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| Dave Andersen leads ...
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/leaderboard/llb.asp?t=506
Thanks to everyone who stopped in the Interactive LeaderBOARD, it is fun for us to bring that to everyone. Same time, same place for the final day tomorrow. |
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Location: Menominee MI, In Da UP Eh? | Wow!
Looks like a fun bite..... 
Seriously though, good luck tomorrow guys! And my budd Tom Kemos? Stay in the top 10 Tommy!!! 
Good catches to all, I can't wait to see how this shakes out! (Or what it does to the walleye angler rankings!!)
Edited by Nofish 9/17/2005 7:14 PM
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | JLDII, I truly believe that Milford Lake is challenging these guys. These are the top guns and it's going to take a lot of finnesse and knowledge to win this tournament. I think that's what being a pro is all about. This lake is making these guys bring out their best skills in order to win this one. I have nothing but the utmost respect for all of these guys. They are all deserving of this chance. Dave Andersen is one of my best friends and I know his style. He won't give up until he retires. Great job Dave. Hang in there for one more day. |
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| I enjoy watching pros tough it out on waters outside the traditional range. Weight is relative to the system, and alot more is to be learned from how these guys adapt and get tough fish to bite versus pulling spinners over a 1 mile long school of 7 pounders on Erie. |
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Location: Rockford MN | Looks and sounds to me like this is a trolling bite also, alot of guys covering the same waters. Pass after pass over the same strip. I't a tough bite, I'm glad I'm not there! |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Trying to stir the pot a little Jack???
Hmmmmmmm....... seems to me that the "GREAT" bass tournament that everyone talks about was a tough bite just like this (if not tougher).
It's all about how the media covers the event.
I do not see Tiger Woods competing on miniature golf courses. I'd rather see how the best of the best do on a tough bite than watching everyone bring in 8 pounders. IMHO anyone who really follows the sport knows that this tournament brings out the best in tournament fishermen and the Erie type tournament ends up being more about luck.
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| No Dennis, I'm not trying to stir the pot. Its just that the dicussion has been had many times over about "Why doesn't walleye fishing draw the same public interest as Bass fishing?" and from what I've read posted by people who are at Milford, there is very little interest being shown by the public at all down there. It has been said that there is very little media, outside those fishing related, covering this event, if at all. If raising the public's interest in competitive walleye fishing is truely a goal these tournament officials want to achieve, would it maybe not be better served on waters where the local population DOES have an interest in what is happening? Would the public be more enthralled if it was a shoot out with a steady stream of weights coming across the stage as opposed to only seeing half the competitors even weigh a fish. Those weights don't have to be big, but at least have everyone competing be in the game. As it is going into Day 3, there is only a small handfull of anglers who are actually in the hunt for the Championship. If that percentage of the field in the hunt was larger, there would be a larger percentage of fans awaiting the outcome.
I do agree that this tough bite will bring out the best in each of these anglers, and I will have the utmost respect for the man who can put together the right pattern over 3 very tough days of fishing. BUT....keep in mind, we all are looking at this from a fisherman's point of view. Most of the general public doesn't,....why? |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | JACK,
I guess I do not see it the same way that you do. It looks very exciting from where I sit. Everyone is still in it. Look at the standings. Look at those who are in the top ten. 4 out of the top ten zeroed one of the days out there. Look at Jim Carroll, he zeroed on day one and now he sits in 9th place. If anyone finds the mother load they could cash a very big check after two days of zeroes. Realistically, any one of the 37 Pro's who have caught at least one fish is in the hunt.
My guess is that everyone went to bed last night thinking they could still put together a pattern that could shoot them to the top ten.
Who will shoot for the stars and make a big gamble today? Who will stick with a conservative approach and kick themselves later because they find out that their 3-4 pounds did not keep them in the standings? Rumor had it that some were catching bigger fish pre-fishing, not many but they were being caught. Will anyone find a small school of these bigger fish?
Look at Chase Parsons. A rookie and very young sitting in 6th place! That's not exciting? He's kicking the old man's butt. WOW, that should make a cool interest story.
EXCITING…. HELL YES……… but then again, that’s just me. I have inside knowledge of the game and the personalities. It’s up to the media to bring out the excitement. It’s there for the taking.
No, in my opinion, this is very exciting and is made for prime time television IF it is presented right. The problem, my friend, is HOW the producers put it all together. They can make this very exciting for the TV audience just like BASS did. Unfortunately, the PWT and the Infish doesn't have the resources that ESPN has to do it.
There is rumor circulating that a manufacturer may step forward and offer to buy the PWT. If this company has deep pockets and is willing to put the capital into the production and promotion of the PWT things will change for the better.
As far as the local interest goes. It has no bearing on the national audience. I've been a spectator at too many FLW finals to think otherwise. It's amazing how they make a small group of spectators look like a full house
I really believe that WE have all the right ingredients to make something like this championship entertaining to the TV audience. Our fishermen are just as interesting as the BASS guys. We have the personal interest stories, we have people with charisma, it's all on how it is presented.
I wonder if BASS educates its fishermen on how to present themselves on camera?
