Texas is in desperate need of a pro-am event that will pay well.AfS is a joke and I dont see any thing in the future coming down the pike

when the economy gets better if it ever does, you just never know what might be down the pipe so to speak, right now, most tournys are cutting back for sure

Lot of the circuits are hurting. Numbers are down some. Especially with this nasty weather.

do yall think there are to many tourneys in the north texas area?

Not very many, down here in south tx.. I would love to see some more come this way..

Bass champs
american bass anglers
south tx 5

and whatever club u fish with.

To many that don't have a very big payback. I had rather pay 300 dollars and fish for 20 thousand than pay 180 and fish to 2 thousand dollars.

I think that TX is in desperate need of a Truely "all amatuer" tourny with good payouts!

I have recently gotten into the tourny thing and have been doing alot of checking up on who is winning these events. Did yall know that it is like the same 10 guys winning the major amatuer tournys every single year! Sure, there are different guys breaking into the top spots from time to time, but the overall trend is the same names!

Take in mind that some of these "Amatuer" events pay awesome money. We're talking over 10k to the winners! When you count the number of all the bass tournys in TX, it adds up to some serious bucks!

I did some more digging and found out that this elite group of fisherman actually make their primary incomes off of these "amatuer" events. They do not work regular full time jobs, they fish! Sure, some may do a little guiding on the side, or play stocks or investments; but these guys are making the bulk of their living fishing! Where talking up to 6 figures in tournament winnings!

Frankly, I dont know how I feel about this. Do you think it is fair to be competing in a supposedly amatuer event against guys who are fishing full time and making a living off of these events. I have a flexible job and get to fish a couple times a week, but that doesnt compare with fishing every day!

Like I said, I dont exactly know how I feel about this, but I do think that BassChamps or one of the other big name organizations, should creat a division/event primarily for the working man! To be eligable to fish you must prove that you have a full time job, or have under a certain amount of tournament winnings for the year! For yall BassChamp organizers out there, many people feel the same way I do on this issue and I think an event like this would draw big support and success!

It would be cool to fish a working man's tourny, with at least 100 boats, that has a good solid payout!

What yall think!

Sounds reasonable and fair, thats why it wont happen.

Yep. Now is when a bunch of people are going to come on here and say they like fishing against guides, they are working people too and blah blah

Im not going to get too deep into this, but what is not exactly fair with the AFS?

It dosent have anything to do with fairness and that dosent bother me a bit. I just want a good pro-am event in texas that has a good solid pay-out. If AFS can field 150 boats with that horrible pay-out I know someone or some organization could put something together that has a good payout. I Guarantee you it will fill up even in this bad economy

Im not sure how much of the entries are paid back at the AFS tournies, but I believe the numbers are their because it would eventually get you to the flw championship. Ive fished (some) Pro-Am events and really did'nt feel like I had fished with a pro! More of a home-lake jackpotter. Also lots of circuits had Pro-Am trails at one time or another and the turn out was real low, thats why they got rid of them. Seems like the TEAM TRAILS are more tempting for most fisherman and they can split the costs. Whats the payout for the BFL is it the same percentage as the AFS? Just remember all these trails are FLW oriented and they have to funnel a certain amount back to the big picture. BASS is the same way with the FED and the BWS.

What is everyones definition of a solid payout? How many places being paid and how much entry fee?

Unfortunately for many of the tournament organizers, there are too many competing options for the tournament angler in N. Tx. Normally choices are good, but with the fragmentation of the tournament participating fishermen so thinly across the region, only one or two organizations really do well in attendance. The rest work their tail off only to see marginal turnout and marginal ability to generate an attractive payback. I have particpated in numerous of these type events and feel some sympathy for their unrewarded efforts to deliver for the fishermen. Anyone out there who thinks the "second tier" tournament organizations are "making money" just don't know the manhours and effort required to organize, promote, and implement a quality event. Most of those tournament directors could make more working a decent hourly wage if money was the only motivation. Other objectives are usually what keeps them going.

Probably going to ruffle a few feathers here, but why do smaller trail keep 12% of the payout? And what the heck does a pro-rated polygragh payout mean when none are given that day! To me smaller trails that do not have the $50,000.00 weigh in trailer and use the Host Marina facilities should be paying back more like 95% of all entries paid. (Places Paid) thats a good question, but at least make the last place as much as the entry fee and keep it going up from there, no reason why 20 should be the same pay as 19! Just my 2 cents.