WCB Pro-Am entry fees lowered!

[theviv]

The West Coast Bass participation obviously is not any where it needs to be to grow the circuit. The feed back that I am getting is that the economy is the primary reason. By a show of hands at Oroville we dropped the entry fees to a more reasonable rate to attract more fishermen. Effective immediately the entry fees will drop to $230.00 for the non-boater and $430.00 for the Boater. An option pool of $50.00 for the non-boater and $100.00 for the boater will be available for those that can afford to play for more. The intention is to get back to the higher fees once the economy gets better and the fishermen are ready for the change. The next event will be at New Melones April 25-26, 2009 more information is available on the web site westcoastbass.net. along with coverage of the past events. Pictures of the Oroville event will be posted later today along with the stats already available. Want to help? If you are considering fishing New Melones please get your deposit or entry fee in early it helps with those boat count guys who set back before entering.
The Oroville TV coverage will be airing on Angler West TV Comcast Sportsnet. It will air in the next two or three weeks as soon as we know for sure it will be announced on the web site westcoatsbass.net and posted on this web site as well. We have also added exposure in Bass Anglers Guide Magazine now with a pictorial article in the next available issue by Mark Lassagne. You can also tune into the Bob Simms show on KFBK 1530 am to listen to an interview with Richard Dobyns the Oroville winner this coming Saturday morning.

[Fast 492]

Wise choice given the circumstances, good luck to you Larry and your crew, my daughter says thank you for the tip (she helped hand out your weigh bags)... Jason Bubier

[Hollywood]

I thought we all agreed on what Mike Tuck suggested: ??

$430 pro (no options)
$200 Co-Angler (no options)

I know it is not much different and options are just that but who likes to enter something if they can't get in everything?


Kevin Johnson

[Saechao]

i was sitting right behind you kevin.
i heard the same exact thing 430/200

[snapitoff2002]

Now we can afford more jigs... right?

[Hollywood]

i was sitting right behind you kevin.
i heard the same exact thing 430/200

I was gonna say, I know I wasn't hearing things.

$430 +$100 option = $530 (all you did was lower the entry by $110)

$230 + $50 option = $280 (all you did was lower the entry by $60)


Kevin Johnson

[Jon]

Its lower isn't it?

[Hollywood]

Its lower isn't it?

Lower yes, but it is not what we all agreed upon.

[biteme]

Its lower isn't it?

Lower yes, but it is not what we all agreed upon.

Yeah everyone seemed to side with Tucks idea.

[Brian Ruthman]

I was there and i heard everyone agree on Mike Tucks idea of a flat fee of like $400 Pro and $200 Am entry , and Larry said Maybe he would add in another option for the guys who want to win more , that was a possibility , he also said the $30 on top of the entry for big fish . I know myself i said along time ago if i cant get into it all for a tourney then i wouldnt fish it . I personally like to keep it all simple Flat fee of like $400 for the Pro and $200 Am and that includes big fish . I also wouldnt be opposed to keeping the $640 Pro entry but pay down the field a little more and im sure that would get more guys fishing , if they got something back . After listening to Larry talk it seems to me he has genuine intentions of making this circuit really good where anglers can get some good TV exposure also Bass Anglers Guide is going to do some stories , what more could you ask for ?, It will take some time for the numbers to grow , but im sure they will . Myself i enjoyed fishing the last tourney , even though i didnt do so well on the last day and got a hook in the finger . But i got to meet two nice guys and have a fun day out there trying to win the tourney so it was worth it to me . Im going to fish some more of them .

[Hollywood]

I agree Brian about Larry wanting to bring this to the next level for us in the west but he needs the support. Just seems with the options added in the entry didn't go down all that much. Might as well kept it where it was at, I am like you, if it stayed at $640 I was fine but to get more people involved it needed to be lower.

And your not the only one Brian who wont fish it if they can't get in everything.

I was there and i heard everyone agree on Mike Tucks idea of a flat fee of like $400 Pro and $200 Am entry , and Larry said Maybe he would add in another option for the guys who want to win more , that was a possibility , he also said the $30 on top of the entry for big fish . I know myself i said along time ago if i cant get into it all for a tourney then i wouldnt fish it . I personally like to keep it all simple Flat fee of like $400 for the Pro and $200 Am and that includes big fish . I also wouldnt be opposed to keeping the $640 Pro entry but pay down the field a little more and im sure that would get more guys fishing , if they got something back . After listening to Larry talk it seems to me he has genuine intentions of making this circuit really good where anglers can get some good TV exposure also Bass Anglers Guide is going to do some stories , what more could you ask for ?, It will take some time for the numbers to grow , but im sure they will . Myself i enjoyed fishing the last tourney , even though i didnt do so well on the last day and got a hook in the finger . But i got to meet two nice guys and have a fun day out there trying to win the tourney so it was worth it to me . Im going to fish some more of them .

