Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!

[WON BASSIN]

I just don't get it!

The question is at the end of the year..... Where's the Beef?

One Org... takes to long to provide your winning boat. Invites anglers to the TOC or TOC's who don't fit their rules. Then has a rule that says never mind our other rule.

Another Org... Tells you or allows you to believe all year your going to fish for a boat, then just puts up a dollar amount, that can't even buy half a boat!

I know one thing is for sure. Nobody is giving away boats (5) and reserve money and sponsors product at the year end like Won Bass. The choice should be easy in 2012. Make it!

[Rick G]

My guess Bill is that each org has developed its own following and those customers are "comfortable" no matter what the situations are. We all just need to try and take our own little piece of the "Pie" and make it the best there is. Keep up the good work with WON and I hope you have a better 2012. Rick G.

[tylerhogan]

Really looking forward to fishing the Inland Empire region with WON this year. Hopefully I can attend some pro ams as well as a AAA.

[Topwater Terry]

True Billy, never understood someone being allowed to fish for a boat who did not even qualify to fish for it!

[fishinman]

whats the southern ca schedule and where is the toc?

[619]

It's all about customer service.....

[Brian Linehan]

Bill, I think any organization that won't publicly post their team paybacks shouldn't be pointing the finger and playing the holier than thou card. The numbers speak for themselves.

[gixxer464]

Bill, I think any organization that won't publicly post their team paybacks shouldn't be pointing the finger and playing the holier than thou card. The numbers speak for themselves.

NICE + 1

[elfish16]

me being a tournament angler and fishing most the circuits out here in So Cal, I plain and simple want to know my boat, money, engine, or whatever it is will be taken care of ASAP. Plain and simple. Whether that be by certificate or in person...I don't want to have to wait months on end to receive it or proceed with getting it. PERIOD!

[WON BASSIN]

Brian,

You and I have always been friends and neutral, as we are both guys that like to fish. Your now straddling the fence with two different circuits, and my guess is that the "BIG NEWS" that Lynn mentioned in her post is that AC and NBW are going to join forces in one manner or another, since AC needs the support in the South regions. Whatever the outcome, I am sure it is for the best! As you know, it was our former Tournament Director who choose to raise the TD take from $15 per boat to $30, as you were one of the directors during that time. We have been working very hard in the last year to change that and hire the best TD's around to run and promote our circuits from within. The TD take at our regions is now at $20 per boat, which only helps with the payouts, and was done to show the anglers that we do care. It just gets old hearing all the circuits say "We have the BEST PAYOUT"S in the market, when it is just not true. There is no circuit out there that has 4 boats at the year end championships, plus the reserve money, plus the 100% options, and the sponsors product that WON BASS holds in reserve. Let alone the great prize items that are in-store for our AOY's at this years TOC. Out TOC is a "FREE" entry event. It's just a PLAIN FACT!

As for the individual posts regarding the payouts at each event. WON'T is not exactly the case and I know you are aware of that, as many of the TD's have posted their individual paybacks on posts or threads. It's not rocket science, as our payouts are pretty transparent. Besides, the anglers that are there know what the payouts are, and the anglers that cut a check definitely know what they are walking away with.

In case you all need a clear understanding of our payout structure, here it is!

Won Bass Teams Payouts!

Membership $45 - Includes all team tournaments and Pr/Am's - 52 weeks of Western Outdoor News

Entry is $150 per boat
Lake/Permit/Insurance $15 per boat to WON - Which we actually pay for and don't get as a sponsorship deal.

That's $165 for total entry, without options. Of that we keep $15 per entry for reserve fund at our year end TOC event. There are no longer any regions that have two boats comped as staff, and most are asking their staff to at least pay for the payout portion at the least, so that the payouts are not effected by comp boats.

Options are always, and have always been 100%.

Holier than thou... Really? Just trying to clear the air and give the anglers the information they deserve. Bottom line is the anglers are going to choose the circuit or circuits they trust, and our job as circuits is to gain that trust and give them what they deserve and follow through with those statements PERIOD!

[Brian Linehan]

Thanks for the response Bill. Your assumptions couldn't be any farther from the truth actually. I almost called you the other day to let you know that your post was unprofessional and uncalled for but I figured that the 1000 views without responses pretty much clarified that.

Like you said, we are both fisherman, but unlike you, I don't make my living running bass derbies. I choose to help NBW because they are great people. If you are tired of hearing that they have the best paybacks, then change your payback to match them. NBW has the best payback period. There is no smoke and mirrors.

As far as postng paybacks, all fishermen want to see the payback. Even if I don't fish ABA, I always like to see what people win and I know I'm not alone.

This isn't personal Bill, but I have to call BS when I see it. If beating your chest makes you feel better, then go for it. However, crossing the line and taking shots at everyone else only makes you look insecure and caddy.

Brian

[gixxer464]

If WON does have the best payout, why not post them for everyone to see. How about a little more transparency. So according to Bill, I now have to attend every WON tournament to know what the payouts were. Get real. Unlike you Bill, im not here to bash any org. because I fish them all. Starting this post was very petty of you Bill.

