OTW Striper Cup, enhanced rules, Should S-B fish as a team?

[JohnR]

Primary Improvements are listed below - Detailed Rules are listed on OTW's site: http://onthewater.com/stripercuprules.html as well as the post by WHDave: http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ad.php?t=30572

1 Reduced weighed in fish from 2 to 1 per week (still 34" minimum which is a common minimum in club contests)

2 Angler of Year - 2 Divisions, Boat & Surf, with each division awarding to the aggregate weight of the top 5 fish of any one angler - also down considerably in the total amount of fish potentially wieghed in.

3 Striper Cup, Club, and State awards are based on the heaviest TEN fish weighed in by a club. The new rules effectively remove the need of weighing in 34 inch fish as well as bringing small clubs and large clubs more on par, evening the odds.

I personally feel that OTW made substantial changes to the BENEFIT of this tournament and I applaude their efforts in doing so. You all spoke, others from clubs and individual readers spoke, and On The Water listened and embraced the general consensus. The process of oublic comment worked, and OTW addressed the majority of the concerns of the public.

So now, we are in Club OTW Poll Part Deaux. I am looking to get the pulse of the site members as to whether S-B should field a team under the new rules but I need your opinions:

BTW - you can vote twice...

[BigFish]

Goin' solo. Team BigFish!

[Sea Dangles]

John, no offense but when did S-B become a club?An organization that traditionally you apply to for membership and has meetings besides wings or tctfn.If this is something that came about because of power in numbers or a good shot to win given the loose description regarding clubs I think it is wrong.S-B is a great site and will be around for a long time allah willing, but perhaps we should sit out one year before entering the present format.Next year the trophy could rest at Hooters.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

John, no offense but when did S-B become a club?An organization that traditionally you apply to for membership and has meetings besides wings or tctfn.If this is something that came about because of power in numbers or a good shot to win given the loose description regarding clubs I think it is wrong.S-B is a great site and will be around for a long time allah willing, but perhaps we should sit out one year before entering the present format.Next year the trophy could rest at Hooters.

We are a new generation of club that dovetails nicely with the traditional clubs and offers less in some cases and offers more in others. Plus we support clubs. If you feel that we don't qualify as a club then obviously you would not fish for a not club so sign the Poll that you'll fish individually, as part of another club, or to not fish it at all. Your choice.

However, there has been some scuttlebutt that groups like SB and some other sites may be able to field a team. If that is the case AND the members here WANT S-B to field a team, perhaps we will. As for power in numbers and the fact that a lot of our people will fish for traditional clubs they belong to (and we are just giving people an option to fish with us), I think we are smaller than a lot of clubs, certainly like MSBA or RISAA. I've heard rumors (nothing official) that it may be by state anyway...

The question at this point, and where you are encouraged to vote on the poll, is which way each of you feel we should go. This is not my call, but that of the SB members.

[Sea Dangles]

Just trying to provide the pulse of the membership albeit one member.Are websites eligible to enter as clubs or would this involve more "tweaking"?If OTW considers us eligible to enter, are we then supposed to conveniently reinvent of ourselves as a club given necessity is the mother of invention.Please explain "new generation of club" given the fact this tournament is one that is trying to bring back a tradition.

[tattoobob]

I am also going solo, I know I am not going large but I am in it for the party

[Saltheart]

I like the rule changes. If we can , lets field a S_B team. If for some reason we can't or don't field a team , I'm going to enter as an individual just so I can go to the beer party at the end.

[Slinger]

Under the new rules I will enter individually. I primarily fly fish with only an occasional foray with the spin rod. I doubt I have any real chance but I`d like to put one of those 30 pins on my hat and know it was with a fly. Congrats to OTW they listened and did the right thing, allways been my favorite rag since day one.
Slinger

[JohnR]

SD, over the past few years we have had numerous discussions on how we are similar to and seperate from a traditional club, often due to tournaments. As that is not the topic of this thread I want to see this stay on topic and get the general consensus of what people want to do regarding this tourney...

Thanks,

John

[Sea Dangles]

I thought the timing seemed self-serving but do as you wish.I look forward to the celebration at the conclusion.BTW how many members are in our "club"?

[Nebe]

if OTW allows internet fishing sites to participate, there should be a seperate division for them. Not knocking this site or anyother site, but the membership levels on these sites are monstorous. Plus, each site has members from maine to north carolina. If SB.com enters i will all of you the best of luck Im not going to enter.

[Clogston29]

I don't think that I'm gonna enter. I do applaud otw's response to concerns of fishermen but I just don't see this as something that's for me.

[Slipknot]

I don't think the forums should enter as a club, at first I did but after giving it some thought I think the traditional clubs are what OTW had in mind. Also I am not going to enter as a club member for msba either since only 10 fish can be entered, I don't want to get involved with any of that since they most likely would want the best fisherman to enter fish and I have to be lucky to catch one 30 or better each year. Seems like it will take alot of decisions to which fish should be entered, if 10 fish get weighed in fairly early in the tourney, then that lessons the chance for the club to win I'd say, so maybe the club will have to figure out how to keep track of club entered fish possible by updating there website or something, I see problems there.
Maybe I'll join just to go to the party afterwards

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Nebe

if OTW allows internet fishing sites to participate, there should be a seperate division for them. Not knocking this site or anyother site, but the membership levels on these sites are monstorous. Plus, each site has members from maine to north carolina. If SB.com enters i will all of you the best of luck Im not going to enter.

