They need 5-6 divisons then whittle it down to to 5 teams per divison.They need this or TPWD needs to do it, for safety sake.

They need 5-6 divisons then whittle it down to to 5 teams per divison.They need this or TPWD needs to do it, for safety sake.

That limits entries.

Limiting entries limit revenue.

Ain't happening.

Oh, crowded doesn't even come close to explaining this situation. Never seen anything like it. Every boat captain I spoke w/ was just thankful they were alive.

Congrats to the Champions! Congrats to those who held the trophies after at least 2 long exhausting days on and off the water.

My guys did surprising well the first day (considering for what Belton offered) after a poor practice. They weighed in 10.19 lbs which would have put them in 20th place. But they had a dead fish penalty that kicked them back to 32nd. Still respectable w/ 324 boats. No surprise on the dead fish. They had a 100 qt Yeti stuffed full of them after we weighed in with still about half the field waiting. Boys waited in line for almost an hour, in the sun after being in the sun all day, for a weigh in bag. Before anyone asks, we did everything possible to help the fish and have a more than ample boat w/ systems to care for the fish. But basically 2 hours in a hot box was just too much for 1 of ours.

After that experience, we swung big Sunday morning knowing making up 5 lbs would take a nearly miracle. At 11:30 am after throwing back their Belton bullets, they weighed their options of another beat down weigh-in and a chance at a gift card, or head home. They chose home, and I was as thrilled as if they would have won it. Quitting is never the answer, but as long as they were happy with it, I was too knowing the work they put in all year to get there and the day they had on Saturday.

It was an experience. I'll say that.

As sophomore's, my guys learned a lot and had some success. After a butt kicking as freshman, they worked hard and took 3rd in the AOY this year. Got a few top 10's and a respectable Regional finish.

Both of them have no interest in doing it again next year. They've chosen to take their chances on a different trail for now.

Thanks for the memories THSBA. It's been real. Will never undervalue the effort and hours you all put in. I sincerely appreciate that and have explained it to the kids over and over.

Hoping some changes will be done in efforts to keep events safe and protect our fisheries.

One of the last events I captained was on whitney several years ago, rather than have the tent near the ramp you had to drive around into the middle of the state park, there was a disaster of a line trying to get in there, after an hour I made the kids get out lug the weigh in bag across a field down a dirt road to the stage. I'm sure that every fish weighed in during that cf of a mess was a either dead or gonna be dead. It was the dumbest set up that I ever saw an a disgrace to the spirit of conservation. It was that tourny that I decided I was done past that year. It was a trailer event, if they would have put the tents near the ramp boats could have pulled in weighed and been gone. Instead they created one of the worst traffic jam of boats I have ever seen anywhere in addition to driving around the lake. It turned a five minute boat ride into an extra 2 hours on trailer, god knows how long in line. That organization seems oblivious to that kinda stuff. They either dont know or dont care if it still goes on. Then when anyone says something you get a bunch of butt hurt from the directors. That's a fact.

Are you saying "ain't happening" because you think making money is the primary motivation with this organization? I don't think that's the case. I believe they have made their financials public and I think most of the people involved are volunteers.

I've been spending a whole lot of hours working on something better for next year.

So after you saw how it was ran and decided you had better ideas, how much of your time did you decide to volunteer for the kids to make it better for them?

If it's public, I can't find it. Send over if you have it please.

Besides the point really.

If the reason is "it's for the kids" to let 324 boats fish for a championship, then why bring all 324 back for day 2? Why not bring back half the field? Oh, it's so the kids can fish? Pretty sure those there could find a way for the kids to fish.

I assume w/ a tournament says "Presented by the City of Temple", that means there was some monitary value in it for THSBA to have it at Belton.

Again, hats off to anyone volunteering. I do the same. But if someone ain't making money off this deal, there is something wrong.

Just interest of scholarship money sitting in the bank alone has value.

I've been spending a whole lot of hours working on something better for next year.

We wish you well. Thanks for fishing these last 2 years and good luck to the kid’s.

Curious as to what your planning with your kids since your out on THSBA?
I'm not leaving THSBA but always interested in options. (We did FLW and BASS and that certainly was not a viable option for us)

This may be a dumb question, but why don't fewer teams qualify for the state championship?

Everyone gets participate now a days!