Posted 3/29/2010 2:47 PM (#89465 - in reply to #89215) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
Watching someone go walleye fishing is boring. Watching a weigh-in is worse. I love fishing for walleye, but I wouldn’t cross the street to attend a weigh-in. The only way I could see this becoming interesting would be to use technology and great video production to put spectators in the moment.
Grow interest by making it more like a video game on TV. The screen should have a column of data (air temp, water temp, depth, speed, lure type, lure depth, gps coordinates, etc) overlaying the sonar view, the angler, and somehow a picture of the lure or at least the lake bottom. Get some action on an AquaView. You project a TV shot like that, and I guarantee I’m not changing the channel.
Poker didn’t become a huge success because of trading cards or better advertising. It’s probably even more boring to watch than walleye fishing, but the one little technological gimmick (the pocket camera) has sucked everyone into watching. Now, when your flipping thru the stations and you see pocket aces, you stop and see what happens. Figure out a way to show me a walleye eyeballing a jig on a reef or following a crawler harness and I will not be changing the channel.
It wouldn’t be easy, but you would only need to capture 2-3 cool underwater video shots per tourney and everyone would be hooked (pun intended). Walleye fishing needs a well produced and directed TV series that really shows us the insider perspective. Put us in the moment and we’ll watch.
Posted 3/29/2010 3:17 PM (#89466 - in reply to #89215) Subject: Re: Walleye tourney fans
Member
Posts: 152
Location: Appleton WI
I wasn't going to say anything on this because I am just getting into tournament fishing but decided I will give you my opinion....coming from a 22 year old "kid". Having these events during festivals is the best possible thing to do. They need to get live music and beer tents there. All of my friends want to go out and drink at night and listen to a band. Many of them do fish but would rather go to a bar instead of a weigh in that they can't have a beer at. Bring them both together and you are going to have a lot more potential for people to jump into the touny scene. Focusing on little kids is great...but it is the teens and twenties that are going to bring people into the sport of tourny fishing. Young kids are a long ways away from being ready to tournament fish. The tournament scene needs to work on attracting more late teens and twenties adults that are looking for that adrenaline rush of competition and are getting ready to purchase their own boats and equipment. There are a lot of younger adults that fish in my area of the state and it would be very easy to get them hooked just like it happened to me.
Edited by StratosBoats 3/29/2010 3:19 PM
just fish
Posted 3/29/2010 3:33 PM (#89470 - in reply to #89215) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
I am running out of time and will comment later tonight, but all the ideas coming in are great, maybe not all helpful but definetly interesting. Fishing Gramma I am looking forward to meeting you at moose fest and we can sit down and chat. I am going to take alot of ideas from that event and try to get some of them implemented in the AIM format. I believe kids are our future in both hunting and fishing, not sitting behind a control playing video games, and I do believe teens and twenty somethings are also the future of our sport. Will respond more later, keep it coming, John Schneider
RNT
Posted 3/29/2010 3:56 PM (#89472 - in reply to #89215) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
Steve...it is what it is and you do not inject the same standard with the tournaments. The tournaments are what they are....tell me which would be affected by a change, would Walleye Weekend suffer a loss of attendees if the pro tournament was not there or would the pro tournament suffer a attendee loss if Walleye Weekend was not there....it is a one way street. There are realities that are not being addressed.
Posted 3/29/2010 4:07 PM (#89474 - in reply to #89470) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
Member
Posts: 2445
Location: Fremont, Wisconsin
Fishing Gramma, no one knocked his event, but questioned his expected numbers for a first year event that has not happened yet. He stated the same thing about walleye tourneys exagerating numbers. Believe what you may. Also, the suggestions he makes, not all, but most of what he says has been done and is being done at tournaments allready. He is commenting on a subject he has obviously not been in touch with, it's evident.
Posted 3/29/2010 4:11 PM (#89475 - in reply to #89215) Subject: Re: Walleye tourney fans
Location: Rhinelander
It most certainly is not a one way street. Look at the Merc National and Walleye Weekend's history to obtain a better understanding as to how they integrate.
