WON BASS RESPONDS -

[Bill Hutcheson]

To all Western Bass readers -

Due to the high volume of feedback, I wanted to come back on to the Western Bass site and re-address the changes that WON BASS is making for the 2009 season.

In 2008, WONBASS held 6 pro-ams, two team championships and the US OPEN. In each event WONBASS with our sponsors awarded a fully-rigged boat and paid out 80% of our entry fees to our pros, making the total payback with the boat far in excess of 100%...and typically around 130%. The exact percentage of total payback varied according to the number of signups at each event.

In 2009, we started our season early in September of 2008. Much of our actual planning and decisions are made much earlier than that in order to get our permits and schedules out to the fishermen. While our sponsors verbally communicated to us that everything looked good and that they were again interested in being involved with WONBASS, they did not anticipate the dramatic downturn in the marine industry that was to come. As the economy and credit worsened throughout the year, our sponsors were forced to make drastic changes in their businesses, and their marketing budgets. As we all know our economy in general has been very hard hit, and the marine industry has been hit harder than most due to the perfect storm scenario of a horrible economy, credit crunch and high than normal gas prices.

As a result decisions and commitments came very slowly this year and that continues to still be the case. This is a year unlike any other previous year in that regard, as companies continue to struggle with their businesses. Just a couple weeks ago we finally got the final decision that we would be getting five boats in total for WONBASS and not the nine we had received last season. Given the economy this seemed to us to be a very strong commitment to our fishermen and to WONBASS, but it left us with many decisions to make regarding our circuit and no time to explore other options. We felt it important to keep our obligation to the team anglers who are allotted 2 Nitro Z7 Mercury Combos for the team championships. Likewise, we needed to keep the upgraded Nitro Z Boat for the U.S. Open boat at Lake Mead, and we had already awarded one boat in the first southern tournament, leaving us with one boat to award in the remaining pro-am events..

Not feeling comfortable with running events without our standard 100% or better payback and faced with closed or lower water level lakes in the south, we opted to cancel the remainder of the pro-am events, and for this year to hold only the one event in the south we had already done and the one in Shasta in the north. Again these are highly unusual times and we assumed that our fishermen would understand.

With prime dates for the Delta and Clear Lake a staff available we though it might be fun for to do some lower priced, stand-alone events. Instead of a lesser version of our existing pro-ams with lower payouts, we opted to introduce a new type of big fish format that pays back in several different ways. Will this format appeal to all? No. Will this be a fun event with a great payback? Yes! Please read the full details of this event below before thinking this is an event for only the Pro angler and the AAA will get back seated.

Some have criticized our decision. Tough times call for tough decisions and if my call has upset you, I apologize. WON BASS has been pleased to serve our anglers for the past 20 years and will continue to do so. I will tell you that we are already working on plans for next season with and this time around we will be better prepared. We have a Nitro Z7 Boat & Trailer with a Mercury Motor all set to go for our Shasta, and it is going to be a great event and we really hope that everyone will try and fit it into their plans.

Some have questioned the payback on these new LOWER PRICED events. The payback for the Big Bass Challenge event at 76.19% event is fair although we are being criticized for grossing around $21K. Add in expenses and salaries and this is not that much folks.

It appears that some are abuzz about West Coast Bass, whose payback is also exactly the same as the WON BASS Big Bass Challenges at 76.19 % per event. According to my math, this is a grand total $35,000 that West Coast Bass is keeping per event.
(The AAA payback column is incorrect on their website – it should be $31,100.) I guess I don’t understand how it is O.K. for one organization to charge you more and take more of your money, but WON BASS charging less and making less of a profit is not.

If it is all about paying $640 as a pro and $340 as an AAA angler for a pro-am circuit, then great. WON BASS can do exactly that in 2010 and if we did we would PAY A LOT MORE BACK than West Coast Bass is planning to do. I guess we’ll see how it goes……

Furthermore, our decision had nothing to do with weighing 1 fish verses 5 fish or said staffing requirements. In a big fish contest, there is only a need to weigh 1 fish and not 5. We didn’t change our pro format, and these are simply events we added to try and fill the void for some after the pro-ams were canceled.

