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| Message Subject: Tournament fishing....How to make it more popular | |||
jerry |
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Member Posts: 2567 Location: Manitowoc, WI | Given the nature of the gas price conversation and the questions and issues that arose from it, I thought this would be a good thing to discuss. My ideas are for more festival-like atmospheres to attract more attention to the event. The more people you draw to an event, the more incidental interest you will attract. I would like to see the PWT and FLW personnel make it mandatory for communities to have other events coincide with the tournament to bring in the people. The more people we attract to these events, the bigger attraction it will become. | ||
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| Shep |
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Member Posts: 3899 | As was mentioned, move these tourney's to include Saturday and Sunday. Have a festival attached to it. What is the reason to have the PWT's on W,T,F? No wonder there isn't anybody at the weigh ins. And the FLW, if staying with 4 days, should be T,F,S,and Sunday. As Steve said, look at the Merc Nats. Walleye Weekend is a huge deal in Fondy. The Merc has been very successful from the beginning. Why? Because of Walleye Weekend. There is probably more people there on a given day, than all the PWT and FLW events combined! They have lots to do for the families. There's beer, food, rides, Kid's Fishing tourney, animals, beer, music, sideshows, B-Ball, V-ball, Softball tourney's, a 5 or 10K run, beer, and the Nats Weigh in. Did I mention they have beer? Seriously, this is a huge event, and I bet more people there know more anglers' names than the average tourney observer. The Nat's are an integral part of Walleye Weekend. I think Walleye Weekend would still be huge without the Nats. I doubt the opposite would be the case. Without Walleye Weekend, I'm not so sure the Nats would have the big crowd for the weigh in, or fill the 300 boat field. | ||
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| JLDII |
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Member Posts: 714 | I don't think it is so much a matter of building the popularity of tournament fishing, as much as it is to increase the attractivness of an event so it will draw a larger audiance. Take a look around and there are sooooo many tournament curcuits out there today that by their shear numbers you would have to think that they as a whole dilute the drawing power of any one event. There are so many of these 15-30 boat tournament curcuits. The public has easy access on a regular basis to fill their tournament interest. Take for instance, Mille Lacs...this year so far there have been 14 tournaments on this one lake alone, and that is just thru the 3rd week of July. Now multiply that out over all the different quality walleye waters in each state in the upper mid-west!! It might not be a question of building the popularity so much as it is to reduce the saturation level of tournament opportunities. Heck, most people are fishing some tourney somewhere every time someone else is having a tournament and wondering why nobody comes to the weigh in! | ||
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| It can be done |
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| I just copied my post from the Gas Topic. This is a good topic!! We need to look at what others have done. Golf tournaments are not well attended until the "cut" Saturday and Sunday. Lets face it. People do no take off work to attend weigh-ins. Why not have the 3 and 4 day pro tournaments on Thur, Fri, Sat & Sun. As others have said, make an event out of it. The Evinrude tournament on Leech Lake,MN is a great example of this. TV, TV, TV!!! It is all about TV coverage. People enjoy watching walleye fishing on TV. However, when the heck is it on? I fish the tournaments and I can't even find the tournaments on TV. Once we get better TV coverage, the rest will fall into place. Nascar has been around a long time, but it took big time TV deals to get it to where it is today. Walleye fishing can be interesting. But, picking lakes that make things interesting is the key. The major circuits fished some VERY tough bites this year and that makes for poor TV (FLW Bull Shoals, PWT-Fox Chain). A lake like Devils Lake or Pool 4 are perfect. Lots of big fish and lots of fish in general. People like to see fish being caught, that is easy enough. Just pick the right lakes and promote the anglers! | |||
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| bagz |
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Member Posts: 185 Location: Port Washington, wisconsin | I would agree they need more media coverage. I don't believe I saw any final standings in the Milwaukee journal when the pros fished out of Winneconne last year. I can't imagine why they wouldn't cover such an event. I think someone could write a column just about every week during the season on tourny finals in all the different specie events. | ||
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| Dave Landahl |
