Competitions

[CHUKKA]

Like g.ordon says i think selecting a mark suitable for the conditions and time when the match is to be fished is half the skill...

In regards to prizes i think the top prize always has to be big jusf to draw a crowd.... People are less likely to stake 10 to win 300 than they are to win a grand

It's difficult to select a mark when the boundaries are so large its not as if you can move 20 miles halfway through a match or if conditions aren't quite as expected. Trouble is that too many marks can fish when boundaries are so big. It a big sea is running it becomes much easier but its mostly flat nowadays turning the matches in to somewhat of a lottery!
I would happily pay £20 to fish if it was all paid out and wasnt spent on kettles, toasters, rod bags or Grey's fleeces. 20 good prizes is all that's needed. Often prizes are not even worth the entry fee let alone the full days fishing costs! It's an insult to wait around for a rig wallet!

 

[peter.m]

Some good points and arguements on both sides. If anyone hasn't organised an open then have a go and then see if your views change .

For me if there is going to be more organised then reduce the boundaries and agree them between the clubs so the ground is varied between each competition and try and give it some variety. Same HQ and boundaries and people fishing seems to lose the identity.

As a kid I used to look forward to the different comps, Tynemouth for the chance to fish the pier, Whitley Festival for a two day match etc.

As for pegged matches in recent years I've learned loads from starting to fish them next to top anglers and even having a bit crack in the bar later on. You realise that even as a bit of a novice they are picking up on things that go well for you and are more than happy to pass on tips. I think that the north east misses a bit of this. That said I don't want to be always be sat on one spot I want the freedom to take a chance elswhere.

I know prizes aren't everyones cup of tea but at times lots of club members put a great deal of time getting stuff donated so you have to be greatful and if it means everyone gets a chance at getting their money's worth then well done. I remember one of the best for New Hartley over 100 weighed in and there was still a salvage draw. When there's not much caught people don't want to hang around and it hits your hosts and your ability to make a few quid for your funds. I'd go for a better spread of cash as Chukka prefers as I think when we went big with the money it failed.

New Hartley always put the profit back into the next comp and the raffle paid for the expenditure through the following year. Big money in the end started costing.

Before you have a knock at the opens remember that there is usually a handful of people putting in many hours sorting everything out in their own time and often at their own expense, and at the expense of fishing themselves, to get things right out of personal pride as they want a good day.

 

[GerryBerry]

If a club only allows anglers to enter on the day of the competition and also insist that each angler must register his/her own entry then that would be a way of preventing anglers from camping out on various marks. Club's do take their OPEN competitions very, very seriously and do everything in their they can to ensure a fair, safe, and successful event however the extending of boundaries is in my opinion a recipe for disaster, why?..... simply because they cannot be "policed" effectively. Let no one be in any doubt some people WILL cheat especially when good money is to be had, and IMO extended boundaries makes this far easier to do.

 

[peter.m]

If a club only allows anglers to enter on the day of the competition and also insist that each angler must register his/her own entry then that would be a way of preventing anglers from camping out on various marks. Club's do take their OPEN competitions very, very seriously and do everything in their they can to ensure a fair, safe, and successful event however the extending of boundaries is in my opinion a recipe for disaster, why?..... simply because they cannot be "policed" effectively. Let no one be in any doubt some people WILL cheat especially when good money is to be had, and IMO extended boundaries makes this far easier to do.

You're right, had to disqualify people cheating once, only because one of the members fished next to them and was part of the weigh-in. Would have probably got away with it otherwise.

 

[codman56]