So, in a nutshell, we are offering two stand alone events that offer cash prizes and many opportunities for skilled anglers to cash a check. I think it provides a good opportunity to get out and fish. We look to be back on track in 2010. I hope this clarifies the situation. For those who still have questions, please feel free to contact me at (949) 366-0030.


Welcome to the WON BASS Big Bass Challenge.

The Big Bass Challenge is a two-day Pro-AAA style event with a twist that is sure to be exciting for all. Sporting an entry fee of $400 for the pro and $200 for the AAA angler, the big Bass Challenge will pay back to the top 20 big fish caught during the course of the tournament. Here is the best part. Instead of fishing for a full limit of fish at each of these venues, the Pro and AAA angler will be fishing as a team for a single big fish. Regardless of who catches the fish on the boat, both the Pro and AAA angler will get a check! Based upon a field of 150 anglers, the pro who catches the big fish of the event will bag a cool $14,0000 while his back seater will get $6,000 for that same fish! The 20th place Big Fish Pro will take home $1,000 while his partner will get $500. Full payback details are shown on the table below.

To add to the excitement, both the pro and AAA angler will have two shots to make it into the money as the payback is based upon the top 20 big fish. As such, you could easily catch a money fish on Saturday and go back out and catch a money fish on Sunday, picking up two checks at the awards ceremony. Add to this option money and the cash you take home could easily exceed the cash you would get from selling a prize boat!

Utilizing the existing WON BASS tournament rules, anglers will check in and be paired up with a partner for Saturday and a different partner for Sunday. Fishing a full 8-hour day, they will bring their single biggest fish to the scales. The top 20 fish of the tournament will receive checks and plaques for their catches. Regardless of the number of entries per event, we will pay back 20 places based proportionally based upon the number of entrants.

“While this is certainly a departure from the traditional WON BASS circuit, I think this is going to be an economical, fun event that will appeal to the hard core tournament and weekend team angler alikeâ€

[Scott Shambre]

It all sounds good UNTIL you had to attack WCB. People are going to WCB because of the format, not the payback!!!!!! Everybody understands the economic effect that has rippled from the top all the way to the angler. No one expects WCB to come out of the box and give anything close to 100% payback or even a boat for that matter. What the working angler is looking for is a class event held on a good fishery with a decent payback!!!!

The poll on the site doesn't lie, 89% of those participating in the poll reacted negatively to your decision.

Not the way you want to announce a MAJOR change in your organization!!!!!!

Hutch while I don't agree with you on many things, I respect you cause I know it is not an easy job you have, but this was a knee jerk reaction that is NOT supported by the anglers. Leave the format alone, reduce the Pro entry to $400 and the AAA to $150, restructure your payback and run with it. You would have seen good enough numbers to weather the economic storm. As it is now, put on a PFD and get to life raft, WON is a sinking ship and that last rat of gets holding the check.

[JRS]

sounds like fun.......like the entry cost........like the payback........if the dates work for me, I'll be there.......thanks for all your work on putting something together for us to fish. I'm sure you guys hated that it came down to this.

[Brian]

I kinda like the format Scott. Both anglers fishing for ONE fish. Hmmmm It might work. And so what if he bashed WCB. Everybody bashes everybody in this place. It is called tough love. LOL

[Scott Shambre]

Then it is no longer a Pro/Am....where does the AM learn anything except sitting in the back watching himself get front ended. This format will drive the AAA's out to the other options out there. I only mention WCB because it would have been the only real competition for the demographic these org's are targetting.

[JRS]

there are other pro/ams out there still. wcb isn't the only option.

[some guy]

Gold jacket , Green jacket who gives a $#@%

[Scott Shambre]

True, but there are a group of guys that would have stuck with WON thru this and now the WCB format and payback will be the closest thing they have to turn to.

WON just added 30-40 boats to WCB's turnout

[Bill Hutcheson]

Scott,

I have never said this was a Pro-Am. We have cancelled all the Pro-Ams as I have stated in the previous post. These are two new, stand alone events. It is more like a Pro Team type event with a twist.

