College FLW....Story/Need Help!!

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

The College FLW was a dream for me when I heard about it.  My life revolves around fishing. It now that dream is ever so far away.  After reading the rules over and over I find myself not believe what I see. How could anything be so discriminatory.  Because I do not go to a 4yr school I nor my partner nor anyone in the club or any 2yr school for that matter cannot fish the College FLW.

I talked to Kevin the Tournament director today. I asked why this circuit was started. He said to promote the competitive sport at the college level. I asked why 2yr schools cannot fish. He said "after a very long pause" we already have TO MANY SCHOOLS FOR ME TO HANDLE AT THIS TIME. I asked will there be 2yr schools able to fish next year or anytime soon He said very doubtful because he is having trouble handling this all.  

Now for this was a dream crusher to me.  This was a way to get my name out there and become someone. I wanted to show my skills to the world. I love the sport. But because i do not have the money to attend a 4yr school i cannot fish in this circuit.

Bass Resource, I have come to you for advice and information. Any suggestions on what to do? Or how to get him to let 2yr schools in?

Help!!

JJ

[etommy28]

Let me just say this, you are not the 1st person to have this issue, I can share my true feelings sence I do fish it. but there have been many issues with kevin with this and many other things. they have a lot of things going on that are very frustrating and made things real difficult for some people. also they have some rules that are not clear.

If I were u I would find a partner with a boat and fish the Boat Us and College bass stuff, I found it much more enjoyable.

How ever things could change, as it was FLW first year.

[Glenn]

Time to look elsewhere.  I'm sure there's a lot of options for you in the form of opens, regional circuits, and such.

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

There is other options Glenn But i cant find anything that's nearly as perfect for me as this. I mean fishing for basically nothing competitively. I mean no entry fee. They furnish the boats. Perfect for a college student. With times being ruff I cant afford to haul my boat hundreds of miles and pay the huge entry fees. I fish a lot of tournaments already and do fairly well but with the gas it sucks down makes my wallet cringe.

[fatmanslim247]

I don't know where u live but I fish for Wichita State University, in kansas.  Our division is packed, there is a waiting list for schools to enter the tournaments and there are no schools with more than 1 team entered.  Even if they allowed 2 year colleges in now you wouldn't be able to get in.  We got lucky and registered for all 4 tournaments early, I know it sucks going to a 2 year college and not being able to compete, I was there.  Most people transfer to a 4 year school, so you will just have to wait.  FLW is paying for us to fish these tournaments, it is perfect, but aslong as they are paying for them they make the rules.  In times like these I am not going to argue with what kevin says, this is the first year and who knows it might take off or it might get knocked down with the economy.  All I have to say is stick it out and see what happens.

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

I understand this is the first year, but why not have a Pre qualifier? Ive seen the reports for kentucky lake quite a few teams didnt even have a fish to take in. I understand that everyone has a bad day every now and then but really 2ppl couldnt catch one fish?

I just think 2yr schools have the same opprotunity to be #1. Or would it look bad that a 2yr school wipes the floor with a big 4yr school? IDK.. It just doesnt seem right and i am sticking it out. This will change eventually. Ive called many 2yr schools in ohio today and lets just say they might have to make another division for us then. LOL...

[etommy28]

let me just say this, cause what u just said kinda hit a nerve. I agree with you on most fronts, but as far as the not catching a fish point that is not valid at all. I have fish 2 of the tournys. one was Sante Cooper, I had never been there and it is very difficult to get on some ones boat that u have never been on, on water u have never seen much less fished, and go catchem. I did now ever bring in fish not many but a few. that is some thing u really cant talk on till u have done it.

By the way you cant get any help from your boater so u are basically on your own. I truely hope u can fish some thing next year but please think through things you say before writing it, it could be ofensive to people who do fish and just so you know there are very good anglers who have zeroed at some of these.

The same UF team who came in 10 at the College bass national championship and won the Sante Cooper tourny came in 24th with only 1 small fish at ockeechobee and the same Faulkner team who won the national championship a year or 2 ago Zeroed at ockechobee. Please just be careful with what u say.

I do agree you should be able to fish but the way you are fighting might be the wrong way cause you could very easily upset Kevin Hunt and gain your self more trouble...... im Done :-X

[Tin]

I think he has already done that. Time to keep trying to fish the circuits and trails to make "your name" and show "your skills" as Glenn said.

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

etommy, I realize that might be a bit offensive and I understand everyone has a bad day. Ive fished kentucky lake 3 times. Did my homework, asked around got an idea and made changes i felt i needed to make. The first time down there I only caught a dozen or so fish with 5 keepers in an 8hr period.  I have more trouble fishing waters that i think I know because i try the same thing. Sometimes it work others it doesnt. But as for fishing waters you havent fished if you do your homework you should be able to atleast pull in 1 keeper.

[etommy28]

u have to remeber 2 thinks with that and I agree u should be able to but it does not always happen. that water has been pounded for days by the pros, and you are not suposed to fish near the pros, so if you pull up and apro is there u have to leave.

[Tin]

etommy, I realize that might be a bit offensive and I understand everyone has a bad day. Ive fished kentucky lake 3 times. Did my homework, asked around got an idea and made changes i felt i needed to make. The first time down there I only caught a dozen or so fish with 5 keepers in an 8hr period. I have more trouble fishing waters that i think I know because i try the same thing. Sometimes it work others it doesnt. But as for fishing waters you havent fished if you do your homework you should be able to atleast pull in 1 keeper.

I wish they would allow you to fish that series so you could be humbled. :

[etommy28]

I wish they would allow you to fish that series so you could be humbled.

