OPINIONS PLEASE

[JSV]

Why oh why does everyone want to bring up the same three names over and over? Yes the above names know Chickamauga and have put their time in on the lake but they put their pants on the same way we do and they use rods and reels , just like we do. I know for a fact that Steve and Gary go over and beyond to help our water ways and protect our fishery and they have done this for as long as I can remember! They both have contributed to CFF as well, but really why should they? With all this name calling? They are human beings that happen to have some good knowledge of our local lake and I am certain they sign on and read CFF posts and they also occasionally make a post however if I saw my name constantly drug through the mud, called a cherry picker and even a liar, do you think I would want to contribute to that site?^%#% NO! Instead of calling out names, maybe we should embrace and tell some of these folks that have helped make our fishery what it is today...THANK YOU! Then maybe they would even contribute even more. I agree 100% that to fish these CFF Tx that the 2 post rule must be obeyed and keep low budget. There will be some folks occasionally turned away but this name calling is wrong. They have feelings too yet they have contributed to our water ways and fishery so all the name callers would have a place to catch quality fish.
Perchjerker and Fishheadspin and any other contributing member should always feel free to enter a CFF event!! No matter your skill level!! Don't let one bad apple ruin the whole cart, come fish!

 

[jon the fisherman]

I thought that this was about the 2 post rule, and how some have not followed the rules. If you get beat by someone NOT following the rules, then there is a legitimate argument. I see it as part of the entrance fee, and someone did not pay to play. I feel for BBass for being put in the middle of this, we will be lucky if he ever hosts another one, which I hope he will continue to do so. JUST FOLLOW THE RULES, it is as simple as that.

 

[Buoy-Master]

Not gonna quote JSV and Jon here but they said a mouthful! I turned away Treeman at this Tx and he a person I respect as an angler. IT KILLED me to have to do that! The same with Steve Norris! I shook hands with Steve Kite and told him I have wanted to meet him for some time! I respect these guys and I know for a fact that Gary Hughes and Brown save more fish at these Txes than most would care about. Hats Off to these people! </p>

Lets move out of this now. Thanks for your opinions and support here. </p>

 

[beetlespin]

I knew saturday morning on the way to tenn/coosa when i talked to some cba regulars heading back from the cff tournament that this was going to come up. The real mystery is why would these guys that fish $1000 and up tournaments even fish cff tournaments. They don't pay that much so money isn't really the issue. This isn't really an easy issue. Eliminate signup at the ramp and you will probably eliminate this problem. Or you could just have all the tournaments on cba tournament days but on another lake.

On another note, we have a good friend on here (cutthroat) who is trying to start his own tournament trail and fishing tackle business. I thought it was a little wrong for you guys to setup your tournament at a time that conflicted with Damon's deal. I think Damon needs the support of cff guys and we should at least try to be considerate of his schedule.

BS

 

[foodsaver]

personally I think that we already have an informal group with some pretty lax rules. All we ask is that you contribute to the site if you are going to take our money. Seems like a pretty fair requirement. The report only needs to include a generic pattern although you can make your post as detailed as you want. The reports that say something like I caught fish in the water on a bait aren't worth much but then again you shouldn't have to give out your super secret spot (that probably ain't no secret with as many people as we have on the water) There are plenty of guys on here that fish in the more competitive tournaments that don't post nearly as specific a report as I do. I happen to feel like I catch more fish because of this site either by fishing with people who might as well be guides (ericM who isnt a real bass fisherman because he uses shad emoPoke and Drumking etc etc) or by applying knowledge learned here on the water. Because of the success I have found from this site I want to make sure that I give back to the site and since DHAUN won't take donations I feel like I need to post a report whenever I go fishing.

 

[whenwegoin]

"Requiring" fishing posts may be harmful to the overall intentions of thise website. If you try to get information from someone who doesn't really want to give it, you might get fabricated information which could be worse than no information at all.

Then again what do I know!!

 

[Jmax]

whenwegoin - 6/18/2007 1:04 PM

"Requiring" fishing posts may be harmful to the overall intentions of thise website. If you try to get information from someone who doesn't really want to give it, you might get fabricated information which could be worse than no information at all.

Then again what do I know!!

WWG, I worry about that all the time...but again who say folks don't cheat in these Txs on our lake?emoDoh Yes, many of them say you will be required to take a polygraph but I have only heard of one that actually did it. I hope that anyone that would post a report would be honest and anyone that fishes ours or anyone elses for that matter would be honest as well. If not I believe they will have to answer for it in a higher court one of these days on judgement day.emoAngel There is no way to be 100% sure of any of it. We can only do the best we see fit and try to inforce the rules as best we can. I appreciate Bbass, RR, Bprice, Pointer, Flip and anyone else that puts these on. It is not hard to do but sometimes it does appear the backlash is much worse then the event itself. I had a great time the other night. We all stoud around long after the weigh in and had some great fellowship. I would have loved to stay but it was way past my bedtime.emoBigsmile Jmax

 

[whenwegoin]

I just wished I could post a report. A man has to go fishing before he can post a report. I think all my tackle has dry rotted.

 

[TennesseeTalker]

whenwegoin - 6/18/2007 2:44 PM

I just wished I could post a report. A man has to go fishing before he can post a report. I think all my tackle has dry rotted.

Well well well .. so that's the reason I haven't been taken to the Secret Hole .. you have no fishing gear???? I'll lend you a pole .. and a reel. I got lures Ga-LORE!!! I just need an address!

