100% BASS - Note to Everyone in Southern California

[Guest]

I just returned from a long trip to SoCal to Pull Permits for 100% BASS's Kick off season in 2007. Our Schedules are now posted on the 100% BASS website(www.100percentbass.com). I would just like to say thanks to all my competition who were at the JAMBOREE. I think you treated me respect and while business is business, I appreciate the warm welcome I recieved from most. 100% BASS is looking forward to 2007 and would ask any angler who is interested to please call and lets get aquainted. Our home number is 530-274-1397 and it is available 7 days a week. If I'm not home, leave a message and I will return your call, ASAP. To those who have posted a few questions, here is some of the answers. We are proud to be a BASSCAT sponsored tournament trail and strive to achieve the same goals as BASSCAT. they have been voted by JD POWERS as the number one boat company in bass fishing and 100% BASS will try to live up to that award as well. We will be giving away a fully rigged 20 foot BASSCAT/MERCURY package at our TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP this year and into the future. As to where our TOC is held. We rotate our event between the 4 major regions in NOCAL each year.(Northern, wine, delta & Mother lode). We do not announce its location until MAY each year thereby eliminating those guys who only want to cherry pick a trail when the TOC is on their home waters. the 2006 TOC is on the DELTA so I say for sure that 2007 wont be there. It will be in one of the other regions. Also, it is our goal to have a separate TOC for the SOCAL regions in place by 2009. We just need to build all the regions over a couple of years and then it will happen. Another question is about our payback. We are the only Team Trail on the west coast that pays back 100% of all entry fees and options at every event of every region during the season. We are the only trail to EVER have winners paybacks over $5000 and $6000 for regular season team events. Check out our website for further info in this area. I am looking forward to meeting new people from these new regions and hope you all have a great summer and fall of tournament fishing. thanks

Bob "Korny" Kornhauser
Owner 100% BASS

[Brian Linehan]

Hey Bob, are you going to have an off-limits period? Thanks.

[swimb8]

Hope not...

[Donny]

Hey bob are you going to do the PRO/AM thing down her in so cal to. that would be off the hook and i will fish them all just a hint LOL

[Guest]

Thanks to everyone for asking.....
No Pro-Am's... Unfortunately they have not worked very well so we will be not be doing 1 day Pro/Am's down south. No plans for a 2 day as of now. OFF LIMITS... the hot topic in your area. After meeting with many of the Tournament Orgs at the Jamboree last friday, It was my understanding that most of them do not want an off limits. Since I went into it with an open mind, 100% BASS will not have an off limits either, keeping with the majority of others. I feel they know the local market place better than I.

Bob

[Mike Meier]

[quote="korny"]OFF LIMITS... the hot topic in your area. After meeting with many of the Tournament Orgs at the Jamboree last friday, It was my understanding that most of them do not want an off limits. Since I went into it with an open mind, 100% BASS will not have an off limits either, keeping with the majority of others. I feel they know the local market place better than I.

Am I missing something? There was a poll just done on this web site by Brian L. and out of approx. 125 people that voted, 80% of them wanted the off-limits brought back. So why is it that the fisherman (women) are asking for off-limits but the tournament orgs do not want an off-limits?

There was alot of talk about how the fishing would be better at the events due to the fact that the fish would not be getting beat up all week. Or someone going and beating up somebodys water the day before. And maybe even bigger turn outs.

I don't get it.

Mike Meier

[Lance]

Its Evenrude math 20% > 80%

[Kevin]

Hey Mike, I think the decision has yet to be made regarding the off limits period. In order for it to work, all the organizations would have to be on the same page and maybe that's what is taking so long to settle. But I'm also assuming that this issue was discussed as a topic during the Jamboree. Who knows! In time, we'll all know. With the overwhelming endorsement to reinstate an off limits period, I'd be amazed if our cries fall on deaf ears.

[Hollywood]

Just curious how you all expect this to be enforced? Are you going to just trust that people will follow this rule? They don't follow the no wake zones, 5mph rules and many others and you expect them to stay off the water? remember where there is money there is always someone looking for an edge and maybe it will be someone in the circuit you fish using a different boat.

