Exactly why I will not fish BWS.

We all know the fuel costs are killing us so prefishing is not an option or very little. Sunday's is church day with the family. If they don't drawing more people than last year, you can't or barliy make your expenses back. I for one will be staying at Fork next year. I can't be driving all over east texas where the payouts are so poor. First place at 5k which is good and Triton Gold but the rest of the payout is not. Media Fork 100+ is where I'm at...

What did the rest of the payouts look like compared to other tournaments?

BWS is comparable to BFL. With contingency money BWS actually has a much better payout (by about 6k). w/o contingency BWS still pays a better (especially w/ the 5k guaranteed regardless of entry numbers).

I fished some of the tournaments this year, and all of them last year. I always had fun, but I have to agree with a couple of observations. It was alot easier and more enjoyable when they were on Sunday. Some closer lakes would also be nice. If you are going to have a farther out lake, having the two day there would be good so you could spend the whole weekend there. EIther way, I thought the tournaments were well run.

Since no one answered earlier questions, surveys were handed out at the Cedar Creek Tournament last year, and this entire year first place on the boater side has been $5,000.00.

I would like to see the events go back to Sunday(the wife will yell at me)with Saturday prefish and the previous Monday thru Friday as an off limit.

I am with Skeeterman on the lake choices, east lakes have move fish-able water, but Texoma would be a good northern lake.

I made a suggestion last year that the BWS should be the week prior to BassChamps on the same lake.

Sunday...............Amen! Makes it easier on us who have to work on Friday!!

Media payback 99 teams on Fork team trail.

1 $3,200.00
2 $1,600.00
3 $1,100.00
4 $900.00
5 $750.00
6 $620.00
7 $520.00
8 $440.00
9 $420.00
10 $370.00
11 $340.00
12 $310.00
13 $280.00
14 $260.00
15 $250.00
16 $240.00
17 $229.00
18 $215.00
19 $200.00

Weekender series bayback 52 anglers

1 $5,000.00 ($10,000.00 With Triton Black Gold Bonus)
2 $1,279.00
4 $853.00
5 $597.00
6 $512.00
7 $754.00
8 $426.00
9 $384.00
10 $341.00
11 $256.00
12 $247.00

My calculator indicates the WS is a better option - 1/5 chance at 5k verses 1/10 chance at 3k

Touchdown!!!!!!!!1

Just curious on your math 99/19 5.2 so Media did have a 1 in 5 payback. And the entry fee is a bit different Than the weekend series with a 200 hundred dollar entry. and Media with a 150 dollar entry. Make that entry 200 and they would have almost an additional $5,000 to pay back. The payout was never an issue about the Weekend Series nor how it was run. My whole thing is do not blame support from DFW guys on having a trail in East Texas just have the trail in East Texas. There is no need to give reasons have the trail were you want it and those that can make it will and those that can not will not. Like I said if gas prices go back down or I get a huge raise I will probably fish but right now it does not make sense business wise. Why travel that far when I can stay close to home and fish for the same money. I am simply stating by moving even futher East they will lose most of the guys that have to drive that far. Let me be clear I have no problem with how the trail is run or with the lake being fished other than the reason that have been giving for moving a trail to east Texas that was a Northeast/DFW trail to begin with.

I would probably fish it if DFW was used at the starting point and go no more than 100 miles out. That gives plenty of lake choices to hold an event of that size. I'm probably not going to make 6 hr round trips for a 1 day event even if the 5K is guaranteed.

On the Media Team scenero above, you also have to split that 50/50 with your partner(unless you fish alone). Its a business decision for me as well and the $5000 is more of an incentive to me than having to split $3,200(Fork Divison). Also most 1st places tournaments in Media pay in the low $2000 range. The exception is the Fork Division which draws more. So that 3,200 is not a real accurate number unless you are only comparing the Fork divison.

Unless you fish by yourself. Well then the 20,000 payout for bass champs is a much better deal than the weekend series if you want to look at that way. That 10,000 on a 50/50 split. So why even bother with the weekendseries. Than 10,000 on a 135 dollar entry for your half the entry.

I will say again no one is questioning the payout. I believe one person said something about the payout would better if they get more people. Which is true for any trail. I prefer the individual trails myself anyway. The issue that was being discussed was the travel and blaming the lack of support on DFW guys for having 2 East Texas Trails. NO one has said anything bad about how the trail was run or the payout unless I missed it.

Right. Someone above compared to Media. If compared to Bass Champs, no question thats the better option for 1st place.