Exciting news for Pickwick!

[tbrowning]

New tournament trail beginning on Pickwick, the Champions Trail.
Competitors must have won an event with a team entry of at least
$150; this includes any lake, not just Pickwick. Highest level of
competition and integrity will be on display and expected at each
event. No membership fees; $150 entry fee; 90% paid back at
the ramp. That is right, 90%. For more information, send
instant message or email tbrowning23@gmail.com. Thanks!

[Jason Phillips]

Don't know how exciting that is for us normal folks....

How many boats are you expecting? 5? 10? It won't be many. There probably aren't 20 or 25 people withing several hours of Pickwick that have won that type of tournament to be a able to qualify. And do you really think those people want to fish against the best out there? No way. They aren't in it for the great competition. They're going to enter when they feel they have a good shot at winning.

Not shooting the idea down, just stating the way I see it. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd bet I'm not on this one. When's the first tournament?

[lukinupinbama]

I'm with Jason on this one.

Just out of curiosity - how you gonna confirm the 'Champion' status before the tournament? How many years back do you go? 5? 15? 25? (Avery, we may qualify at 25 yrs!) Do I gotta bring:

1) Trophy/plaque showing first place and receipt for $150+ entry fee
2)copy of check from tournament win + entry fee receipt
3)photo of my first place cash + cancelled entry fee check
4)receipt for my $150+ entry fee and a photo of me accepting my trophy/payout
5)a notarized statement from a tournament director stating I am a 'champion'
6) my friend swears to you that I won a $150+ entry fee tournament

There's other ways, I'm sure, to prove I am eligible to fish your 'Champion' tournament, but...

Can you prove you are eligible to fish your own tournaments? Or are you just hoping 20-30 guys show up, pay $150 to fish and you keep the 10% ($300-450 cool cash)??

Not being a smartazz, just realistic here. I see where you're headed, but I'm not sure where you're coming from...

[tbrowning]

Can go back as far as anyone wants to--once you have won
a qualifying event, whenever it was or is, you are welcome to
fish. The idea is to get not only the best competition but also
the highest level of character and integrity. Hopefully a man's
word would be proof enough that he had won an event of that
status; a simple phone call could clear that up. There are MORE
than 20-25 teams that will qualify just from Pickwick alone; could
be near 100 from the MS, TN, and AL area. Consider that this
includes Fishers of Men, Team Trails, Peanut, AFS, BFL, ABA,
and most charity tournaments and you see there is a wide range
of winners to choose from. And to get to be the best, you need
the best competition to drive you. Most of the guys I know that
have won these types of events WANT to fish when the best are
there. Just trying to set a standard of best possible fishermen,
best possible payouts, and highest level of sportsmanship. I
am not the director, so not worried about an "easy" few bucks.

[Jason Phillips]

Again, when and where is the first event? Would love to come check it out.

But I stand by my statement. There won't be 5-10 boats there at most.

Guaranteed payout for winning? How many places does it pay? 90% payback doesn't tell me how much I get for winning. If I sign up, pay my $150, spend another $150 in gas/lodging/practicing, and then there are only 5 boats signed up. That doesn't put me winning much, and haven't proven much either. Anyway......maybe it will work.

[tbrowning]

First tournament will be March 19th. Have scheduled one in April,
one in May, one in June, and one in September. If turnout is good
and people want, we can fish in July and August. Have dodged all
other trails dates so it won't interfere. Payout will be one in five
places; on 10 boats, 1st will be $850 and 2nd will be $400. On fifteen
boats, 1st will be $1000, 2nd will be $575, and 3rd will be $300. Lunker
paid out at $10 per boat. I can't control whether people will come and
fish or not; I have heard lots and lots of complaints about money not
being paid at the ramp and where does it go. I know there are expenses
for trails and other things; but this is the simplest concept there can be.
It is definitely not for everybody. Do I expect it to start out strong?
Who knows. But if I was trying for sponsors and trying to put my
name out there, why not do it in the toughest field possible? And why
pay my money so others can use at their discretion? I don't claim to
have all the answers and it won't satisfy everyone; but from the
perspective of one competitive angler, I love the concept of earning
your way in; fishing against the best; and 90% of the money going
back to the fishermen at the ramp. And from the comments and
emails I am getting, I will be shocked if there are only 5-6 boats.
If so few, this will fall by the way-side quickly. Have no desire for "another"
small tournament; want to have one that people will WANT to fish!
Have lots of details; send e-mail if interested. Thanks!

