OPINIONS PLEASE

[cargotrailer]

Opinion of a new member (Signed on Dec. 2006 / this may be my 30th post).

I was told about this sight by my son (14 yrs old). He has a passion for fishing, bass fishing in particular. I have fished one $$ tourney in my life and he has fished in Jr. tourneys where points are awarded. He has bugged me about fishing a "real" tourney and I have been considering me and him fishing a CFF tx because the impression is you guys have these tx's to promote fishing and friendship, which is what I want him to learn. Even though I have never met any CFF members in person (that I know of) the people on here always come across as welcoming and friendly.
Because there is some apprehension about being the "new guy" or "outsider" in any regular event that you decide to join, CFF seemed like the perfect place to introduce a teenager to TX fishing. I have no problem posting fishing reports, because mine never take very many words. From coming in late to this discussion and reading all this just now, it seems to me that there is a core group of CFF fishermen that are in these tourney's for friendly competition and fellowship. That is the kind of fishermen and man I want my son to grow up to be. I'm not sure how you eliminate ringers that just show up when the pot get's big. You could make rules to limit the participants (which could affect others besides "ringers") or make the pot small which eliminates the incentive for the "ringers" and puts the focus back on friendly competition and fellowship. Believe me, if my son and I ever show up for a CFF tx, it won't have anything to do with the possibility of winning money,
Rememeber the old saying,,,,"the love of money is the root of all evil"

 

[Fishin Fool]

No I don't fish many TX, and as I have said in the past, neither do the other 1500 people on here. But I still think we can make a valuable comment about CFF without having to fish in every event or any event for that matter. Has it occured to anyone that many people don't fish TX because of the issues of money? Either winning it or paying it? $40 is a pretty big chunk of change to me and many, many others here even if it is split 50/50. Why would I want to put that in the pot if a semi-pro can come in and take it without ever contributing to CFF?? Just give the money away so I can say I fished it?? If this is a totally "sport" oriented group then why not a point system for CFF TXs? If money is not the issue then why IS it an issue? No I don't have the time to put on a CFF event, I'm way too busy trying to keep my head above water, train people and organize powerlifting competition, Which, by the way, never has a cash payout. I appreciate the people that do have the time and make the effort to put on TX but that doesn't mean that just because they do it with CFF blessing they should be independent of CFF suggestions. By all means do as you like. I'll putter around the lake in my little boat and fish for fun when the money guys aren't there.

 

[MadBomber]

I would be more inclined to fish if it were for points or a very low entry fee.  I found out a long time ago that I don't enjoy fishing for money.  That's just me.  The only CFF Tx I entered was so my Grandson could experience a bass Tx.  I paid the fees for both of us.  We had a good time but it wasn't any more fun to me than the 2 trips we've had together this summer.

 

[drumking]

MadBomber - 6/17/2007 8:17 PM

I would be more inclined to fish if it were for points or a very low entry fee.  I found out a long time ago that I don't enjoy fishing for money.  That's just me.  The only CFF Tx I entered was so my Grandson could experience a bass Tx.  I paid the fees for both of us.  We had a good time but it wasn't any more fun to me than the 2 trips we've had together this summer.

You're another one of my heros MadBomber. emoGeezer

 

[FishinMagician]

There are alot of good ideas and opinions in this thread. As for myself tournament fishing is not about the money. It is about the rush I get from winning a tournament and knowing I have beaten the best fisherman on this lake. This is why I do not fish the cff tournaments. If it were changed to a no entry fee or points tournament and Steve Kite, Rogie Brown, Roy Dye, and ECT. showed up to fish a cff I would come fish just to try to beat them. I know it sounds crazy but that is what its all about for me. The desire to be the best.

 

[Jmax]

FishinMagician - 6/17/2007 8:57 PM

If it were changed to a no entry fee or points tournament and Steve Kite, Rogie Brown, Roy Dye, and ECT. showed up to fish a cff I would come fish just to try to beat them. I know it sounds crazy but that is what its all about for me. The desire to be the best.

emoUpsmile I agree..but I can assure you they will not be there. I would do the same but I also think I would follow them around like the Big Pros just to watch them kick my butt and try to learn something. But it is good to day dream about the idea of it.emoBigsmile Jmax

 

[Guest]

I'm all for having a good time, however, It's easy to get carried away and lose perspective when money gets involved. just a short story; we used to fish a weekly dogfight in southern KY, every Sat. night about a dozen of us would get together, fish, hang out and have a great time. after several weeks of things going smooth a few guys started pushing for money to be thrown in, at 100% pay out. It went pretty well, a few more weeks, more money and pretty soon people we didn't know where coming in. That's great, until people started cheating,starting trouble and eventually we got to the point all the original members had quit and it was all about the money. It took the fun out of fishing and I haven't fished one since. We won some, and lost some, had a lot of good fun along the way but the money got us away from the the reason we went out every Sat. And that was just like someone said earlier to hang out share information and learn more about the sport we've all come to love. That was the main reason I like this site so much, everyone is friendly and tries to help everyone else. That's great! I've even started thinking about getting back into some of the cff txs because of the fellowship. I just hate to see things outside of this website possibly change the attitude within the site.

