Please consider supporting NCKA

Ben, if you want to play AOTY lite then get on a Kayak Wars team. it's free and the prizes are raffled.

What exactly is NCKA lite?  More prizes, perhaps raffled off?  If I can find a prize for that, what value makes it worth a $40 entry fee?  That is something I can try to work on for this year's AOTY.

-Allen

Ben, if you want to play AOTY lite then get on a Kayak Wars team. it's free and the prizes are raffled.

Yeah, but it doesn't support NCKA.

Ben, if you want to play AOTY lite then get on a Kayak Wars team. it's free and the prizes are raffled.

Yeah, but it doesn't support NCKA.

That doesn't mean you can't compete there ... in addition to AOTY! 

-Allen

Ben, if you want to play AOTY lite then get on a Kayak Wars team. it's free and the prizes are raffled.

Yeah, but it doesn't support NCKA.

That doesn't mean you can't compete there ... in addition to AOTY! 

-Allen

Yes, of course.  I thought this thread was about how to get more participation in AOTY to generate more money for NCKA.

Yes, of course.  I thought this thread was about how to get more participation in AOTY to generate more money for NCKA.

Well, yes it is, but it doesn't have to be an us vs. them scenario.  Anyone that know how I operate knows I'm all about creating win-win situations.  But yeah, support NCKA.   

-Allen

Yes, of course.  I thought this thread was about how to get more participation in AOTY to generate more money for NCKA.

Well, yes it is, but it doesn't have to be an us vs. them scenario.  Anyone that know how I operate knows I'm all about creating win-win situations.  But yeah, support NCKA.   

-Allen

Well then we stand in complete agreement... so there. 

Yes, of course.  I thought this thread was about how to get more participation in AOTY to generate more money for NCKA.

Well, yes it is, but it doesn't have to be an us vs. them scenario.  Anyone that know how I operate knows I'm all about creating win-win situations.  But yeah, support NCKA.   

-Allen

Well then we stand in complete agreement... so there. 

+1.  YES!

-Allen

I just used "Lite" to refer to someone's suggestion that, in some way, size by species could drive AOTY, or some aspect of it, to entice more participation by specialty and recreational fishermen.

I can see some value there. AOTY is kind of intimidating (not the best word) if your not really dedicated. This could even be automatic as part of being a verified member. Maybe you can't travel the state for AOTY, but you may have caught the biggest Trout or Sturgeon or Bass or ... AOTY awards could expand for those folks. Make the awards party bigger. Turn into a fund raiser. I don't know. Just get more people fishing  smt002

I don't know about Kayak wars? Does it involve guns OTW 

I just used "Lite" to refer to someone's suggestion that, in some way, size by species could drive AOTY, or some aspect of it, to entice more participation by specialty and recreational fishermen.

I can see some value there. AOTY is kind of intimidating (not the best word) if your not really dedicated. This could even be automatic as part of being a verified member. Maybe you can't travel the state for AOTY, but you may have caught the biggest Trout or Sturgeon or Bass or ... AOTY awards could expand for those folks. Make the awards party bigger. Turn into a fund raiser. I don't know. Just get more people fishing  smt002

I don't know about Kayak wars? Does it involve guns OTW 

I didn't mean to say AOTY would be driven by largest of a given individual species.  I like the idea of the big prize going to the guy who has the perseverance to win the whole shebang. I simply thought that giving more recognition (or prizes) to the biggest of each species might be an incentive for specialist anglers, anglers who live in an area not suited for AOTY competition, and weekend warriors.  The rules would be the same, the scoring would be the same and the big prize would go to the multispecies winner.  AOTY would just be a bigger tent.

I didn't mean to say AOTY would be driven by largest of a given individual species.

Sorry, I didn't say that well. But I did misunderstand. I thought you intended something separate from the main event. Recognition for the largest of each species. I hi-jacked the idea to say "y'all come". To win AOTY sign up and business as usual. Automatically include "members" for the largest species thing. Just thinking outloud.

I just used "Lite" to refer to someone's suggestion that, in some way, size by species could drive AOTY, or some aspect of it, to entice more participation by specialty and recreational fishermen.

I can see some value there. AOTY is kind of intimidating (not the best word) if your not really dedicated. This could even be automatic as part of being a verified member. Maybe you can't travel the state for AOTY, but you may have caught the biggest Trout or Sturgeon or Bass or ... AOTY awards could expand for those folks. Make the awards party bigger. Turn into a fund raiser. I don't know. Just get more people fishing  smt002

I don't know about Kayak wars? Does it involve guns OTW 

I didn't mean to say AOTY would be driven by largest of a given individual species.  I like the idea of the big prize going to the guy who has the perseverance to win the whole shebang. I simply thought that giving more recognition (or prizes) to the biggest of each species might be an incentive for specialist anglers, anglers who live in an area not suited for AOTY competition, and weekend warriors.  The rules would be the same, the scoring would be the same and the big prize would go to the multispecies winner.  AOTY would just be a bigger tent.

We do give a prize for largest of each species.  Last year was a plaque, which we paid for out of entry fees.  At 20 species, the prizes for that ad up fast.  Maybe I need to look at a sponsor for 20 smaller prizes, but it's a tough proposition to make 20 prizes valuable enough to make it worth it for all parties involved.  Maybe I don't "get it", but if someone enters for $40, is a prize value much less than $40 worth it?  Seems like a token prize.  Not saying it isn't worth it, or worth us doing it, but what is really appealing here?

