NBAA Classic locations

[OUTLAW]

I can't blaim NBAA for wanting to get a little money from a town for bringing that many guy's down, but they should look at the lake and see if it can handle that big of a field, I don't think that this years site can handle it. NBAA is almost forced to go south to find a spot that can support 300 boats for a week of fishing. or they should have smaller fields. they let just about any one fish that fishes 5 weekend and 12 overtime tournaments.

[Skip Johnson]

I doubt you will ever see it on muskegan its just not big enough if its windy and boats cant get out plus not everybody is running 20' plus rigs to keep it safe if they do get out.
houghton may not have been the best pick but theres worse places to go, in this present economy Id bet theres alot of happy guys that will be able to fish houghton that could not have afforded to drive 12 hours each way to a place like kentucky/barkley.

[fish hound]

if it gets windy on houghton, the guys with small rigs (PLUS MOST EVERYONE ELSE) will be bunched up in the creeks and canals.  that should be a good place to go watch a fight, and who knows, a bass tournament might break out.  that's a big lake by MI standards, but not big enough for that many boats. 

[fish hound]

the best thing about going south is that we can start real tournament fishing earlier in the year (paper tounaments don't count). the fish are bigger.   find a city down there that will give NBAA the kickbacks they want.  start looking further out.  my boss doesn't look this week for the jobs i'll do next week!!!!   

[OUTLAW]

Well said fish hound. You sound like a very smart guy. I think BASS and FLW have there classic locations for the next 3 years. I could understad it if you were talking about a 30 or 40 boat classic. But they know how many boats they will have for there classic. Like i said pretty much every one goes that wants to. I think the answer to the proble is a smaller field for the classic. it would open up a lot more lakes to fish, and it would truely be the best anglers that get to fish it.

[fish hound]

i laugh 'cause you don't even have to catch a fish to have a chance to win the boat if you qualify from the overtime divisions.  apparently it has nothing to do with who can fish the best, just who will show up.  maybe if they had a Ranger or Champ to give away i might get in on that, but i work too late during the week in the summer to hit a whole division.

[silverminnow]

You know you two crack me up... complain,complain, complain... I fish with the guys on the weeknights and there are alot of great anglers that fish just as hard as anyone else and who deserve to go to the classic as much as anyone else.  Who cares where it is, if you are a good fisherman as you say then adapt and fish.  Stop tearing down a good organization that puts more back into their anglers than you will ever know. If you have all the answers and the best way to do things and such a great plan for how classics and tournaments should be run then go out and start your own and show us how it is.  Stop telling us when you do nothing but complain about this and that and everything else.  I have read your post and your ridicule and your complaints and all of that and I for one am really sick of the negativity.  Pardon me for saying so but take your own advice from your own post and if you don't like it then don't fish with NBAA. But don't keep tearing down what others are trying so hard to build up and continue to see succeed in  spite of the guys that can't stand it because all they do is complain.  So now go ahead with whatever you need to call me or say but at least maybe you will get off your vandeta against NBAA. Leave it alone and move on....

[LGMOUTH]

Very good post silverminnow I couldnt have said it better myself. I would like to add one thing though. It sounds like neither of you guys are going to fish NBAA or the Classic so why are you posting all of this on the NBAA forum section and if you are fishing these then why are you complaining about them. I also am tired of reading all of this negativity toward an organization that is only trying to make our great sport better for all of us. I am proud to be apart of NBAA and everything that they do so posting on this forum board all of your complaints wont get you anywhere with me or probably any other member that reads this NBAA forum post. If you have complaints that you want to voice I would suggest going right to the top and give Jim or Jack a call.


Company Man

[Skip Johnson]

at least NBAA has a true classic for the non pro angler with alot of competition and real prizes like skeeter boats and I believe its 3 of them and cash not every trail offers a true classic why would somebody bag on such an awesome trail for the non pro guy.
you guys cant afford or qualify for a real classic or we would have seen you on tv a couple weeks ago and you wouldnt be on the computer becouse you would be fishing in texas right now paying $5500.00 for each tournament.
I would be happy to fish a small lake with 300 guys for a chance at 1 boat let alone 3 of them, you obviousley havent the slightest clue as to how much work and preperation goes into getting huge sponsers or organizing and funding such an event, come on guys find a better cause to fight for, maybe use your negative energy to send the governor a love letter or something worth while.