The anglers are fishing as a team, so I am not sure how the AAA is going to get back seated.

As far as factually pointing out WCB and paybacks, I don't understand how you can say this was a shot in the dark when literally every post made previously on our changes was comparing WON BASS to WCB. Likewise, it is O.K. for everyone to take a shot at me but I am not allowed to respond with fact?

Scott, let's not kid ourselves here. You run a competing team circuit and have not fished WON BASS in a few years, so I don't expect to win you over in any form or fashion on this forum. Likewise, I don't really expect you to sing the praises of WON BASS as such.

If the truth and facts I have laid out above don't explain it as clearly as it can be explained, I don't really know what else I can say. As such, this will be my last post on the subject. Any further discussion can be had by contacting me at my office number which is (949) 366-0030 ext 29.

Thanks for your time and consideration everyone.

Bill Hutcheson
WON BASS

[Rich hamilton]

wow lighten up

[Jim V.]

Well said.

[Robert F]

As far as factually pointing out WCB and paybacks, I don't understand how you can say this was a shot in the dark when literally every post made previously on our changes was comparing WON BASS to WCB. Likewise, it is O.K. for everyone to take a shot at me but I am not allowed to respond with fact?

True Dat. Nobody likes to hear their girlfriend is ugly.
I respect Bill for coming back to respond. I am sure he bit his lip for many days waiting to properly prepare this post. Good luck WON. Certainly seems you will have an uphill battle to turn this around.

Hope you can come back with something to push the Pro-Am game to a new level. If anything good comes of this I hope WON can be a little more forthright and timely with their major announcements. It would have been very easy to make the first announcement of this change when it was being prepared to go to the street.

Also taking a more humble route in responding to the "Bloviates" might have been better for business. After all, we are customers. At least in our eyes.

[Guest]

Bill,

I've stayed fairly quiet on this topic although I was planning on fishing the 2 Pro-Am events in the South after fishing the Havasu event in Oct. The last 2 years I have been trying follow in the same foot steps as Justin Lucas, Pat Dilling, etc in trying to become a "back deck pro" fishing primarily the traveling circuits. I've fished 6 of 8 FLW Series events, fishing all 4 Stren events this year, at least 2 FLW Series this year (possibly more), WON Bass Havasu this year and a local Pro-Am circuit in AZ called Monterey Bass Company (MBC) Pro-Am's all as a coangler.

Speaking from the guy in the back of the boat, I could care less if a boat is given away on the circuit or not and think that a +/-80% pay back is not that bad. I realize that putting on a tournament circuit is not something that can be done for free and requires a lot of work to be successful. I like fishing the big field events mainly because it's a real test of your skills on that lake in any condition.

What I don't like is the 1 fish per team rule. Essentially this sort of tournament on any body of water means that luck plays a lot more in the end results than skill. In a multi-day tournament being consistent and making less mistakes than the rest of the field is the difference between catching a check from the back or not.

What I would have preferred to see was a 1 fish rule per competitor so that it's in the best interest of the Pro to ensure his Am is catching fish or has an opportunity to catch fish. Pay outs would be for total weight combined for both the Pro and Am's fish, big fish for the Pro and big fish for the Am for the options. And each competitor's fish had to be caught on their own rod (i.e. make it illegal for a Pro to be fishing a rod, feel a bite or set the hook then hand it to the Am). If the Pro catches a bigger fish than what he has in the live well he can only cull his fish, not the co-anglers.

This way the co-angler feels like he is contributing to the day's catch and the two are working as a team. There is also incentive for the Pro to share information with this co-angler so that they both do well as a team. In my opinion this is really the only way you can attract both Pro's and Am's fishing a "Big Fish only" tournament.

Thanks again for all of your hard work and doing your best to keep WON Bass alive given the challenging economic times.

Vince Borrego

[Ron C]

This kind of response defines why we voted for OBAMA.

I guarantee you that I did not vote for Obama, Rich.

[Scott Shambre]

I have never said this was a Pro-Am. We have cancelled all the Pro-Ams as I have stated in the previous post. These are two new, stand alone events. It is more like a Pro Team type event with a twist.

