How Many Events Do We Need ?

As I see it there are 3300+  registered users. My rookie guess is less than ten percent are active users...if that many. We are spread out all over northern and what I call central California (anything south of the Golden Gate   ). To put a limit on the number/location of events would hurt everyone. Let the ones that fall out of favor go by the wayside and the ones that flourish continue. If a new event pops up and draws a large gathering....the people have spoken. Prizes?.....who really plans on going to an event with the sole purpose of winning a kayak? Just my 2 cents...     

+1 pretty much sums it up for me,

As I see it there are 3300+  registered users. My rookie guess is less than ten percent are active users...if that many. We are spread out all over northern and what I call central California (anything south of the Golden Gate   ). To put a limit on the number/location of events would hurt everyone. Let the ones that fall out of favor go by the wayside and the ones that flourish continue. If a new event pops up and draws a large gathering....the people have spoken. Prizes?.....who really plans on going to an event with the sole purpose of winning a kayak? Just my 2 cents...     

+1 pretty much sums it up for me,

      +2

Thanks, Eric, for bringing an interesting point.  I'd hate to see our sport suffer from too much exposure, but I agree with Craig's view too.  I think one answer to how to keep it fresh and appropriate will lie in the evolution of the events themselves.  If an event is pretty casual and not at a top venue at a premium time of year it's more likely to fade or turn into a F&C - nothing wrong with that - but the bigger events will need to either develop more layers of interest for families and those choosing extended stays, or they too may suffer.  I feel that I need to keep trying to bring more to GS, and part of that will definitely be collaborating with clubmates to develop family activities like the Gyotaku that Brandi and others took on for me.  Another consideration regarding the evolution of the events would be eventual requirements for entering.  I could see having an application, higher entry fee, cash prize, business license, better insurance...etc.  So as the events do change one view of the future success of kayakfishing in Nor Cal may involve a stratified field, with "pro's", "amatuers", "public", "club members only"...etc.  It seems awkward even mentioning this - especially since I'm usually the Kumbaya type - but 2 months after GS and dealing with the repercussions of having almost 140 people actually fish, I'm ready to really consider stepping up the validity of my event.  There's nothing I love more than the camaraderie, freedom and easy flow of GS, but getting big enough to see how that can escape my control makes me think I may want to put more structure in place.

The future is what we make it.  Personally, I think you should have to pay to be in NCKA at this point, but that's another thread.    

As I see it there are 3300+  registered users. My rookie guess is less than ten percent are active users...if that many. We are spread out all over northern and what I call central California (anything south of the Golden Gate   ). To put a limit on the number/location of events would hurt everyone. Let the ones that fall out of favor go by the wayside and the ones that flourish continue. If a new event pops up and draws a large gathering....the people have spoken. Prizes?.....who really plans on going to an event with the sole purpose of winning a kayak or any other cool gear. Just my 2 cents...   

I agree, and would add the sport still seems to be expanding, but not exploding, I have seen plenty hang it up too, so I guess I am in the more the merrier crowd. No way I can make every event, but I love the diversity and freedom to pick and choose what I go to. Competition and prizes are great, half the time I go is for the comraderie and other half is hopes of winning new yak to replace my aging one! I think We have a good group of sportfishers with good will toward all, rather than cut throat tournament style fishing, it's like a good group of friends playing poker, prizes make it feel like we're playing with real money vs. just chips, my. 2 cents

How about an event on a Monday for those of us who work weekends ?

I will never pay to be part of any club. Or post x number of times per week, or else. And still be kicked out for some stupid reason. Been there, done that. Never again.

The only thing I can really see that would be a problem with so many events is that the sponsors might get overworked. I can only imagine that there is a cut off with how much they can donate to each event. It was great that Crabfest was in January because there were no other events that month. I think October looks crazy with all the events going on and know that I probably won't be able to attend all.

Just to make it clear, for me the events are about hanging out with NCKA, not about the prizes. Mutiple events give people options.

I think it's possible to have too many NCKA events. But I only see 2 NCKA events on that list: PIF and Albion. Everything else is an open event or an event from another site. They just happen to be events comprised mostly of NCKA participants (-: We're everywhere!
Wish I could go to every event. But I can't--because I got other stuff going on besides yakfishing--so I'm grateful there are so many events. So in my case, the more the better.

It's intresting to see that there are only two ways that people are voting.
I like the idea of having all the options to fish different areas at almost any time, but still see the problem that too many events can cause.  Is there a happy medieum? 
I'm finding the responses very intresting ... really thought there would be a wider voting diversity.
Keep it comming, I value all your responses

BTW - if you've ever been to a Steve Moyer event then you can easily see why it faded away. Good event and a good time, but absolutely NOTHING like an NCKA event.

Bottom line is go to the event you like to attend.

+ 1


Kiel

The Steve Moyer event is just the latest casuality from down south.
Before I joined NCKA, I was a member of Plastic Navy and a few others and fished for Team Current Designs. We would travel to So-Cal and compete in events that had over 150 anglers, at one point we had over 200 anglers at a event. It was a great time to be a kayak fisherman. Unfortunatley it got to a point where they had an event every weekend and the compitition got extreamly fierce. Unfortunatley many were turned away from this sort of events and participation dwindled to the point it is today.
I know NCKA is different than So-Cal, but it could easily happen here as well. There have already been angry discussions after a few events, and some have mentioned that they don't want to particapate for money or prizes. 
I only brought up this discussion because I would hate to have this happen here in Nor-Cal.

i did not vote because i do not enter anymore. i just go to fish if the wind aint blowin, chill with the crews and participate in the potlucks. 

i go to the ones that are close, and the ones that are located in an area that holds fish i regularly would fish for. I hate trout, i hate the delta and i hate places that are notorious for heavy winds.

make them all F&C = no insurance, no waivers.....and those who wish to lay their money down, can bet among themselves.

I voted 1 per month,
 that being said, I'm not the competitive tourney type, I fish for fun and adventure
The only "event/tourney" I've attended is the last 4 Gimme Shelters and do so to hang and fish with my NCKA Family. I may attend Trinidad  rockfish wars in Oct. because it's only 2.5 hrs. away.
Being way up here in the real Nor-Cal it is tough to attend the many events in central Cali 
(Bay area, Sac, Delta, etc.)
 I would attend more events if they were closer and I've kicked around the idea of starting an event up here at Shasta or Whiskeytown Lakes if there are enough interested participants
Hope this helps Eric,
Tad
 

Great Topic Eric...

I too attended San Diego/So Cal stuff long ago, I found them diversified and angry with each other...  nothing like what we have up here...

I agree with O2B....  let the events spring up as they may, as we are very diversified ourselves, but in a good way...   the yakers will speak as to what appeals ...

 But Bigger is not better... as we grow, and some come in  not respecting what we have here or taking the time to understand...  it creates problems...  AbKing brings up a Great Point about span of control....  these Big Events on the ocean and sometime alcohol fueled... are dangerous... I personally have seen too many people out there at these events that had no right to be out there in their condition putting their lives in danger and others. One of the reasons I don't like to go these events anymore. I don't want to risk my life anymore for someones poor decisions...BTDT... sorry, just kinda done and inured from such activity...   

I also have my own selfish reason as to not have everyone burnt out on events as to participate in HOW...

There is a great need out there to participate in giving back with our sport, which we do with style... 

PIF and everyones great participation with HOW makes feel very proud about this group and feel we have enough maturity/wisdom to evolve with growth....

so I guess I see both sides and see it as something to keep in mind as we grow and to not tolerate those who do not share in our ways of camaraderie and respect...