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Member
Posts: 110
| First off, I don't want this taken as a negative or a slam, just discussion...
This year the PWT started the SuperPro side. Many of them are fishing the regionals and are really not fishing any better then anyone else as a whole. No question many of them earned the status for their fishing achievements over time, but should they still be fishing the regionals wich makes them look like an average pro? Is there a such thing as a Super Pro?
Just something that I thought would make good conversation as long as it stays civil. |
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Member
Posts: 201
Location: Jackson, Wisconsin 53037 | Reels, you said it yourself, they were invited to fish the Super Pro by past success. You can't expect them to go out and win each one, or for all of them to be in the top 20. There are alot of good fisherman in the regionals.
I think the reason they are fishing the regionals is, to have an even better chance of making it to the championship |
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| 5 of the top 10 at Devils are only fishing that event on the PWT. THEY are locals. Bet that eats at the craw of the guys that fish the whole tour? Look at the money these 5 took from the purse, and you can bet the "pros" are not happy about it.
As for the "Super-Pro" thing, just remember this just from 1 tour NOT all walleye fishing. So they have earned the right to fish these events based on how long they have lasted or how well they have done on that tour alone. If it were "open" to every "Super-Pro" or the best of the best in all the tours, I think it would be much more of a true "Super" of all the Pros. It would be cool to see the (true) top 50 of all walleye anglers square off in a 4 event tour to crown a "True" champion of a tour. Take the top 25 of the PWT and FLW and play ball! Now that would draw some interest I bet. |
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Location: Rhinelander | Fuel,
The entire idea of the regional opening up some is to encourage more participation in the PWT by potential new Pros. I know the Winner personally, and would put him up against many of the top Pros out there on ANY water. Some of the very best and most versatile walleye Anglers out there don't fish competitively, but maybe they will if the opportunity arrises. By the way, Mr. Candle guides out there; he felt it hurt him some according to what he said onstage; he was hardwired to do something different than fish his 'guiding' patterns. I interviewed and spoke with dozens of Pros, and no one, not one single Pro, complained about the position they ended up holding at the end of the day nor should they. It was no secret what the top finishing Pros were doing or where. To their credit, no one, again, not one single boat I am aware of, crowded the leaders after day One. Many defeated themselves by making the wrong decision as to which fish to keep, and which to toss, because of the no-cull rule there, and in fact mentioned that onstage.
The entire idea of a PWT Super Pro is exactly that, PWT, not FLW or any other circuit. Some of the PWT Super Pros DO fish the entire FLW, the entire PWT INCLUDING the Super Pro--- see the Iron Man Rankings. THAT, sir, is your elite 8. |
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| Steve, there was some crowding on the leaders after day 1. I'm sure you knew, but the top 4 guys after day 1 were all fishing the same little area. A.M. of Day 2 brought all kinds of new boats in that spot, 5 or 6 that werent anywhere to be seen the first day. One of the guys parked right on top of where Keith Carlson was tossing his bobbers to the first day, RIGHT on top. When Jason got done his fish and left, there were boats that moved right into his spot but it was obvious that it was a morning bite because they didnt do too well with the exception of the 50th place finisher who brought 20 lbs on day 2.
You are right though, Jason is a heck of a stick and I would also put him up against a lot of guys fishing the PWT or FLW. Awesome guy to spend a day in the boat with too. |
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| I know for a fact that there was a lot of crowding on the leaders after day one. The point about Kieth is correct, a boat parked right on top of where he was casting his bobbers on day one. It wasn't a fact that he was debating what fish to keep or throw back, he was pushed out. |
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| Do they have a time table to make the SuperPro thing work, or are they just trying out new ways to draw some support for the sport? You should have some interviews at the end of the year. Some of the anglers that fished it, just to see how it went. Since they are going to rotating anglers based on the point system they came up with, it will be interesting to see just who is back to the basic tour and who stays.
No matter the tour--- there will always be the guys who are not afraid to join the leaders after day 1. Is there even a way to stop it? I don't think so, it's happened for years and is just like second nature to some. |
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Location: Rhinelander | Jason told me he had plenty of room on day two, and I asked him about it on the final day; he said he had the room he needed. Of course, if someone else prefished a 'hot' spot and it is vacated, another boat will move in; that is inevitable. If someone prefished a spot, and no one is there when they arrive, it's not 'crowding', it's the way it goes. That's tournament fishing.
I'm not sure what 'timetable' might be necessary, the Super Pro IS working, obviously...it's full. Some of the anglers from the Regionals will be fishing the Super Pro next year, and some of the Super Pro anglers will be fishing the Regionals. It's another rung on a perceived ladder. |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | I'd hate to see this interesting thread turn into a tailpiper thread. I'm sure that was not the intent of Reels when he started this.
Here's my perspective. The new format has allowed people like me to get involved with some PWT tournaments. The old structure made it very difficult for me to get into the tournaments that I would have liked to do.
The new structure has opened the door for many of us. We can do 1, 2 or 3 tournaments and it allows us the opportunity to see if we can compete at that level. I personally love seeing the Super Pro's at the regional tournaments that I'm doing. I want the opportunity to see if I can fish against the best.
Reels, I’m not sure that the “Super Pro’s” ended up looking like “average Pro’s”. I saw many of them crossing the stage and cashing a check (in Winneconne) when someone like myself (who could easily have been designated as a local) only finished in the middle of the pack.
Case in point, the following super Pro’s fished Winneconne and cashed a check during a tough bite when locals participating had difficulty putting together a consistent pattern. The first number reflects their finish.
3 TOM KEMOS
6 RICK FRANKLIN
7 TODD FRANK
8 ERNIE OLSON
10 KEITH KAVAJECZ
11 RON SEELHOFF
14 TOMMY SKARLIS
15 PETE HARSH
16 CHASE PARSONS
18 RON GAZVODA
20 DAN STIER
21 JOHN KOLINSKI
22 ROBERT CROW
30 SCOTT FAIRBAIRN
I must admit that other variables come into play when you look at the stats from one tournament. Someone doing one tournament may decide to swing for the fence because points mean nothing to them while others doing the entire series may be looking for points to make the championship. Those decisions influence what fish you keep and what size fish your go after in a three day tournament.
I think that this one tournament did show that those Super Pro’s kicked butt. Is there such a thing as a Super Pro? In my mind, yes. I believe that this new format is a beginning. It’s not perfect and will need refinements along the way. But it’s a good start.
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Member
Posts: 110
| I like Steve's Iron Man Elite 8 doing all three circuits. That is a Super Pro. Do you have a list handy who those eight are Steve? I know Harsh, Skarlis off the top of my head. |
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Location: Rhinelander | Here you go:
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/rankings_ironman.asp |
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Member
Posts: 1382
| Interesting stat... In 2006 the Ironmen have accounted for at least one top ten in every pro tournament. Look for Ironman and top 200 rankings update this evening. |
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| I though Rick Olson and Shannon Kehl are fishing them all as well? |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Zach:
I also found that interesting. It's also interesting to see that 5 out of the 8 ironmen cashed a check at Winneconne:
RICK FRANKLIN
TOMMY SKARLIS
PETE HARSH
DAN STIER
SCOTT FAIRBAIRN
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Member
Posts: 1382
| Not according to the circuit directors.
Kehl and Olson didn'tfish Winneconne.
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PWT Super Pro??