Outside of the In- fish magazine, where has this event been promoted? I see all types of Promo's for bass, redfish tournaments on TV. Where is our promotion?
One last thought using my golf analogy. If/when you watch a Sunday golf coverage……… is it more interesting when everyone is 15 below par? Or doesn’t it matter? As long as there are 2 or 3 people in the hunt?
Go Jim Carroll!!!!!! Make a real come from behind victory!!!! You can do it!!!!!
Edited by Sunshine 9/18/2005 8:54 AM
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Jack, Jack, Jack,
I guess it comes down to whether the glass is always half empty or if it is always half full.
We both see this completely different.
I guess we are just not able to find a middle ground on this one. |
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| I finding it interesing as h*** that a body of water that has great fishing at times is kicking these guys butts, yet some guys are eeking out a limit. There were several 20 pound-plus limit here at Cabelas NTC. Can't wait to hear how. THAT is what makes it interesting, strange that you don't agree, especially since your background is as a guide who is put in the same sutuation on a daily basis. If anyone could relate you would think it would be someone like you. |
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| As a guide, I do find this to be an exciting event to watch unfold. BUT....My perspective is that of a person from within the fishing industry, not a non-involved member of the general public. It's those people who's attention we need to capture, and I do not think we are doing it with this tournament.
Also Dennis, its OK if we don't see things the same all the time, after all, I'm a Viking fan, and your a cheesehead, but I still think of you as a friend!
Edited by JLDII 9/18/2005 10:15 AM
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | There Ya' go Jack. We DID find something to agree on.
We can agree to disagree, BUT it will never stand in the way of friendship. I will always support your right to be wrong.  |
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Location: Rockford MN | New waters are fine with me! I don't think they thought the water would be in the high 70's this time of year. I'm also sure that not one of the guys has really figured the bite out! By all accounts this a great fishery, just a tough bite right now. No matter where they hold the event there is NO way you could ever know that far in advance what the weather or water cond... might be. I don't think this hurts anything but alot of guys pride! Tough bite are nothing new to walleye anglers, it's not live so we can only speculate whats really happening during each day out there! Spreading to the South is a must to grow the sport, however if people don't show up and the local media won't give the event a sniff of press then it hard to draw folks. Now you know why they fish bass down south "To hard to catch them toothy fish" |
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| Jack,
You shouldn't believe everything you hear. The media is here, in force. I know, because I have to make sure I'm not in any of the camera crew's way when I'm shooting. Radio, TV, newspapers, they are here. The event is front page news in both city's newspapers here.
WalleyeFIRST is covering the In Fisherman PWT Mercury Championship, and yes, the bite is tough. I was in a camera boat all morning, and there were some fish caught, including a couple good ones. One angler had 3 at 9:30, probably equaling 10# or so. This is going to be close! No excitement?? You absolutely HAVE to be kidding, this is ANYONE'S tournament to win right now on day three.
You are absolutely OFF the mark about why media covers any event in the fishing world. It isn't the 'bite', it's the competition, and how much encouragement the tournament organization offers the press. The PWT rolled out the red carpet for the press here. By the way, the hall has been full of screaming fans every afternoon at the weigh in, and I mean full. Crowd control has been a problem up front the entire event, keeping the fans and kids behind the pennant line. The noise is deafening!
Someone will win this (I have an excellent idea who unless someone else puts several in the net this afternoon), the press will be there, and the cameras rolling.
It especially galls me when folks who know little or nothing about the business of competitive walleye angling decide how the events should be run and who should or should not run them with no regard to reality. I've been involved in the business from the sponsor and promotional level since the Manion days, and the sport has grown tremendously. There's alot in the works to continue that trend, too.
I'm sure there will be anglers who complain about the bite. There always are. Most of the media knows who they will be, knows what they will say, and will give them exactly the amount of coverage they deserve. That's the way it is in any competitive sport. I'm betting the winner won't complain.
Before anyone jumps all over ANY national circuit event or championship, I suggest you attend a few events. WalleyeFIRST is HERE, so 'I Heards' won't get it.
Steve Worrall |
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| Yesterday's Headlines read 'PWT Championship Day Two Delayed By Fog' with a color shot. Here's today's.
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| In short all I'm trying to say is that from a marketing perspective, a steady stream of contestants coming across the stage with just A fish will do more for capturing the public's interest, than seeing just a few anglers come across the stage. The public, in my minds eye, wants something to reach out and grab a hold of. I, as well as the rest of you, understand what happens out on the water, but "John Q. uneducated public" does not. I AM NOT belittling the efforts of the anglers, or those press people who are there to cover this event, but I DO NOT think that in the long run, Milford Lake Kansas will advance the goal of increasing the publics following, or interest in, competitive walleye angling.
This will be my last post on this subject. I'll just shut up and be a sheep following the rest of the herd so as to not have any more of my thoughts deleted. |
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Location: Rhinelander | I disagree, and from the perspective of being here. 1000 kids will pick up a free rod and reel today as the cameras roll. The soldiers, many fresh from Iraq, who fished with the Pros earlier in the week will attend. There will be thousands ( yes, thousands) who will have attended the weigh in. The cameras are THERE Jack, recording the moment as the Pros come across the stage and tell the story of the day. All the Pros freely admit that they know the fish are here, it's just a tough bite. I remember a PWT on one of the Great Lakes that only took about 30# total to win.
