Sorry, but I cannot help but dive in on this one. Nobody asked anyone to come here and pay the bills of Jasper or Sam Rayburn community. All Chris was saying is that the off limits is not great for the economy of said communities. KingChamp, contrary to what you may believe, this town was built on a once thriving and robust timber industry, but now relies heavily on the lake and tourists (both fishing and pleasure boaters) dumping millions of dollars into the community. Why do you think we have a dozen or so hotels, and all of the restaurants in a town with a population of about 8500? Again, we are not asking for a handout - just stating facts.

Another side to this that many people fail to understand is that most tournament organizations rely on both entry fee money and sponsorship money to survive. Some more than others depending upon how much money they pay back to the anglers. It is very difficult to get the businesses, or Chambers of Commerce around here to step up with money while imposing an off limits. I had an off limits in our circuit because I felt it was the best thing to do to get fishermen to show up and compete. I don't think Chris was implying that you guys needed to come here and drop your paychecks off on the way into town. Additionally, nobody is OBLIGATED to fish anything - I think it is great that there are so many choices.

I know I don't have the answers, and this is a very tough one to figure out. Hell there are 2 trails out there that I would think guys would line up to fish, but for whatever reason they don't. We have paid back well over 100% this year (actual cash money) and Bill pays back at least 87% every time. I'm not knocking the other trails - I LOVE to fish them as well and wish nothing but the best for Dave and Chad - they both do a great job and I personally like both gentlemen.

The one thing I DO know is that after being a tournament director for a few years now, I will think twice before complaining to or throwing rocks at another TD. It is a lonely, thankless job that is met with nothing but a bunch of guys that think they know how to do the job better than you. Too many guys want things set up just for themselves without regard to the effect on the other guys or the circuit itself.

WTGJ....

Better paybacks are good. Worse paybacks are not as good. All tournaments that I have fished were great(literally thousands probably, certainly hundreds).

Traveling to fish is not so great these days. It costs more. So I fish near home more now. "Near home" means Rayburn and Toledo for me. I highly recommend living here.

Chris M. is a good guy and meant well above. All that $hit that that guy wrote means he does not know Chris M or is not happy about something else like maybe his job or friends or something.

I have seen cold and rainy weather keep numbers down in tournaments. Maybe that is what happened last weekend with Bucks.

Many fishermen believe many different things about tournaments and the rules. A lot of them want to convince other fishermen to see things their way(like in politics). I don't much think they will all agree on everything.

I know several directors of tournaments and all of them believe 100% in the fact that all fishermen can't be happy all the time. They try really hard and still get yelled at, talked about, and so on. I try - but sometimes fail - to not add to this problem. After all, I am a tournament fisherman.

Last but not least, the weather this year is a little off. It is raining a lot. It is colder than normal down here at the lake. Also, the wind is more unpredictable than usual. Worst of all, the water in the lake is very, very cold. That makes all fishermen unstable because the fishing is not too good.

My personal opinion is that everyone here will be happier when the Spring fishing kicks into high gear.

God Bless the USA where we all get to go fishing like we do....even when the fishing is not so good.

[quote=Neal Gilmore]There is a Bass N Bucks tournament on Conroe January 30.

Who is coming down from the Toledo Bend / Sam Rayburn area to support Dave and be "there"? By the way, come a few days early and support the local community.

Payback on 250 teams is $600 for last in the money. But please do not factor in truck fuel, boat fuel, motel and the $280 entry fee when making your decision to come down for some fun at your expense. As incentive I will pull up my hundred or so brush piles and not fun fish the lake while you guys are "fun" fishing at Rayburn.

Grant did you fish? I thought I saw your boat.

AllI can say to all the people itching about pre-fishing or off limits is this. These trails offer big money and great payouts if you don't like where we fish then fish another circut. Don't [censored] on chris or anyone else who happens to live around one of these lakes. he didn't pick the lakes or make the rules he is just following them. So like I've said before along with other people if you can't fish with the Shadow or the Todd stay home. If you want to fish these circuts you had better get your but off the couch aqnd on the water and practice and don't itch about it because they do.

This would make a good daytime drama...
AS THE POND TURNS

the fact remains that no matter who is fishing or how much time a person might have spent fishing in the past 30 days, they are not guaranteed a win. If that were the case, the local guides would win all the time. Fishing is as much a mental game as it is anything else. I agree that there are times when locals dominate, but really, this Rayburn and TB we are talking about, where 1 bite can determine the winner. Every tournament here is up for grabs. YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE FISH, then worry about the other fishermen at weigh-in. If you go out with the attitude that someone else has an advantage, you might as well stay home.....even if you got to fish all week.

Sound,s Like We Need Help From Obama,I'm Sure He Can Come Up With A Tourament Plan (LOL).I Just Like To Fish (Don'T Worry About The Things I Have No Control Over)

Yep cold and rain we will be there to donate as we are not locals LOL!!!!!!

I will just say this and leave it alone as I know nothing about Rayburn. It's funny to me that it be a local guy or not that the winner of Bass Champs or Bass-n Bucks or Anglers Quest so on they always say we found these fish on this before the tourney but if Rayburn changes everyday how is this so if the fish change everyday. If you think that the locals don't have the upper hand then you are just kidding yourself. Make it off limits for a week and even it out we all know there are guys around Rayburn T-Bend all lake that don't have jobs and all they do if fish to make a check let's get real it happens at all lakes not just a few. If you don't like it don't fish we show up and donate all the time but we did get lucky once.

+1
I only fished them for a couple years a few years back but with work and not having Saturday to practice it just doesn't seem worth it to me. I think they have a great little tournament trail and are great people but I won't be back unless they go back to Sundays.

I do consider myself a local although i live two hours from both rayburn and toledo and fish both regularly. my partner and i also fish almost everything that comes down the pipes during seasons when not much outside fishing is taking place in our lives. So with all this said i have a few questions for you, so we can see your point as you may see fit.

with a one week off limits:

what about us anglers that fish every tournament possible(when CAN we practice with a tourn. almost every single weekend).

what about the several hundred shift workers that also help support the economy and tournament trails. When would these folks get to practice since they only get two weekends off per month?

when do you get to practice when something in life comes up on the weekend prior to the tournament after you have committed to the season and your partner. assuming that you have a 9-5 m-f job?

Do you really think that the guides and locals dominate every single event that comes and goes? I have been a part of these circuits for awhile now and it seems to me the top money positions are never really consistent with 200 plus anglers on the water?

not trying to stir things up, just wanted to understand since i fish these lakes while living hours from the lake as you and others.

I,m not a local and I don't get to pre-fish. I do enjoy comming over and taking the so called "BIG STICKS" money. Maybe one day I can be a local "HAMMER".

My bad... I messed up (I'm). I must be a local.

The guys who win have fished the right spot at the exact right time, execute to the "T", and win....everyone who fishes has to do this day in and day out...Ive lived on Toledo since i was 13 and just now consider myself slightly competitive on the lakes....no where near the skill level as some of those other guys but regardless I still fish....we are all out there to get away from something...whether it be work, family, or something else...i wish we would all just go fishing again and all remember why we get to do something we love to do....i feel extremely blessed to get to fish as much as i do....we should all feel really lucky we all love this sport....we could be like baseball or basketball when those guys become pros they loose the love of the sport and making it about money...lets go fishing guys