Except the teammates are drawn and placed together the same as your Pro/Am's

The anglers are fishing as a team, so I am not sure how the AAA is going to get back seated.

There is no incentive for the Pro to "teach" the AAA anything. WON BASS used to be know as the breeding ground for young up and coming pros that worked their way thru the AAA ranks. You can't tell me in sight fishing deal like what Clear Lk. will be that some AAA's will get the shaft and not make a cast cause their "drawn" teammate for the day is focused on one fish instead of working a pattern to get them a good bag


As far as factually pointing out WCB and paybacks, I don't understand how you can say this was a shot in the dark when literally every post made previously on our changes was comparing WON BASS to WCB. Likewise, it is O.K. for everyone to take a shot at me but I am not allowed to respond with fact?

Thank you for stating my point, in that thread WON was compared to WCB because that was the direction the anglers would have rathered WONBASS went instead of the direction you took. If you had kept the format and made the entry & payback adjustments, you would still have a following that understands the effect of the economy on your organization. Instead WON told the anglers that there are other circuits to spend your money on that have the format you want.


Scott, let's not kid ourselves here. You run a competing team circuit and have not fished WON BASS in a few years, so I don't expect to win you over in any form or fashion on this forum. Likewise, I don't really expect you to sing the praises of WON BASS as such.

For a guy who preaches facts, you are seriously wrong here, my circuit closed up December of 2007 behind family issues and I was looking to come fish a solid, well based Pro/Am program that WON had. Your decision to move the Shasta event played well for me when the Stren at Oroville was cancelled. The events of the last week have pushed me away, because like alot of others that voiced our displeasure at your decision, you defended it by calling us "town criers" and " bloviates".

Expect what you want from me, Iam just a little guy here, but it was a bunch of us little guys that would have seen WON and you thru this storm. WON turned their back on us and told us that our opinions don't matter. At least Anglers Choice has an Angler Committee to discuss just such things.

[MARK D. INMAN]

Wow you only have to catch one good fish to win a touranment like this so what the problem with this format again ohhhhhh its the payback well again sign up 200 boats 400 anglers again if there options everybody gets in what the problem big pay day right there. Gezz that to simple.

[Guest]

There is no incentive for the Pro to "teach" the AAA anything. WON BASS used to be know as the breeding ground for young up and coming pros that worked their way thru the AAA ranks. You can't tell me in sight fishing deal like what Clear Lk. will be that some AAA's will get the shaft and not make a cast cause their "drawn" teammate for the day is focused on one fish instead of working a pattern to get them a good bag

As a AAA I agree 100% with Scott on the comment above. For those of us who are not local for these events or incur considerable fees in traveling to these events I don't feel like I'm going to learn anything with this sort of format.

For many of us it's not about the jackpot payout for 1st place. If that was the case I'd save the entry fee, time off work for prefish, travel expenses, etc and go to Las Vegas instead. At least in Las Vegas the dealer will offer to take half my money, step out back and kick me in the nuts instead.

[BassketCase]

Thanks Bill!

Though I still don't personally agree with the change, I really appreciate you attempting to clarify the thought process behind your decision.

As the saying goes "Don't knock it till you try it".

I guess I will just have to give it a shot and see how it works.

And if you don't feel like giving it a try, I am sure the WB Forums will let us all find out pretty quick how the front and back decks will be affected.

[mark poulson]

This kind of response defines why we voted for OBAMA.

I guarantee you that I did not vote for Obama, Rich.

But the majority of American voters did.
At this point, whether we voted for him or not, we all better hope he gets it right and turns this economy around, or we're all screwed.
And that means getting behind him and supporting him, and, in that way, supporting America.
I don't think he's a saint, or that he knows everything, but, just like John McCain, Obama is a good man who loves his country enough to give up any private life for at least the next four years, and dedicate his life to the U.S., and us.

[Rich hamilton]

*NM*

[Phil]

Hutch;
I don't know why we all just don't live by your final comment every day and
just shut up and fish !

