The tournament trail was a success every time we ran them in my opinion, I think whats really needed is solid dates well in advance, maybe even the same weekends each year. The attendance problems are normally due to late announcements of dates. The ATC is such a success because you can plan for it all year. I'd also like to see a Buffalo specific tournament in Austin in late fall/winter. If we get the number of participants up, we get more prize sponsors etc. For that to happen people need to be able to plan in advance to get a kitchen pass or the day off work.

Kitchen passes are hard to come by for me Mark, wifey just does not understand my fixation on fishing lol

I would hope that with the great group of anglers around here that no one would be cheating at all. If there was a million bucks on the line or something then maybe I could see where someone might be tempted, but with a few hundred bucks, I would think that there wouldn't be any issues.

I was also thinkin it would be neat to do an individual day tourny. Do a name draw that pairs two random people up, then they draw a peg and both fish it, each weighs the others fish. This would get people who don't know each other the opportunity to make a new fishin buddy. I think it would be fun.

Hell of an idea there. Not that I ever get to fish anymore but I would love a shot at fishing next to someone I'd never met in person. As for cheating, not even an issue. This is why pegs are drawn on the spot. If pre-baiting is done it will benefit everyone. Stick to the competitor weighing and you've really eliminated any chance of cheating. Besides that, I just can't see most people cheating, if they were that competitive they'd fish for bass. Ain't enough money in carp!

I would be up for this - my main restrictions being I can only fish Saturday evening (I finish work at 3:30 p.m.) and Sundays.

The SoCAL Carp Club Guys fish a very successful derby series every month at lakes all over Southern California. They have no entry fee just an optional jackpot of $10 for the biggest fish. They run it on biggest 4 or 5 fish (I cannot remember which), all fish are witnessed by another competitor, no pegging. They run one day derbies, Saturday, Sunday and Saturday through to Sunday. They always get a reasonable turnout. When no one wins the jackpot the donate it for tackle for the local kids I think. It's a very good series that is very easy for everyone and there never seems to be any bitching.

I think this sort of format can work for everyone who wants to compete.

More competetive tournaments take a lot of work - I know I have organized a few in the past and making things fair is the thing that everyone wants. Example if you live in Austin and go to fish a lake in Dallas you are handicapped by lack of local knowledge and the possibility that the locals will have prebaited. I think for this to work there needs to be a reciprocal event in this example at a lake in Austin thet the Dallas guys would fish.

Another thought that springs to mind would be to include buffalo as well as carp - places like Grapevine are stuffed with fish and some mega weights could be had if buffalo were included in the count. After all the only reason other tournies are restricted to a single species is because they are run by single species clubs (CAG, B.A.S.S. etc), we are not restricted by anything like that so could run tournies for buffs, carp and grassers too.

I too like Texas-Z's idea of pair people up with anglers they don't normally fish with - it would help out the disadvantage of fishing lakes you have not been to if the draw was split between locals and visitors. Also makes for a little friendly rivalry to see if you can outfish the partner you are drawn with.

Who is going to get this sort of thing organized?

Mark has done this type of thing before as well as yourself, just takes 1 person to step up and take charge, would you be willing Keith?

Chad Edwards would be a great person to get this thing going, if he has the time to spare.

I wish there was more south Texas guys here. Austin is a drive for you northerners, and Choke Canyon would be a drive for even Austinites. Heck, its about 1.5 hours to 2 hours for me in SA.

We really need to expand our venues. I will try to get more into teh south Texas Lakes and hopefully find the next carp/buff mecca. I think Choke has a real shot at being a good one.

More people need to keep hitting Fork. Jason was so generous with his place and I know some of yall have done real well there.

I know East Texas lakes are supposed to have some MONSTERS in there. Maybe even an 80 pound buff or a 50# carp.

As far as the tourneys go, Like Stephen, it is tough for me to get a kitchen pass. I have 3 young girls (8,4, and 2) and if I am not there to help out Momma gets grouchy. You know the old saying..."if momma aint happy aint nobody happy"

A lot of us that planned these in the past are a lot busier nowadays. We have a whole new group of carp brigadiers that are active and involved. I think one of them would have to take the lead. The trick to turnout is to keep it simple, keep it close and nowadays I think keep it cheap. Maybe just the side pots + bragging rights will be enough to get a turnout.

Stephen - I don't know the area lakes well enough to even plan where would be suitable. As far as the actual organization at the event I can do that but need a location planner.

I am a SoCal implant myself so the surrounding areas are grey to me, I know the usual areas like White Rock and Grapevine + joe pool but I am sure if all of us put some suggestions into the pot for locations we could come up with viable spots that would suit everyone.

Major hint, no 12 hour day tournaments in summer... right guys? People passing out, puking and one fish caught. and somehow I think we still had fun?