|
|
Member
Posts: 2567
Location: Manitowoc, WI | I thought this would be a good time and place to start a discussion about the FLW Tour and the FLW League.
Does anyone think they need to make any changes for 2008? Rules, weigh-ins, boats, etc.....i.e. anything one can think of that you think they should change?
If I had a say I wish they would get rid of the use of what is known as "cheater lines" and just allow us to use the number of rods each state allows. In WI we should just use three lines on three rods instead of the cheater as our third.
This is an open discussion on anything you would like to see changed. Keep it civil!! |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 701
Location: upper michigan | The only complaint I had on the one League event in Oconto I fished was how cold the water was in the dunk tank. Had 2 fish roll as soon as they hit that cold water. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 54
Location: Shabbona | I'd like to see the League go to a 2 day format ( Friday & Sat. ) with Sunday as drive day..
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 273
| I agree with Jerry on the "legal amount of lines (rods) the state allows".
Edited by Mud Duck 8/5/2007 11:15 AM
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 2567
Location: Manitowoc, WI | I'm surprised I haven't seen any opinions on the weigh-in tank. On the Tour I've heard more discussion on the tank than anything else. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 1991
| I have not fished alot so far, but yes the tank you would think would be and should be kept closer to the lake temp. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 794
Location: Elgin, Illinois | 1) The weighin tank isssues ned to be addressed... but that can bea sticky issue... What temp does it need to be and how to get that temp consistently... Might need some more technology and equipmet...
2) I would like to see the tournaments on Sunday. That would give a whole lot more prefishing time to a lot of people. I personally think that one change would fill every tournament.
3) I would like to see the FLW prepare and make available to the Co's AND to the Pro's something like Colleen Lampman's excellent article posted here on the role of the Co... (somebody could easily get a Pro's guide prepared) Not more rules, but certainly some "best practices" suggestions.
4) I would like to see some thought given to allowing the Co's (at the Pro's discretion) to bring up to two rods. An awful lot of us have a distinct preference for a partcular rod setup for jigging.
5) And, as an experiment... What would prevent the FLW from pairing up the pre-registered Pros and Cos by the Thursday or Friday and hand out boat numbers at the meeting... That way the Pro could have a chance to educate his Co on techniques and other things outside the strees of the tournament... Not a mandatory issue, but if they could get togeter they would be allowed to do so. Try this inside of a switched tourney day from Sat to Sunday and see what happens...
6) Come to some resolution of the "gas money issue". My solution would be to up the Co-angler's entry fee by $25 and lower the pros by the same amount... Shift the money over and then announce that it is no longer encouraged or expected... Nobody gets home free... nobody gets "stiffed" and the whole taudry affair of tips... etc. is ended. If I then choose to do something additional... $15 $20 or even $50 it is my business and none of this hard feelings and expectations unrealized. This issue gets debated around every year and every year the whole thing only ever stays the same.
7) Emphasize local publicity before the events. Maybe even have an advance-man program. Someone who only has publicity as their primary job. It would be an additional expense to the FLW in the beginning but I have to believe that future rewards in terms of sponsor impressions would be fantastic. In this regard, get local involvement like it is arranged in Winneconne. Have food vendors from local service clubs. Get local talent up on that stage with Sonny and Kevin... The local talent can announce the who and the FLW can take care of the weigh-in... Not to tough to work out a system where a local radio or tv personality does this and maybe even gets the weigh-in broadcast on local radio in real time... I'm no PR expert but this is an area where progress could be meteoric! Encourage a local service club to have a "carnival", local fishing club to have a flea market... heck even a craft show to draw a crowd and then lve local radio... I can see a whole new dimension to the weigh-in...
8) In connection with the above... Sell FLW Wear... and give a small contingency for the top twenty (money winners) who are wearing "official" Tourney shirts throughout the day. Contingency could even be in product. If the brag rags are good for the boat companies and other sponsors, then getting co's to wearan FLW shirt would one enhance the look of the weigh-in and two enhance the image and recognition of the FLW.
9) Give out more palques (say to the top ten)... This is a very cheap idea... I can suggest a trophy supplier that would do another 7 small plaues for less than $6 each a whopping $80 per tournament. But, more trinkets taken home the more bragging that will be done... Have the promo guy send an e-mail photo and "release" to the local paper for the money winners... Believe me those picture would take a little more time but generate rewards far in excess of their cost in time and money...
10) In connection with the pre tournament publicity, get the local merchants to compete for the angler's business by offering coupons, etc... Something off of a $50.00 gas purcahse or a free 2 liter of pop something... That way there would be two results. Two metrics for the local merchants and two for the FLW...
11) Get some new raffle prizes!... I am tired of not winning the same things over and over again! |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | I think the biggest thing for the league would be to change the day to Sundays. There will always be some that want them on Saturdays, but like Greg said, you will probably sign up more people who don't have a ton of extra vacation time to blow.
I would love to be able to pre-fish Thurs-Fri-Sat instead of Weds-Friday. That would save me a few extra vacation days throughout the course of the year. My family would surely appreciate that. The tank temp issue needs to be addressed, but I think that is something that the FLW is looking into. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 859
Location: Appleton wi | Greg great post |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 580
Location: Green Bay, WI | I've got to throw a vote for a Sunday event too. It's why I stopped fishing it. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 1656
| Do away with "Cheater lines".
Personally I like the tourney on Saturday. I find it more relaxing to get home and take care of cleaning organizing my boat/fishing stuff. And still have time to take care of things around the house that were neglected the previous 3-4 days. My wife remains happy this way, which means I get to fish more. 
