AOTY 2010 is up and ready for your $$****Who is IN or going to be IN IT?

and jim, i'd have no regrets posting a bluegill.  

Nuff said.

and jim, i'd have no regrets posting a bluegill.  I love to catch all fish, regardless of size.

I'm of the same mind. My skills are really wanting, but I just love doing it. I know I had the same stupid grin on my face catching that itty bitty trout the other day as I did with ling cod and halibut last summer.

If it's elitism you're after, I don't see that it's the least bit easier under the new rules than the old. I just glanced at the new species/points, and as far as I can tell the only game changer is WSB, and maybe steelhead as a separate species. No one should be looking down their noses at the skill set needed to land those guys. And, imho, if you are able to land a slab perch, monster cat, or behemoth crappie and upset the apple cart, good on you brother, 'cause it don't happen that often.

Ben

I'm in.

A injured knee kept me off the water for 5 months this year and I'm looking for some redemption.

For those purists out there who want to keep track of what their score and ranking would have been like under the old (2007-2009) AOTY format just for kicks...

http://aoty.ncka.org/leaderboard/oldschoollist

and jim, i'd have no regrets posting a bluegill.  

Nuff said.

not sure exactly what this is supposed to mean...maybe you can elaborate?

i wish you would have left it. i can't imagine an aoty champion that never went sturgeon fishing. what kind of champion is that? where the hell is scwafish when we need him?

Ben, I think Jim is willing at this point to leave the discussion about bluegill up to the mighty anglers who fish for them. Good Luck.

Ben, I think Jim is willing at this point to leave the discussion about bluegill up to the mighty anglers who fish for them. Good Luck.

and what are you implying?

To show my support to NCKA site I joined AOTY even though I hardly go OTW (maybe 6x a year tops). Maybe this will push me to go fishing more often and have more fun. That will be a good thing! 

Now that you mentioned it, I also forgot California's only native centrarchid, the Sacremento Perch, in the panfish category.  I don't even know if it's legal to fish for these natives.

Brian

Crowley Lake, should give crappie a run for their money.

http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/freshwater-fishing/147734-crowley-perch-fishing.html

Pete

i'm gonna post all 10 new ones and see where i land at the end.  
like Abbie said......same for the last 4yrs......only Allen , Patrick and Juan can do that full card stuff! 

That's why you're the real fish hunter. 

Z

That's why you're the real fish hunter. 

Z

           

The thinking behind these changes was to make it more open for more people to participate AND contend without having to go to insane lengths. There are 20 fish now but only your 10 best scoring fish count towards your ranking. Can't catch salmon? No problem you can target another species. Freshwater not your game? You can get pretty close to filling your card all in the salt (assuming a ocean salmon season) same with you sweat water guys you can fill your card all in freshwater.

We think this will be a lot more fun and enable more people to contend, while still making it special to be AOTY champion.

+1 Works for me salt I love but its 2.5 hrs. away Where now I have 5 varieties within 10 min. Thanks Guys Now it feels more like competition than donation.

I totally understand what John (Bird) & Jim (Saltydog) said.  I was in AOTY since 2006 and I am so sad that the format changed after 4 years of participating in AOTY...   however, Bill, Brian & others are in charge and I completely trust their decision.  I know they're looking after the best interest of NCKA.  AOTY is just a game and the money goes to run this site, so let's just enjoy the game & this site!
Anyways, thank you for everything, guys!!!