I am now in my 60's , retired on SS, I have all the orgs one time or another and have not yet bad mouthed one org or seen it done to the extent I have seen this year by fishermen and org to org . I did not like some I and did like some, I fished them because I love to fish and so I did. It seems all tournaments & Orgs have been basically the same (with few tweeks here and there). All take your money and if you do good, you get money back. I can not for the life of me figure out what all the bad mouthing of one org against another is all about. Its like Chevy against Ford ???Its all fishing, gambling my tax man calls it , etc.
Like you say Hutch; Just shut up and fish. That works for me ..

Thank you WON Bass for all your past tournaments, I have enjoyed them all !!! Lets see what 2009 brings ?? Jigs

[FATGUY]

thanks for the reply.. i really think the thing that will drive the most people away is the one fish limit.. everyone knows the aaa will spend a lot of time with nothing to do when the pro works a bed fish all day if he has to knowing he only needs one fish . its bad enough normally when they do that for a hour or more but at least then they realized they better go because they still should try for a five fish limit . and i have to agree as a aaa one of my objects was to learn and i believe won bass would have had less complaints and more participations if you just lowered the entry fees and payoffs some and kept the same format .. just my .02 from an old guy ..

[Ron C]

we all better hope he gets it right and turns this economy around, or we're all screwed.

We're all screwed, Mark.

Wish in one hand and spit into the other and see which one fills up first.

Oh, and by the way Mark - I absolutely, positively, undoubtedly, without any question whatsoever knew that you would be unable to refrain from responding to my post; which really wasn't about Obama at all. It was about being lumped into a "we" category that I am absolutely not in.

Ron C

[Bill Brown Jr.]

Hutch:

Thank you for taking the time to outline the business decisions of WON Bass.

I for one appreciate you taking the time to field the questions. I believe no matter what decision is made, someone will be upset with change.

Admittedly, I withdrew from fishing WON Bass this year as a AAA, not because of the payout, but because of the format change. My intent for 2009 was to fish (5) Pro/Am events and the US Open in order to put myself in a position to learn as many different techniques and bodies of water as possible.

Unfortunately the reduction in the number of events and the single fish format does not work for me this year. I will still send in my entry for the US Open.

WON Bass is a good organization that has fallen upon challenging times, and change is often a tough pill for for people to swallow. That is why some anglers choke when fishing conditions change. They fail to notice or react in a positive manner to the change.

If WON Bass determines it is best to return to a Pro/Am format for 2010, believe me, my entry form will be one of the first you receive.

Agian, Thank you Hutch.

[bassman619]

I put money down for the DVL pro/am, how do I get my refund....

I have to say I'm extremely disappointed with the change in format and I will not be fishing WON until it is returned to the original PRO/AM format. Good luck

[Steve]

Bill:

With the change in format you clearly have lost a percentage of fishermen. However, you also have drawn interest from a whole different crowd. I like the change and it fits into my style of fishing.

I dont see how this new format would screw the backseater, as many have suggested. Since each pair weighs the same fish its in the so called "Pros" best interest to make sure the backseater is contributing. Not only that, there are a bunch of excellent big bass fishermen both on Clear Lake and the Delta, and many of them will be backseaters. Many of them likely will have something to teach the Pro.

Just the way I see it.

[FATGUY]

steve i think you missed my point about being a back seater when you say " they both get the weight" so as an am i should be happy just sitting back there doing nothing if i get the weight. i don't speak for any other aaa but myself but i would like to be fishing alot and catching one or two of the limit we weigh in .. also like others have said i'm there to learn . and what do i learn just because i get the weight.also i know alot of guys won't admit it but there is some pride oor something to be going to the weigh in and being able to show you had the skill to catch five.. like i've heard many pros say payoff should be because of skill not just when some old guy like me happens to drop a senko behind a pipe and catches momma the odds of some guy winning by luck is a lot more than if you nedd 10 fish ( five each day) to win ??? just an old guys .02

[Rod Martin]

I like the new format. Would love to see a big fish guy work his magic. and maybe contribute. I hav'nt fished WON before but if time allows I would and will fish these.