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Member Posts: 164 | I pulled this from BassFan: 40K for FLW 7/26/2005 How about those Arkansas BassFans? FLW Outdoors reported that 40,671 people attended the Forrest L. Wood Championship's 4-day outdoor show and weigh-ins in Hot Springs, Ark. That's a big number. "This was by far the largest and most successful event we've ever held in the Hot Springs Convention Center since the construction of Summit Arena in 2003," said Steve Arrison, executive director for the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This is exactly the type of event we envisioned when planning the arena, and we hope to host many more FLW Outdoors championship tournaments in the future." We really need the walleye tournament chiefs to take notice of how this is done. But it all comes down to money. If they don't have it to spend on making a spectacle of the events then it can't happen. I've got FLW Outdoors chief Charlie Evans on our radio show this week. I'll make sure to ask him about this kind of exposure. Dave Landahl Fishing Fanatics Radio | ||
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| Gordy |
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Member Posts: 279 Location: Rockford MN | I'll bet the FLW spent ZERO on this! That many fans is a good thing for fishing, wish we could see 1/4 of that at some events. | ||
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| Scrap Iron |
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Member Posts: 106 Location: Chilton, WI | bagz, I agree with you on that one. I also think local radio stations should mention something before the big events and maybe announce the name of the winners or top 3 teams or something. They really seem to be scrounging for news lately. I recall sitting at work listening to the news on the radio (WAPL) the Monday after the FLW event on Bago. Their news consisted of 3 car crashes in which people died and a break-in at some bar and some other worthless happenings in the area. Now I didn't expect to hear anything about the FLW event but don't you think listeners would rather hear something positive rather than hearing about tradgedies like that? That kind of stuff just boggles my mind. | ||
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| Taildancer |
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Member Posts: 57 | I have to agree with the days that they have them on. My partner and I have wanted to attend the Saginaw Bay weigh-ins but neither one of us were going to take off of work to go. If they had it on the weekends guys would go and fish then pull off the water and watch the weigh-ins. Also like stated before I think if you teamed with the local community it could be a bigger event. Have a good local band and a tent set up on friday and saturday night and you would be surprised how many people you would have. I fished a smallllllllllllll local lions club walleye festival this year for the first time and the town was full of people. They had a band one night and a small fire works show food and beverage, and this from a small community and lions club. I think if the FLW, PWT talked with the local Lions, Rotary Club , ect, they could have more of a festival atmosphere. They could promote it to the clubs and let them put it out to the local communities as for example PWT / Bay City Lions Club Saginaw Bay Tournment. Give them all or a portition of the conssesion take and it would be bigger then it has ever been. Edited by Taildancer 7/27/2005 6:56 AM | ||
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| tyee |
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| Give a million dollars to the Winner!!!!!!!!!! "PARTIAL POST FROM ANOTHER SITE" 14.Jul.2005 MINNEAPOLIS — Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors and Ranger Boats have combined efforts to conduct the richest bass tournament in the history of the sport. A record $1 million in cash will be awarded to the first-place pro in the Ranger Owners Championship (ROC). There will also be a record $250,000 in cash paid to the first-place co-angler in the ROC. Irwin Jacobs, chairman of Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors, stated: “When we started the Wal-Mart FLW Tour 10 years ago, I hoped and believed that there would come a day when professional anglers would have the opportunity to compete in one of our tournaments for a million-dollar payday. That day has now arrived, and there is no one happier or more excited than me.” | |||
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| walleye mike |
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Member Posts: 194 Location: Northern Illinois | I think there are two different sides to a community hosting a primetime walleye tournament. Whats in it for the community??? What's in it for the tour event MWC/PWT/FLW??? The community wants the money the 400 plus anglers bring to town for 4-10 days. Plus the potential residual effect of a PWT or FLW event 1-2 years down the road for that community. The anglers want more exposure for current sponsors and future sponsor opportunities; above and beyond a good fish bite. When a group such as the MWC, PWT or FLW contract with a community to host, is that not the responsibility of the community chamber/whatever to tie the tourney into some community event? SO perhaps the event organizers - fishing side and community side, should discuss and negotiate such ties into a festival or community event. And if the community refuses to do so, maybe the fishing organization looks elsewhere for a more agreeable host - - or are there not enough interested communities to host? Food for thought.... | ||
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| walleye express |
