Just an “Ideaâ€

[Marty]

You know what stinks at tournaments? 5th flight, 5 dinks, and no food!
You know what stinks, Standing in line, having a bag a kid can pick up, and seeing everyone eating!
You know what stinks, Calling out your name, Calling your weight out, and telling you that you do better tomorrow!


I don’t know if some of you guys have been through this but I have a number of times.

Here is something that some of you guys have been through. I was at the supermarket the other day to pickup a few items that the little lady wanted (something I don’t do very regularly – I will tell you guys how to get out of it – but that is a different story). Well as I was walking to the registers to pay I see all of these lines of shopper waiting to pay (it looked just like a weigh-in at tournament time – Big Carts full and me with 5 small items). Then I glance to my left and there is this line with only a few people in it – Holy macaroni – I better make my move before the others see it. I get in this line with only two shopper head of me – I look around and wonder why others are not heading this way! Then I see the sign that states “Express Laneâ€

[Rick G]

Pretty good idea. Most T/D's do not have the extra scales and manpower though, so the Org's will have to step up and supply them the stuff. Keep thinkin. Rick G.

[DanWarme]

Good Idea. Only problem is one of consistancy. Different scales mean different readings. Or perhaps more accurately, the chance of different readings.

Bass fishermen being what they are, sooner or later someone is gonna have a hissy fit because they lost AOY standings because someone's bag was weighed on a different scale at one tournament and "they know their bag weighed more that day than so and so...."

Everyone weighing on the same scale puts an end to that argument. (luckily, bassfishermen being what they are, can still find plenty of other things to grouse about.) LOL!

[William Pointing]

Great Idea, but as a TD, How would I ever be able to make fun of your team?

[Darkman]

The idea is good, but I agree with Dan, there is always going to be a Fatty crying about it...

not to mention the extra cost of another scale (don't know what they cost to buy and maintain IE:calibrate)

but the fact that your on the ball to better improve weigh ins

Well done

[DanWarme]

As a TD, surely you would have a microphone handy. Directing the crowd's attention to the line on the otherside of the parking lot, behind the outhouse, under the bleachers, with the sign saying "losers weigh in here" should be a breeze.

Any other comments would be up to you. Just hold 'em back when I weigh in. I've heard enough already in my career.

[Darkman]

As a TD, surely you would have a microphone handy. Directing the crowd's attention to the line on the otherside of the parking lot, behind the outhouse, under the bleachers, with the sign saying "losers weigh in here" should be a breeze.

Any other comments would be up to you. Just hold 'em back when I weigh in. I've heard enough already in my career.

LMAO!!!!

[Kbeever]

The easiest way to avoid embarrassment is to dump your fish before you come in. That's what my partner and I did at the last night tournament at Diamond Valley. We kept two fish in the livewell for about six pounds and caught a few more "keeper" bass, but never put them in knowing that you need at least a 14 lb limit to get a check in this event. At the end of the evening, we still only have Frick and Frack in the livewell so we released them.

Dumping the fish not only saved us some heckling, but it also didn't waste the weighmasters time or the other anglers who were in contention.

The only reason to weigh in a small limit out of the money is if you are trying to qualify for a circuit fishoff, if not, it is just a waste of time.

[Bill Hutcheson]

This is a no win for me as a TD, so I'm not even sure why I want to pipe in on it. I guess I have yet to be kicked today so here it goes...

While on the surface this seems like a cool idea, I can think of a mryiad of reasons that it is not feasible. For starters, most organizations are not intersted in spending an additional $1-2K for extra scales, nor are they interested in pulling in and paying the extra manpower to run a set of scales.

Those who are operating scales with tournament Keeper programs running directly into one PC will have a heck of a time managing two seperate weigh-ins and getting out accurate results in a resonable amount of time.

Secondly, what about the fans? I'm sorry that you had a less than stellar day and as a TD, I do sincerely hope you do better the next day, but there are alot of people out there who want to see everyone weigh in so they can root for their favorite. Based upon this theory, I guess when a football team is out of it, we should only be viewing the winning team when they are on offense and not the team who is behind?

Additionally, let's say I am a big name pro who does not want to wait in line and wants to take my 25lb bag to the "express" line and quickly slink away so I don't have to face the microphone and devulge any potential secrets. Everyone will be deprived of seeing them weigh in.

