Anglers Like Field Reduction, But Payouts A Concern

Multiple changes in a working environment are almost always greeted with a mix of reactions from the rank-and-file, and the alterations to the FLW Tour for 2009 are no exception.

The majority of veteran Tour anglers surveyed by BassFan recently are pleased with the narrowing of the fields from 200 to 150 boats and with the requirement that competitors sign up for the full slate of events (an attempt to eliminate local aces from "jackpotting" tournaments on their home lakes). On the flip-side, some are unhappy about the overall reduction in pro purses (particularly in the three Opens) and the fact that payouts will be limited to the Top 50 despite higher entry fees next year.

"It's good that FLW listened to the anglers because the (field size and jackpotting) issues are things that have been brought up pretty consistently over the last few years," said Randy Blaukat, who's fished the Tour full-time since 1997. "Their business model isn't conducive to these changes, but it's something that's made us feel a lot better about the whole thing.

"But on the other hand, a lot of us are disappointed about the pay structure and the increase in (entry fees). I've been doing this for 20 years and this is as difficult of a sponsor environment toward anglers that I've ever seen, and nobody wants a hike in fees in light of all that.

"Everybody's got their own agenda," he continued, "and nobody's ever going to be satisfied 100% – whether it's us or the organization. You just have to play the hand you're dealt and focus on fishing when you're out there."

Finally, Some Elbow Room

Curt Lytle was among many pros who think the smaller field size will be of great benefit to the Tour regulars.

"I think the difference will be striking," he said. "Going from 200 (boats) to 150 might not seem like a lot, but on the water, it'll be huge. I think the guys who've always fished the big fields will be pleasantly surprised. It'll be a lot less crowded and it'll feel like only half the (former) field's out there."

The Tour had a 150-boat limit through 2003. It was increased to 175 the following year, and then to 200 in 2005.

"I was a lot more consistent when we had 150 boats and I fished differently," said Terry Bolton. "Then when it went to 200 I didn't do so well for a couple years – it took me that long to adjust to all the pressure (on the fish) and to learn how to fish behind more people.

"I used to spend a large portion of my time flipping or throwing a spinnerbait, and I can remember having areas to myself for 2 days without ever having another boat around me. Then it changed more to spinning rods with small finesse jigs and little crankbaits. I'm still going to finesse-fish quite a bit, but at certain times some of the lakes should be more wide-open."

Dan Morehead has a similar view, and he stated it bluntly.

"I'm not going to have to carry a bunch of spinning rods and I can fish like a man," he said.

All or None

In past years, some Tour pros who were out of Forrest Wood Cup contention would opt to skip the final tournament or two of the season in order to save on expenses. That opened up spots in the field for others, including locals with vast experience on those bodies of water.

The phenomenon was of particular significance the last 2 years when the regular season wrapped up at the Detroit River, where lakes Erie and St. Clair are part of the mix. Local ace Steve Clapper won the event in 2007 and was joined in the Top 10 by four other non-regulars.

FLW Outdoors announced earlier this summer that Tour anglers would have to "commit" to all six events in 2009 – a policy that, on the surface, is in line with the Bassmaster Elite Series.

"That's definitely the way it should've been from the start, and you're not going to find anybody except a local who doesn't agree with that rule," Blaukat said.

Added Rob Kilby: "I've never liked jackpotters out there fishing and taking money out of the Tour anglers' pockets. The Tour ought to support the guys who fish the full circuit."

But reigning Angler of the Year David Dudley brought up an interesting question that he's waiting for clarification on from top-level FLW officials. In the past, anglers at any of the organization's competitive levels have been able to put down deposits for events, and then decline a spot in the field if their name was called and receive a refund.

Unless "commiting" to a tournament now entails making a non-refundable deposit or contains some other type of punitive component, what's to stop a well-heeled local angler from paying all of the deposits up front and then turning down all of the invitations except the one for the event in his back yard? The reason Dudley is familiar with such a tactic is because he formerly utilized it in the EverStarts (now Strens).

"If it's done the way I'm talking about, you'd have to come up with something that says if they call you and you decline to fish, you lose your deposit for that tournament," he said. "People will come up with all kinds of excuses, like my cousin's in the hospital and I can't make it.

"If there isn't some kind of penalty, then (the policy) won't be all it's cracked up to be."

Fewer Checks to Go Around

Regardless of their status, professional anglers are feeling the squeeze of the sluggish economy just like everyone else. That's why many are bothered by the fact that it'll cost them more to fish next year, and at the same time there will be fewer checks handed out and less money in the overall Tour prize pool.

Tour entry fees next year will be $4,000 for each of the three Qualifiers and $5,000 for each of the three Opens (up from $3,500 and $4,000 respectively). Meanwhile, unofficial preliminary estimates show the pros' share of the purse at each Open is slated to drop to $932,000 – down from $1,267,000 in 2008.

Last year, the total pro purse at each Open was $467,000 greater than the amount of entry fees collected. For 2009, that figure looks to be $182,000. (For the three Qualifiers, the purse money that's over and above the total of the entry fees is actually up 6.75% next year, from $147,000 to $166,500).

The 2010 Forrest Wood Cup will offer an additional $314,000 over its current purse for this year and next, but anglers are primarily concerned about the prize money that won't be there for the 2009 Opens. Also, the Opens paid $10,000 down to 75th place last year and $5,000 from 76th to 100th, while the Qualifiers offered $10,000 down to 50th and $2,000 down to 75th.

In '09, those who fail to finish 50th or higher will go home empty-handed.

"I haven't seen numbers that were FLW-published, but by the ones that are going around among the fishermen, we're getting taken advantage of pretty bad," said Mike Hawkes. "The fees are up $1,000 at the three Opens and the payout is down from last year by quite a bit, and they're cutting the field by 50 and the checks by 25.

"I'm not very happy about that and the bottom line is if that's the way it's going to be, I think we'd have been better off if they hadn't messed with it. I'm not badmouthing anybody here, but the numbers are what they are. It's going to cost more to play, and you're not going to get paid as much for doing well."

Anthony Gagliardi said the elimination of 50 anglers and 25 checks is a ratio that doesn't favor the angler.

"I would like to have seen the same payout structure as before," he said. "To me, the 50 guys you aren't going to have aren't among the guys you consistently had to beat out for a check.

"I don't think they had to keep as deep a payout for all six (tournaments), but I just wish the Opens paid down farther."

Excellence is a Premium

Finishing 50th or higher might not seem like a monumental task, but consider this: Dudley's average placement en route to winning the AOY this year was 33rd.

"What they're asking everybody to do in order to go out and make their living is come close to the Angler of the Year's average," Dudley said. "When you put it in that light, it could scare some people off. A guy who averages from the 60s to the 70s, which is still good, might not make a penny next year."

For some, however, the lower overall payout and fewer checks is a fair trade-off for getting some boats off the water.

"Personally, I'll take fishing for less money with fewer people," Kilby said. "In some instances, paying 75 or 100 (anglers) was too many.

"You can make a case either way. Ideally, I'd like to see them cut it down to 100 boats and then pay half the field."

That last idea sounds vaguely familiar, doesn't it?

Notable

> An email to the FLW Outdoors communications department seeking comment for this story drew no response.

> Andre Moore said the Tour might have had trouble filling 200-boat fields next year even if it had maintained the status quo. "With the economy so bad and prices out of control, they probably thought they couldn't get more than (150) anyway. It's going to be hard to keep doing this if things don't turn around."

> Like Gagliardi, Glenn Browne preferred the former pay structure. "The Opens paid half the field this year, and I wish they'd have stuck to that because the fees went up some more. Guys have to make a living and every little bit helps."