Nice to see you are STILL hanging around like a bad penny! emoPoke

TT

 

[2jigs]

The 2 reports rule came from last years Chick Tourny. When a team showed up & killed everyone, that had just joined a day or two before. Well, IT DIDN'T WORK! He got you again & he still hasn't made a report. If you wan't to hear from the #1 Man, you need to change the rule to read that everyone in the boat must have made two reports. You asked.

 

[Pointer 78]

I don't think I'd be interested in a point system. We might as well start a bass club affiliated with the FLW or B.A.S.S. and compete for spots in the State Tournament. I would however, be in favor of lowering the entry fee to $20.00 per boat. That way a little $ could be thrown the boater's way for gas.. It's all about bragging rights (something I hope to do one day) and the bull sessions following the tournaments that I look forward to. The 2 report rule would also be in effect.

 

[RangerRob]

Three pages later (I REALLY need to get back in here during the day) ... and I finally get a dog in this hunt. Frankly, I have a dog in this hunt because of two reasons: the first is that I've been a director and assisted with numerous CFF tournaments and the second is that this isn't AT ALL what DHaun had in mind when he founded the CFF.

I personally don't care to fish against anyone. I can donate and accept donations equally well. This ISN'T about who we fish against - for all of you who still don't get it - it's about the rules and the spirit of the CFF.

The "spirit of the CFF," you ask? If you have to ask, then you might need to question whether or not a CFF event is for you. Most who have fished these will tell you that the best parts of a CFF T are the hour prior to launch and the hour (or three) during and following the weigh-in. We get to see our buds, we get to laugh at me, and we get to see Jmax's trailer repeatedly get hit in the parking lot. People who routinely fish our events enjoy the CFF picnic, call Fat Albert to fix a rod, bring their kids to Cracker Fest, buy a jig from me, a spinnerbait from cutthroat, or a crank from Tr19, ... or donate to a cause as worthy as Maddie's because they GET IT. IT, is anglers helping anglers.

Fact is, there are plenty of upper-echelon anglers in here who chose not to fish our events because they have the stones to NOT take it out on a bunch of weekend warriors. I don't care. Come one, come all ... but follow the freakin' rules.

Here's my .02 since Billy asked ... a minimum of 50 posts (to include reports), first T fished as a co-angler, or they can go one-for-one with flip1up, but they have to bring the beer.

Can we go fishin' now ... ya sumbeeches?!?

RR

 

[Buoy-Master]

20 bucks is not a bad idea. </p>

 

[RangerRob]

BBass - 6/18/2007 8:13 PM



20 bucks is not a bad idea. </p>

I'm all for that myself. Or, we can keep it where it is and donate the other 1/2 to charity.

 

[DHaun]

I appreciate BBASS having the courage to ask opinions right after this event knowing that there would be possible fallout and criticism for him to deal with...there was no requirement for him to do that. He has successfully ran numerous tournaments on CFF and raised many thousands of dollars for charity in his efforts. He has my total confidence and I appreciate his hard work. I try to fish a few each year and have seen how much work it can be to assume responsibility for an event like this. He has made nothing from these tournaments and has not once asked for anything in return for himself. Thank You BBASS. I think he along with the other proven directors in this thread have earned the right to make basic decisions as to the best way to proceed from here.

A few comments & things I want to emphasize that I agree with in these various posts:

First off, I never thought these little tournaments would have so many issues worth bringing up on the forum. CFF is not a bass club nor will it ever be. It's a free website about fishing that exists due to the reports posted by contributing members. It welcomes all new members. The tournaments are a by-product and should help create content for the site. If they are worth having then they need to be done right. They need to be kept as simple as possible, but most of all they need to be kept as SAFE as possible. Not everyone is capable of taking on that responsibility and ensuring a safe and well-run event...

Anyone is going to feel let down when someone shows up to an event and ignores the basic rules - no matter how simple they are or what the competition is. It becomes even more visible when they win... Even after multiple attempts to communicate the most basic of rules it has happened several times and that's the primary reason for this thread as I see it.

The basic requirement started out with just posting a simple generic report after the event. I was fine with that and I'm fine with the 2 post before, 1 after rule as well. I don't think that is asking a whole lot. A basic report is fine - we don't want any secrets or specific locations. It's content for the site but its also an acknowledgement of others you have fished with/against. It's braggin rights for those who do well. I see pros give interviews at weigh-ins all the time talking about lures and patterns. I have also read reports posted here on CFF by some local big guns on occasion so I know it's possible to post a report without damaging an angler's future earnings. If someone wants to give a false report then I think that just demonstrates the price at which they will compromise their own integrity...they have my sympathy. I have seen some forums that will not allow any free classifieds be posted without 100 posts so I think this is about as small a post requirement one will ever see.

I also agree with no sign-ups at the ramp. If someone can take the time to hook up a boat, gas-up, and drive to the ramp they can take the time to click on a calendar entry and show the director (and other anglers) some courtesy so that they can get a headcount ahead of time in order to plan as safe an event as possible. I am also fine with the current fee and low $$ incentive...when its spread out among places its barely enough to cover gas and expenses.

In my opinion there is no such thing as a cherry picker when the event is intended to be a friendly competition with a low $$ incentive meant for CFF members to meet each other and share a bit of info. Most of these have never even had enough boats to be very big...that's another thing I like about them. Based on what I have heard I think the vast majority of anglers at these small informal events are honored to fish with this areas finest anglers when they are able to join us. All skill levels have always been welcome. It's when someone wins and ignores the basic requirements that makes others ask questions. I think there has been some misinterpretation in that area.

We should be careful to schedule tournaments so that they do not conflict or collide with other events. I know that some of these dates are selected based on other criteria (like who can show up) but the calendar exists to help with that.

I am freezing this thread based on member request. If the basic rules change they will be posted so everyone can see.

-Thanks
David