[Rick G]

Hutch and the folks at WON are working with the cards they have been dealt. We should all be glad they even want to stick with Bassfishing in Calif. in its present state of condition. They will be back. Give them some time. Rick G.

[RMARX]

What Ron said about Obama +1

[Hollywood]

+1

It all sounds good UNTIL you had to attack WCB. People are going to WCB because of the format, not the payback!!!!!! Everybody understands the economic effect that has rippled from the top all the way to the angler. No one expects WCB to come out of the box and give anything close to 100% payback or even a boat for that matter. What the working angler is looking for is a class event held on a good fishery with a decent payback!!!!
The poll on the site doesn't lie, 89% of those participating in the poll reacted negatively to your decision.

Not the way you want to announce a MAJOR change in your organization!!!!!!

Hutch while I don't agree with you on many things, I respect you cause I know it is not an easy job you have, but this was a knee jerk reaction that is NOT supported by the anglers. Leave the format alone, reduce the Pro entry to $400 and the AAA to $150, restructure your payback and run with it. You would have seen good enough numbers to weather the economic storm. As it is now, put on a PFD and get to life raft, WON is a sinking ship and that last rat of gets holding the check.

[jrbasspro]

Hutch

Very Well Said !!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck with new format

[mark poulson]

we all better hope he gets it right and turns this economy around, or we're all screwed.

We're all screwed, Mark.

Wish in one hand and spit into the other and see which one fills up first.

Oh, and by the way Mark - I absolutely, positively, undoubtedly, without any question whatsoever knew that you would be unable to refrain from responding to my post; which really wasn't about Obama at all. It was about being lumped into a "we" category that I am absolutely not in.

Ron C

Ron,
This is how we keep in touch.
Mark

[Jeff Augustyn]

Rick G. said it best. WON BASS isn't the only one out there that is facing a restructure, they are the first. Just wait. Others will eventually follow or fold. Money just ain't there for a lot of folks and companies. The jig is up & the games of easy money are over. It's reality chack time, like it or not.
When I fished as a AAA, I caught some big a-- fish from the back. I sure helped some of my pros & learned something (good or bad) from all of them.
The one fish deal is kinda different & look at it this way. You can hopefully be upgrading all day ! As a AAA, sure you are there to learn, as I did. Good tourneys & bad tourneys. Sure you want to contribute. How is the new format stopping you? Fish harder & fish smarter. Get a grip those of you complaining. It's like Rick said, you are lucky WON didn't just say.."It's Over". Fish WON or fish somone else's circuit or just fish for fun..get on with life man!! Hutch..peace!

[jeff bradshaw]

Jeff you definataly caught some big a-- fish from the back of my boat a few years ago!!

[CN]

Be glad they are offering something.

I run a Business and it's Hell right now.If you can break even your doing good and to operate in the black is well.....darn good.

I think you guy's are kicking them to the curb to quick and should support them as you have in the past.

Mike

[Gary Dobyns]

Good, well worded response, Bill. You are in a tough place with the economy and being a tournament director. In Bill's defense, he is part of a "team" and some of the decisions may not be all "his". It is his job to proceed with them.

I still believe WON could of come up with better "decisions". The problem is the "guys" making the decisions are not tournament anglers. Tournament anglers do not want a one fish "luck" event. A few do, but MOST do not.

An advisory group of anglers could of really helped here.

ATTN: Won Bass. Your customers are telling you they do NOT like your decision. Should you revisit your decision? We all have pride and I'm sure on paper these made sense at the time, but ?????

Many anglers are tossing the whole curcuit aside already, including Shasta. This should be a Spotted Bass HAWG FEST!!

What has happened to our circuits? Wonbass, WCB, and FLW are making bad decisions. Many of them are "no brainers to FISHERMEN". If the PAA gets their act together, things could really change for the anglers.

Looking forward to roasting my butt at the US Open. Glad no change was made here.

[keithcant]

Being considered--due to the rising costs of tournament expenses--W.O.N. may incorporate a 'popcorn toss' for carp accuracy and distance to be formulated into the number of limit bass caught-further coupled w/ weight.