I disagree with pairing up the co-anglers with the boaters any earlier than the night before. I think it would give the Co and boater too much time to get to know each other and open up some cheating issues, such as culling. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 35
| Change the events to Sunday, unless it is a big water event and Sunday is needed in case of a blow day. Plaques for the top 10 or 20 would be nice. As for the championship it would be nice to see them get some contingency money from the motor sponsors for the top 20; i.e. Yamaha and Evinrude, that's about all that comes to mind... |
|
| |
|
| I agree with Greg on the marketing ideas. Keep the events on Saturday. Having Sunday off is very nice to get back home and relax a little for work on Monday. Other than that I think this is the most well run event around. Great weigh in procedure. Get rid of cheater lines and keep it at the two rod rule. Oh, I haven't seen an issue with the weigh tank, but when they test my livewell they always tell me I have the highest DO levels so maybe that is why. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 744
| Lots of good points brought up here. Us guys that fish it can fine tune stuff all we want, but the main issue (I am speaking of the League only) is participation, especially in MN and MI. So let's hear from more people who DON'T fish it, and find out why? It's sounds like moving it to Sundays would help, what else?
Dave S |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 1991
| I like Sat for the tourny, so keep that. They could do a better job of marketing it to the local community, also they could have clothing etc. for sale at the events.
Here in MN I would like to see them find somewhere else besides Mille Lacs, that lake has been beat to death.
Lots of good lakes here, I like Red Wing in the spring.
Make sure to have better docking facilities, Bemedji is a great lake but the lack of docking sucked, nothing like beaching on rocks.
I would think they could get a portable dock company to provide dockage for events, look at the advertising/promo for a dock company.
If they want a list of lakes ask us. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 3899
| How about a combined two day event at Red Wing? Points count towards WI and MN. Allow double the boaters and co's! |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 2445
Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | I would like to see a 2 day event. No cut downs, everyone fish, 2 days.
Make a little more out of the check finishers, after all, the glory is great. Plaques would go a long way.
I like the pro-ams, please keep them!!
|
|
| |
|
| On the Tour side, let's allow the co-angler to miss a day for a family funeral if he can supply a fill in and still maintain and add to his weight total for the day he missed. Death in the family only and would need to show proof. Currently there is no rule clearly stated for this. Let's get some discussion going on this, I would love to add more. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 794
Location: Elgin, Illinois | Shep... you just want to beat up on our lesser talented Minnesota brethern... Shame on you.... LOL (And just kidding) I am an honorary "cheddarhead" when it comes to fishing... I am there more than I am here when I have free time. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 1991
| hgmeyer - 8/7/2007 5:54 PM
Shep... you just want to beat up on our lesser talented Minnesota brethern... Shame on you.... LOL (And just kidding) I am an honorary "cheddarhead" when it comes to fishing... I am there more than I am here when I have free time.
Bring it on you "chedderheads"!!!! |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 3899
| stacker - 8/7/2007 12:02 PM
I would like to see a 2 day event. No cut downs, everyone fish, 2 days.
Make a little more out of the check finishers, after all, the glory is great. Plaques would go a long way.
I like the pro-ams, please keep them!!
I got a nice letter from Forrest after my finish at Oconto. That was cool beans.
But I am serious on a two day event at Red Wing, or where ever. Make it a combo WI/MN event. Points count for your respective league, based on finish. Everyone fishes two days, flop the co's each day, double the entry list, and the increase the purse!
Edited by Shep 8/8/2007 8:36 AM
|
|
| |
|
| Shep,
COuld be interesting... You could have a "Bragging Rights" finish of everyone... And, then finishes for each division. Might be a "nightmare" for the data entry folks... But, it couold be done... It would be interesting, even if it were a one day...
Battle on the Lake... You don't think those Minnesota guys would really show,, though, do you? They are so lame they have a law to only allow one rod so they don't hurt themselves....LOL
(Now again, I am just kiddding...sort of...)
Hey we could do "football colors" for T-shirts and stuff... |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 1991
| hgmeyer_unlogged - 8/8/2007 9:06 AM
Shep,
COuld be interesting... You could have a "Bragging Rights" finish of everyone... And, then finishes for each division. Might be a "nightmare" for the data entry folks... But, it couold be done... It would be interesting, even if it were a one day...
Battle on the Lake... You don't think those Minnesota guys would really show,, though, do you? They are so lame they have a law to only allow one rod so they don't hurt themselves....LOL
(Now again, I am just kiddding...sort of...)
Hey we could do "football colors" for T-shirts and stuff...
Easy there, I can walk and chew bubble gum |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 3899
| At the same time? New TV show material. Minnesota Has Talent! hehehe
Just kidding Kirt.
I wonder if FLW would ever consider something like this? Would actually get two tourney's done in one weekend. Logistically, I would think this would save them a few dollars.
But I think something needs to be done. MN ad MI don't get close to filling their events. While WI didn't fill every one this year, I think they missed by no more than 6.
Edited by Shep 8/8/2007 9:59 AM
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 1656
| I seem to recall the numbers at 87, 93, and 93 respectively for the WI division.
While I think your idea has merit, Shep, I don't see how you can make it "fair" to the MI division for numbers unless you send the WI boys that direction also. in which case you get a little bit of resentment in your best numbers state and in turn have a negative effect.
The MWC East/Challenge I think is good example of how that it doesn't "work".
As Stacker stated before, I love the Pro-Am format. After fishing 1 season of it myself I would hate to see it go. I'm very curious how to get the numbers up in MN and MI and FILL the fields for WI.
Should the entry fees be raised? Lowered?
What about the entry deadline? should it be the same or changed? Late fee? |
|
| |