-Allen

I just used "Lite" to refer to someone's suggestion that, in some way, size by species could drive AOTY, or some aspect of it, to entice more participation by specialty and recreational fishermen.

I can see some value there. AOTY is kind of intimidating (not the best word) if your not really dedicated. This could even be automatic as part of being a verified member. Maybe you can't travel the state for AOTY, but you may have caught the biggest Trout or Sturgeon or Bass or ... AOTY awards could expand for those folks. Make the awards party bigger. Turn into a fund raiser. I don't know. Just get more people fishing  smt002

I don't know about Kayak wars? Does it involve guns OTW 

I didn't mean to say AOTY would be driven by largest of a given individual species.  I like the idea of the big prize going to the guy who has the perseverance to win the whole shebang. I simply thought that giving more recognition (or prizes) to the biggest of each species might be an incentive for specialist anglers, anglers who live in an area not suited for AOTY competition, and weekend warriors.  The rules would be the same, the scoring would be the same and the big prize would go to the multispecies winner.  AOTY would just be a bigger tent.

We do give a prize for largest of each species.  Last year was a plaque, which we paid for out of entry fees.  At 20 species, the prizes for that ad up fast.  Maybe I need to look at a sponsor for 20 smaller prizes, but it's a tough proposition to make 20 prizes valuable enough to make it worth it for all parties involved.  Maybe I don't "get it", but if someone enters for $40, is a prize value much less than $40 worth it?  Seems like a token prize.  Not saying it isn't worth it, or worth us doing it, but what is really appealing here?

-Allen

What about if NCKA members were to sponsor prizes for an individual species? We may not get 20, but it might be an incentive for more peeps to join. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I am more excited about the artwork im getting for 2nd place 2012 than I am the fishfinder .  I'll commission a 24x30 (or there about) kayak angling related painting from Linda as a prize for biggest kokanee.  I dunno, dumb idea? 

I'm just operating under the premise that ultimately you just want more people to join AOTY, but you don't want to change AOTY or solicit new commercial sponsorship. Am I getting that wrong? If so I'll go quietly back to my corner 

Adam - that's an awesome idea, and I'd sponsor big salmon.   

I think the recognition is what appeals, and there's no place to hang a plaque on my yak, so a hoody was much more substantial.  Totally understand how producing and delivering 20 of those to us specialty anglers around the north state is a bit much.  It's actually a good way to get your logo around though...  I've had hundreds of shirts and hoodies printed up with your logo (thanks, btw, for the permission   ), and I think it's a valid point that having a couple of hoodies from the old AOTY biggest of species days was instrumental in my desire to print up similar material for distribution at my event.  Also, in light of what's been discussed in this thread, I erred when I flippantly typed in about offering you charity money from my iphone!  I even thought at the time, "that's not how I'd normally obsessively craft and edit my wording!"     Anyway, I'm not looking to make you seem like a charity case, Allen, but I do want to offer some GS funds as a thank you to the site and my pledge of support in response to your request for the consideration.  If you can't accept that, I'm outa here!     On that line, previous talk in this thread regarding tacking on a fee to tournaments is perhaps misguided.  Not trying to be a dick, but telling someone who organizes a tournament that you're wanting to tack on a surcharge is about as anti-NCKA as we could get!  I've never thought to offer Allen anything for using his logo and calling my event an NCKA event - and this year even requiring NCKA membership for registration at GS - all of which, like the use of the logo, I have sought and received Allen's approval on - thank you again, Allen.  But now that he's asking, I am here to offer it - too bad I can't be as big of a superhero as Dr. AlbionFreeLove ( - good job, Craig), but I will not be rebuffed in my offer of a chunk-o-change.  Please.  Thank you.   

Other thoughts on this rich and engaging thread:

- Ben's contributions here are supportive, well thought out and  to the point, and it really is great to see you back here!   

- Adam's suggestion to provide more enticement to us specialty guys is, obviously, something I would support.  Thanks for posting that, Adam - it's a very valid point and something that Joel has actually cited to encourage people to join AOTY - can I get an amen on that one?  Because I remember at least a few times over the years where Mooch wrote in response to someone's reluctance to join AOTY that they should consider at least that a nice prize and recognition are given to individual species winners as well.  Again - I see how 20 is way different than 10...

- And, finally, for my last trick...  And I'm actually looking at some WRITTEN notes in front of me because of catching up on this rapidly developed thread - FIRST time that's EVER happened.  OMG, I should remember that...  Anyway, what I am most impressed with here is Allen being very frank with us about his empire!  I did not know that it had grown to encompass the Pacific Northwest AND Hawaii (and I could well be very uninformed for no good reason - I can be that oblivious...).  Anyway, WELL DONE, ALLEN!  And good luck to you.  I really hope you'll accept my offer to add to the site, and it will be offered whether you can make it to Shelter Cove or not.

Thanks.  NCKA rules.   

Great thread...

Signed up last yr for AOTY and plan on doing so this yr...last yr I signed up fairly early and this yr will be signing late...my signups are purely to support what we all love to do, hookup with like minded peeps BS a little, catch up on whats been going on in our lifes and Get Some... either way you do it you'll do it with a bit of class and there are many, many that really care how it all plays out...A Lot of work goes on in the background that we never see but Im Thankful for the mods tireless work in keeping things almost seamless!!!

PS Thanks for that biggest rockfish of the yr award...first thing ive won from fishing...kind of Awesome!!!

Again Thanks for all the hard work that most never see!!'

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