[theviv]

I would prefer no options as well it is allot of extra work at the last minute when we are doing the final calculations. Also it is extra checks that slow up the awards. The guys that did not want to lower the fees wanted the options but I am still open. Thought it might be the best of both worlds. I am still open to a $230 and $430 fee it puts everybody in the big fish option and I like that for ease of calculations on paid participants for bystanders and contestants. Multiply the number of entrants and you will know how much money is in the big fish option pool. I will double check with the advisory board on the extra option issue. You are right though so far all the contestants that have entered have got in the option even on the non-boater side.
Viv

[Stretch1]

Hey Viv...i think $430 and $230 is fine...cheap easy and fun...

[cleb19]

I agree 430.00, 230.00 would get a lot more participation. My .02


chad

[Phil]

VIV;
Is the $ 30.00 the big fish pool ?? Just curious ??

I may fish as a am ??

JIGS

[Jeff]

Larry

Great Idea!!!!!!
I haven't fished one of your events (yet) but WCB is thinking what is best for the sport and the fisherman in these times. Some of the others should also do the same thing and they would would have more people fishing . Thanks

Jeff

[theviv]

Need more input! The WCB advisory board guys still think that an option pool is the best of both worlds. The $230 non boater and $430 entry fees seem to be universally accepted. That includes everyone in the big fish option. Since the next event is coming up fast- New Melones April 25-26 we need to get this behind us and we appreciate the input so please give us your opinion popular or not. The suggestion on the table is if we have an option it should be $25 for the non-boater and $50 for the boater. Pay 5 places equally 20% of the option for the boater and non-boater options. Yes or No on this option suggestion? We are not going to please everybody but I am determined to please the majority. Feel free to email me direct theviv2@gmail.com or reply here.
Thanks Viv

[Hollywood]

I would say no on the options. I can afford them but many people will not fish if they can't afford to enter everything.

Stren Series entry for a co-angler is $325

If you do a $230 + $50 option you are only $45 less than a Stren Series event. In this economy people especially co-anglers are going to pick and choose events and at $45 more to fish an FLW event is very attractive for them to go elsewhere.

Just my .02$

[Phil]

I STILL BELIEVE IN THIS ECONOMY, $ 400 AND $ 200 IS BEST. EVEN I STATED I WOULD LIKE TO FISH, BUT THE ECONOMY AND BEING RETIRED FORCES ME NOT TO FISH. LICENSE FEE JUST WENT UP $ 100 FOR DMV, WATER BILL GOING UP, PG&E BILL IS ALMOST $ 40.00 HIGHER THIS YEAR. I SEE GAS GOING UP UP UP AGAIN...........SALES TAX TOOK GIANT JUMP NOT JUST 1/4 PERCENT THIS TIME BUT LARGE JUMP................SO MY VOTE IS KEEP IT LOW FOR THOSE THAT CAN AFFORD TO FISH $$$ ON THE FENCE ABOUT $$$...........................JUST MY .02 WORTH OF IT.


JIGS

[Gary Dobyns]

Good points Hollywood.

There is a percentage of anglers that feel if they cannot be in the options, they should not fish. Also, when entry fees are talked about, the option pots are added in and creating a "higher" entry. One of the things that has helped the Stren field numbers is a FLAT entry fee. Much less confusing and everyone is paying the same. Also, in the past some circuits "STEAL" half of the "options paid back at 100% pot".

Option pots should be listed for all to see, this will help a bunch or a flat entry fee. I think that was the vote at Oroville by all the guys in the event.

[kb]

I commend Viv for lowering his entry fees to attract more of the guys on the fence. A flat entry fee where guys know what it is going to be all year is the way to go. Too many options make it confusing and delay the awards.

The problem with getting the vote from the 25 guys that were there is you aren't trying to attract them to the tournament they are already supporting the event you are looking to attract the 75 or so that aren't there. Figure out how to get them and you got it.

Here is the big problem that none of the organizations have addressed. This is the first weekend since February 21st that we don't have a pro am going on. WON Bass, WCB, Anglers Choice, FLW Sten, FLW National Guard. How many of you can fish pro-ams for 8 consecutive weeks/weekends?

Buy the advisory committee a calendar there is a bigger picture than the $70 in options. I think that all the organizations that have an advisory group should have a link on their webpage to who those guys are and an email (not a phone number) so they can be contacted to answer questions and input and everyone will know who those guys are.

kb

[Ricky-S]

Great Point KB. We have 3-4 orgs all trying to jam pack tournaments during the same time of year. Spread things out like Nov and Dec or even summer time events.

While I'll agree that you cannot make everyone happy, I do agree that we need a weekend pro/am event that attracts new people to the sport.

When I started fishing pro/ams the entry was $350 for pro and 150 for a co. I think that 400 is a good price point without any options.

[theviv]

Good point Kent...Allot going in tight times! Well I have had a dozen or so emails and by the responses here you can probably quess that No Options is the majority opinion. The West Coast Bass Pro-am entry fees will be $230.00 for the non-boater and $430.00 for the boater big fish pool included but no options available. New Melones should be a great event we have the Angels Inn as the host hotel and Glory Hole for Launch and Weigh-In. If you intend on fishing you can help by signing up as early as possible to encourage the last minute boat count guys to jump in.
Please help spread the word on the new entry fee structure for West Coast Bass Pro-Ams. Thank you all for your interest and input,
Hope to see you at Melones April 25-26.
Viv