WCW Poll - next season start

[madscientist]

Originally Posted by jscott

-fishing is about fun, friends we meet, and challenging your own personal goals...

That is an essential point right there. I get the feeling some people are more interested in the trophy than in the experience. Got to prove your "the best". But kayak fishing is not about that, and even if it were it's an improper medium with insufficient statistics. Take my win at the BWE tournament (or even the WCW kickoff). 90% or more of the contestants are perfectly capable of landing that fish. A dozen guys were in the same area doing the exact same thing as I was. I did nothing special, just did the right thing at the right time and then got lucky. Doesn't make me a better fisherman. In it's current incarnation, WCW is a reward for time on the water, with a side of luck as to when the point fish come (Unless you're Arne, in which case I don't know what the hell it is: some combination of skill, commitment, luck, and a deal with the devil I suspect).


Having a ton of time to fish is a reward in itself, there's no need to collect the props and cash from those that don't, and certainly no need to wave it in other people's faces.

Unless the format is something that is is more good natured and fun, I will not do WCW next year, except perhaps jackpots.


I suggest those that want to measure effort and dedication set up their own competition where they can punch in and out on the webcam, thus proving who spends the most time on the water. Perhaps have a multiplier based on the conditions (like degree of difficulty in diving), judged by the BWE viewership. Bonus points for taking a dump at sea (the Andy special). Tape shot required.lol

[dgax65]

I suggested the quarterly tournament as a method of keeping those who can't fish on a regular basis interested and involved in WCW. Sort of a mix of instant gratification and reward for perseverance all wrapped up in one tournament structure.

Regardless of the format, I'm in for next year. I know I'm not going to win, so I can just have fun and hopefully catch a few

[Dan]

Brad nailed it on all points.

[nmbrinkman]

Originally Posted by Dan

Brad nailed it on all points.

It's nice to see that I'm not the only one in it for the experience.


I don't like the idea of forcing guys to post a timely submission but how about maybe giving a 1 point bonus for fish caught and submitted 36 hours of being caught, .5 point bonus for fish reported within 3 days of being caught, and the deadline for a individual month's submission is midnight of the 1st on the following month (ie. fish submitted for April must be in by 11:59pm on May 1st).

I still like the idea of a "priviledged" forum for WCW participants. That would enable us to get to know each other a bit more, share some advanced techniques and whatnot. I would say share "hot" info but loose lips may sink that ship. A confidentiality agreement seems a bit over-the-top. I'd sign one though if it helped make the tourney more competitive though. Not sure what the consensus will be on that topic. Either way, a WCW forum would be nice.

[tylerdurden]

People calling WCW a "second job" and such illustrates the difference in attitudes some people have about the competition. I think fishing is supposed to be fun, not a second job. If you want to be that competitive about something there are real sports to play.

Why enter if you don't want to win...
All of us would like to win, but in reality everyone knows that those that spend the most time on the water will win. The top 3 have much more flexible fishing schedules than the rest and are far and away ahead of the everyone points wise. I don't have a problem with that. It's the way it should be. But if the only people that entered were those that have a chance to win, there would be about 4 entries. Just about anyone in the top 10+ entrants is skilled enough to win if they had the time and the commitment to WCW. Some entered for the experience, some to be part of something, some to show they are the best kayak fisherman on the planet, some to brag, some for internet ego, some becuase they want to support the site and people that got them into fishing in the first place and so on. If you want more people to join you have to give those that have no chance of winning an incentive. If you ease the rules to give everyone a chance it becomes more like a lottery and skill and time account for less.

I agree that fish should be posted by the end of the month. When there is a 7 day leeway you can wonder if the fish submitted was really caught during the correct month. Having a WCW only forum would be nice, but timely reports posted on there would leak so fast. I think people have a false sense of idealism about it. Do you really think the top guys are going to give away GPS #'s, hot bite info and everything on a WCW forum? There are no "advanced techniques" that are secrets. All advanced techniques used can be readily found on these public forums. Most of the time it boils down to averages, eventually if you drag a greenie around for enough days or hours a hungry fish will swim by and eat it. Those that spend more time are more likely to be in the right place at the right time, and the more fish you catch the more likely one will be big.

As for next years format, my two cents are 12 months, fish caught any day are eligible keeps it in the same spirit. Having monthly or quarterly one day tournaments drains people. There are already too many kayak tournaments as it is, and people are over it as evidenced by the lower participation in the Moyer tourny for the first time, the low numbers for the BWE tourny last year, and the plethora of other kayak fishing events to choose from.

[Lit-up1]

I don't think a break is in order-kind of a fishy period to skip-
I like the idea of getting more fun involved into BWE-
I am totally tournamented out, but I will be down for whatever moderators
come up with probably-
Look at the big fish categories-
Nate-YT
Me WSB
I forget- HB
All to be determined in the next month, but some scores potential by people who don't have the same time on the water as the leaders seems cool. How about a monthly side jackpot for anyone who submits a fish-
randomly drawn and you can't win more than one monthly jackpot and if nobody wins that month it is a carryover to the next month---
So I like to be able to win something knowing I cannot be in the top 3
because donating to feel good about getting current fish reports is no
longer possible since no one reports timely anymore---
On a side note it seems strange nobody reports timely-do any of the top 5 people think that the other 4 are sitting home wating to see if anyone reports a fish so then they will go out-I seriously feel thats whats going on--get reel those top guys are on the water right now probably

[steveooo]

Maybe a little redundant, but heres my opinion for what its worth.
Although I am nuts in many ways, I will not throw away $40 a year to a competition I know that I can not win. I think so many of the competitors are stand-up guys. If we were hanging out at a bar or something, I would pick up a $40+ dollar tab, but I wont just throw 40 bucks into a community pot just for kicks. In it's current format, average guys with average jobs do not have a chance.
I know that with 100 guys you will get 100 different responses on what the format should be. I'll go with the majority and join if there is a chance that I can even break into the top 20. If not, I will be a spectator. I will join the 1 day tourneys, because there is more of a level playing field.
However, I am not bitching and moaning. I realize that there are guys that are competitive about fishing, competitive about fishing reports, competitive about life in general. The current format suits those people. I think the majority of guys fish for recreation, a sense of comradory, and to spend a little time away from the realities of life in the on-the-water cave.
Will I pay $40 to watch a competition? Heck yes. We all drop that kind of dough for sporting events. I do support a closed WCW forum. Not for info on the hot bites or for GPS numbers, but to keep the competition, entertainment and community going. If there is not a change, the competition and eventually the site will eventually fizzle up for fear of the recent bad vibe that has been on the site in regard to sharing a report. I think there is something special about this site, and there is a reason that so many guys have stuck it out for so long when other sites are struggling. I think that has more to do with friendship and all the other good stuff that comes as a by-product of BWE, rather than info on the hot bites.
Enough hugging, go get some