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 Member Posts: 2680 Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | walleye mike - 7/27/2005 5:41 PM I think there are two different sides to a community hosting a primetime walleye tournament. Whats in it for the community??? What's in it for the tour event MWC/PWT/FLW??? The community wants the money the 400 plus anglers bring to town for 4-10 days. Plus the potential residual effect of a PWT or FLW event 1-2 years down the road for that community. The anglers want more exposure for current sponsors and future sponsor opportunities; above and beyond a good fish bite. When a group such as the MWC, PWT or FLW contract with a community to host, is that not the responsibility of the community chamber/whatever to tie the tourney into some community event? SO perhaps the event organizers - fishing side and community side, should discuss and negotiate such ties into a festival or community event. And if the community refuses to do so, maybe the fishing organization looks elsewhere for a more agreeable host - - or are there not enough interested communities to host? Food for thought.... You make some good points Mike. But from my experience, I'll tell you that our chamber of commerce and our city fathers haven't a clue or seem to care what impact and importance the fishing sports have on our local economy. There have been times and circumstances that they have turned their nose up or neglected ideas and events that both promote and bring money into our area via our great (year round) fishing opportunities. Bay City is an old town with old infrastructure that seems to demand their constant attention. So they build new arenas or civic centers that stay vacant 75% of the time, but turn their noses up at making space or promoting a professional fishing tournament. They just don't see it as being connected to the community well being. We have three very big events every year that attract thousands of locals and visitors. We have one of the biggest fire works displays in the state that lasts for 3 days. We have the 3 day "River Roar" with professional speedboat champions from around the world. And we have the "Pig GIG" that last 3 days and attracts thousands. All these events are near or staged right where the PWT had their event this year. I know that even though the PWT was canceled 2 of the 3 days, the exposure that they would have received (if it had been tied into any of these events) would had been beneficial to all parties involved. Edited by walleye express 8/1/2005 7:24 AM | ||
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| Shep |
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Member Posts: 3899 | What better festival to hold in conjunction with a walleye tournament!? The "Pig Gig"! What a marketing bonaza that could/should be! Edited by Shep 7/28/2005 8:23 AM | ||
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| shink |
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Member Posts: 201 Location: Jackson, Wisconsin 53037 | I have to agree with what shep said, about having a festival tied in with the tournaments. We were one of the first boats in on Sat. at the merc. There were more people standing around watching the weigh-in, then there were for the PWT. By the end of the weigh-in they were at least 10 deep, even more on Sun.. I just looked at the pictures from this weeks PWT, not alot of people watching, except for family members and tourney anglers. If the communities can somehow run a festival in conjunction with the tournament, I believe you will see alot more interest. | ||
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| jerry |
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Member Posts: 2567 Location: Manitowoc, WI | ttt | ||
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| walleye mike |
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Member Posts: 194 Location: Northern Illinois | Jerry, since your a avid PWT participant, maybe you or anyone else knows if the following occurs. Following on Walleye Express, does the PWT/FLW/MWC actually market the tourney making a tour stop in a specific community? By that, I mean using tools such as marketing documents/materials and a financial impact report to share/present to the community chamber? The marketing docs could include such items as ideas/pictures and references of some of the more successful past community events, types of events coinciding with a tourney, and other community specific details. A financial impact report should also represent both immediate impact as well as 12 month and 24 month. Or does the dialouge of a potential community hosting a tourney occur more of the tone about a local fishing club carring forward volunteers? | ||
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| Gordy |
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Member Posts: 279 Location: Rockford MN | I think it has more to do with the help and ramps and parking than anything. The things you asked would cost money and take time, they just need sites on the dates they have open! Tours like the PWT will fish anywhere, while the MWC perfers to fish where they think they can fill the events! The Midwest has the most walleye tournament anglers so it makes sence to stay close to home to get the most anglers. Area businesses know how much they stand to gain, motels full of boats and trucks is always a sign of money! Every area that a good lake with a good park or launch knows how great this is for the area chamber! Look at the last MWC, no one would even be there walleye fishing that time of year! Over in Door county they are booked for months (Salmon) but no one cares about walleye fishing in July on Green Bay! So the Motels got a load of money they never would have seen, let alone the bars and grills and gas stations! I think that most tours let the area chamber handle all the "Get the word out" as to who and when! Local radio and newspapers also have a small thing about whats happening. | ||