Stacker, exactly.
TX Doc, your ideas can be done in a TV show weeks after the event, but nothing out there supports the technology necessary to get the underwater stuff affordably live to the web yet. I built this thing to almost do what you suggest, with a wireless card I can upload this stuff in tiny segments in seconds, but the upload stinks. It's a studio that records underwater and above at the same time to a computer hard drive, direct to edit. I can dovetail an Aqua Vu into the production, and really come up with some interesting stuff.
Here's an image of the studio in a Just Encase box, and a sample video is a couple posts down of what it can shoot underwater. I bet your vision isn't too far away in available technology, but virtual is way more likely and is being done by ESPN and Lindners Fishing Edge pretty well already.
Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window
Posted 3/29/2010 4:22 PM (#89478 - in reply to #89475) Subject: Re: Walleye tourney fans
I fully understand how they integrated and I fully understand which parts carry the over-whelming bulk of the attendees. It is what it is.
fishing Grandma
Posted 3/29/2010 4:28 PM (#89479 - in reply to #89215) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
You are all very knowledgable when it comes to fishing, the tournaments in the fish world. Sometimes and idea will come from a different direction so please remain open minded as fishing is a wonderful activity and more people need to learn about it. suggestions should be taken for what they are and use what you will without belittling those who had a comment. If that was not what you meant you should probably reread your posts and see how they may have come off. Posting is much harder that talking face to face and people can come away with a bad impression
Posted 3/29/2010 5:03 PM (#89486 - in reply to #89215) Subject: Re: Walleye tourney fans
Member
Posts: 1406
"I bet your vision isn't too far away in available technology, but virtual is way more likely and is being done by ESPN and Lindners Fishing Edge pretty well already"
Steve? Seriously? WHO?...its being done already? Then where are all these millions of fans? No one is producing that "edge of your seat excitement or Blood pumping adrenalin rush we need to stay connected and that target is the existing fisherman, what about the rest of the world. If you think the bass clasic is doing it your sadly mistaken, unless of course your already a fisherman wanting to compete and that is your target audience for growth.....very small audience
There are a ton more people that need to find out about this sport and quite frankly as gramma puts it...we bring them nothing to draw them in! HECK heres an interesting tidbit for you..... I would venture to guess that nearly 50% of the people coming to buy fishing equipment from me don't even know what a walleye is. 50% of them don't even know there are tournaments associated to Walleyes and if they do the majority of those hate them!! Come spend a Saturday with me and I'll show you what I mean!
Good Luck
Tyee
RNT
Posted 3/29/2010 5:07 PM (#89487 - in reply to #89474) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
So Spring Valley MWC had crafters, vendors, entertainment, food vendors, prizes for the public, and some great attractions besides the tournament? It had a strongman competition, volleyball tournament, BINGO for the older, bungee trampoline, a family fishing tournament or even Karaoke or a DJ? Yes Stacker, I believe I am missing something because if they were there it sure was not advertised well.
Posted 3/29/2010 5:20 PM (#89490 - in reply to #89215) Subject: Re: Walleye tourney fans
Location: Rhinelander
Tyee,
ESPN is doing that. And yes, there's millions of fans watching the shows, the numbers for BASS are very impressive. I suggested you watch an Elite event, do it. GREAT stuff from the boat, this Sunday's show with Mike I wrestling his fish into the boat and Crews looking around for a rod that went overboard and actually grabbing it before it was gone....priceless stuff....but not live. Great stuff from the shore. Underwater shots (after the fact, but accurate) and virtual examples of what caught fish as well. All done for TV. And all very very expensive.
So yes, SERIOUSLY, it's being done. Attend a Bass Master's Classic, and see if the same remarks you just made fit. They won't.