[mdwhitten]

Guys,
As Tony said, something new and different is being attempted here. It is NOT for everyone. You do have to qualify, but if and once you do, you get to fish for the highest percentage payback of any event on the lake.

It is a team event, and you must commit to the partnership at the first tournament. No switching partners in mid-tour, you can fish alone, but cannot switch. You know who you are competing against. Based on folks that I know, there are at least 25 guys on the TN/MS area of Pickwick already looking at fishing.

You will be required to pay the entry fee before you practice the week of the event. No last minute, find the fish, shotgun the event deal. And, as Tony said, you will be fishing against some of the best on the lake---every one is a tournament winner. Every one can fish to a high level. Win one of these, and you have done something special. I'm looking forward to it. I honestly would rather finish last to these guys, than win most anything else on the lake. Plus, I know I'm fishing for the highest percentage of payback.

[Jason Phillips]

Good luck to you guys. Still haven't heard WHERE the first one is. Pickwick is a big lake. You going out of MS, AL, TN?

And you have to be qualified before the first tournament of the year, correct? So, if I win a $150 entry fee tournament in April, I wouldn't be able to fish this trail until the next year?

I'm just playing devil's advocate here, so don't take my posts too far the wrong way.

[tbrowning]

Still waiting on all ramp permits to come through. First
one is scheduled for J P Coleman.

[lukinupinbama]

Tony, I was just giving you a hard time. I have checked you out and you passed. You are for real. These tournament deals pop up and go away all the time. I hope yours will stick. Good luck.

Sign me up. I'll be there. March 19th, JP Coleman, right?


Modified by lukinupinbama at 9:43 AM 12/21/2010

[mdwhitten]

Jason,
NO, once you have a qualifying win, you are welcome to start fishing at any point during the year. No waiting period.

[tbrowning]

Thanks, and look forward to your participation. Really guys
this is a simple idea with a simple plan. Will it work? I sure
hope so. Certainly not comparing any of us to them, but it
is kind of like the idea BASS had with the Elites; put the best
out there together; give them a good payback; and let
everything about it be of the highest level of integrity. Why
can't we do that on a more local level? And as far as proving
if someone qualifies or not--I don't think folks are going to
be lying to try to fish against the group of guys we are trying
to attract--the William Davis, Leon Tidwell, Ray Gresham,
Randy Haynes, Roger Stegall, and I could go on and on. The
idea is to create enough of an atmosphere that it is an honor
to be able to compete with such good PEOPLE that are in
turn good FISHERMEN.

[Jason Phillips]

Oh well crap....William Davis. I'll stay away from all of those tournaments.

Love Willie like a brother. And he is a stick of a fisherman too.

Again, hope it works out for you.

[lukinupinbama]

Tony, just wondering - why just Pickwick? If it's the best then we should be able to catch 'em anywhere, right? Why not Wilson, Wheeler and Guntersville on the schedule too? Just asking.

[tbrowning]

I think that is a very good thought process! Got to have
somewhere to start and see how much participation there
might be; just thought it would be easier to stay with one
lake that covers a three state region for purposes of a
beginning. Each area may want to try this idea, or if
the participation is there, could grow to a TRAIL covering
the TN River as you say from even Kentucky Lake to
Guntersville. What an awesome thought, and what kind
of sticks would that bring in? I can see in my minds
several areas trying this type of trail, or even one larger
one covering all, but again it will all depend on what the
fishermen really want to do. If you get participation, you
can do almost anything! ......And who wouldn't want to
take a shot at Guntersville---AMAZING lake!

[F150owner]

Dang it! Whitten & Stegall will be there and would take my money!!

It does sound like there will be some tough competition and you'd need to know Pickwick very well.

[FISH TICK]

Jason, I don't think the southern rally's in the past will qualify you??

[Jason Phillips]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by FISH TICK &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Jason, I don't think the southern rally's in the past will qualify you?? </td></tr></table>

Nope. You either.

[teamsos]

Guys I wish you luck. Have been doing the ABA trail now for going into the 3rd year and all I hear is that its too much money (75). We have been drawing on average last year 25 boats. Hope it works out for ya.