Guys I'm sorry for dragging my heels on this. Those of you who were at the GV NTKT heard Ninja's announcement but here's some more elaboration. I've known for a little while that I can't do the Amon Carter event because of some changes to my wife's schedule this summer and how that has affected some vacation plans, but I wanted to try and solidify a plan to do something to make up for it and it's hard to come to a decision. Bear with me, I'll be asking for input later...

First things first: THE AMON CARTER EVENT AND THE CROCKETT/COFFEE MILL EVENT ARE CANCELLED. In the place of these TWO NTKBF events, we're gonna do ONE at world-famous LAKE FORK TEXAS on JULY 27th. I do realize that the PKAA tourney of champs is also scheduled there about 6 weeks later, but hey, its FORK!

Now I've talked to many of you already and the idea of doing something different in the form of a two-man team format seems to have a lot of traction. I'm 90% committed to it, but for this one I'm gonna ask for some feedback. Read this post, pick the option that you think makes the most sense and reply with your option and reason why...

Option A : Two man team event. Best five fish per team. 50 dollar entry per team, big bass 20%. Each team member must contribute at least 2 fish to the team stringer. On-the-water communication IS allowed. Teams are formed independently. You get to pick your partner as soon as you like. We'll put up a running thread of guys who need a partner and aggressively try to get them matched up ASAP.

pros: The ability to strategize for prefishing and on tourney day is awesome. Two guys can cover twice the amount of water. You get to team up with a buddy.

cons: THIS IS A BIG ONE GUYS: people who say they're coming but then don't! Sorry fellas, but this board has its share of this. If we establish, say, 12-15 teams and then 5-6 guys just don't make it on game day, then the single partner is stuck with paying the entire entry fee and has the disadvantage of fishing alone and covering less water. Also, for this event, individual stats won't count, so it won't go toward AOY.

solutions: Figure out a way to pre-register. That way, if you don't show, your partner isn't hung out on the entry fee. Also, any singletons on tourney day are matched up at registration.


Option B : Two man team event. Best five fish per team. 50 dollar entry per team, big bass 20%. Each team member must contribute at least 2 fish to the team stringer. On-the-water communication IS allowed. Everyone shows up at registration and is matched up with a partner randomly (assigned numbers then drawn out of a hat).

pros: No one is left out to dry by a partner who doesn't show.
Evens the field since everyone has a partner no matter what. You end up fishing and strategizing 'on the fly' with someone who you may or may not know.

cons: You end up fishing and strategizing 'on the fly' with someone who you may or may not know. Again, pretty much impossible to do AOY points with this. Random matching with someone who isn't 'trying' as hard as you...

Option C : Traditional single angler tourney. Best 5. 20-25 dollar entry fee? 5-10 dollar big bass side pot?

pros: simple, easy.

cons: none really aside from the fact that there's nothing new here.

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So again, in your replies include the option you'd like to see and try to elaborate why you think it's the best. I realize that stuff comes up, and we're about 7 weeks out right now, but try to refrain from having a strong internet opinion if you think there's a good chance you won't be coming...

I don't have an opinion since I can't fish this.

I am glad the thumb hasn't slowed down the typing too much.

I vote random drawing myself. It eliminates any if all issues and really evens everything out. I'm in

Forgive my ignorance if this is a common team-tourney rule, but how does this work?

Does it simply mean that a team member cannot check in more than 3 fish?

Why the limit on number of fish per team member? Is that common?

No ignorance at all Terry. I'm just making this up as I go anyway.

Each two man team turns in 5 fish (not 10). One guy, however, can't turn in all five. This means that one guy will be turning in 3 and the other, 2. It has to be a team effort is what I'm saying.

I'm not married to this. We could do 6 fish per team. 3 from each angler. I know the Austin guys did a team tourney this last weekend. I'll see if I can get some feedback from them.

I'm not crazy about the idea of allowing only one angler to turn in all the fish. I mean, at that point, the whole idea of a 'team' format is kind of moot. Sure, somebody's gonna have a big day maybe, but the other guy has to contribute something...

I like your idea, I just wanted to make sure the "team" isn't disqualified if only one member catches fish. But I think a limit to the number of fish each member can contribute to the total is a great idea!!

Yes, some weird scenarios could develop. I'm not saying that it's not a possibility. One guy could catch his PB 25 inch 9 pounder and five other fish at 21 inches. Very possible at Fork. Then his random partner gets the skunk. The team can only turn in 67 inches and gets beat by a team where one guy gets 3 15 inchers and the other gets two 12 inchers for 69... That first team still gets big bass though.

I would like to attend this (and am planning to).

As far as the organization goes, I think I should be teamed up with Scotch, since I have yet to catch a fish in a yak (just to keep him humble, ya know? :P )

Otherwise, Option B

Tom the team idea is great. My vote is for Option A. I think knowing your partner ahead of time will help with preparing for the tourney and strategizing prior to the event. I don't like the idea of at least two fish from each team member. If my partner goes out and catches 100" and I catch all dinks I don't want to hold back his awesome day. I will probably be there no matter which route you decide to go. Thanks guys for putting this on!

I vote B or C.

I vote A

Option A but take out the two fish per team member. Its a good idea but like Dan said I wouldn't want to mess up my partners perfect day. It wont keep me from fishing it if that's the way it goes though.

Ok ok.... How about this? 6 fish total with the same two fish minimum? A guy has a great day he gets to submit four of six... Thats 2/3 of the stringer. Or maybe it's a 7 fish limit? 5 out of 7. I mean, that's a normal limit? Now we're at over 70 percent... I don't know about not having there be a requirement for the 'team'. Just seems to me that if both aren't required to contribute on some level, what's the point of teams vs individual tourney?

I'm in whatever option. Sounds like a blast.