Couples Tournaments need feedback.

[TBDIRECTOR]

I'm thinking about a couples trail for 2010 and I need feedback from the couples that have fished in other trails.

1. Whats the one thing you'd like to see in such a trail?
2. What places would you like to fish?
3. When should it kick off?
4. Would seven tournaments in a season with five qualifying tournaments for a championship be ok?
5.Whats a realistic entry fee?

If you have suggestions send them my way.

What I've got in mind is a $70 membership fee per team with $130 entry fee with the optional Big Bass $20. Payback would be 85% with cash back at the ramp.
The Championship would pay the First Place Couple a guaranteed $5000 minimum. Couples AOY would receive the next seasons fees paid, Jackets, Hats,Plaques and Free Entry in the 2010 Championship with the First Spot reserved for the AOY each day. Let me know what you think and please give me. honest feedback.

[ditchdiggerjcfII]

tough nut to crack since Vince has a well established couples circuit that runs statewide.

[TBDIRECTOR]

Yes Vince has a great trail, I've received a few calls last year and this year asking if I consider a trail and thought why not. But first I'd like to get some feedback such as yours and others on their thoughts. I'd like to know why I should start another couples trail and could I be better than others or just another couples trail. I'm definitely not interest in the money, I even have asked my wife after 17yrs to fish with me for the first time in a couples tournament whether it be my own or Vince Millers. I will not start another trail if I can't improve the format to give more back to the teams and guarantee a better Championship. I have petitioned two large Couples trails to allow me to join one of their ranks and possibly bring a greater opportunity for a couples trail to Arkansas.

[ditchdiggerjcfII]

I know some of our neighbor state have some nice couples trails with corporate sponsorship. something like that would be nice. Most of those trails give away a boat I believe.

[Eyra1]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ditchdiggerjcfII &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">tough nut to crack since Vince has a well established couples circuit that runs statewide. </TD></TR></TABLE>


Does he actually go statewide? I didn't think he went further north than Greers Ferry..........

[ditchdiggerjcfII]

couples championship this year is at table rock. He also will go to chicot, and if he'll go there then I am sure he would go to beaver or norfork.

[Eyra1]

Yeah, I know about Chicot. Fished there with the Couples back in 99. Greeson, Ouachita, Greers, Dardanelle, Chicot and the Ark River.

[Dando]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DIRECTOR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm thinking about a couples trail for 2010 and I need feedback from the couples that have fished in other trails.

1. Whats the one thing you'd like to see in such a trail?
2. What places would you like to fish?
3. When should it kick off?
4. Would seven tournaments in a season with five qualifying tournaments for a championship be ok?
5.Whats a realistic entry fee?

If you have suggestions send them my way.

What I've got in mind is a $70 membership fee per team with $130 entry fee with the optional Big Bass $20. Payback would be 85% with cash back at the ramp.
The Championship would pay the First Place Couple a guaranteed $5000 minimum. Couples AOY would receive the next seasons fees paid, Jackets, Hats,Plaques and Free Entry in the 2010 Championship with the First Spot reserved for the AOY each day. Let me know what you think and please give me. honest feedback.


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A "couples" trail/tournament isn't like any "normal" tx trail. It's about the same things...money, bragging rights, trophies, winning, etc. BUT, it's just as much about the people and the fun also. (maybe more so).
Cater towards the FUN first, then the tournament second.
Fish places that have fish and are fun to go to. Bull Shoals, Table Rock, Dardanelle, Greers, Ouachita, Dumas, and even some smaller lakes that are known for numbers more than size of fish.
To the money part? At 80% payback, Vince does not make a killin. BUT, some think he does and that hurts the trail.

$100 entry fee, $10 big bass, $5 trash fish keeps everybody in the "hunt" so to speak. Pay back several places by closing the gap between 1st and 2nd.
Example: $1000 for 1st and $500 for 2nd is too far apart. $750 and $500 would work just as well and allow another paid placement or two down the line.

Points are important, as is a point system that allows a team to come back if down. Vince's point/lb system seems to work okay.

Points winner should get more. Maybe free entry into the next years tournaments for that team?

If you make it a closed "club". Where only those teams that paid a membership due at the 1st of the year are allowed to compete and advertise it that way...You may not get as many teams the 1st year, but, they won't drop out halfway through the season due to a jack-potter, or, low points.
I've seen a local couple come in last minute and be allowed to fish for that ONE extra entry fee, and five couples think it's wrong and not show up for the next one. Loose $500 by trying to gain $100.
That's part of a "couples" trail. The person in charge of the boat and decisions is NOT the guy that normally fishes tournaments.
No matter how you set it up, It must be catered to keep the women happy.
No fishing alone either. If ya both can't be there, ya just don't fish.

[Eyra1]

Danny has got some good ideas....I like a few of them really well

[Dando]

I gave my "I have and idea" speech once and was pelted with rotten maters.

[ditchdiggerjcfII]

I don't like the "no fishing alone" rule. April will skip one if it is too cold, hot, or rainy. If we are fishing for points that would hurt.

[wildkat7]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ditchdiggerjcfII &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't like the "no fishing alone" rule. April will skip one if it is too cold, hot, or rainy. If we are fishing for points that would hurt. </TD></TR></TABLE>

kindof defeats the purpose of a "couples tournament" if you aren't fishing as a couple....

[Dando]

I really don't have anything against jackpotters. I've done, and will do it again anytime the rules allow (and the planets line up in my favor).

BUT, for a couples tx trail....That's a big no no.

Throw in an "okay to fish by yourself" in even one tx, AND...let anybody fish?
You will have a local show up by himself to fish one tx.

You won't have half the boats show up for the remainder of the year.

One of the two can't be allowed in a couples trail.

[turkdaddy]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wildkat7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

kindof defeats the purpose of a "couples tournament" if you aren't fishing as a couple.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree.

If your wife won't go you could always dress Danny in a dress and call him your girlfriend, of course if you did that make sure you get in the trash fish pot.

[Dando]

Oh yeah, and one more thing. And it's a biggie.

Most of the couples won't fish two trails.

[Dando]

Sam, Will you be fishing partner??????

[cmclairday2]

BWAAAAAAAHHHHAAAAA

[Dando]

I've lost some weight ya know.....

[Eyra1]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SkeeterDD22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I gave my "I have and idea" speech once and was pelted with rotten maters.

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Yeah, but I'll toss a couple of fresh ones your way for you to fire back....

I like the closed club so jackpot tx 's don't happen. Couples are usually more relaxed as you spend quality time.
I also like the "don't fish alone" rule. It's COUPLES! If you want to fish team with a person of the opposite sex and want to fish alone because "it's too hot, cold or rainy", see Super Teams!
Couples is geared more toward comeraderie, not just trying to get points and win a boat at the end of the year.
Some people get too competitive...............

[wildkat7]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SkeeterDD22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sam, Will you be fishing partner??????

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Another one of those times I wish I could see the pics.....have to wait til I get home....

Oh, and don't expect to see me on any of those trails...it would be me fishing and my wife laying in the boat catching sun...