[WON BASSIN]

So be it Brian,

I would not call it beating my chest as you put it. Rather clearing the air, because no one else will bring it up. Again, with the boats and the sponsors prizes and the reserve fund, your comment regarding NBW payouts just does not fit. The only reason they beat us by any percentage is because they do most of the events themselves, and have you to help where they can't. Won has boats certs at our year end events, which the anglers can walk away at the event, and not at some later date. When you add the additional value of the boats to the year end payouts, your statement is no longer true.

If my assumption was wrong about NBW and AC, then it would not be the first time I was wrong about my gut instincts.

As for the payouts on the forums and posts.... Consider it done! We have nothing to hide, hence the purpose of my response.

[WON BASSIN]

gixxer464....

If you read my posts... No where in those posts or any posts do I or did I say we have the best payouts. We don't need to say it! I'm glad you fish them all, If I was not running Won Bass I would probably do the same thing. Our tournaments and our staff speak for themselves. End of discussion. I have two year end tournaments to finalize, and this is not how my time is best suited!

[Rick G]

Like I said earlier, just make your piece of the pie the best. But Art Bailey hit it right on the head that customer service is a huge deal. But take away all the emotion of who loves who and for the betterment of this sport, none of the Org's should ever advertise that they have boats to give away and they dont. And if they do, give all the paperwork to the winners on the spot, so they can claim their prize in a reasonable time. None of this "its in the mail baloney", or we are waiting for the paperwork, or you need to call the rep. You have an entire tournament season to get the paperwork TCO. So do it! If you as an Org. are lucky enough in this economy to actually have a Boat/Motor sponsor then go ahead and promote it. If you dont, then dont mislead the anglers on your website to make it look like you do. We as Anglers, are looking for just some simple things, a schedule we can count on, a fair payback, a good tournament experience from the staff and a good TOC where we get what is promised. Seems pretty simple to me. Rick G.

[tbob]

Rick

What the heck makes you such an authority on bass boats? As you say, your just a team angler...

Good luck with the huge BASS A THON this year.. I can't believe that all-star lineup you have planned with Dance, Clunn, etc..

And you have your own in-house star in your son Kyle, who got 2nd place at our WON BASS Mead ProAm last week. Your on a role and I hope you sell 20 boats this year at BAT, and you just might with all the speacial deals and financing you have this year. This will be the bass tackle & boat show of the year, so everyone be sure to show up.

Bob Twilegar

[fishinman]

All I can say is the S#$%T hit the FAN SLOOSSH SPAT. That aside I as an angler know times have gotten somewhat tougher with a lot happening on a constant basis. I'd love to have a new side scanning, down scan hi def meter in color with 10 new st croix or g loomis high end rods with 5 shimanio stellas and 5 chronarch mg 50 version b. but I just can't afford it. I'd like to fish all the circuits but I can't afford it. I'll just spend what I have when I have it where I please. Thank You. Word of Mouth is better than All the hype in the world! I have fished all the circuits out here through the years and have had good and not so good experiences with all, but the people always flock to where they think their being treated the best, end of story. You can offer value and sensibility with a service oriented business plan and still be left scratching your head that's the business world.

[619]

I sat down one day and brainstormed with two respected tournament fisherman/TD's we wrote down the positives and the negatives of the most popular circuit in socal, Guess what we found. The positives where so overwhelming. Actually only had one negative. That was no Boat for TOC. The TOC is only part of the big picture.

Here are some of my thoughts.

Tournament Directors: Only have TD that have passion for the Job. Not just a warm body who's intentions are to get free entry fee's/Advertising. Not that a person wouldn't be hungry and do a good job for those perks but need to make sure customers are taken care of.

I fished one tournament last year where my money was gone before the derby started. Boat starting position held in morning by poker chip in bucket. (no Good) TD allowed the only angler that I was worried woould go to a spot on the lake that I was fishing to see in the bucket when drawing chip. (not intentionally) But he drew number one out and went to that spot, Guess what. This customer is done with that circuit. Yeah I know I should have adjusted and fished other area' ect. Blah Blah Blah
We did but the only reason we gave this tournament a shot at our business was the spot we found. BTW. They only had twelve boats.

Initiative for the customer: For example but not limited to this. Set up a pop up for a drive in through weigh in. I hate the fact that my fish are weighed on the dock bouncing around, with the chance of them falling in the water during weigh in. Let alone inaccurate readings on the scale. Point here is take care of the customer. We all can see the lack of initiative at the events. No computer to enter results for faster check line. Slow take off with staff not in place or trained to do job. Again a warm body to just get job done.

Rules are Rules, It is the Tournament organization responsibility to police our events. If a mistake was made then fix it. Polygraph testing is a must. If someone brakes a rule then there should be no gray area. DQ. Happens alot where rules are not enforced and that customer who protested is unhappy.

