AMATEUR/AAA ENTRY FEE SHOULD BE LOWERED

[Kbeever]

I was reading some of the posts and see that a lot pros may not get to fish the Stren or National Guard due to not enough amateurs signing up.

I fished the WON Bass tournament at Shasta (as a Pro) and had both of my AAA's (who were very serious bass fisherman) say they would love to fish the Stren/National Guard series, but the entry fee was too high.

Let's face it, most amateurs are along to learn more about the lake and are not trying to make a living fishing as a amateur(at least here in the West Coast). I never remember watching a FLW tournament on TV and seeing the cameras on the backseater. Don't get me wrong, I don't discredit the fishing ability of the backseater, I just think they are not looking to cash in on the lottery if they win the tournament.

It's sad that it has come down to boaters having to bribe non-boaters just so they can fish....as if the expenses aren't already high enough as it is.

Just a suggestion for you guys who aren't fortunate enough to have a co-angler signed up with you.

Good Luck!

[swimb8]

If they dropped the entry fee the co would be fishing for chump change. we kinda already are now. This having to own a ranger to win one blows, but such is life.I really think having an entry fee as high as the gurad series lets the skilled but not rich fisherman earn a little something for his efforts. i realize co's arent pros but its nice to fish for a bigger buck every now and then. The stren series is as cheap as they come and pays back extremely well. i have no complaints but i see what your saying.

PS Hello everyone! you know you all missed me.

[Ray L.]

If you think the fee for the series is high than look at it for F.L.W. Tour. They also fill very easy. You have to look at more than just 1 or 2 things. If you notice the cost of living is lower back east. The guys and ladies who do fish the series are able to do it because of a couple of things. The cost of living is cheaper back east and also many jobs pay the same as out in the west. Many anglers are retired and are able to take the time and fish. There is also a bigger pool of fishermen to get to fish the tournaments.
Don't get me wrong there is a good size group of fishermen out west but the problem is we are not land locked like people from Tenn. and Kentucky. We have choices on where to fish. The ocean for multiple species from Tuna in the south to Salmon and Huge Halibut up north. We also have many choices for freshwater. Trout ,Salmon, Stripers, catfish Kokanee, etc.etc.etc.
So the angler group as a whole is large but it is very diverse therefore the pool of bass anglers is small and spread thin.

[Schneider Fishing]

As a former AAA and not yet a pro, I agree that the AAA fee should be lower. I don't fish the events trying for a win as a AAA. I realize so much of my being able to cash a check depends on my draw for a pro. I fish as a AA in the hopes of drawing a good pro that I can learn from. That's the prize I am trying to win (a good draw).

[Ray L.]

Hey Robert I understand what you are saying. I started as a A.A.A. with W.O.N.. I had some great draws. From Bob Simmons to Don Payne, Gary Boyd, Skeet Reese, John Murray and Brett Hite all at Mead in 2 years time. I also had some great one's at Havasu like Bob Horn, Clint Goodwin, Mike Baldwin just to name a few. I learned many things from every pro I ever drew not just fishing but also other things like how you should treat other fishermen and others on the water and so on. Many of the lessons I learned I still use today. I was very privaledged to fish with everyone I fished with and still consider most of them a friend.

[Schneider Fishing]

I think it also comes down to a bottom line of supply and demand. If you aren't getting the AAA's at the current price then there isn't the demand at that price. There is also the possible problem of not enough AAA's for the number of Pro's. Of course if you start looking at the math there is always some break even point with additional AAA's at a lower price being equal to fewer AAA's at a higher price. Math..... got to love it.

Example: Prise money for 50 AAA's at $225 is = to 75 AAA's at $150. You've got to balance that with whether you have 50, 75 or 100.

[Ron C]

...there is something for everyone on the Co-angler (Triple-A) side. WON is the least expensive, but offers the least amount to win. The Stren is a bit more expensive, but offers a bit more to win. The Series is the most expensive, but offers the most to win. If the Series and the Strens are too steep for you, go with WON BASS. Besides, they are the only one with a shared weight format, which is a blast!

Just my $.02.

[Ray L.]

I have to say for a A.A.A. W.O.N. is the best for a learning curve. The others you will learn but you have to also fish for your own fish. The shared weight is the way to go for learning. The pro will share most everything with you. In the F.L.W. stuff the pro woill share minimal info because he does not want all his fish caught. Mind you that is not always the case but overall basically it is true.

[Ricky-S]

I agree that the fees should be lowered some. While we are at it, we can also lower the the Pro entry fees so that I can fish some more.

I do agree that the cost of living out West is hurting our overal level of participation.

I feel sorry for guys in my age group. We cannot find a home for under half a million. You wouldn't believe what you could get for that price in AL, GA or any other Southern state.

[Brian Linehan]

Amen to that!

[Rick G]

has professional non-boaters that do nothing but cruise the country as backseaters. Most are retired, and are very good fishermen. Give-em an inch and they will take it. We just need to get the pro-backseater pool built up. Rick G.

[Ray L.]

Hey rick you are right. There are a few of those type backseaters out west just not as many as back east. I have drawn a couple of them over the years. 1 is from Az. and the other is from N. Cal.They could be a boater very easy but choose not to for 1 reason or another. If not work or family comittment. Just not willing to go to the front.

[clayton meyer]

*NM*

[BigJeff]

I think the lack of co-anglers stems from fishing Shasta when it is freezing cold (thats not very attractive to many including myself) and also from Lake Havasu's poor results last year. The fishing was brutal at Havasu and I'm sure a lot of guys are going to skip it because it could be very similar conditions out there this year.

I fished as a AAA in WON for a few years and learned a lot fishing with some good sticks. After fishing WON, and fishing a few Stren's last year, my preference is to fish FLW and worry about catching my own fish and an opportunity at deeper paybacks.

The entry fee's for the Stren ($325) are almost identical to WON ($225 + $150 in options; $375 if you go all in which you always should). You get 3 days of fishing with the top sticks in the west coast v 2 days. The payback for first place is very close, but is much deeper for FLW than WON is.

The FLW Series is a little over double the cost of the Strens at $700 per event. But you are fishing for a purse at the top that is 4 times larger. I dont see how anyone can think that is a bad thing. I'll take my chances fishing for $20 K.

People need to get behind FLW and support the two trails out here or they will leave. This is an opportunity too good to pass up.

[Bill Brown Jr.]

Gentlemen,

You all seem to have made some very good points in regards to this issue.

This being my first year as a AAA with limited time and funding, I had to decide where I can get the most tournament time and experience exposure. My decision was based on more than just entry fees. I had to take into consideration, travel expenses, boat maintenance, accomdations, and time away from work. Living in Southern California, WON South seemed to make the most sense for me.

If I were to attempt to fish the National Guard or FLW as a AAA it would cost me $600.00 or more plus an additional two days vacation per event. Much of that time and money would be spent on travel and accomodations, which would take away from time on the water.

Fishing WON, I can leave immediately after work on a Wednesday, travel to Havasu or Mead, get two good days of practice in on Thursday and Friday, then fish the tournaments on Saturday and Sunday. I am back on the road after the event on Sunday and home in time for work on Monday. This scenario affords me maximum time on the water with minimal travel time and access to years of experience from the many quality Pros fishing the WON circuits.

To increase my level of exposure and time on the water, I also fish the WON teams through the WONdering South division with a WON & FLW Pro, and local ABA events.

If there is something I am missing in this equation, I am very interested in hearing from you seasoned veterans. From what I have read in other postings, many of you have fished a myriad of events as both AAA and Pro and I welcome your opinion.