 

[Buoy-Master]

FishinMagician - 6/17/2007 7:57 PM There are alot of good ideas and opinions in this thread. As for myself tournament fishing is not about the money. It is about the rush I get from winning a tournament and knowing I have beaten the best fisherman on this lake. This is why I do not fish the cff tournaments. If it were changed to a no entry fee or points tournament and Steve Kite, Rogie Brown, Roy Dye, and ECT. showed up to fish a cff I would come fish just to try to beat them. I know it sounds crazy but that is what its all about for me. The desire to be the best.

</p>

I respect that Chris. Thank you!

</p>

 

[kickinbass35]

I fished in a club once that was points i liked it and we also had the option to create a big larmouth as well as a big smallmouth pot and first place it was like 5 dollars each if you didnt want to get in on the pots that was your decision and no hard feelings it did keep alot of the ringers out and everyone shared info and fellowship and still had a great time

 

[JSV]

This is amazing to me, that we as a CFF family each year end up emoBawl over one event. From people calling out cherry picking last year and now this years one event! There was a mere 15 boat CFF Tx., which produced so much out cry and where some people felt like they were took advantage of!!!!? Billy turned away two boats! There were 15 boats and paid 3 places plus two big fish pots. No one made a mortgage payment on the winnings! I would invite the best to fish, if it was to me, as long as they followed the rules.
The point system may work but I think the contributions level will go away as well as the entries.
The CFF fishes many lakes and a weekend warrior can't go and fish each Tx. and therefore will not be in the running for any bragging rights.........so why fish ? These Tx. are always low budget and we receive some good insight and this is a great family place but each year we have someemoBawl babies and it amazes me! We as a family are bigger than this!!! Do what you so choose but I told TNDOE last year that if the few that emoBawl continue to do so this site will either become either a closed lip group or a site where a handful runs the site and little information is attained! I hope we keep it low keyed with a small donation and spread out and the learning aspect continues. That is how I do the kids event (Crackerfest). A few are making this overly complicated. That's my O2. CONTRIBUTE, FISH AND STAY IN GOOD STANDINGS!!!!

 

[Fat Albert]

<font color="#ff0033">It seems to me that lots of folks have puts some thought into their posts concerning this topic....I don't fish Tx anymore cause of oldageburnout.. It got to be a hassel several years ago... I love the concept of CFF and the gatherings and the fellowship and good fun that we have...Why, I have even been to several weigh-in just to have a good time and see my heros walkup to the scales.  and I think that is what it is all about...       </font></p>

<font color="#ff0033">K I S S........the old addage...<u>keep it simple stupid</u>   should cover this mess....sorry, that this had to come up and could have caused some hurt feelings and some even getting mad...this should never happen to this group of fishin folks....there is too much love, caring, big heart people on this CFF... It seems the rules that have been laid down should cover all events... Fishin for $$$ will always have it's drawbacks and so will the point system....  I certainly don't want this disagreement to weaken the CFF and its' endevers....It's too good of a thang fer that to happen.....  and that's my .02 worth....

</font></p>

 

[jon the fisherman]

I knew it would eventually resort to name calling. Looks like the one calling names is alsoemoBawl

 

[churly]

I did not read every reply here. I try to stay out of these topics, b/c I can get opinionated. I just want to say that regardless of who showed up and who weighed in what, I had a great time at each CFF TX I have ever fished. I would feel the same if I had gotten first place, or last ( like we did). I fish the TXs with these guys and they get my money then too, so its no different to me. Bbass thatnks for having the TX, I had a great time. Dont let this mess prevent us from enjoying many more of these this summer.