Talking about TOC's. You either Qualified or you didn't qualify to be there. To have a Drawing to award a spot is BS. I will not go. To start calling people down the list of Anglers who didn't fish the three required pro Am's to just try and get bodies is no good. If you own the organization you should not Fish the tournaments. YOU EITHER QUALIFIED or you didn't. I won't participate in an organization that allows someone to fish against me that didn't have to put in the same amount of money I did. BTW none of this is an issue untill that person wins. NO GOOD. Kills participation

Here is what I here,, If ABA, WON, AC, had the same amount of Anglers as NBW at so and so tournament then we would have paid out more. Well, wake up and smell the coffee There is a reason why there isn't the participation. But what do i know. I'm the customer. Time to do some brainstorming

With work and family I have to choose what circuit I fish. Can't do them all anymore. So I pick the Circuit that Draws the most in my area for the better payback. I like all the circuits and would fish them all if I could. Just my two cents...Art Bailey

[doug77]

Amount won($ amount) should always be visable next to the anglers place finish

[Tobey]

[quote="619Tournament Directors: Only have TD that have passion for the Job. Not just a warm body who's intentions are to get free entry fee's/Advertising. Not that a person wouldn't be hungry and do a good job for those perks but need to make sure customers are taken care of.[/quote]


I would have to say that this quote fits Mr. Egan to a tee... I was thoroughly impressed with Billy (and the rest of the team) at this years Clearlake Pro/Am tournament from the promotion of the event all the way through to the customer support two weeks after the event.

Not only did he call me, and many others, before the event to try and get as many participants as possible but he also called me a couple times well after the event to make sure that I was taken care of as I had a small issue with one of the sponsor products I received (the issue was minor and was resolved quickly). That is passion and dedication if you ask me.

The Clearlake tournament was one of the best run tournaments I have fished and the payout seemed very good to me (better than most). It was well run from start to finish with one of the better awards ceramonies that I can remember. If you haven't fished a tournament run by Mr. Egan you should definitely give it a try...you won't be disappointed.

Ron Tobey

[619]

Sorry let me clarify here... My point was and is not about Billy. From what I hear he has done a great job with WON and the pro am numbers are coming back due to his hard work. He is not just a warm body filling in. My point was for the team local TD's and making sure they are taking care of there customers. If we want more boats at our events it starts at the grass roots or deck plates if you are Navy. LOL

If not just keep on with status quo and watch your deal dissapear.

[manas_bass]

As for the payouts on the forums and posts.... Consider it done! We have nothing to hide, hence the purpose of my response.

So where is the payouts for the TOC. It's been a week and I think everyone has been patiently waiting. We had a good time at the TOC, but have to say that it doesn't say much for your organization when a week later, the paybacks still are not listed.

Also, how do you get off pointing fingers at NBW and AC claiming that they are into bait and switch when you did just that? When I heard that you didn't give AOY certs to all of those who won their regions, I couldnt believe it. Two of my close friends (Kyle Grover and Will Rakowitz) and every other team that won AOY expected to get free entries, and they all got hosed. That's what I strive for every year so I can win the free entries and you guys took that away without telling anyone. Thats bait and switch.

I reely do hate to get involved and hardly ever post, but you and your org are no better than anyone else so dont point fingers.

Manas

[gixxer464]

As for the payouts on the forums and posts.... Consider it done! We have nothing to hide, hence the purpose of my response.

So where is the payouts for the TOC. It's been a week and I think everyone has been patiently waiting. We had a good time at the TOC, but have to say that it doesn't say much for your organization when a week later, the paybacks still are not listed.

Also, how do you get off pointing fingers at NBW and AC claiming that they are into bait and switch when you did just that? When I heard that you didn't give AOY certs to all of those who won their regions, I couldnt believe it. Two of my close friends (Kyle Grover and Will Rakowitz) and every other team that won AOY expected to get free entries, and they all got hosed. That's what I strive for every year so I can win the free entries and you guys took that away without telling anyone. Thats bait and switch.

I reely do hate to get involved and hardly ever post, but you and your org are no better than anyone else so dont point fingers.

Manas

Dont hold your breath Manas. I highly doubt that WON is going to post their payouts. Thanks for the update about the bait and switch pulled by WON on the AOYs. I doubt I will be fishing any of their tournaments this year.

[tbob]

The winnings from the WON BASS teams Championship are up on the WON BASS team Tri-States results page. It only includes the cash and two boats. Here is a direct link:
http://www.wonbass.com/archives/2011/te ... final.html

As was stated on the top of the page we did have computer issues at the Tri-States, and even what is now up is not from our normal WON BASS teams computer program. Sorry for the delay, for those that wanted to see our Tri-States payback. It was a great event this year with 91 boats competing for over $67,000+ just from the cash and 2 boats awarded.

There was also a ton of other prizes, such as trolling motors, electronics, and Seaguar Flourocarbon and lures for everyone who showed up. We had a great meal at the Paso Robles fairgrounds catered by Big Bubba's Bad BBQ ( a big thanks ) and it seemed like most everyone thought it was a great event. Here is a link to a story by Brad Schweit on the WONEWS.com website:
https://www.wonews.com/Blog.aspx?ID=1522

[Rich hamilton]

Bill,

You make some good points but I am going to fish what I can fit into my schedule and continue to support WON as well. Any organization that can keep their head above water in these tough economic times has to be doing something correctly. We need to support each other while we still have a sport left