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| It can be done |
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| BASS just set a new standard this weekend with their coverage. I hope all tournament directors watched that coverage and how they promoted their anglers. That was an awesome show and I am a walleye guy!! | |||
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| Jonny Rocket |
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Member Posts: 265 Location: Combined Locks, WI | Gary Gray put a great post regarding the Bass Masters Classic on WC. Gary states that untill ESPN or the like purchases the PWT, FLW or MWC the walleye world will never get the same exposure BASS does. Go read his response and see if you agree. I myself agree 100% with him on that post. The Classic was a sight to see, now imagine actually being there. | ||
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| Jonny Rocket |
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Member Posts: 265 Location: Combined Locks, WI | I hope Gary doesn't mind but here is his post from the other site. Gary wrote: I too, have been watching the Bass Masters Classic on ESPN, and now, come to the conclusion, Walleye Tournament Fishing, will never reach that level, without ESPN. I have fished for 21 yrs, Have won a few, and always was told Walleye Tournaments are in their infant stage. Well, it will never grow up, at the rate they are going, they will always be an infant to Bass world, if they don't wake up and smell the Roses. You can see, why the Bass guys, dominate the Sponsor world, with all the Press they get. Let's face it, when a Championship gets 8-10 hrs of coverage on ESPN, who's going to get the largest piece of the pie. It doesn't take a Brain surgeon to figure it out. No doubt, the PWT is the Best show out there, but, if they don't step up to the plate soon, someone will, and then they will be the dominate force in the Walleye world. They need to Spice it up, get live coverage, and step up the pace, to get out of the Toddler seat. Enough of the infant syndrom, let us grow, and grow with us, or step aside, and let someone else give us the nutients to grow. You can't expect sponsor's, to fork out the big bucks to walleye guy's, when they can't get tv coverage. The top ten on the Classic list today, have gotten more coverage today alone, then any 50 walleye guys will get in a whole year. Let's face it, we need ESPN, or someone of their likeness, to take over the Walleye world, or we will never see a big paycheck. A wise Sponsor told me, if you want to make a Million dollars fishing Walleyes, then you better start with $ 2,000,000.00. And he is very correct. I hold more Walleye titles than any other Walleye guy, bar none, and I have won more Major titles than any other Walleye guy, yet dollar for dollar, the Bass guys still dominate the Paycheck line. The only title I have not won, is the PWT Championship! This is my opinion, so take it for what it's worth, Sorry for blowing off steam, but after watching a Spectacular event onfold on ESPN, it makes me wonder, how long it's going to take for the Tournament director's to see the light!!!! Gary Gray NPAA#10 | ||
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| Jonny Rocket |
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Member Posts: 265 Location: Combined Locks, WI | After posting the above two replies, I went over to WC and read the whole thread on the BassMasters. Very interesting reading, it will be interesting to see where walleye tournaments end up. I believe the time is now to start making a difference or we will never get a chance at that piece of the pie. There are many good posts over there, go take a look then come back here and lets get our own disscussion fired back up. | ||
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| sworrall |
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Location: Rhinelander | I have read this thread with interest, because I too have watched Walleye angling, especially competitive walleye angling, develop over the years and was involved in the infancy stage directly. I think Gary has it backwards, which isn't uncommon opinion. ESPN didn't buy BASS because it needed a boost from a big sports oriented media business, they bought it because it was already sponsor rich and pumping out media opportunity like a fire hose pumps water. We won't even discuss the geographical and population deomgraphics, those are obvious. There are alot more bass opportunities than walleye, and that's for certain. ESPN bought BASS because it was a going concern and a good match for ESPN's outdoors and fishing programming direction. ESPN paid over 50 million for the circuit if I remember things correctly. In order to buy in as a major sponsor for the FLW, a direct competitor to BASS, one had better be ready to shell out over 1 million dollars. How did BASS and FLW get that flush? The circuits have been there a very long time, and maturity has alot to do with things. Weekend Bass fishing shows are and have been common for well over 20 years, and ESPN makes sure they get top shelf slots during the Saturday and Sunday morning prime time. Bass Pro has that name for a reason. The first fibergalss fishing bass boats were designed in the 70's, and the first dedicated Walleye boats in