What I would like to say on this matter is as chairman of Bedlington s a c over the years we have tried a lot of things to attract more anglers to fish our opens but nothing had much success we had £1000 short and long boundaries when we had short ones the feedback we got was you should make them the same as Amble up to Seahouses as a lot of anglers fish that one as they can fish up north and it has the biggest turn out by far ,but we thought if we did that then we would be penalising any local angler who wanted to fish local so we made it to Tynemouth pier. If you want to travel you can or you can stay local it is the anglers choice.
As far as the price of entry goes with less fishing and it getting harder to get any sponsorship or donated prizes it is getting more difficult to break even. 2 thing we have changed this year is we no times are hard for a lot of people so we have cut the entry from £12 to £10 hopefully we get the numbers to cover our costs. We listened to a lot of anglers who said they would rather have more fishing related prizes rather than electric ones so this year there will only be fishing related prizes (sure someone will say why you not got any electric prizes)
As for the amount of opens I would say they have decreed over the years starting with the Sunday sun , Tynemouth, Shiremoor , and New Hartley opens no longer exist . We have started having a summer and night open to give people the chance to fish if they want to our night one has shorter boundaries Amble to Tynemouth
Our club boundaries are Tynemouth to Craster which I do think this is to long I have said this at our a g m but ever year our members vote to keep it the same so they are happy with them over our first 7 comps we are averaging 26 which is better than a lot of clubs so that shows our members are happy .

 

[Elbob]

I'm getting back into sea fishing after a long absence and rarely entered comps until last year and this year.

Hard times, expensive fuel and bait, poor fishing, always flat and sunny when a comp is on. The odds are stacked against the rest. So no wonder the attendances are not what they were. As for prizes, I'd rather have more line, hooks and sinkers on the prize table, a lot more use than a kettle. Prize money seems OK as it is but a bigger spread may offer more incentive to fish. Like the spot prize for 40th or whatever.

Boundaries make little difference to me as I always fish a few miles from the comp HQ. But I think Ballan Wrasse should be banned from all comps.

I see Hardy Greys are up for sale. Can see this impacting prize tables even more as their rods are always there for grabs. Looks like impending doom, was it like this in the late 80s early 90s recession?

 

[The Plum]

ok heres my opinion,i fished clubs for years and years was very pleased with club,no problem the particular club i was in was 2nd to none as far as im concerned,and the bloke who ran it for years and years and still is one of the best blokes and fairest ive ever met not to mention a gentleman[rare nowadays]anyway they decided to open the boundries a few year back and ive had no desire to rejoin for this reason ,i liked it when you had to fish same area everyone in same boat ect, but opening boundries opens it up for the slimy folk to cheat,sad but true everyone knows the cheat stories ,anyway thats my view old plum

 

[canman]

I know a lot of people would prefer fishing related prizes, but I'm quite happy with electrical goods, the reason being, I would be digging bait a couple of tides before the comp, or spending money on bait and tackle, while my wife stayed at home running the house and kids. I would return home with hopefully something for the house or her which would be a bit of treat for her instead of me me me.
Nar I'm not going soft

I don't really need another rod or reel, the house is full of them, if they are a little old but still cast well, and catch fish.

 

[GerryBerry]

You're right, had to disqualify people cheating once, only because one of the members fished next to them and was part of the weigh-in. Would have probably got away with it otherwise.

Bang on m8, and if people think it is not still going on .........

 

[billynobaits]

ok heres my opinion,i fished clubs for years and years was very pleased with club,no problem the particular club i was in was 2nd to none as far as im concerned,and the bloke who ran it for years and years and still is one of the best blokes and fairest ive ever met not to mention a gentleman[rare nowadays]anyway they decided to open the boundries a few year back and ive had no desire to rejoin for this reason ,i liked it when you had to fish same area everyone in same boat ect, but opening boundries opens it up for the slimy folk to cheat,sad but true everyone knows the cheat stories ,anyway thats my view old plum

Hypocrite,just cos you got banned for trying to weigh 2 fishcakes in a few
year back,and i told the stewards you could'nt have caught them cos they
were still frozen

 

[billynobaits]

Go to any club meeting,regarding the organisation of comps.,and listen to
the arguments.Thats the problem,you are never going to achieve a general
concensus on rules/boundaries,etc.There are so many differing views,as to
what an enjoyable days fishing consists of. If you had a hundred people
fishing,you charged them nothing to enter,you supplied their bait,took them
to the marks,then picked them up and returned them to the weigh in,then
pulled a hundred grand out,and gave them each a grand,the ones with most
fish,would still look the gift horse,and say they should have had more money,
cos they had more fish,a win win becomes a no win....that's just the way
it is.

 

[m.gray]

seaham

seaham

what are u a pier man