That is basically what im saying, i fish 20+ tournys a year and I consider my self a good, not great fisherman. you are greatly humbled the first time you go out and it is much harder than most people think esp. when the water is pounded for 5 days by the pros.

[fatmanslim247]

etommy, I realize that might be a bit offensive and I understand everyone has a bad day. Ive fished kentucky lake 3 times. Did my homework, asked around got an idea and made changes i felt i needed to make. The first time down there I only caught a dozen or so fish with 5 keepers in an 8hr period. I have more trouble fishing waters that i think I know because i try the same thing. Sometimes it work others it doesnt. But as for fishing waters you havent fished if you do your homework you should be able to atleast pull in 1 keeper.

I understand this is the first year, but why not have a Pre qualifier? Ive seen the reports for kentucky lake quite a few teams didnt even have a fish to take in. I understand that everyone has a bad day every now and then but really 2ppl couldnt catch one fish?

I just think 2yr schools have the same opprotunity to be #1. Or would it look bad that a 2yr school wipes the floor with a big 4yr school? IDK.. It just doesnt seem right and i am sticking it out. This will change eventually. Ive called many 2yr schools in ohio today and lets just say they might have to make another division for us then. LOL...

This hit a nerve with me.... Did you happen to see the weather for that week? Here is something for you...

195       DAVID FRITTS       HUDSON, IL       1       2-01       0       0-00       1       2-01

Look at what KVD did at the classic this year.

We placed 16th and outfished David Fritts, The weather was crap, it rained and stormed the night before. Unless you were there fishing you have no idea what it was like. The fish moved off beds and to stump fields, and holding on deep on points. Most everyone was fishing shallow flooded brush, where some fish were. We still caught fish, and a ton of shorts.

My buddy and I talked about this, you go to school for 2 years, so you have to come up with a club get it official through the school and run it, and keep interest. It is almost impossible to do all that in 2 years. Here something that would make your case a tad better would be if you already had the club already setup.

I have fished in clubs tourneys and bfl's since I was 12 but being arrogant and cocky will not get you anywhere. These tournaments are qualifiers, flw pays for it, these tournaments are for teams to have a chance, and get new anglers in. Holding qualifiers for that lake would just drive up the cost, you said yourself that you don't want to have to drag your boat for these other tournaments and not having to pay entry fees. I know our club couldn't do that, most clubs hold their own qualifiers for these tournaments anyways. The closest college tournament we have is Lake of the ozarks, we are going to prefish the lake and we have already fished it this year for bfl's.

I have a feeling though that these will be the only year for these tournaments, the parent company of flw has filed for bankruptcy, and my buddy talked to kevin and he was super stressed out. This is a guy that was excited and cheery, we will see what happens.

[etommy28]

Fatmanslim hit the nail on the head, even the pros zero.  at Sante, 12 pros zeroed.

Can I ask a moderator to please close this post, its not going any where the point has been made and people are getting mad.

[preach4bass]

Jr.,

If your goal is to "get your name out there," you're going about it all wrong.  Before you worry about what tournament series you're going to fish, I suggest you focus on these two areas:

1.  Don't call "Kevin" or any other tournament director out in public because you don't like the rules.  This makes you look like a crybaby, and who no one wants to fish with, let alone sponsor.  I'm sure that's not the case, so don't make it look that way.

2.  Watch your grammar and spelling.  I understand that this is a relaxing Internet forum, and we all let our grammatical guards down, but the hard facts of the matter is that people judge you by the way you write.  As with the first point, I'm sure you're not a dumb guy, so don't allow your posts to indicate it.

Work on those two things, keep fishing, focus on your education, and all of that other stuff will work out.

Good luck, and I hope I'm reading about you in Bassmaster Magazine someday!

[Bass XL]

Time to look elsewhere. I'm sure there's a lot of options for you in the form of opens, regional circuits, and such.

Exactly what Im doing once I get a steady career and enough financial funds to my name. I chose not to the school the had the College Bass team...I didnt think it was a big deal.

[Elite Image Fishing]

It sucks yes, but in other sports (football for example) two year schools do not play in the same league as 4yr. institutions. And I'm not saying a four year school is better than a two or anything like that. It's just the way it is. They should look into possibly making a two year division for the trail or something of that nature. Also I agree that the FLW deal provides an excellent springboard to professional fishing and with the growing popularity of college bass fishing it does not surprise me that there are too many teams already involved with the FLW. Best of luck!

[skeetermike]

I wouldn't bank making a career outa fishing even though it would be awsome.  My folks and wife all think I'm crazy for fishing as much as I do now.  Boat gas is high, fishing is so much more competative now days and the fish have seen it all seems.  I still encourage you to fish all the free tourns. you can and enjoy it.  What would be cool would be to get in with one of the major bait companies and get to fish for free in a lota tournaments, test new baits, go to siminars ect.  You could fish all those free tourns. learn the lakes, then do some guiding.  With guiding you don't have to beat out all other competitors only put clients on decent fish and sometimes put them on great fish.  

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

problems been solvved.. See everone next year in the central division.

[etommy28]

What did you do change schools?

[fatmanslim247]

ya did u change schools? or did kevin say he would allow you school? I'm curious to know

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

sister school is the only way to describe this. But yes its basically switching scools.

[nitro929]

i dont even want to write what i think. if sponsers are looking at this as they do you blowing it big time

[Tin]

i dont even want to write what i think. if sponsers are looking at this as they do you blowing it big time

[erau618]

I really hope that you are the BEST at your school because in the central division, there is only 1 team per school fishing in all of the tournaments.  Regester EARLY to make sure that your school is one of the first 40 teams to regester.