WON BASS SEASON CHANGES

Bill Hutcheson · Post by **Bill Hutcheson** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:04 am

I had planned a full blown press release for Western Bass this morning to coincide with the January issue of WON BASS hitting the mail and our WON BASS website update. God Bless the U.S. Post office for doing their job as it appears a few got their issues of WON BASS a day early. It appears that the town criers have done their job well and the bandwagon gang has acted predictably by jumping on board.

Yes it is true. Under the current set of circumstances, WON BASS is unavoidably going to have to change the format of the 2009-year. The Lake Shasta Pro-Am is going on as scheduled for Feb 21-22nd with a Nitro Z7 boat â€“ Mercury Motor to be given away. The remaining two dates we have set in the North will be changed to stand alone big bass events that are significantly different than the HBC events that we are being accused of copying. Those who think we are copying this event have obviously not read the details of these two contests. Details of these two new events are outlined in WON BASS and can be found on our website at www.wonbass.com

The Team Championships and U.S. Open remain unaffected and are going forward as scheduled.

The remainder of the Southern season â€“ Castaic Lake and Diamond Valley Lake are being cancelled due to water conditions. Anglers who have placed deposits on any of the changed or cancelled events are welcome to move their monies over or call in to Ashley at (949) 366-0030 ext 38 and request refunds.

Are these changes going to please everyone? Some yes, some no. Iâ€™m sure that most people are not pleased about the cutbacks they are having to make in their personal lives either due to reduced sales, reduced incomes, or losses of their jobs altogether. These actions were taken out of necessity and were not some willy nilly throw caution to the wind change that was made after some drunken night on the town as some are thinking.

Those of you who know me will understand that what I have done here is to make the best possible program out of what pieces of the puzzle I was able to work with. Those who simply want to bloviate online, fire away. WON BASS has been serving the anglers of the West for the past 2 decades and will continue to do so into the future. We run good, fair events with a good payback and look forward to getting back on track as soon as the economy settles down.

As always, the scariest but most accessible phone number on the planet is mine â€“ (949) 366-0030 ext 29. I am here to discuss the details of the coming season with anyone who wishes to call and get the facts.

Bill Hutcheson
WON BASS DIRECTOR

FATGUY · Post by **FATGUY** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:08 am

hutch..how does a one fish weigh in save money over the regular weigh ins. the stand alone is bad enough ..

Hollywood · Post by **Hollywood** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:18 am

Bill Hutcheson wrote:I had planned a full blown press release for Western Bass this morning to coincide with the January issue of WON BASS hitting the mail and our WON BASS website update. God Bless the U.S. Post office for doing their job as it appears a few got their issues of WON BASS a day early. It appears that the town criers have done their job well and the bandwagon gang has acted predictably by jumping on board.

Yes it is true. Under the current set of circumstances, WON BASS is unavoidably going to have to change the format of the 2009-year. The Lake Shasta Pro-Am is going on as scheduled for Feb 21-22nd with a Nitro Z7 boat â€“ Mercury Motor to be given away. The remaining two dates we have set in the North will be changed to stand alone big bass events that are significantly different than the HBC events that we are being accused of copying. Those who think we are copying this event have obviously not read the details of these two contests. Details of these two new events are outlined in WON BASS and can be found on our website at www.wonbass.com

The Team Championships and U.S. Open remain unaffected and are going forward as scheduled.

The remainder of the Southern season â€“ Castaic Lake and Diamond Valley Lake are being cancelled due to water conditions. Anglers who have placed deposits on any of the changed or cancelled events are welcome to move their monies over or call in to Ashley at (949) 366-0030 ext 38 and request refunds.

Are these changes going to please everyone? Some yes, some no. Iâ€™m sure that most people are not pleased about the cutbacks they are having to make in their personal lives either due to reduced sales, reduced incomes, or losses of their jobs altogether. These actions were taken out of necessity and were not some willy nilly throw caution to the wind change that was made after some drunken night on the town as some are thinking.