 

[flip1up]

Well fellas heres the bottom line. 2 teams were turned away because they didnt qualify according to the rules of CFF tournaments. Every other team that fished was qualified to fish. Nobody did anything wrong that I can see. Either change the rules to fit better with the concepts and core values of the CFF or get more competitive. I get my butt kicked every time I fish Chick. lake. Thats my fault, I dont put the effort forward to be competitive with these local Chick. experts. Lets not get mad at guys that work hard and prepare themselves better than others. I hate to say it but alot of this does sound like emoBawl emoSorry

 

[Andrew]

churly - 6/17/2007 9:17 AM
I try to stay out of these topics, b/c I can get opinionated. I just want to say that regardless of who showed up and who weighed in what, I had a great time at each CFF TX I have ever fished. I would feel the same if I had gotten first place, or last ( like we did).

I couldn't have stated my feelings on this no better than the quote above if i had sat and thought about it for a few hours. My opinion is leave the rules as they are. If some have to be turned away so be it. No one likes to tell someone they can't fish but it has to be done by the director of that contest and thats part of the job. Almost all the active members of cff knows these rules about posting reports and i've never personally entered any contest without reading over the rules and you can't use that as an excuse when entering a contest. How many times has this happened anyways in a cff tourney? I don't think a point system would work very well and would have a big dropoff from participants. Not cause of no money but since we are just regular folks and some of us can't always make a cff tourney so that wouldn't be good in a points system based tourneys.



I like being able to think i can win my gas money back in one. I like everyone else that fishes a cff event knows your not going to win big money but

 

[Buoy-Master]

flip1up - 6/18/2007 8:18 AM Well fellas heres the bottom line. 2 teams were turned away because they didnt qualify according to the rules of CFF tournaments. Every other team that fished was qualified to fish. Nobody did anything wrong that I can see. Either change the rules to fit better with the concepts and core values of the CFF or get more competitive. I get my butt kicked every time I fish Chick. lake. Thats my fault, I dont put the effort forward to be competitive with these local Chick. experts. Lets not get mad at guys that work hard and prepare themselves better than others. I hate to say it but alot of this does sound like emoBawl emoSorry

</p>

  Thats why we love ya man.

 Well put Karl!!!</p>

 

[Davo]

Holy Cow! Personally, I like the idea of having 2 fishing reports posted (not just saying, "we killed 'em last night in the water on baits") and mandatory report after a tx. Sometimes I've won, but plenty of times, like the other day, I've donated. Heck, if Rick Clunn decides to post a couple of reports and shows up, would we all be whining and crying. I'm sure he'd hand us our rears, so I don't care who shows up. Just follow the rules we have, it's not like it's tough to post a couple of reports. That's what this whole site is about anyway.

 

[Bassin' Machine]

I have only a fished a couple of the CFF tournaments and it was last year when I fished them. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I agree with the CFF rules as well. This site is a great site for many anglers from all different backgrounds to share opinions, reports, and what not. However, it does seem that some on the site want everyone to tell exactly how, when, and where they catch fish all the time. That just simply won't happen with bass fishermen. The big dogs like Gary Hughes, Steve Kite, and Rogie Brown are outstanding anglers and have figured out Chickamauga lake. Of course this comes from 15 yrs or so of hard work and bein' out on the lake all the time. No offense to anyone, but you might as well read a book of fiction if you are tryin' to figure out the secrets of these guys. And I don't blame them... I wouldn't put in that much work, etc. and then just go tell everybody so they could fish well or do good. That is just part of fishing and it always will be. When you put in the hard work...you do it for yourself..not for everyone else or to make others better fishermen. That being said, as far as tournaments go, I think everyone should be welcome to fish a CFF tornament even if they have only made 2 posts, as long as they post something within the next week about what they did in the tourney, then I think it is fine. All in all, I think everyone should just enjoy the comraderie, fellowship, and information that this site offers to all fishermen and a special thanks to DHaun for startin' it up.emoThumbsup emoDance emoSun

 

[Bumble Bee Kid]

I think the 2 post and Tourney Report post is good enough. If you fish tournaments for a long time you relize real quick nobody is going to tell you much. You just have to put time on the water and get better its as simple as that. Even the pros ain't going to tell you all there secrets cause then they would be less competative. Gary hughes, Steve Kite and Chris Coleman, Rogie Brown are awesome fisherman. I fish the CBA's and it is hands down the toughest tourney traill around here to fish. The best way to become a better fisherman is to compete with the best. Cause the desire to beat those big named guys is there. Time on the water!!! thats what its all about.

 

[Buoy-Master]

Oh shut up Tom! Geeeez! LOL..Kidding Bud. </p>

I feel the same. Like I said, Perchjerker said it a year ago that to get good, spend the time and fish the Txes..all you can afford and you'll grow and learn faster. I'm thining I need to really take that advice to heart if I want better fish. I'm happy right now just socializing with the company here and getting out on the boat. When I want to improve, I'll dig in and give it my best.</p>