro. I'm positive local Boat Sales/Marinas/Sports Shop/whatever would sponsor the local champ and/or possibly even rig him with a high class ride the final day if he didn't already own one. You gotta know many Big and Small local sponsors of such things would support the Local Guy to the hilt. And the local turnout for the under dog would IMO be impressive. The whole idea is what drives reality shows on TV right now anyways. Has anybody missed one episode of The Deadliest Catch, Swamp People or that Nut-Case the Turtle Man? Just one Local Walleye Fishing Nut case fishing against a dead serious Man Like Parsons or Skarlis and walleye fishing tournaments may never need to look for sponsors again.
Edited by walleye express 7/7/2012 1:33 PM
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 45
Location: Suring, WI | @ sworrall,
What I was referrring to with "my point exactly" was my post that got deleted about the not so good attitudes on walleye sites that do nothing for the industry and deter newbies from wanting to enter this crazy world. And the fact that a post like that got blasted proved the other part of the story to be true and im sure thats the reason it got deleted due to people not liking the truth as i see it. | |
| | |
Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | The fishing sports themselves IMV have become more refined and defined. The equipment, entry fees and time needed to fish tournaments and to stay competitive in them has out-priced many from even thinking about jumping into the game. Most Pro's now in both the Walleye and Bass games are old timers or their kids get a leg up in experience or are grand fathered in under their tutorage. Few regular guys can afford to even stay equal equipment wise or have the time these days in either the hunting or fishing sports to put in the hours needed to become a valid Competitor in them. Thus, the Local tourneys where things are more equal in all perspectives attract more participants. Count the (Son's/Jrs.) behind the names in the B.A.S.S. circuit. It is becoming a Game for the rich, Elites or the ones with historic ties to sponsors that will always be with them until the pro dies or the sponsor goes out of business. Many professional sports now have what amounts to royalty or get an inherited presumptive leg-up in a big portion of their entry fields. This does not reduce their knowledge or expertise in their sports in my eyes, nor am I am saying this reduces the knowledge base used and shared knowledge for all of us to benefit from. But it is IMV all a part of what is reducing what amounts to Professional tournament success in the less popular sports such as walleyes fishing tournaments.
Edited by walleye express 7/8/2012 7:41 AM
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 397
Location: Badgerland | I think the PPC format is AIMs future, they may not fill the first one this year but it's numbers in comparison to Lorain cannot be ignored. I'd like to see them do a full circuit next year with this format, with Team of the Year and including a prior 30 day off limits period for prefishing limited to 4.5 days. | |
| |
|
AIM Vs. MWC