Those of you who know me will understand that what I have done here is to make the best possible program out of what pieces of the puzzle I was able to work with. Those who simply want to bloviate online, fire away. WON BASS has been serving the anglers of the West for the past 2 decades and will continue to do so into the future. We run good, fair events with a good payback and look forward to getting back on track as soon as the economy settles down.

As always, the scariest but most accessible phone number on the planet is mine â€“ (949) 366-0030 ext 29. I am here to discuss the details of the coming season with anyone who wishes to call and get the facts.

Bill Hutcheson
WON BASS DIRECTOR

Sure makes you wonder how they lasted this long.

Water level seemed to be just fine yesterday at Castaic, not too low, but come march, they always raise the water level right before or during the spawn so it should have been higher, unless there is a planned maintance that would of drawn the lake down??

TritonBrent · Post by **TritonBrent** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:21 am

So some joe blow can drop shot a lucky 11lb fish under a duck blind and win. Lame. This format has nothing to do with a fishermans skill level, Its all about luck now..

I'm out for sure!!

Rich hamilton · Post by **Rich hamilton** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:23 am

I give up

some guy · Post by **some guy** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:24 am

I dont understand how weighing in one fish versus 5 fish is going to help anything as well. How does this format help us better than the other one Hutch?

RichThiel · Post by **RichThiel** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:31 am

Hutch,

Thank you for Posting the facts to your decision to Change. I for one can see that the Swimbait Guy's may just go for this concept, it would leave the window open and everyone equal in their comfort zone in techniques.

The only question that I have is (After Looking at the payout) is why "the Top 20" that isn't 20% of the field of 150 boats?

Rich Thiel

FATGUY · Post by **FATGUY** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:35 am

wow i was sorry to see hutch refer to us posters who disagree as bloviators and criers ???

Hollywood · Post by **Hollywood** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:46 am

New format payout and entries

BASED on 150 entries for PRO and Am's

PRO:
Total Entry Fee's: $60,000
Total Prize Money: $46,750

Am's:
Total Entry Fee's: $30,000
Total Prize Money: $21,825

Entire Field:
Total Entry Fee's: $90,000
Total Prize Money: $68,575

Total Payout Percentage 76.1944%

I know it is expensive to run a tournament these days with rising costs of permits and the 2$ per gallon of gas

but what is the remaining $21,425.00 being spent on? AOY awards? TOC?

Sounds like a hell of a deal to me!

FATGUY · Post by **FATGUY** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:52 am

i beleieve that they have as much chance of drawing 150 boats as arnold has to become president

brian stafford · Post by **brian stafford** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:13 am

Bill, I am bit confused. How does weighing 1 fish versus 5 increase the success of the circuit? Does changing the format bring more anglers to the table? Does it bring in a different demographic that is likely to increase the numbers? Is that demographic bigger than the group of anglers that have been supporting your circuit? Is it the same demographic? I guess you do not owe any one of us an explanation for the change in format, and I am sure you must have many good reasons for the change. I just must be misinformed, that's all. Maybe you can explain a bit more? Come on sell us on the concept, we're begging you! Oh, and one more thing, I don't consider myself a town crier or a member of a bandwagon gang. Did you really mean to call your customers and potential customers derogatory names? Or was it just a slip of the ole keyboard?

Brian Stafford

Ricky-S · Post by **Ricky-S** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:17 am

Hutch,
Good luck with the new format. I wish WON all the best as you all are a first rate organization.

If you ever decide to form a anglers advisory group to help with these types of decisions give me a call.

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:41 am

Guys and gals, as Hutch indicated his phone is available to answer your questions:

(949) 366-0030 ext 29

It doesn't appear that he is inclined to address the issues here in the forums, so if you want real answers give him a call... he's always been extremely accessible and forthcoming, and I expect that to continue.

If you're just blowing off steam and animosity, then please resume!