[dartag]

there seems to be a lot of " negativity " on this site as well as others i visit.  maybe we need this warm weather to get everyone outside away from these boxes.  guess if someone is not happy with a series rather than bash it,  they need to visit Roy Randolphs site.  he has a list of close to 900 tournys for this summer.  if you can't find something there you like, there is always golf.

http://www.royrandolph.com/fishing/opens.htm

[OUTLAW]

I am just trying to give some ideas how the problem can be solved. Thats all I am not complaining. I just think that the problem can be solved in a couple differant ways. I really think that a smaller field would make lake selection alot easyer. Thats all I am saying.

[BASS FISHERMAN]

who cares !!!

BASS TRACKERS RULE 

[fish hound]

OK, i crossed some lines.  i apologize.  however, i used to have a saying when i was a platoon sargeant: "it's time to start worrying when the complaining stops, cause that means all your guys are dead".  fun is what brings most guys out to fish, but good classics are what keep them around for a whole series.  i'm just the guy voicing opinion for quite a few anglers.  there are tournaments i'll fish, but not whole divisions, and i have run a club before, complaints are as big a part of it as a bump board and set of scales.

[silverminnow]

 The classic is what it is and none of us can change it.  I think that no matter where it is everyone that attends will have a great time.  I will tell you this, last year at Kentucky/Barclay was my first classic with NBAA, I had never seen the water, did not know what to expect and knew that I really had very little chance of doing very well given the circumstances.  I weighed in one fish, my partner wouldn't even go on stage with me.  I still did it to proof the point that I came, I fished, I caught one keeper and I had a great time doing it.  We had some guys from our division that went to the championship and we got behind them to cheer them on.  I love to win and am very competitive but I am still learning.  Maybe as I become better my way of thinking will change but I also love to have fun with fishing.  I am fishing with my 12 year old son this year in the weeknight tournaments and I want him to love our sport and learn to have fun with it as well as be competitive.  No matter where we end up going my point is that we should not forget to have fun and enjoy those we fish with.  Thanks for the positive responses and not bashing me or anyone else that responded in a positive way as I really believe we all have the same goal and that is to promote a great sport and have fun with it. (and sometimes win a little money back to keep our wives happy and throw them off of how much we really spend doing this.)  That is my warm and fuzzy post for this month.  Hope you guys have a good day and Spring is just around the corner.  COME ON SPRING!!!!!!

[silverminnow]

Hey guys, I just got a call from the Lansing show.  NBAA has 250 teams signed up right now for Houghton Lk.  That should be alot of fun and obviously guys are coming to the classic as it is closer this year and makes it easier to afford.  They also announced the site for next year.  I will tell you as long as we can all except it is what it is and check it out before passing judgment............. Ok, good I am glad we can do that..... The classic for 2008 is going out of Carollton Kentucky on the Ohio River. (Near Tanners Creek) I went to the web site for Carollton and it actually looks like a nice place to hold an event such as this.  Ok, go check out the site and tell your buddies where it is so we can all plan on being there for another great NBAA classic.  See ya and have a great day.

[thedude]

i'm a little naive to nbaa stuff here so help me out.....

you guys fish the classic as your opening event of the year right?
do you have to qualify for it the season prior (in this case '06)?

[silverminnow]

Yes sir, You qualify for the 2007 classic in the 2006 season. There are different criteria based on weeknight and weekend series.  The weekend series you have to fish 5 out of 6 events and place in the top finishers based on # of boats.(which determines how many anglers from that division can go)In the weeknight series you have to fish 10 out of 12 events to qualify and also be in the top finishers based on # of boats in that division. You can also be drawn as a widlcard for that as well.  In both you must fish at least half of the events to go as a sub if someone needs a sub.

[fish hound]

OK, so there it is.  ohio river.  thanks for putting it out.  i guess not ALL rumors are false.

[Skip Johnson]

it feels good when your right ha fish hound
ok points back to you

[OUTLAW]

That sounds like it will be a fun time! Wish I could go but I have a schedual conflict. I am sure all of the guy's that make it will have fun and enjoy the banquet, fishing, and Commodity. I have been to that section of the Ohio river before if any one needs any info on how to catch them down there let me know. Good luck and have a good time.