How Does Your Club Do It?

[gobig]

Right now the club that I am involved in is on an individual format. The guy in the back is actually competing against the guy up front. This was not a problem when I first joined. I fish as a non-boater and now that I am beating the guy up front most of the time, there is a tendency to get back seated.

There is a rule in place that states the non-boater has the right to determine location and have control of the front 50% of the time. However this is a catch 22. When you pull that card all of the sudden you start having trouble finding partners.

There are a handful of guys that have no problem with giving up the front part of the time. A club is supposed to be a learning experience. So fishing with the same people over and over sort of defeats the purpose in my opinion. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. So fishing with more people should help round you out as angler and this should be the primary goal.

Right now you pair up with anyone in no specific rotation. I would like to see the club go to a team format that is a draw. The club used to operate in a team format in the past. However there were some issues that prompted them to adopted the current format.

[BrianinMD]

My club does anglers vs. anglers, and co-anglers vs. co-anglers. The blind draw is done the Sunday prior to the tourney.

[webertime]

This is how we do it.

12 Tournaments, 6 are "pick" and 6 are draw in alternating order. The pick thing is for traditions (2 buddies fish one a year or a father and son do one, that sort of thing.) We never have issues with one pair constantly matching up.

Technically it is boater vs non-boater but we add a twist. The entry fee is $20 per person, then $5 per person for Lunker and $5 per person for a TEAM pot. The team pot tends to get the boater to be pretty cooperative with the non-boater as if you win the team (in our club) a boater walks away with $35-$50 (his half), that's his gas paid for the day.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

We have pretty much the same format except for the draw is blind and done at the monthly meeting prior to the tx. We try not partner with the same person twice in a season. I don't usually ask for the front even though it's my "right" according to the rules but it is offered regularly. Unlike your experience I don't feel like I've been back boated at all. I've actually had partners get a limit and say stuff like, "let me turn the boat so you can hit that stump.." I think each club has it's own culture and attitude. This may be something that can be changed with time if a sincere effort to do so exists. The other option is to search for another club that's a better fit.

[slonezp]

You could always buy a boat. You as a nonboater needs to understand the investment involved in boat ownership and why someone would hesitate giving up the reigns, club rules or not.

DVT suggested anther club that suits your needs. Personally I fish buddy tournaments with my son and wouldn't have it any other way. I can only blame us if we don't do well. We have a system and it works for us. There are some teams in the club that switch partners every season because they just can't seem to find someone they fish well with. There's a guy in my club who wants me to partner up with him next season(I would be the non boater). My son is all for this because he wants the front of the boat, can fish with a buddy of his, and would love to compete against me.

I'd imagine a new partner every tournament has to be stressful on both the boater and non boater. That compounded with the fact you're competing against each other would drive me to either change the rules or join another club.

[Grey Wolf]

Sounds like you need to find a club that fit your idea's better.

[Lund Explorer]

You could always buy a boat. You as a nonboater needs to understand the investment involved in boat ownership and why someone would hesitate giving up the reigns, club rules or not.

DVT suggested anther club that suits your needs. Personally I fish buddy tournaments with my son and wouldn't have it any other way. I can only blame us if we don't do well. We have a system and it works for us. There are some teams in the club that switch partners every season because they just can't seem to find someone they fish well with. There's a guy in my club who wants me to partner up with him next season(I would be the non boater). My son is all for this because he wants the front of the boat, can fish with a buddy of his, and would love to compete against me.

I'd imagine a new partner every tournament has to be stressful on both the boater and non boater. That compounded with the fact you're competing against each other would drive me to either change the rules or join another club.

It doesn't have to stressful at all if the boater and non-boater understands and obeys the rules. In the OP's post, he stated that those rules gave the non-boater the right to run the trolling motor for half of the day.

I've fished several clubs that gave the non-boaters that option and I never had a problem going to the back of the boat for half the day. It gave the other angler a chance to setup casting angles, and at times when we were fishing docks, it gave him the first chance at some of those fish.

Having boaters and nonboaters competing for the same prize money while giving the boater control for the whole day is a recipe for a failed club that has nothing to do with the nonboaters in it. Maybe it is the boaters in the OP's club that need to look for something that fits their needs better.

[gobig]

You as a nonboater needs to understand the investment involved in boat ownership and why someone would hesitate giving up the reigns, club rules or not.