Roger

Tobe · Post by **Tobe** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:00 am

I can't believe the director of an organization as big as One Bass would attack his customers online like he did, but Hutch is good at making drive-by insults and then hiding when he's called on it.

I hope you are wearing you're pfd Hutch

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:06 am

That's not an attack, folks... the phrase "town crier" refers to the olden days when they had them employed to make announcements in the streets... think "Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye".

Not defending Hutch - he can do that on his own, but just wanting to clarify that he was not calling folks on WB "criers" or cry babies or any such thing... I don't read his remarks as disparaging, and I don't think anyone else should either.

Roger

jrbasspro · Post by **jrbasspro** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:08 am

Hollywood
remember that WON bass is a business they have 6 to seven people on payroll for around a week per event and most of the staff are full time employees, for a business to be sucessful you have to cover your expensies and allow for emergencies and have a bankaccout just like you do at home. , in the fishing industry its like construction, In todays times you make your money when you can, to cover lean times.
and if I remember right the WON magizine and the tournament trail are seprate in regards to thier bank accouts

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:11 am

Where's my swimbait rod??!!!

Leave it on your deck Saturday.

Hollywood · Post by **Hollywood** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:22 am

jrbasspro wrote:Hollywood
remember that WON bass is a business they have 6 to seven people on payroll for around a week per event and most of the staff are full time employees, for a business to be sucessful you have to cover your expensies and allow for emergencies and have a bankaccout just like you do at home. , in the fishing industry its like construction, In todays times you make your money when you can, to cover lean times.
and if I remember right the WON magizine and the tournament trail are seprate in regards to thier bank accouts

You don't think I know they have employees and payroll and what not? But $21,425.00 from each event? That's a heck of a lot of payroll....

Guyle · Post by **Guyle** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:24 am

Maybe ONE bass doesn't care but they will lose my participation with this format. Hopefully more guys will not buy into it. I'm now looking forward to the other Pro-Ams.

jrbasspro · Post by **jrbasspro** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:03 pm

hollywood
I know it sound expensive but do the math 6 tournaments a year at 22 k per that adds up to 188k per year now deduct the payroll for say 6 full time people = they make 22 k each where is the profit margin in that, I dont know about you but if I was making 22k a year I'm looking for a different job.

Hollywood · Post by **Hollywood** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:12 pm

jrbasspro wrote:hollywood
I know it sound expensive but do the math 6 tournaments a year at 22 k per that adds up to 188k per year now deduct the payroll for say 6 full time people = they make 22 k each where is the profit margin in that, I dont know about you but if I was making 22k a year I'm looking for a different job.

you really think there payroll comes from the money raised by entry fees? How about sponsor ad dollars that are spent for the advertisements in there publications? I am willing to bet, there paychecks say W.O.N. not WON BASS

RMARX · Post by **RMARX** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:36 pm

This is funny! Instead of complaining, how about all you guys that complain about not catching fish on big baits, drop the fairy wand for one season and go for it, you may like it! I think it is a nice change of pace,YES WON may lose some guys, but I can think of fifty guys that are now seriosly considering these events. It's all good. It is no secret that the payout at WON is 76% Why does that matter?

jrbasspro · Post by **jrbasspro** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:03 pm

Mark

For the last time NO It looks like I am really going to need it this WON season, so eat your heart out.

walt

Scott Shambre · Post by **Scott Shambre** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:33 pm

Tobe wrote:I can't believe the director of an organization as big as One Bass would attack his customers online like he did, but Hutch is good at making drive-by insults and then hiding when he's called on it.

I hope you are wearing you're pfd Hutch

Tobe, don't you mean flak jacket!!!!

Robert F · Post by **Robert F** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:36 pm

RMARX wrote:It's all good. It is no secret that the payout at WON is 76% Why does that matter?