RNT,
If the MWC tried to do that stuff in Spring Valley in March...recipe for disaster. You ever been there at this time of year? The weather was cold but nice for March for the most part, yet I spent better than 20 minutes a day scraping mud that was alike glue off my boots. The MWC doesn't try to be a festival or make a huge deal out of shore activities except the Kids clinic they did for a screaming batch of excited youngsters. They are about a Team fishing tournament trail that is supported by the Teams and sponsors, and the draw to the sponsors isn't necessarily the crowd at this one...it's the MWC anglers. Different goals than AIM or FLW and for excellent reasons.
Posted 3/29/2010 5:28 PM (#89491 - in reply to #89215) Subject: Re: Walleye tourney fans
Member
Posts: 1406
RNT....So true. It's Marketing 101!
Defining your audience and bringing them something exciting. There are millions of people that could care less about fishing much less tournament fishing, and like I said from the beginning, Even my wife knows Jeff Gordon drives for Dupont. And no she doesn't drive fast but does buy their products!
Good Luck
Tyee
OK Steve, I'll watch but if it's anything like the last 5 years, I doubt it will bring in many new fans, although it might sell some products as all the others have been so over loaded with commercials!
Edited by tyee 3/29/2010 5:32 PM
RNT
Posted 3/29/2010 6:09 PM (#89493 - in reply to #89215) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
My point is the things mentioned are not and have not been developed for the use of the tournaments by the tournaments. The closest is AIM but there is a big difference between the tournament bringing, organizing and owning the event to the tournament piggy-backing an existing event. The tournaments would benefit greatly if they were the main sponsors of a community event and organized, paid for and set up 40 food vendors, live music, 100 retail vendors, a carnival and so on where the tournament has complete control and credit of the event and profits from it.
Scott Steil
Posted 3/30/2010 8:24 AM (#89506 - in reply to #89215) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
This has been a good thread minus all the personal jabs. I just got done reading the entire thing. There is no doubt we need to do more to make fishing more interesting, because when the action is unfolding, it is. As Steve said, if you watch the BASS Elite series coverage, it is REALLY, REALLY good.
My goal this year is to show some of the Reality aspects of fishing so I am trying something on my own. While prefishing for the FLW and AIM tournaments you can watch me live via the remote webcam mounted in my boat. If you go to my web site you should be able to watch streaming audio and video live while I fish. As long as the weather allows you will be able to watch me fish. And, if the Lake Erie walleye cooperate it could actually be pretty interesting.
That is just one small thing that needs to be done. Watching coverage of a weigh-in is not exciting. People want to see what is happening in the boat, they want to see how it is done and all the highs and lows and the thoughts and decision making that goes into the process. Hopefully I can capture some of that this year.
TX Doc
Posted 3/30/2010 8:56 AM (#89507 - in reply to #89215) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
If this was my project, I would be talking to the producers of Ice Road Truckers, Deadliest Catch, the World Series of Poker, Dirty Jobs, or one of the logging shows.
You guys could create the ultimate reality show: competition, drama, danger, great personalities, conflict, humor, outdoors education, and technology.
I wouldn't be fishing for local business, I would be thinking about Fortune 500 company ad dollars.
Scott Steil
Posted 3/30/2010 8:59 AM (#89508 - in reply to #89507) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
Very good point TX, that is my same line of thinking. If the current model is not working we need to change some things and Reality TV works. Competitive fishing gives us a great platform, it just needs to be showcased in the right way.
just fish
Posted 3/30/2010 9:00 AM (#89509 - in reply to #89215) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
Hey Scott, that is a really cool idea, and am looking forward to seeing it. I to hope that can be done in more boats than just yours and I think this is the break out year for walleye fisherman. I also agree there are alot of great ideas, some are worth trying and don't cost much but a little time, others are to costly with the budgets these circuits are working on. One of the things I don'y understand is why piggy backing is a bad thing, the sponsors like to see numbers in the stands and if that is a tool that works why not use it. One other thing that I really thought was cool and I myself would come to a AIM weigh in just to listen to them was Scott and Marty Glorvigen doing the MC ing. They work very good together, funny, smart, witty, and they definetly keep the ball rolling. If you all haven't had the chance to see them strut their stuff you need too... John Schneider
Posted 3/30/2010 10:02 AM (#89510 - in reply to #89507) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
Member
Posts: 2445
Location: Fremont, Wisconsin
TX Doc - 3/30/2010 8:56 AM
If this was my project, I would be talking to the producers of Ice Road Truckers, Deadliest Catch, the World Series of Poker, Dirty Jobs, or one of the logging shows.
