I know what Harrison would say and I agree to a point! Payouts used to be 1 in 10, then they went to 1 in 7 and so on. I would prefer 1 in 10 payout schedule as long as the trail can get enough boats to pay out 10 places if the trail cannot get that many boats then it needs to make the changes needed to get there!

If you had a tournament circuit that could pay millions of dollars on the level of the PGA I'd say yes but for the most part we don't have that luxury. I like to fish tournaments that pay out a small number of places but will increase the number based on increased entries. Some gas money would be nice even if I didn't do very well.........

I think it depends on the trail and situation. Bass clubs, don't take this personally as I am a clubber at heart (and in skill), cater to a group of people who aren't aiming to compete at levels like champs. You pay out deeper there to give people a chance to make a check, keep them coming back, and keeps things interesting for a large percentage of the field.

In champs, guys are fishing for first place. They fully expect to win and anything else isn't what they were aiming for. No need to payer deeper to get people interested in participating.

Yep, maybe even top 10% it'll make you do your home work to cash...And it'll be worth it $$$$$$.. jm2c's

I like 1 in 10, the small club I'm in now pays 3 regardless of entry and it is stupid getting a check for less than your entry fee.

So what about the elites and flw, they pay right at 50% of the field?

There are guys that want deep payouts and guys that want bigger payouts. Everyone wants both.

I like 1 in 7 for a trail. For a club I think paying 3 places for 10 entries is fine. If you are fishing a club, or even a trail with a $150 per team entry fee for money you've probably going to be disappointed.

Depends on the trail. I have won a couple of club tournaments and still lost money due to hotel rooms, food, etc. So if you pay out deep then it doesn't even make it worth it except for the pure competition of it. The only way I see you can pay deeper is raise entry fees, which I am sure most dont want that.

i like to see tournaments 100-200 boats pay 20-25 places of ur tossing in 300$ or so for entry. The ones close to 300 boats should pay 30 places. At least give the 20-30th place guys entry fee money. Anytime u crack top 20-30 in a high level event like champs or TTT u fished good.

1 in 7 or so...

It's not really how deep I'm concerned about, it's more of the payout structure.

Professional and open amateur tourney's are two different things y'all. You can't put them in the same discussion when looking at payout schedules.

That might work with a small boat field. Way to much money for first if there's over 75 teams. Jmo

Depends on the amount of the entry fee, and the amount dedicated to the prize fund.
If the entry fee is loaded with prize fund money, then the payout will be different than an entry fee with a small amount of
money dedicated to the prize fund. Normally I would like to see 10-15% of the entries win money, with the last cash at least
winning back their entry fee.