the late 80's nearly two decades after the first Skeeter and Ranger bass boats. True innovation in the Walleye boat trade really began in about 1991. The team circuits for walleye began in earnest the 80's, again a decade or more after BASS and the regional feeder circuits, Red Man, and the like were underway. A true Pro format wasn't available until In Fisherman came out with the PWT, which by BASS age is still pretty young. Walleye event coverage and popularity isn't just a 'tournament promoter' issue, it's a market development issue coupled with all that is associated with market development. Nothing ESPN could do would vault Walleye coverage and payouts to miraculous new levels, the market simply isn't developed enough yet to get the type of sponsor support that costs 1 million dollors a pop or more. Will Walleye Championship events ever equal the payouts of the BASS world? Look at the FLW Championship payout with contingencies, and what VanDam just took home, and try to continue to argue it will not. A friend of mine always says this about sales/marketing issues and the like: "This is a process, not an event!" He's right. | ||
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| tourney fan |
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| Trust me, I'd love to see ESPN covering the walleye world the same as BASS but, I do believe we are missing the point about one thing: trolling. As much as I love to troll, and know it is an awesome way to catch walleye, I don't believe it is the most entertaining for casual channel surfers to stop and watch. How many times have you seen Kevin Van Dam catch a bass while trolling? Zero. What about Redfish caught trolling in a tournament? Zero. Okay, billfish and other ocean variety have appeared, but let's face it, GIANT fish are the attraction. If you look at all major circuits, how many tourneys are fished on waters designed for trolling? I'd guess 50% or more. I could be wrong, but my point is if walleye tourneys featured more casting, pitching and jigging, then maybe the TV shows become more exciting and compelling. Exciting enough for the casual channel surfer to stop, watch, and watch again. Sponsors are looking for numbers and BASS on ESPN has produced the numbers. I don't think it would have been the same if Mike Iaconelli was watching planer boards all day, do you? Just my thoughts....... | |||
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| tyee |
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Member Posts: 1406 | Tourney fan, People are alot like fish it's all about the presentation! If it's good they will watch it and suck it in! Being a decade behind Bass, or 2/3 of the way through the "process" (great one Steve as I too have heard that one over the years) is one thing and all this discussion is great and the comparison to Bass intriguing is another, but there is one thing about walleye and tournament popularity that concerns me and no one has brought to the discussion table, and that is the public. For discussion sake only and not to get things stirred up. Don't you think the public opinion of table fare fish and tournament fishermen need to do a bit more PR work first? If ESPN or a company of the likes were to get involved with Walleye I think there would definately have to be a Public Relations department to handle the backlash. Most people are not concerned about Bass because most don't consume them. Walleye on the other hand is enjoyed as table fare by millions. There needs to be a lot of work done by boat manufacturers and the industry to ensure survival rates if there is ever nation wide coverage at a super walleye tournament. Directors need to start work on this now and get the local media focused on the bennefits, charitable contributions etc. The last few tournaments I have been to have discussed Economics and what the tournament has done for the local economy, hogwash in my opinion, I wanna hear that the participants are available for a qustion and answer period after an event, in town doing seminars, teaching kids, taking kids out prefishing, stopping by the local shelters, taking a gift to the old folks home! Education and community involvement means more than the one thousand dollars you spent at the local gas station or hotel, In my simple mind anyway! People food for thought! Good Luck Tyee Edited by tyee 8/1/2005 7:41 PM | ||
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| Guest |
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| Face it guys, most "local" anglers hate tournaments and tournament fisherman. How many times have you flew by some poor guy in a 14 footer and nearly capsized him with your 20 foot 250 horse tournament boat? How many times have you seen pictures from tournaments where the winner is holding an 8 pounder that has been dead for several hours, while preaching catch and release. Have you ever been on Winnebago after a tournament and seen the numbers of dead walleyes floating belly up? What happens to the walleyes that are brought in dead at a tourney on the bay? Those bigger fish can't be much good to eat.(unless you're a mink) Also, there are way too many tournaments on the Winnebago system. Take a look through some of the tournament pictures. I have seen way too many with the winners holding their check in one hand and a dead "trophy" in the other. Until we address these issues tournament walleye fishing will continue to take a back seat to the bass. I need to be anonymous this tme, but somebody had to say it. | |||
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