WON BASS - ABA Off limits position

[Bill Hutcheson]

Hello All,

Without question, the subject of off-limits has been burning up this forum for the past several weeks.

I can personally tell you that all of the tournament directors have taken notice and this had lead to many exchanges, some very spirited, among all of the organizations. Part of the reason that no official decision has been made is due to the fact that we have all been trying to make a decision that will be best for all.

The truth of the matter is that regardless of what position we take, there will be some anglers who will be upset with the outcome. This is an unfortunate part of large group dynamics. If we were concerned about popularity, I can assure all of you that this would not be our choice of careers.

After careful consideration, Dave Plotnik and Craig Sutherland of ABA and myself have concluded that this is predominately a Southern California issue. Our initial thought was to keep the status quo. However, we have also recognized that change is sometimes good and have strived to listen to our anglers wishes.

As such, both ABA and WON BASS will be adopting a Monday - Friday off limits period for Southern California. This will effect lakes south of the grapevine, including Piru, Pyramid, and Cachuma, inland empire lakes such as Perris and DVL, and the San Diego region lakes. This will not however include the Colorado River chain of lakes or any events in Nevada or Arizona.

This off limits period will become effective at the beginning of the 2006-07 tournament season and will be included in the official tournament rules of each of our organizations. Enforcement criteria will also be included.

Our organizations hope that this new off limits period will find favor with those who have supported this and become accepted by those who have been impartial to such a ruling. Both ABA and WON BASS look forward to your participation in the 2006-07 year.

Bill Hutcheson - WON BASS
Dave Plotnik - ABA

[Brian Linehan]

Great news! Thank you for listening to the guys. We appreciate it!

[Kevin]

Thank you 100% BASS, ABA, and WON BASS! Great job Brian and thanks to all the guys who voted and posted on this forum.

[TZ]

I think most guys will be happy with this change.

[Eric Wong]

Thanks to the organizations for listening!! Thanks to Brian Linehan as well.

Eric

[Ron T.]

Come on Anglers Choice and National Bass !

[one fish wonder]

Let's stick with the orgs. that stick with us.

[swimb8]

So since Casitas is north of the grapevine we're in the clear! See its a win-win situation. I dont fish berbies where i cant catch a fish bigger than ten.

[Ron T.]

Hey Swimb8 , Acording to my GPS if you put your curser on Castaic you can see Casitas is actually farther south . Sorry dude . Cachuma may be borderline .

[Guy Williams]

Thank you Bill, Dave and Craig!! As an angler that supports organazations that supports anglers(sounds weird) I have to say this is a major step in seeing myself fishing WON and ABA next year. Cowboy Billy and low talker better be ready for Team Dead Money to show up next year!
Guy Williams
P.S. Do I feel like an *** for what I said about WON! That's ok, I'm man enough to say," I WAS WRONG"! Thanks again Hutch.

[swimb8]

yeah, yeah, yeah.... Either way it doesnt matter to me. Ill just save money. Besides you'll see that the same people will still win and the fishing will be the same. The same people have been winning for years. Stump, Brakebill, Rodino, Newman, Bailey, Kerr, The Grovers, Hart, Siemental and many others that i cant think of. Dont see it changing when people cant practice. But hey its something we'll all have to deal with so we will. Fishing is all about adapting and that i will do. good luck next year to all!

[bill ponting]

WELL SAID! This is a hobby at best. Enjoy not being able to fish if you get a afternoon off. SUCKERRRRRRRRSSSSS!

[sniper]

We all will adapt, as we have for twenty years. Personally, if I was the guy that couldn't get a couple of days off a month to pre-fish a friday before an important tournament, I wouldn't be spending my time and energy on a silly forum poll, I would be spending my time and energy on looking for another job..............

So much for hard work paying off, may the luckiest guy win.........

[Pete Marino]

a Cracker *** Cracker...........

Well we will have to make a decision as to what circuit you and I are gonna give it hell in. Either is fine with me. But we'll be stopping that "donating" talk.

Good job at Casitas Cracker. You and the Swamp donkey tore it up.
By the way, I have a new name for for......Hey Kool Aid!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Pete

[bill ponting]

HEY Pete did you vote for off limits?

[Brian Linehan]

Pete voted for bottomless fishing. He likes his junk to sway in the breeze.

[Pete Marino]

You freakin kill me Brian. How'd ya know????? Theres nothing like a cool breeze on the bean bag while fishing on a nice spring day. At least thats what Jeff Taibi told me.

No Bill I actually voted to keep it the same with NO OFF LIMITS. Dont get me wrong, I agree it will make the fishing better with less presure. The problem I have is there is no way to police the offlimits. With less tournament guys on the water it allows the piece of crap cheaters to come out in a boat that isnt theirs and cage fish or at least prefish. I hate the thought of that.
I just hope that it doesnt happen very much, but I'm afraid it will. Then we will here that they didnt know it changed. I say NO WARNINGS for the dumbasses. They get caught prefishing, the are DQ'd....period!!!!
I am looking forward to fishing lakes with less presure though, that will be nice.


Pete

[Bill Hutcheson]

Hey Pete,

Everyone who fishes a WON BASS event has to become a WON BASS member, at which time they are given a copy of our rules. Additionally, each seasons updated rules appear on our website prior to the beginning of the team circuits in October.