Then again nobody will be able to catch him, why? because you all should not be on the water.....

And 80% out of 125 wanted off limits back? What about the other couple of hundred who don't read this board and I am sure it is more than that....

Just pondering....

Hey Mike, I think the decision has yet to be made regarding the off limits period. In order for it to work, all the organizations would have to be on the same page and maybe that's what is taking so long to settle. But I'm also assuming that this issue was discussed as a topic during the Jamboree. Who knows! In time, we'll all know. With the overwhelming endorsement to reinstate an off limits period, I'd be amazed if our cries fall on deaf ears.

[Brian Linehan]

Kevin, please tell me what enforcement has to do with this issue? How do they enforce whether or not teams meet on the water and combine limits? How do they enforce whether or not teams hide live bait in the rod lockers? How do they enforce when teams drop cages? How do they enforce anything? Guess what, they don't. So what's the difference? Other than a half-assed livewell check, they don't enforce anything.

Enforcement is a non-issue. It would be one thing if the orgs spent a lot of time and effort enforcing the rules and looking for violations, but they don't. There has to be a level of trust amongst competitors.

Before all of us freak out and start pointing fingers, we need to give the orgs a chance to let us know where they stand. However, if enforecement is a reason why they decide to not change, we have all been duped.

Brian

[Scott Shambre]

There were over 7000 (between the northern & southern boards) hits to Brian's original posts making it one of the most popular posts EVER on WesternBass in the 9 years I've been around here. Having said that, there were ONLY a total of about 240 votes statewide in regards to reinstateing an offlimits. I'm sorry to say, but 3.3% of the people in this particular poll was not going to be enough for the org's to make a change such as this. 3.3% is NOT the MAJORITY and that is the number the org's were looking at in this particular poll. Most org's looked at that 3.3% and asked themselves, "how many of that 3.3% fish my circuit, OR even fish tournaments at all?" After seeing that 3.3% drop even lower as a results of answering that question, the response was predictable.

At the northern jamboree, the topic wasn't brought up as a group discussion, unless two org's got together on their own to discuss it, but anything more than that was non-existent. From what I hear about the southern jamboree, there was some discussion, but most org's were not going to touch it because they felt there there was no need at this time or they couldn't agree on a standard off limits period that wouldn't screw everyone.

This was a noble idea and it has some merit for reinstatement, but I think that it is a casualty of no single org. wanting to step out on their own with the chance of getting it chopped off.

Scott Shambre

[C J]

I respectfully disagree that 3.3% voting is a small number. I know I've hit that post 30+ times myself, but could only vote once. That alone can skew the percentages. There are many people who are not online who Brian has reached out to in order to inform what he is discussing, and most support him.

The biggest thing the poll and post can show you is how many veteran anglers support Brian's idea. These are people who have been in the sport for many years and have weathered all kinds of scandals and setbacks with orgs and individual teams that could have discredited and destroyed our sport all together. However, it is these anglers who stuck with it that make up the backbone of our local sport. Their opinions are very valuable, as they were there when there was 80 boats and are here now that there are 30 boats. I think the org that steps up to the off-limits standard will gain a huge following, especailly if the others sit on their hands and play politics.

As far as enforcement goes, if you are worried about other teams cheating on off limits, how do you feel they cheat now? Trading fish with other teams, caging fish, hiding live bait in coffee thermoses, casting into restricted areas, snagging fish: there are plenty of ways to cheat now which have little chance of policeing.

An off limits policy will not create cheaters, it will only give those who chose to cheat another way to try to beat the system. Unfortunately we have had instances of cheating come to the surface in recent history that prove not all play by the rules. I say burn them at the stake for all to see, and leave the honest anglers with an off limts period.

[CharlieS.]

Scott,I agree numbers dont lie,however they dont always tell truth,lol... How many by your stats actually want it to remain the same? About 20% of those that want it changed. It doesnt seem logical to take the hits as the commom denominator to me. It was a question,with two opposite answers. Who knows? It does seem idealistic that if a majority wants something it should lean that way. You probably know alot more about the goings on than I do , so unless its a case of the political " we know whats best for them,they dont" I would assume some sort of change is in order..Charlie

[Scott Shambre]

[mark poulson]

It seems to me policing would be relatively simple. Cash a check, take a polygraph. The whole point of cheating is to cash a check. If they can't cash a check even when they're cheating, who cares.

