I believe there are some problems with the point system because some don't make sense and others arn't fair
here is the current point system
Species Points for 1st Catch Points for 2nd + Catch
Blue Tilapia 500 20
Smallmouth Buffalo 300 20
Common Carp 200 20
Rio Grande Cichlid 100 20
Longnose Gar 200 30
Red Drum 100 10
Freshwater Drum 70 5
Spotted Gar 100 10
Yellow Bullhead 80 5
Warmouth 30 2
Guadalupe Bass 50 2
Smallmouth Bass 50 2
Longear Sunfish 30 2
Redear Sunfish 30 2
Redbreasted Sunfish 30 2
Green Sunfish 30 1
Spotted Bass 30 2
Largemouth Bass 30 2
Bluegill 30 1
Black Crappie 30 1
White Crappie 30 1
Flathead Catfish 300 30
Channel Catfish 80 15
Blue Catfish 80 10
Black Bullhead 50 5
Bowfin 300 30
Striped Bass X White Bass 50 5
Yellow Bass 30 1
White Bass 30 1
Striped Bass 50 2
Alligator Gar 500 25
American Eel 500 25
White Amur 500 25
Bigmouth Buffalo 500 25
River Carpsucker 300 20
Spotted Sucker 300 20
Chain Pickerel 200 10
Grass Pickerel 500 25
Shipjack Herring 70 1
The first thing I think that we should change is lower the second rio grande chicilid from 20 points to 10 points just like red drum and spotted gar. The next thing I think we shoulld do is raise the second crappie from one point to at least two points. I don't really know why the crappie are just one point, i'm sure more bass are caught on clousers and I've only caught one crappie on the fly and it even wasn't a clouser and some sunfish species are set to 2 points even though they are more abundant(like longears). The third is to raise the second blue cat to 15 just like the channel cat. Besides blue cats are harder to catch on the fly anyways so why are they worth less points? The fourth is to raise the second skipjack herring to at least 5 points because if they are worth 70 points for the first catch and some fish are worth less on the first catch and more on the second. Bret, I really think you should consider this. Any other suggestions?

Proposed new point list
Species Points for 1st Catch Points for 2nd + Catch
Blue Tilapia 500 20
Smallmouth Buffalo 300 20
Common Carp 200 20
Rio Grande Cichlid 100 10
Longnose Gar 200 30
Red Drum 100 10
Freshwater Drum 70 5
Spotted Gar 100 10
Yellow Bullhead 80 5
Warmouth 30 2
Guadalupe Bass 50 2
Smallmouth Bass 50 2
Longear Sunfish 30 2
Redear Sunfish 30 2
Redbreasted Sunfish 30 2
Green Sunfish 30 1
Spotted Bass 30 2
Largemouth Bass 30 2
Bluegill 30 1
Black Crappie 30 2
White Crappie 30 2
Flathead Catfish 300 30
Channel Catfish 80 15
Blue Catfish 80 15
Black Bullhead 50 5
Bowfin 300 30
Striped Bass X White Bass 50 5
Yellow Bass 30 1
White Bass 30 1
Striped Bass 50 2
Alligator Gar 500 25
American Eel 500 25
White Amur 500 25
Bigmouth Buffalo 500 25
River Carpsucker 300 20
Spotted Sucker 300 20
Chain Pickerel 200 10
Grass Pickerel 500 25
Shipjack Herring 70 5

I agree with you, the more I looked at the way the point system was laid out the less I agreed with it.

Your rio grande cichlid is at 100 points but is a very common catch in the hill country. The redfish is 100 points but far less common to catch on a fly in freshwater. Not sure why some species have the same points on the first catch but different second catch points. Like the striper and hybrids.
I'd almost say forget about the second catch points because what keeps someone from just taking multiple pics of the same fish. i think giving bonus point to the first species to be posted might be a better option.
i.e. a striper is worth 50 points, if you are the first person to post a striper in the contest you get +10 points, everyone else after that will stay at 50 points for the striper.

But I also feel that the contest has already started so IMO its to late to start changing the rules.

This is almost 1/3 of the way through. Should we really change the point system now?

I say lets keep it the same. I like the point list now aside from the redfish, channel and blue, and others.

I still say DON'T change the rules. too late in the competition. Bret released the rules early for a reason!

I am sure that Bret will appreciate input on the system and will take into consideration for the next contest.

Of course it is his contest and he will do as he sees fit. But i am fairly certain that, now that it is underway, there will be no rule changes midstream.

Love it, Austin's like NO NO lets not change it! My opinion: I would have to agree with the others on some of the point calculations, especially the red drum, bull heads, and blue cat. For me also, I don't have the time or patience to photo and list every bluegill or greenie or whatever it is for that one or two points. I like going out and trying to catch as many different species as I can, and if its a big 2nd catch fish (point wise) i'll photo those.

Bass should should escalate in value as you catch more of them

I say it's a free contest for fun that someone else put time and effort into that offers the possibility of free prizes and we shouldn't have any reason to change or desire someone to change their baby.

Just my 2 (sleepy post 24hr call shift) cents

Listen, obviously the points ARE wrong:

buffs, tilapia should be 2 points

yellow and hybrid should be 600
carp should be 400






... until someone else catches them.

Umm, he gave us time for input. It's not his fault we were too lazy to actually look at them.

2nd Umm, wtf tilapia? let me guess, you have a great spot for American Eels too?

Nice catches everyone! I might get a second wind this weekend. I'm still trying to figure out how to land the big ones.

Isn't this a TXFishes contest??? This seems like writing the Star Telegram to make suggestions for the Morning News.

LOL!

Next question..
If Brett could $#/+ golden eggs would they be the right size!?!

All these numbers were based 2 years ago from the members at txfishes (and modified each time).

They work fairly well where they are, and are often changed up a little after each contest.

As to why the crappies are set where they are? Just because *you've* only caught a few on the fly, doesn't mean that others can't go and shoot docks for dozens and dozens in a day (and clouser deep minnows work well for this).

The reason blue cats are less for seconds than others? because they are far more likely to chase down a live shad than channels. Try a tailrace, there is water there, fish live in it.

Some of the others are based on how much they school up (or at least pile up)compared to others.

Furthmore, some people have just become better at catching certain species of fish (and a very few have become good at catching many species of fish).

There was a thought process (from active members on TXFishes) to this, we did not simply pull numbers from a hat.

If you don't feel they are fair, a)do not participate (and more importantly, don't complain), write your own code for tallying them up and start a competition. Or b)next time the point values are being discussed, provide input when it is actually helpful.


I appreciate the support from those that gave it though.

I'd think self respect.

Hell, the same thing that keeps them from grabbing a seine and taking a photo of every fish in a creek.

While I was at Texoma last week I briefly entertained the idea of putting a clouser in the mouths of about 50 fish that were washed up dead on the bank, BUT since I do have some self respect and felt as though Robin just might ban me for life I decided against it. But I'd totally be in like 15th place.

I could have entered them all as the bonefish's lesser known cousin the
bony fish.

Now if I could just remember to take the contest image off my printer and place it in my fishin' bag i'd be in business...