Go cats go, if you don't wanna fish cooper then don't. If you can't accept the reasons that were given for the move, then don't fish cooper. A decision was made, and whether you agree with it or not, the fact is that the lake was changed for good reasons. I don't run from jet skiers, or bass fisherman, but that doesn't mean I want to spend my whole tournament day putting up with them. Trust me we'll have a good time regardless.

No one is trying to be rude. The lake was changed in the best intrest of the members. We put alot of time and effort into these tournaments, and alot of the funds comes out of mine and Brents pockets. We do all of this so that everyone will have a friendly yet competative tournament trail to follow.. I am sorry if anyones feelings are hurt, but the lake has been changed, and we would like for all the teams to come out and enjoy themselves just like they would have at Fork. In the future maybe we can look into a vote, but due to lack of time between tournaments, and permits to be arranged, we made an executive decision to change the lake in the hopes that the members would understand, and stand behind NTTC in this decision. This lake shoud be just as fun, and be just as productive as Fork. I would like to thank everyone that follows the trail, and helps Brent and I to make these come together. No that being said the tournament is on Lake Cooper, on April 19th. Hope to see you all there.

Seeing that this is a new lake that alot of the catfishermen don't know every honey hole in it, might be good time for me to finally enter the tournament. Would fill like I had an even chance then. Maybe i can find me a partner by then.
Knowing that there would be 600 boats to put up with at any ramp I know I would never ever try and fish a catfish tournament with this many boats.

I wish
I could fish it .....but have to keep my commitment......
You guys have a great time .....and if we did vote I would have voted for the change......hope everyone has a fun....

CatfishMike,
you need to fish the tourney.....it is a blast and the guys are great to be around ......plus get one under your belt so next year you will know what to look for.....you wont be disapointed....

Lawdy Lawdy Miss Claudey, all that wuz done wuz to change a lake. Same time, same date, same set of rules, better facilities, less boat traffic and its a Lake that virtually no one on the NTTC trail has fished. That makes this catfish tourney one of the most level fishing events to date. If you wuz ever waiting for a golden opportunity to jump into your first catfishin tournament, this certainly be the right time!!!

And ya ain't gonna have to put up with 600 other boats of whatever kind of fishermen! Do seem to me to be nuthin but very positive changes in this deal. See ya'll in a few weeks.

Now did anyone say where that gathering might be?

I can sure understand what you are saying there BigDave. I was at the weight in Sat. and everyone seemed pretty cool.
But here is just a thought i would like to get to the NTTC. If you had an area set aside or a list for people who would like to go to a tournament but didn't have a partner. One that had boaters and non boaters that was interested. This might help in getting more involved.
I have catfished all my life but have only lived here in Texas for 2 years now. So i don't really know very many people let along someone who loves to catfish. And I sure don't know the lakes. And yes, i do own a boat. But this was just a thought.

CatfishMike, alot of the guys who fish the series are also on www.[censored] Alot of the same discusions take place there but there is also a "Looking for a ride" section to help out people as you just described. There is also a NTTC section as well to keep everyone up to date on the tournaments.

Now thats weird, its censored in the post but in the quote it shows up. Wonder if it will show when I post this? Guess Not. I didn't realize the names of other forums were censored.

If a large bass tournament had been scheduled during Tawakoni's Tournament, would it have been moved to another lake? (Honestly)

tawakoni i checked them all and even changed the date during planning to avoid bass champs to answer your question if this tourney was at twok it would have been moved. i checked all tourney dates just to make sure we didnt conflict like last year when bass champs showed up at CC and all the ramps were full and guys got buzed all day. Jered and I made the decision with the anglers best interest in mind. We did ask several of the regular guys and they agreed with the decision. we wouldnt make a change like this without testing the waters and especially this late in the game if we didnt think it was a concern for the anglers. sorry if you dont agree with the decision. we have learned that you cant make everybody happy, but you can make most happy most of the time. I think Jered has picked a good lake that will even the game for all anglers. all anglers we asked about the change had not fished or even heard of cooper.

Brent
I'm just upset because this could have been anyone tournament (very few blues) mostly Channel cats. Are you going to add Fork to the trail next year?

Well slewft that is what is so good about Cooper! Virtually no one has any TOW (time on the water) for this Lake. Now you turn a bunch of folks loose on a good lake that hasn't seen as much fishing pressure and combine that with the possibility of catchin some big fish.....now that be what is exciting to me!

Heck I ain't won no tourney in three years but the most fun I ever had at one of these tourneys we come in 9th place! But, I caught a 50 and a 40 pounder. Well, the 40 pounder was prematurely & unexpectingly released at boatside....minor net problem! But hey, we learned and didn't make the mistake on that 50 pounder!

I don't care where NTTC has a tourney because the catfishin bretheren are all a great bunch of folks and you will learn more about catfishin at a tourney than wastin a year pounding the waves hoping to stumble across some fish!

Heck I learned a lot from just looking at all the rigs. Didn't have to ask a question to see whut I was doing wrong. Learned bait tricks, uses for different types of hooks, placement of floats, how to change up leaders and on an on.....

And at the gatherings, got to meet a lot of different folks in a relaxed setting instead of a competitive mind set on tourney day! If ya want to learn about catfishin these tourneys will cut that learning curve way down. Heck, don't take my word for it, all you got to do is search the archives of the tourneys 3-4 years ago and see what the weigh-in stringers were. Even the mighty TWOK had piddlin weights turned in compared to the last two years.

Yep, me thinks Cooper is gonna be a great tourney for those that show up!

seems like you have more deeply rooted issues than just this

I just went to the NTTC web site and yes, they do have an information on the tournaments but they don't have nothing where a person can sign up to find a catfishing partner. They seem to rely on people to know who all catfishes. But like I said. That was just my little thought going throuh my mind on a way to find a catfishing partner for people that didn't already have one partner and was thinking about entering a tournament sometime.