A tough bite, weather problems, and many other issues are part of the game of Professional Walleye Angling on any body of water anywhere. Either one is a player in that game, or one isn't. I bet there are quite a few anglers who didn't make it this year to the 'Show' who would about do anything to be out fishing on Milford today with a shot at the crown.
As far as your thoughts or future 'sheep' like behavior, you know the posting permissions here, sir. Monday morning quarterbacking is fine as long as one doesn't belittle or bash, and it might be a good idea to wait until Monday morning. Everyone here respects your ideas and opinions (including me, and I do mean that), just be a bit more careful how they are expressed, and all will be well.
Oh and by the way, that argument has been used to try to get baseball stadium walls closer for a very long time. If it was supposed to be easy all the time, it'd be catching, not fishing. There are factors in play here that have slowed the bite that are in play across the country on many waters including lower water flow, high water temps, and low dissolved 02. If the weather had 'cooperated', this could be a totally different bite. It'd still be Kansas, and in my mind, that's a good thing. If you want Walleye tournament angling to eventually be 'National' and get 'National' coverage, then you need to have events nationally.
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| There is another saying I'm sure you are aware of........."business partners make strange bed fellows"! |
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Location: Jackson, Wisconsin 53037 | I can see both sides of the argument. I for one as a tournament fisherman love this kind of tournament. As sunshine said anyone that had caught a fish over the last 2 days was still in the hunt.
I can see where Jack is coming from saying the general public wouldn't care for this type of tourney, half the field bringing fish to thte stage. But Jack when you watch bass tournaments they don't show everyone weighingg fish. Even in the FLW Bass tourneys, they come down to the last 3 or4 anglers.
As far as media coverage of the event and making it interesting, I saw the mornign photos, and I knew T. Wilson had some good fish, so I was watching for his name and weight. So I would have to say from just seeing photos it made it interesting for myself. I think the problem with the walleye tournaments, especially the championships is we won't see it televised for a couple months, and we all know the winner. That is where Bass kicks our butts. We need some company with deep pockets to get us going.
Sure everybody watching would like to see big bags coming to the scales, but who watches these events, whether it's BASS or the PWT championship? I would say most of the viewing audience are fisherman. Who in turn understand how hard it is to catch the fish, and it also makes it more interesting.
Walleyefirst did an excellent job covering this event for us, so for that I have to say thankyou.
Eric |
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Location: Rockford MN | Now that it all over and we have a winner, I don't feel this was a bad thing for walleye fishing! We have a 1st time PWT winner, and out of a tiller boat which is great! Dave Anderson will be Champ for a year and he won on very tough cond.. by weighin fish ALL 3 DAYS! Expanding the area of walleye tournaments to gain interest in the sport starts by going to the states where it is not as popular! Tough bites ARE part of walleye fishing, any where in the Country! Lets just say they had the event on Sag. Bay and were only to get out 1 day because of some bad weather, how would that be good for walleye fishing?
I think the best is yet to come from this! Looks to me like the media coverage was there, and people were there. The video has yet to be put all together and shown, so we don't know what it will do? Everytime theres a tough bite , all be it on good waters everyone seems to gripe! Guess what guys this is exactly what walleye fishing in the real world is like! Yes someone will win, and others will lose but it's never all roses! Its easy to sit back and judge the PWT here but what if the conditions were right and the guys all figured the bite out? Sometimes we need to get out of our little shell, and go to other waters in other States! You can never grow a sport by fishing the same waters in the same States year after year! The Upper Midwest market is already at the peak, its time to expand that market! The PWT and even the FLW know this, so they go down south to try to gain interest in the sport and there tours. WHAT YOU THINK is good for walleye as a sport, and THEY know what they have to do to.
I say "they" because they are the ones growing the TOURNAMENT fishing aspect of it! THEY advert... they hold the events, they draw the fans and contestants! They also give US this format to fish from!
There is another old saying " Think outside the box" Sometimes it's an eye opener!
Just a few things I take from this! |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | I kinda lean towards Jacks thinking, theories and conclusions on this one. Ever watch Jeopardy when the same guy continually dominates each category, while the other two stand there like deer caught in the headlights, holding their signaling buzzers like live hand grenades? Boring...and nothing gets the channel switched faster.
But I guess as amature fishermen we can speculate about and banter back and forth all day about what they (Professional Tourneys) should do about finding better weigh-in waters for each tourney. But fact is, unless we are spending our own money and time being competitors at these events, our concerns and comments about them don't amount to a hill of beans. "Man, I've been dying to use that (Hill of Beans) saying for a long time".
With both the most to gain and the most to loose at these events, it seems the guys who fish these tourneys should be the ones to get both their voices and votes heard first, no matter what "Joe Public" says of feels about them.
Edited by walleye express 9/19/2005 3:26 PM
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