[Scott Shambre]

at the same time I think the process was a little flawed. This issue needed to be brought up back in February so EVERY single TD in every single region could poll the anglers in their respective regions. A count of the guys actually out there beating the water every tournament. That 3.3% would be alot higher just based on what Brian was able to do here in a short time. Unfortunately, to hit the Org's this late in the game (schedule making time) and to expect them to all agree and accept the same concept in unreasonable. This might be a topic that will gain speed during the season and for next year who knows, but for now I think things will be staus quo for the 2006-07 season.

Scott Shambre

[BigJeff]

And team tournaments will still have low draws for events with the status quo, especially as more of the anglers focus on bigger prizes, FLW Series and Stren Series events.

[C J]

The org that puts an off limts up will get a windfall of support ESPECIALLY if the others do nothing. As far as it being political, it absolutely is. Like you said, perhaps no org wants to take a stand alone with a "different" policy. Sounds like following a party line to me.

[Ron C]

...here (again) is a portion of my reply to your "Off-limits update" post of 7-20-06:

Your efforts in this matter are greatly appreciated Brian...
...but please understand that this topic is not an agenda item for the DFG Jamboree. Any discussion about it (between the tournament organizations) will have to take place subsequent to the Jamboree. The good news is that most (if not all) of them will be there and I believe that most of them will probably stick around to discuss it amongst themselves.

I ask that you and everyone else please keep an open mind about this issue and understand that things may or may not go as you want them to.

That being said, each tournament organization will (I assume) be announcing their respective decisions on this topic when they post or announce their rules for the new season.

As a tournament director and the one responsible for rule enforcement within my region, the inability to enforce an off-limits period is of a much greater concern to me than you are giving credence to (perhaps as a result of my chosen profession). Although you are correct about cheaters being willing to cheat - regardless of the format, I feel that your comparison of enforcing an off-limits period to enforcing things such as concealing and using live bait or a team handing off fish to another team is a bit unfair. We, as tournament directors, do everything in our power to prevent such things from occurring. We (or at least I do) conduct thorough boat inspections prior to launch and we (ditto) have staff teams on the water to try to prevent (or deter) such violations from occurring. (I must say that intentionally snagging fish is a much greater concern of mine than passing off fish). Granted my staff teams cannot be everywhere at once, nor are they able to watch everyone at all times, but at least they are out there and all of the competitors know it. But when it comes to enforcing an off-limits period, I will make no bones about the fact that there is absolutely no one at the venue to deter an off-limits period violation.

You passion for this topic has been (and still is) very admirable and has only added to your personal credibility and integrity; both as and angler and as my friend. This will not change when the respective tournament organizations announce their rules for the upcoming season. But just as it is with any poll or any election, the results are not always to our liking or our beliefs - But life goes on.

I can only repeat a quote from my good friend John Barron: "It's just fishing Man."

[Scott Shambre]

From a TD's point of view this is headache that I can't enforce and can't address properly if it is protested.

I, nor my staff, can be at the lake everyday 1-week prior to all of my events. Therefore, how can I adequetely enforce an off-limits rule. Also, if any team that protested stating that another team violated the off-limits, how do they know for sure? And WHAT WERE THEY DOING AT THE LAKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE ALLEGED VIOLATION????

Mark Poulson brought up about just giving them a polygraph and the truth will be known. To have a certified technician come out and conduct a polygraph runs from about $400-$700 in my neck of the woods and I'm pretty sure there are no price breaks in SoCal. A certified tech is the only way that a polygraph can be done to be able to stand up to the tournament org not being sued over a $1500-$2000 check. I don't think Ron, Bill or WON would want to foot that polygraph fee for every date they have scheduled, I know I won't UNLESS THE CIRCUMSTANCE IS SO DIRE THAT I AM LEFT WITH NO CHOICE!!!! I'm also not going to pull that fee out of the anglers pockets every event because of the backlash that would cause. Hense the quandry we're in, it is a no-win situation for the org's and the TD's that work for them.