I can assure you that anyone who is caught and it can be 100% verified will be DQ'd. We will not fall for the "I didn't know" excuse. Try that with the Highway Patrol next time you get pulled over. They don't give a damn whether you know the California Vehicle Code or not - it's press hard 3 copies time!

Also thanks Guy for the good words. I'll see you all at DVL for the WON BASS night tournament on August 12th (wish I was fishing!)

Bill Hutcheson
WON BASS

[Dave Wilson]

Whether 'tis right or wrong with no pre- fish, I think it's great that two
organizations listened to the majority of their anglers. I agree with Mr.
Bailey that the same guys are likely winners- that's the way it works in any sport. I vow to spend the same amount at casitas cafe as before to help out financially.

[Ray L.]

The guys who have fished for long enough remember the days of off limits. For you young free wheeling in the wind guys this might be new to you and a problem. That is just too bad because you deal with the rules given and abide by them. We all have to deal with the same rules. It is not just meant for 1 or 2 guys who are able to fish all the time. The rules are meant for all who fish a particular org.
So quit crying and go fish.
I don't fish Casitas anyway because the lake is 1 heck of a drive for me to just go and fish a local team event.
You don't hear the guys who are planning on fishing the F.L.W. Series complaining about the off limits rules they have. You get 4 days to prefish and then the tournament. I know guys that fished the stren last season who practiced for 10 days straight.
I hope to see a lot of you at the F.L.W. Series next year because most of my money is going to fish those tournaments.

[Lance]

Hey Hutch,

When is the 07 scadully being posted on WON

L

[EP]

Guys always have an excuse why they didn't win. This whole discussion started because people were crying about someone else being able to spend more time on the water then they could Whats the excuse going to be next time Lets all welcome back the cheaters, because there coming

[swimb8]

Hey guys, Lets all vote on keeping everyone off the water. It should make it more fair when were not allowed to go to the lake. It makes it easier to catch fish right ?

[bill ponting]

We can go HOOK less.

[EP]

Well said Swimb8

[Guy Williams]

I can't talk about other lakes but at DV a guy on the sheriff boat will help with the CF #'s fishing durring the week before any of my tournaments. Thank's Team Jail Bait!
Guy Williams

[bill ponting]

I wonder if the DUCK boat number's will be the same.

[Guy Williams]

That's cool too. He's been to at least 2 weigh in's already looking at faces. It don't take long to remember faces! He'll be at all of the weigh in's for this month except for the 12th. I'll show him around!
Guy Williams

[bill ponting]

That's cool. Pete will have to take his makeup off.

[swimb8]

Now im cheater for thinking its a joke. Sweet, i love the internet. . I dont mean to offend anyone. In my opinion you guys screwed up. It doesnt bother me i work during the week, but i do get as much time off as needed for derbies and it sucks ill have to work more. Like i said before ill save money. I dont understand the cheater aspect because im not sure what went down before. I started fishing tournies the last year of no prefish. I can tell you that my bro will be at Casitas at least 3 days during the week so he'll be on the look out for any tournament goers. Im sure he's seen most of the faces around and wouldnt hesitate to call them out if caught. Im over this whole deal and am watching the angels whoop some booty so ill see everyone at the lake.

[Guy Williams]

Swimb8, I don't think you cheat! You and your bro are great fishermen, no need to cheat. If nothing else this off limits stuff will make the good anglers better! Talent has one equal, that's time on the water! You can't get better if you don't fish hard for longer right. How will the weaker anglers get better? They have to fish when we are not. So in the long run you might win more, unless you reley on pre-fishing. I'm pre-fishing before the JT Tackle tournaments but only think it has helped me get back into what Casitas was all about before the lake got low. Other than that I fish mostly the same areas I used to. Remember too, if you can't fish a certain lake because of a tournament you can always go to another lake and become a better all around angler by fishing something different than what you normally fish. Go Angels!
Guy Williams

[Brian Linehan]

Eric, I started the thread and I know you know me well enough to know that I'm the last guy who's going to make an excuse for not winning and to punish those guys who spend more time on the water than me. Like a lot of other guys like the Grovers, Siemental, Hart, Jay Poore, Dennis Taylor, Mike Brakebill, Mike Long, and many more, I can take off whenever I want during the week. With names like those, we're not talking about a bunch of whiners. Anyways, I respect your opinion Eric, but the guys who didn't agree with it never spoke up so I don't feel sorry for them. Anyways, I hope to see you at DVL for the WON night tournament. It should be a blast. Talk to you there. Brian

[Lance]

Hey Paul, theres no way you cheat, your tan is to good

[EP]

Brian, you know that I have total respect for you as a fisherman and a person. You and your brother Kevin have shown nothing but class to me and everyone that fishes a tourney that your in. With that said (written) I moved 400 miles to get closer to the bigger bodys of water and expand my knowledge and try to become a better fisherman. In twenty minutes I could be fishin the Delta. I have a job that when work runs out, I go fishin. If this off limits spreads to the North (Northwest post, Why not North?). it takes away the flexability of when I get to fish. Wish I could make the WON DVL but I will be fishin a twelve hour night tourney on Amador. Good luck in the tourney Brian, Hope I didnt offend anyone with my prior post.