Finally, most guys who are sponsored want to come up on the scales, wear thier colors, get thier pictures taken, all in the name of keeping thier faces out thier for thier sponsors. Regardless of 1 fish or 5, the sponsor is still getting thier logo up on the stage. I don't think they will be too happy if they are getting half the exposure due to an express line.

Ideas are always welcome and sometimes can bring about positive change. As TD's we listened to the off limits debate last year and changed for the anglers. It did not work out however and we are all back to the old system. Again, this seems as though it will speed things up, but I don't think that I am going to change based upon this one though.

Bill Hutcheson
WON BASS

[Vern]

I am like Hutch I wasn't going to pipe in but since he did I will also. Huych is 100% on the nose.
1 Cost to the Tournament Director
2 Two scales wonn't work because some one would complain the they don't weigh the same.
3 One line with 30 anglers and one with 3. I can see that now.
4 Lets touch on Hutch How many times have you heard Hutch say to the the Angler it was a tough day hope you do better tomorrow. And the next day you come in with a good bag and he compiments you on having a great day. I personally have had him do it for me. It makes you feel good that he cares enough about you to mention about your great come back. To me that is Real Class.
One of the reasons that weighins run so slow is because the angler is not prepaird. He dosn't have his big fish marked, He dosn't know his boat number, He is standing in line talking. They have to chase them down to give them their weigh slips.
If the anglers would just do these small things the weigh in would go a lot faster.

Also on Mead we as tournament directors have had to weigh each Small Mouth by itself.I am glad to announce that we know longer have to do that.
Hutch and WON Bass do the best job for the size tournaments that they run like the US Open I have seen. Vern

[Guest]

Great Post Vern and Hutch -

Vern I can't wait until Thursday night to see all my Colorado River Rat fishing friends... not so sure Friday is going to be all that fun... 1 lb fish aren't exactly thrilling anymore but, the tournament is always a kick in the pants!!

[hrvestuff]

This concept is un-workable and counter to the goals of a well run tournament. Two scales?? I think NOT. Pro bass fishermen are a suspicious lot by nature and you can bet you would hear: "Jones had five dinks same as mine....but got 9 ounces more weight on the other scales than I did... what a lousy deal". The tournament weigh-in is the single most important gathering place in the entire program. Tournament Rules meetings, dinners, etc pale in importance to the camaraderie and and recognition provided among peers and observing public as well. This is the arena of "accomplishment", an opportunity for the well deserved slap on the back or high five. No one should be ashamed of five dinks or a total blank as it happens to all on a given day. If you want to eat , carry an extra sandwich. Fish or no fish, be proud that you had an opportunity to compete with the very best. One day it will be your turn to lead the board.

Harvey Naslund
San Diego

[mark poulson]

Mike Ilgin's AC Castaic trail did drive through weigh ins this year. Even with the occasional idiot wake boat blocking a lane at the Castaic kiosk, the weigh ins went smoothly. If someone had a good bag, or big fish, they got pulled to the side for photos, so their truck/boat didn't slow things down.
I think there are three keys to having a quick, successful weigh in.
First is to have enough people on hand to do the weighin. One to get the fish off the boats quickly, one to get the fish from the bag onto the scale, and one to do the weighing. Second is to have the big fish tagged beforehand, so there is no drama or lost time at the weigh in, like, "That's not my big fish".
Last, put the fish in a weigh bag to weigh them. The weigh bag saves lots of time, since it really calms them down fast, and, as long as you zero out the scale with the weigh bag you're going to use before each angler's fish are weighed, it's totally accurate.

Mike Ilgin had three manning the scales, Topwater Terry, Cathy Hartmen, and me, and his lovely wife Donna doing the data entry and weigh slip entry, and he was close by to plug any leaks in the system, be it anglers, staff, or equipment problems.
One extra hand is far better than one too few.
And having a system that works allows for the plug in of a replacement if needed, like when I missed one tournament, without having to reinvent the wheel.
It's not rocket science. If it were, we'd have to have Kelly Ripa do all the weigh ins.

[Marty]

OK – it was just an idea and don’t worry I did not take it personal – snivel – snivel LOL

[mark poulson]

OK – it was just an idea and don’t worry I did not take it personal – snivel – snivel LOL

50 lashes with a wet noodle!