All Good? When you can fish FLW and get 90 something percent payback to one in four? And that number is without the boat. You will never hear WON admit the 76 percent number. They have always twisted the boat value in to the small field payback to show a competitive number. Wish ya luck Robert. Don't think it will last long. As far as putting away the fairy wands, that has been the bread and butter of the backseaters in these tournaments. I know they are not saying the backseaters can not fish but what, realistically, will they do? That rip-off Casino at the end of the lake probably has better than 76 percent payback.

RMARX · Post by **RMARX** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:48 pm

Robert - Sorry I did not think about it from the backseater point of view your right it would SUCK for the nonboater! My point is WON BASS has always had a crappy payback that is not a NEWS FLASH, but they do draw lots of guys. Now that I think about it the change to one fish, while I like it as I am a big fish guy, it really does not make any sense, unless they are trying to save money on bags with the new DFG 5 pound rule! Thanks for helping me see another point of view.

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:02 pm

WEST COAST BASS>>>>WEST COAST BASS>>>>WEST COAST BASS

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:03 pm

I just don't see how it would be appealing for Ams to fish this format.

Scott Shambre · Post by **Scott Shambre** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:12 pm

First off, lets back off of Hutch!!!!

He made a decision, albiet a very bad and uninformed decision, but it was his to make. Also the consequenses for such a decision will be squarely on his shoulders as well.

Hopefully, for his sake, he will not blame lack of angler participation for WON folding up its' Pro/Am format tents all together!!!!!!

This was going to be a hard year for all of us and WON and Hutch made alot of decisions easier for us by cutting out conflicts with the elimination of the WON Pro/Am's as we know them up north and a complete elimination of them down south.

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:15 pm

Agreed

Tobe · Post by **Tobe** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:34 pm

Scott Shambre wrote:
Tobe wrote:I can't believe the director of an organization as big as One Bass would attack his customers online like he did, but Hutch is good at making drive-by insults and then hiding when he's called on it.

I hope you are wearing you're pfd Hutch

Tobe, don't you mean flak jacket!!!!

He desearves all the flack he gets, the comments he made were unprofessional and certainly detrimental to the few remaining loyal customers they have.

Not only would I be wearing a pfd, I'd make sure my live wells were working overtime!

Rick Perez · Post by **Rick Perez** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:24 pm

When you look at just the facts and how it went down I think of two words "Customer Service" with the way things are today it's all about Customer Service!!!

Rick Perez

Scott Shambre · Post by **Scott Shambre** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:51 pm

WON has been that way for years up north.

At their TOC a few years ago one of their directors was "unprofessional" with an angler with a question regarding the scales.

They once had the best show in the west, with the rebirth of WCB we can start the eulogizing of what once was WON.

Welcome back and good luck to Larry Viviano and West Coast Bass!!!!!!

hippie · Post by **hippie** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:47 pm

I called today and ashley was very nice and said she'd work on refunding my deposit for the season sweet. I got a ? though with todays economy who wants to win a NITRO if you went back to giving the cash it would of made alot of people happy. I know you would of came close to the full field at castaic and Mead at the time of year DV was set for was going to be fun. Owell

bryanmc · Post by **bryanmc** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:05 pm

I think it's pretty safe to say nobody was in it for the Nitro..

Scott Shambre · Post by **Scott Shambre** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:22 pm

But at least it had some value and was better than nothing. Now there is literally nothing but catch two fish and be done. Takes the Pro's ability to find fish out of the equation and the ability for the AAA to learn which is whsat they are paying for, two guided days on the water with a pro.

At least the big game hunters will have a place to play....

CN · Post by CN » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:51 pm

It will have an affect on your AM side and I think you have to one in each Boat right?

Why would I get in the back of a guy's Boat to learn a piece of Water just to watch him look for one bite.

I tried the one fish event once and I just watched.It was fun as Hell but I dont know how to fish like that.Your supposed to learn from these type event's I just dont see it.

If your looking for new Memebr's this wont work WON.

Mike Nance

Sean Graf · Post by **Sean Graf** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:32 pm

If there are any boaters out there that need a non boater and are willing to pay my entry, I'm in.