I understand all about owning a boat, the initial investment, what they cost to operate and maintain. I have owned several boats all of which I paid cash for and I am not talking about a 10ft aluminum. I had a Mastercraft Maristar and I still own a boat rigged for salt water. I have been considering picking up a boat towards the end of the year but for now I going to remain a co-angler.

I don't think I was totally clear in my initial post. My issue is not with running the front, I could care less. I was making the point that the option was there. I want to see a level playing field. My issue is the direct competition with the guy in the front can turn the day into the likes of college match fishing, only you never get your turn in the front. I don't want to be boxed out all day and I have talked to enough guys in the club who would be open to a team format if there is a way to do it that works for everyone.

So what I am looking for are some ideas as to how different clubs work their team formats. At this point I am not looking for another club nor do I want to. If that is all that you have to add to the post lets not waist each others time. Thanks, Brian, web and DVT for sharing. Lund if you could please explain the way the clubs operated that you fished it would be appreciated. I think we have similar ideas on how it should work out.

[Lund Explorer]

I understand all about owning a boat, the initial investment, what they cost to operate and maintain. I have owned several boats all of which I paid cash for and I am not talking about a 10ft aluminum. I had a Mastercraft Maristar and I still own a boat rigged for salt water. I have been considering picking up a boat towards the end of the year but for now I going to remain a co-angler.

I don't think I was totally clear in my initial post. My issue is not with running the front, I could care less. I was making the point that the option was there. I want to see a level playing field. My issue is the direct competition with the guy in the front can turn the day into the likes of college match fishing, only you never get your turn in the front. I don't want to be boxed out all day and I have talked to enough guys in the club who would be open to a team format if there is a way to do it that works for everyone.

So what I am looking for are some ideas as to how different clubs work their team formats. At this point I am not looking for another club nor do I want to. If that is all that you have to add to the post lets not waist each others time. Thanks, Brian, web and DVT for sharing. Lund if you could please explain the way the clubs operated that you fished it would be appreciated. I think we have similar ideas on how it should work out.

Read sections IV & VIII of the attached. This is pretty close to the rules our club had. Not surprising in as much as we were a B.A.S.S. affiliated club. We averaged about 20 members each year, and about 2/3's owned a boat. During most tournaments, some of us boaters had to either volunteer to leave our boats home, or a drawing was held to determine who had to. No member was ever forced to leave their boat on shore more than once in any year.

http://www.michiganbass.net/images/State%20Championship%20Rules.pdf

I should also say that even though the club's president, tournament director, and many of the members were long time friends, the club always did its very best to welcome any new members. The seven years I fished with this group were some of the best tournament years I ever had. I still see many of these guys today even after I got out of the cast for cash racket and consider them as life long friends.

The most important lesson I learned was something the club's president always reminded the members. That the goal of the club was based less on winning and more on fair play and sportsmanship.

[J Francho]

Be careful what you wish for. If you go to a draw format, and you think your success is dependent on control of the boat, then it is also slave to the draw.

[Sam]

This is how we do it.

1. Everyone fishes against everyone else.

2. Nonboater has right to ask for front of boat for half day.

3. Nonboater pays nonboater fee at start of tournament.

Pairings are made as follows:

You declare to be a boater or a nonboater at the meeting prior to the tournament.

You cannot fish with the same partner for two tournaments in a row.

If there is a problem with the boater's boat then you can use the nonboater's boat and the positions are switched.

Everyone's name is written on a playing card. Cards are separated into two stacks: the names of the boaters and nonboaters.

Cards are shuffled and then the boater cards are placed on the table in the order they are drawn.

Nonboater cards are then shuffled and drawn and placed opposite to the boater cards, thereby making the pairings.

If there is a problem with a nonboater fishing with the same partner he had in the prior tournament, the cards are gathered up, shuffled, and then delt once again.

The pairings are anounced from top to bottom of the cards so boat one is the first pairing; boat two the second, etc.

We try to keep two or more boats open just in case there is a problem with a boat or someone who did not declare to fish at the meeting can be added without any problem.

Last boater calls out the boats at blastoff.

Everything is random and no one has to ask to fish with anyone else.

If you do not like the boater or nonboater, thats too bad. You are fishing that day together.

This system works great. Give it a try.