What I have not officially heard is - will they allow sites to compete. But the "rumor" mill has it that the sites would be SB RI or SB Mass. Don't know if ANY of it is true. And even if it is I don't know if S-B will field a team - that is up to all of you. At this point I am even money fishing it whether or not SB is in, individually or with a club for which I am a member.

Oh and the party afterwards, I think we need to book some rooms, TFHTF nite

[Slipknot]

TFHTF?
more like TFDTF

[Sea Dangles]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

I don't think the forums should enter as a club, at first I did but after giving it some thought I think the traditional clubs are what OTW had in mind. Also I am not going to enter as a club member for msba either since only 10 fish can be entered, I don't want to get involved with any of that since they most likely would want the best fisherman to enter fish and I have to be lucky to catch one 30 or better each year. Seems like it will take alot of decisions to which fish should be entered, if 10 fish get weighed in fairly early in the tourney, then that lessons the chance for the club to win I'd say, so maybe the club will have to figure out how to keep track of club entered fish possible by updating there website or something, I see problems there.
Maybe I'll join just to go to the party afterwards

Slip,I think it's the combined weight of the top 10 fish.If that's the case,you have as good a chance as anyone else.Also you would have the ability to stay current with the smallest of the 10 to aid in your decision of whether to keep the fish in question.

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

Slip,I think it's the combined weight of the top 10 fish.If that's the case,you have as good a chance as anyone else.Also you would have the ability to stay current with the smallest of the 10 to aid in your decision of whether to keep the fish in question.

I was checkin out the old trophy at the mass show.the numbers on there where way up there for ten fish. 547 comes to mind there was a 600 number if I remember right.
Slips a great fisherman.As a club of one he might not win.From the surf last yr i would guess the top ten for our club was low 400's.Thats not alot I so i hope my point doesn't come across in "typical" NJ fashion.From a boat it'll take over 500 to win.What do u think it'll take from the surf to win.2 yrs ago in NJ i had 160 lbs for 5 fish.I also had a 36 in the canal that would have added 8 lbs to that total.5 40's would be 200 lbs.I would tip my hat to that.

[Sea Dangles]

I think there would have to be a lot of good fortune to average over 40# for the top 10 from surf.From a boat,it's a different story and could conceivably happen in one night.With the captain handing out cows to clubmates to get weighed in.I'll be happy to qualify for a pin with the tournament ending so early.That's fishing,you never know.

[Canalman]

HEY I have an idea....

Lets quit bitching and let OTW decide.

You guys

[NIB]

Who's bitchin.?

[Backbeach Jake]

I'm learning a hell of a lot here, there's a ton of fine and very fine points that I would never have considered. I've never entered a striper derby, so I'm totally lost, but I'm catching on . Thanks.

[Sea Dangles]

Originally Posted by Canalman

HEY I have an idea....

Lets quit bitching and let OTW decide.

You guys

Is that your idea of a discussion?

[Flaptail]

John, obviously in a free and open envoronment such as this there will always those who know better, think they know better or think your not so smart as they. In that event, knowing the REAL truth on this and that unlike like Mr. SEA dANGLES and others who are purely speculating and using annecdotal info to post thier "personal" impressions on what OTW thinks or does not think constitutes a "club", in this the 21st century, the year of our Lord 2006 as opposed to 1949 and with the advent of the technological breakthroughs that have made this site a reality, OTW does in fact regognize Striped-Bass.com as a "club" and it has been stated to me personally by the management there and when I was signing on to the contest was asked point blank "why aren't you and the S-B.COM gang signing on as a club"? You have a regitered membership, you have events (TCTFF and Plugfest).

So there it is to all the know it alls, pundits and gurus. Yes you can enter as club according to OTW.

Now John, if you decide the effort and aggravation and BS is not worth it I understand and you are always welcome to join as an individual and come up to the Cape and fish with me, BigFish, Stiffy and a couple others anytime.

That is all, fire at will.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

"OTW does in fact regognize Striped-Bass.com as a "club" and it has been stated to me personally by the management there and when I was signing on to the contest was asked point blank "why aren't you and the S-B.COM gang signing on as a club"? You have a regitered membership, you have events (TCTFF and Plugfest).

Thanks for some clarification . I have an email that I'm going to get out to CM probably tomorrow to answer a couple fundamental questions (not a nastygram ). As for whether S-B fields, that's up to the members (pretty evenly split so far)

come up to the Cape and fish with me, BigFish, Stiffy and a couple others anytime.

And you all down to 'Lil Rhody

[Slipknot]

Flap, thanks for clearing that up so we don't have to guess or speculate. That's the first I heard that, so now we know.

where's the trout at? I'm coming now

[NIB]

Ya Steve,
Thanks for unravalling the Untruths of MR.Seadangles. for me.
I especially dislike speculatey post's an annecdotly info.

[Canalman]

NIB

I guess bitching may not have been the perfect word... but you know what I mean

SeaD,,,
As I see it there is no "discussion" we're just blowing wind here... we CAN'T come up with the right outcome because the only people who can make that decision are the people from OTW. GET IT? I like you a lot on person but online, it's like you get your beer balls on.... relax a bit and remember this is about fun... for all of us, and it's not about you.

-Dave

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Canalman

GET IT? I like you a lot on person but, I like balls.... relax a bit and remember this is about fun... )

-Dave

[Canalman]

[spence]

To be honest, now that I know...I can tell.

-spence