Ok, bad joke, I like the format but I would much rather fish for a 5 fish limit.

I'll give ita shot, who needs a sign up partner?

bryanmc · Post by **bryanmc** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:04 am

Scott Shambre wrote:But at least it had some value and was better than nothing.

Perhaps, but I think you'll find that most would have rather had the 15k or so they could eventually sell the certificate for as cash right up front. After all, they had to pay cash to fish right?

Scott Shambre · Post by **Scott Shambre** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:15 am

WON ran with an all cahs format a few years back and should have stayed with it. Now they should go back to it until the economy allows sposnors to get back in the game, although after Hutch's comments, it may be too late.

bryanmc · Post by **bryanmc** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:27 am

Scott...
There's no way they could go back to a cash payback... Don't you pay attention? The economy in it's current condition won't allow them to weigh 5 fish!

Scott Shambre · Post by **Scott Shambre** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:03 am

That's right because weighing one fish saves so much more money than having to weigh 5.....

bazs · Post by **bazs** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:30 am

W.O.N ,
sorry but you lost me with the change. I agree that things may need to change, but to 1 fish....ridiculous. I will not participate.

As for the anglers who don't like the changes, we can all get together for Turkey shoots during those event dates and show the rest ofthe guys what they are missing.

Too bad W.O.N choose to shoot themselves in this way and I do feel bad it is a great organization, just with some screwed up logic right now.

ZAck Thompson (bazs)

FATGUY · Post by **FATGUY** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:37 am

has anyone talked to hutch and asked why the one fish limit . i can call him but figured if someone already had an answer no need to bug him as his phone is already ringing off the hook . i think going to the stand alone tourneys will only effect a few. also i can see where doing away with the year end prizes saves money but the one fish weigh in ?? and i think this is what bothers the most people ..bob

some guy · Post by **some guy** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:43 am

I use to care why they switched to one fish.. and what thought process brought it about, but now i really dont. It has nothing to do with what Hutch said at all, dont hate the messenger just the message. Im over it. Im just not going to fish it. Pretty simple.

All the crying in the world isnt going to change anything so I suggest that everyone not get worked up about it and just take the proper course of action. If it works for you, fish it. If it doesnt, dont. Everyones mentallity about being thankful to fish when all the patriotic stuff was being posted was sure thrown at the window. There is alot worse going on in the world than One fish formats people.

How soon we forget.

SPIKE · Post by **SPIKE** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:09 am

What is the next change live bait?

Skeeterman · Post by **Skeeterman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:20 am

Won Bass is doing a good thing for the boaters.With all that weight of five fish in the live well, going to one fish doing you know how much gas your going to save?You take that money that you saved and buy a new POWELL ROD.

ash · Post by **ash** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:30 am

SPIKE wrote:What is the next change live bait?

I heard they are looking into Duckworth as a sponsor so you can also run down riggers, change your graph to BEEP and show FISH as you are drinking down a case of Corona's.....

PS the above post is a joke and not based upon any information real or imagined

philip garcia · Post by **philip garcia** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:33 am

I know that poeple are upset at the change. But it is a business and they can do what ever they want. If you don't like the change then don't fish it and put you're money and support somewhere else. There are plenty of pro-ams and flw's this year. Last year they were the only pro-am in town but this year there's anglers choice and westcoast bass. I understand that alot of you have fished them for a long time and it upsets you with the change. I am pretty sure that two things will happen after this year. one they will stop pro-ams all together or two they will go back to the old format. Either way I can bet you it will not be the same. I was looking foward to fishing all of them this year but I choose not to support them now so I will not fish any. There is no reason to get mad just don't buy the product they are selling.

Nozmo King · Post by **Nozmo King** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:46 pm

I was initially put off by this new format, too. Iâ€™m wondering, though, if it doesnâ€™t offer a few advantages. Since more â€œluckâ€

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