Hope is that this may attract an outside sponsorship from the corn belt----3rd Grandson of Orville Redenbocker will be signing autographs.

This is not so farfetched based on the decision making over the last 4-5 yrs.
(Ask the various tournament support staff who previously had been there from the start)

Bad decisionmakers deserve no 'arse' kissing.

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE SINGLE FISH IN THE LIVEWELL!!!

[russ@russmeyer1.com]

AMEN

[M. Warner]

hutch I will be there in 2010 if you are. I like fishing won bass, and I have never had a bad experience with them. the best thing about the won bass circuit is that I dont need to take a week off work and i can afford the entries and the lakes are close. hope to see you in 2010 won bass.

[Scott Shambre]

Actually it would have been worth spending one day at the San Mateo ISE and one day at the Sacto. ISE walking around, spending time talking to people that would have made this decision more of an informed one.

There are alot of guys that have already bailed on the Shasta event just 'cause of the change to the rest of the season.

[Ricky-S]

Great post Gary!

I agree completely and could not have said it better!

[frank]

With the constant questions on the forums about swimbaits and how to catch that one kicker or fish of a life time I do not see how anyone can say that they would not learn anything.

There are questions all the time that start out with "I can catch many 2-4 pound fish but I never catch anything bigger. What should I..."

There is even one for Dobyns on the front page.

So are you guys saying that an am will not learn anything when he is with a pro targeting the biggest fish in the lake?

There are many pros I would love to just watch and see what they would do if they had 20 pounds worth of clones in the livewell and need one big bite to have a chance to win.

Do they keep doing what they are doing or do they switch up and throw a big bait. Do they move shallower or deeper.

What do the true big bass hunters do in differnt conditions? It is a chance for a differnt breed of bass fisherman to learn, our next generation of trophy hunter. Most guys are so tight lipped that it is difficult to find out the little secrets that make them successful. With money on the line they are going to pull out all the stops. Ams will learn a ton if they pay attention to the details.

For many guys going a few trips without a fish or even a bite because they are hunting a trophy is acceptable Others, such as myself, need to pick up a worm and find a point every once in a while because they just love to catch fish.

I am not supporting the decisions WON has made but I think people a being a little harsh about the decision. Look at the success the HBC has enjoyed.

The HBC got people to travel and sit in a boat to observe for free. No chance to win a tourney, money, or even fish. These people traveled to watch other people fish. I can see how giving the guy in the backseat a chance to fish could seem like a good idea in a brain staroming session.

Just my .02

[FATGUY]

frank i think you hit the problem on the nose when you said you'd be happy TO WATCH . not many aaa i don't think would be happy to pay all expenses that are incured so that they could
watch JUST MY .02

[Scott Shambre]

We'll see how enthused you are when your Pro tells you to sit down and NOT fish 'cause he is working a BIG bed fish and if you so much as move it'll spook. Could you PAY the entry and sit and possibly not fish for and hour or two?

[phishenphool]

I like the new format change and it actually makes me want to fish more tournaments. Depending on the dates I anticipate that I will fish one or more of these events. Who doesn't like catching big fish? And it pays top for the 20 fish...sounds like a blast.

[kb]

I have to agree with Gary D here and with the cutbacks and limited marketing money we will see more changes in the upcoming seasons. I understand that Nitro has cut WON Bass back several boats but I am still blown away that with the support we had in the North last year they would make this kind of decision. Yes it is true that WON isn't pulling 180 to 200 boats but they did pull over 100 boats to each of the three Northern Pro Ams with over 130 at Clear Lake and this was all without a Western Classic to qualify for.

One of the things that have not been talked about is not only WON Bass our oldest Pro Am circuit here in the West it is one of the only ones that offer any kind of media coverage that you can show to sponsors and with today's cutbacks that is more important than ever. Even if you are not winning there are opportunities with profiles and how to articles in both WON Bass and Western Outdoors.