Scott Shambre

[Dewayne]

There are and always have been a very vocal group in favor of off limits. You put up a pole and they will vote. Some are people who fish tournaments and are sure they get beat because someone else gets to fish more often. Some are people who do not fish tournaments and would just like to see fewer people on the water. Circuits have to base the decision on feedback from their customers and potential customers. If one organization does an off limits the rest of the circuits will watch to see what happens to their participation. If it surges, then others may follow.

Too many times though a circuit finds that those who used one issue as an excuse not to fish just find another excuse when you solve one of their issues. You can never resolve all the excuses.

For me personally, I could care less. I have done well with almost no pre-fish, and tanked tournaments with a lot of pre-fish. My belief is no off-limits is better because it allows someone who is willing to work hard to learn the opportunity. After all, a sport should reward those who work the hardest.

Bob and the people of 100% Bass put on a great set of tournaments. They have always listened to their anglers and taken more action than any other circuit to provide for fair competition. Choose not to support them and you will be loosing out.

Anyway, we do have a circuit with an off-limits next year. With the big vote for an off-limits I guess we will see full fields in the National Guard circuit. Or are there more excuses?

[C J]

The voices heard here are not those of malcontents who can't wait to bitch about every little thing. These are people who see a need for something to improve the sport in their eyes. Don't discount them as whiners.

I had chance to talk with Ron with WON, Bob with 100% and Mike M with ABA at the south jamboree and know that all understand where this movement is coming from; people who care.

[Eric Wong]

... however, I still side with Brian on this one. Let's look at it from a different angle.

I really believe that 99% of the team anglers are honest when it comes to the rules. So if an off-limits period is re-instated, virtually everyone will abide by it. So right off the bat, there is only a very small percentage of anglers to worry about policing. But let's go on to analyze the other 1% ...

Of that 1%, a small percentage will cheat in whatever fashion to take our money. Off-limits periods are irrelevant here, since they will cheat irregardless. Pre-fishing during an off-limits has a very low percentage for payback, compared to caging fish, snagging, etc.

The remainder of that 1% are the ones to worry about with off-limits. These guys walk the integrity line, where they usually abide by the rules, but may do something if they think they can get away with it. In other words, they may take a chance. So let's address how we approach these guys:

1) Again, this is a very low percentage of anglers to worry about. And even if they are on the water during off-limits, that doesn't guarantee that they will take our money.

2) Not all anglers fish the same circuits. For example, there may be ABA team anglers fun-fishing on the water during off-limits period of a WON tournament. Most of us recognize others, so there is some self-policing going on.

3) Here is the most powerful deterrent. Anyone who really wants to fish tournaments into the future and be accepted in this tight bass fishing community will abide by the rules purely to avoid being austricized by everyone. Look at the Heigls, for example. Their family name has been dragged through the mud and they can likely no longer show their face in public. Same for the guys who cheated at Castaic and snagged at Casitas. They are DONE!! They can hardly participate in the sport that they loved so much.

Most of these guys who walk the line still want to be accepted in the bass fishing community. Most of their friends are other bass fishermen. I don't believe that they will take the chance of being banned and shunned by their friends/peers, just so they can pre-fish during the week.

* * * *

I know that my argument isn't fullproof, and has holes in it. But to me, there is such a small percentage of infraction that worring about policing it shouldn't be a major concern. If 99% of the anglers respect the off-limits, I believe that the playing field will be leveled enough so everyone has a shot to win.

Eric

[Kevin]

Dewayne, I am excited 100% Bass is coming down here and am pleased that Bob listens to what the anglers want. If all the circuits we have down here choose to disregard the off limits period, 100% could quickly become the biggest, most supported circuit.[/quote]

[Lance]

That was going to be my next question. What orgs are supporting the off limits and who isn't? Me personally, I will fish WON Pro-am in the hopes that the Pro gets a chance to pre-fish (I will certainly try as-well) but for local tourneys I will only fish orgs that dont stack the cards for the lucky few.