You guys could create the ultimate reality show: competition, drama, danger, great personalities, conflict, humor, outdoors education, and technology.
I wouldn't be fishing for local business, I would be thinking about Fortune 500 company ad dollars.
Do you know what they do very well on each of the shows listed? Come on you know? Yep, they tell the stories about the people in the show. They are not just showcasing crabs, it was phil and the jail bird and the guy on the logging show who the boss went to his house or the single dad. Even pawn stars tell about the players.
Walleye fishing has to. PERIOD!! I know the stories of some and you would be surprised if you did to. These guys are a piece of americana, TELL SOMEONE,
Edited by stacker 3/30/2010 10:04 AM
RNT
Posted 3/30/2010 10:33 AM (#89512 - in reply to #89509) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
John,
The point on piggy backing is this. The sport is looking for new fans and trying to stay afloat financially at the same time...attaching to another event might draw in a few new fans but does it help alleviate the cost? The tournament is a very small part of a very large event that provides the public with unlimited things to do.
It would be better financially and for exposure to take the bull by the horns and start, organize and run an entire event for the public that is similar, if not rivals, the events that are piggy backed. Not only would the tournament be closer connected to the community for putting on a family event that they want to attend but you would also have the tournament and fishermen benefit financially off of it.
just fish
Posted 3/30/2010 10:57 AM (#89514 - in reply to #89215) Subject: RE: Walleye tourney fans
RNT, I am just speaking from AIMS position right now. We are a group of investors, tournament anglers, and business people that are thinking outside the box and trying to change the look of tournament walleye fishing. Because we are in the early stages our resources are limited and even though I agree with your idea, we need to move forward according to our means. Therefore in my opinion at this time piggy back looks good. How many ventures have failed because the people involved spent money they didn't have, and went so far into debt they couldn't see the forest through the trees. Sometimes its better to test the water then jump in head first.. John
Posted 3/30/2010 4:41 PM (#89527 - in reply to #89215) Subject: Re: Walleye tourney fans
Member
Posts: 1195
Location: Orland Park, IL
I know other models have been considered. I tend to think of things like WWE and MMA on Spike TV. Both of those created their fan base and just exploded. Maybe there is something there that can be learned.
Posted 3/30/2010 4:50 PM (#89529 - in reply to #89527) Subject: Re: Walleye tourney fans
Member
Posts: 2445
Location: Fremont, Wisconsin
Mark Komo - 3/30/2010 4:41 PM
I know other models have been considered. I tend to think of things like WWE and MMA on Spike TV. Both of those created their fan base and just exploded. Maybe there is something there that can be learned.
Well now Mark, they did not get people to actually like wrestling to get the fan base, they created the wrestlers to promote in the venue, not unlike the way the PWT was doing it. Seems that model keeps coming to the top.
RNT
Posted 3/30/2010 5:11 PM (#89530 - in reply to #89529) Subject: Re: Walleye tourney fans
A couple of road blocks when comparing or emulating what they did with wrestling
#1 Fishing is not a spectator sport
#2 Wrestling has always been Good vs. Bad, each wrestler creates a personality to draw the fans to them and uses it within the actual sport...it is the very reason why it is a success.
#3 They also sell merchandise...lots of it.
#4 People pay money to watch it on TV and on tour, lots of money.
#5 They utilize the large residual income from its fan base to PAY the wrestlers to wrestle whether they win or loose...they pay them quite well.
#6 It's fake.
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