FLW has a good publication and webpage but unless you are sponsor compliant you will not see one bit of coverage and if you win it will be very limited. It is there checkerboard so you have to play by their rules and when we all sign up we are aware of it. I will still be at several of the FLW events in the West this year but I don't like the fact that their schedule selection is gonna make it hard to travel and practice. I am not sure if they are even aware of it but FLW National Guard at Havasu is on top of Spring Break (great scenery but damn), Travel to Stren and plan on prefishing prior to the Thursday start and you are gonna be on the road on Easter, Oroville change will have you practicing on Mothers Day and the Delta practice period for the Stren series will be a fun filled weekend on the Delta during Memorial Day Weekend....I guess the fourth of July was booked!!!!!!

I understand the difficult situation that Hutch was faced with but I agree that a visit to the shows, a trip up to meet with a few of the guys up north, a tournament advisory committee may have been a good idea and time well spent for WON. I have to wonder if the remaining sponsors of WON Bass were informed and brought into the decision making process of the new format. Only Hutch and Chuck know for sure. I am sure that Hutch is just the messanger and unlike many of the guys running tournaments he is not the owner of Western Outdoor News he is just an employee and doing a job, I am sure that especially today many of you have to carry out decision that are not your idea but we know what runs down hill.

There is still some time and maybe just maybe WON can look at their decision and see if that is really the best way to go. If they think it is then they have their doors open and will have to see if the customers walk thru the door.

I was hopeful to fish the WON events again this year and am not sure if the big bass events will get me to fish. I like alot of guys think that both of these events will be a bed fishing deal and like my late friend John McRae once told Byron Velvick and I a bed fishng pro am as a nonboater was alot like watching a porno, you knew somebody was having fun but it wasn't you!!!!!

I do find it humorous that many of you took offense to the terms that Hutch used in his post, cmon I know I have been called worse by a few of you guys complaining in the LL!!!!!!

Good Luck to Hutch and WON Bass I still think they could have made a better decision, Bill Taylor at FLW Outdoors needs a calendar that lists all the holidays before we are at a FLW event at Christmas (I can see it now Taylor shows up and says "wow they put up all these lights for us that looks really nice........and a tree too"). Good Luck to Viviano and the WCB return, Larry has a knack for vision and his Classics were always the best.

Despite all of it just fish something, fish somewhere, buy some tackle, break something so you have to pay to get it repaired, drop by your local boat shop and buy some oil and look at a new boat, ya never know one might fit your butt and you will have to take it home.

Maybe Hutch has it right after all.....Shut up and fish!!!!!!! Well at least fish something...

kb

[FATGUY]

problem is that payoff for top 20 fish is based on 150 boats. what do you think the odds are of 150 boats ?? maccain had a better chance than that . did they ever say the ratio would be.?? what if they had 50 boats ??? i don'tknow does anyone ??

[Robert F]

By the standard WON formula they will pay 6 places Bob. 20 in 150 is One in 7.5. They round down so 45-52 boats will pay 6 places.

[frank]

Wow, it is amazing how people like to just pull one piece of a post and find something to argue about. My point was that if ams paid attention they could learn something. Now could there be situations that would have an AM sitting in the boat and not fishing for am hour or two while a pro worked a big bed fish. Sure. Could that happen in the old format, hell ya.

I had it happen to me. In a shared weight event (and it was a WON event) I had a pro sit there and work a big bed fish for about an hour before he caught it. I payed attention to what he did, how the fish reacted, how he positioned his boat, you know all the little things that can make the diference between catching the fish and never getting it to touch a lure. It was like having a personal on the water seminar. That was my point Scott. That it is possible to learn, it is just another skill set. Instead of looking for the negative points in the situation I took the opportunity to learn and bocome a better angler, and I cashed a good check due to that bed fish.

And my other point was that many people signed up as observers for the HBC with no chance to even fish. Would these people pay to have the chance to fish, some would.

So Scott, go get a cup of coffee, find the one thing you want to argue about in this post and go to town with out even paying attention to the overall theme and purpose of the post.

I look forward to your response.

And on a side note, I said I that I was not defending the decision of WON on the format change. In fact I feel that it was a bad decision, I just can see where they came from and the reasons behind the decision. Could they have done a better job, you bet. But for guys to say what they have and to bash an organization that I my opinion has been good to the fishing community for decades is a little harsh.