I am a bit disappointed as to where this thread ended up, because it doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at the general mood of this post and figure out that the fortunate 20% who have more personal time available, kept the rule as it is. I also have a hard time believing Scott Shambre's stats aren't skewed to his preference and that somehow all of the Pro Pre-fishing crowd just sat on the side and refused to vote. I cant tell you any race, presidential, running, golf, Tour de france etc. where leader with a 80% lead ends up losing, but it seems to be happening here.

Where can I find out which organizations support Off Limits and which don't, since I would rather spend my hard earned money on an organization that respects those, whose need to make a living prevents them from pre-fishing with the fortunate few.

Lance Karafelas

[Lil T]

Enforcement seems to be the common argument so far in this debate, but rules and laws for that matter are seldom enforced via a perfect system. Perhaps because of my chosen profession (hi Ron) I can see a simple way to enforce a rule like this one. Scott mentions above that no one has time to be at the lake every day to keep track of cheating anglers, but cops dont watch every 7-11 for robbers every day either. You only have to catch one or two guys prefishing against the rules and publicly flog them (to mean banishment, exile, etc) before the others might decide the consequences outweigh the rewards of such behavior. Thus random, unpublished and unpredictable checks of the lake by tournament officials or volunteers might be deterrent enough. Especially if it is known that the officials or their agents can't be identified in advance.
Additionally, the statement by someone above dismissing the people who want off limits as unwilling to put in the work was tremendously unfair. Many of the people enjoying this sport have to report to a real job to pay the mortgage and participate in these events, and that comment disrespected those who work hard to obtain the standard of lliving that allows them to pursue hobbies like bass fishing in their off hours. Seeking a way to level the playing field for those not fortunate enough to be retired or independently wealthy is the sportsmanlike thing to do.

[Guest]

I have stated publicly that 100% BASS will go the way of the majority since it is my opinion they know the So Cal market better than I. My question to eveyone is this. What do you want for an off limits? If it is monday thru friday or even monday thru thursday, then you just ruined the ability to compete for anyone who works all or part of a weekend and their days off are during the week. they cant prefish if weekdays are off limits. If you say they can prefish the week before on their days off then you just penalized them by three or so days, prefishing further away from tournament day than those who prefish on weekends. during most of the year, patterns change in less than a week, much less 10 days in advance. I dont have all the answers, but it seems when you try to stop one group from fishing, it creates a burdon on others. Please concider this. Who are you trying to stop from prefishing. The experenced angler who can make adjustment faster on tournament day and will still get a check regardless of prefish during the week( proven out by days gone by when we had off limits) or someone you simply thing you cant compete with. Up here, Steve Sapp wins more DELTA events than everyone else combined, and I rarely here any complaints about prefish. Why, he was winning when we had off limits and he is still winning.

Bob "Korny" Kornhauser
Owner 100% BASS

[CharlieS.]

I imagine the most will ask for mon thru fri off limits. We wil see,seems to be the hot subject at the moment still. True, the good sticks will still be the favorites as well they should. I dont think its "parady" people want, just to know that some teams havent "camped" out the last 3 to 4 days. It be interesting to see what and when this plays out. But, if people want events with more participation,and from what Ive seen , lowering the fees wont work (was tried last year with no success) hafta make some changes (tweaking) and see what happens. Charlie

[Lil T]

Hi Korny, lets just say I am a fairly objective observer here, since I rarely compete, but I read alot and know several people who compete, including my husband. I think the problem here is one of perception over substance, but among humans, perceptions make the world go 'round. If you had an off limits for just 2- 3 days prior to the event, it would give the fish a rest and give the perception of a more level playing field that might please the majority of local anglers. It would allow the greatest flexibility for those with week days off (most everyone would be able to fish within a week of the shut down and within 10 days of the tourney.)
You are right there will always be people who rise above the others, conditions notwithstanding, a fact I think everyone here understands. If you golf against Tiger Woods you can only hope he is having an off day if you wish to compete, even if you are a top seeded golfer. Like I said, it is more about perceptions and making the average guy feel that he has a fair shot at the title. Anyway, thats my 2 cents. Thanks for listening.

[Kevin]

Lil T, I couldn't have said it better myself.