2015 AOTY/DOTY suggestions

I'd like to reduce the list back down to 10 species and re-institute the "mouth ajar" rule.   

-Allen

 

Sincerely,

Jim

This is my first year in AOTY, so I can't compare it to any others.  But so far I've had a great time.  It's given me the extra 'nudge' I needed to pursue new species and to get outside of my comfort zone.  It's also made me determined to find the largest fish of the species I'm more familiar with.  I'm making great memories in the process.  The prizes are not my main incentive for participating.  I've always had an affection for catching new species, and AOTY acts as an additional driver for that affection.  The prizes are a bonus (and maybe a bit of an extra "nudge"  ).

Excluding the abnormality of 2012, 2014 has the highest number of people participating ever in the history of AOTY....I think that's pretty cool!

We can't prove it, but it seems the raffle idea was effective in increasing participation.  That's why I think we should continue to have a raffle element in AOTY.  Otherwise, participation will plummet to maybe a handful of people who regularly score in the top 5.  Even though the prize isn't my main incentive for participating, I know it's a big incentive for many others, and if there's a regular cadre of anglers who basically smoke the competition, then the prize incentive evaporates for everyone else and you're left with a "tournament" consisting of five or ten people.

My take: get the best of both worlds with a raffle AND a kayak to the 1st place winner.  It'll keep participation high, and will award the one who works their butt off for the cred (or for the prize, if that's their main driver) that comes with 1st Place.  Of course, that's assuming a second kayak is donated for the tourney...

This is my first year in AOTY, so I can't compare it to any others.  But so far I've had a great time.  It's given me the extra 'nudge' I needed to pursue new species and to get outside of my comfort zone.  It's also made me determined to find the largest fish of the species I'm more familiar with.  I'm making great memories in the process.  The prizes are not my main incentive for participating.  I've always had an affection for catching new species, and AOTY acts as an additional driver for that affection.  The prizes are a bonus (and maybe a bit of an extra "nudge"  ).

Excluding the abnormality of 2012, 2014 has the highest number of people participating ever in the history of AOTY....I think that's pretty cool!

We can't prove it, but it seems the raffle idea was effective in increasing participation.  That's why I think we should continue to have a raffle element in AOTY.  Otherwise, participation will plummet to maybe a handful of people who regularly score in the top 5.  Even though the prize isn't my main incentive for participating, I know it's a big incentive for many others, and if there's a regular cadre of anglers who basically smoke the competition, then the prize incentive evaporates for everyone else and you're left with a "tournament" consisting of five or ten people.

My take: get the best of both worlds with a raffle AND a kayak to the 1st place winner.  It'll keep participation high, and will award the one who works their butt off for the cred (or for the prize, if that's their main driver) that comes with 1st Place.  Of course, that's assuming a second kayak is donated for the tourney...

Thanks for the positive feedback Chris!

Yeah...would actually need three kayaks though...an AOTY winner one, a DOTY winner one, and a "participation raffle" winner one?

Or we could exclude the DOTY winner from the prize yaks...but that doesn't sit right with me...but of course I am biased.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Quote from: yakhopper on August 30, 2014, 09:51:58 AM

    Looks like its better to kill fish for a competition sake, than there will be no question about size. This was my (and a few others) reason for not participating in 2014.

It's this.  And the unwillingness to make corrections to mistakes, vs. straight out disqualification.  It' just doesn't sit right with me.  And it's not like I was ever called out for a bad picture that I've posted for AOTY ever before.

Fair enough. 

The DQing of entries vs correction to length for poor pics is an issue that I think has actually got rid of a LOT of arguing/bickering/drama, and has increased the overall quality of pics submiited.

I really don't know what previous pics of yours from 2012 and before were issues so won't comment on those...but it looks like a lot of your entries were on fish that you took home to eat so not sure how Eric's CPR issue comes into play for those?

http://aoty.norcalkayakanglers.com/leaderboard/list_by_angler/94

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Sorry I wasn't clear Jim.  I dont recall ever having an issue with any of my pictures.  But the new rules would certainly be able to go back and find something to DQ on my list, like my greenling. 2012 was a great year for me, catching species I'd previously only dreamed about, and got me into the 4th place for that year.  And a lot of those were definitely for eating.  Some of the pics are misleading though, like the catfish and crappie pics. The catfish was so big that I took it to shore to take the pictures.  The crappie was CPR'ed on my AI trampoline, so it doesn't look like a kayak. But those fish are still out there swimming.  My greenling shows the lipgrippers on it, so would have been a dq, but it was released. But I also have had a goal to CPR any lingcod over 30 inches, I just have never caught one yet. 

PolePole, I do not appreciate your responses on this topic. You gave it up to BigJim so you didn't have to deal with it.  So lay off already.  Feel free to pick apart my reasoning though! 

This is my first year in AOTY, so I can't compare it to any others.  But so far I've had a great time.  It's given me the extra 'nudge' I needed to pursue new species and to get outside of my comfort zone.  It's also made me determined to find the largest fish of the species I'm more familiar with.  I'm making great memories in the process.  The prizes are not my main incentive for participating.  I've always had an affection for catching new species, and AOTY acts as an additional driver for that affection.  The prizes are a bonus (and maybe a bit of an extra "nudge"  ).

This was my entire reason for joining AOTY in the first place!  Very well put!  But then people stopped trusting one another... and things got icky.

Quote from: yakhopper on August 30, 2014, 09:51:58 AM

    Looks like its better to kill fish for a competition sake, than there will be no question about size. This was my (and a few others) reason for not participating in 2014.

It's this.  And the unwillingness to make corrections to mistakes, vs. straight out disqualification.  It' just doesn't sit right with me.  And it's not like I was ever called out for a bad picture that I've posted for AOTY ever before.

Fair enough. 

The DQing of entries vs correction to length for poor pics is an issue that I think has actually got rid of a LOT of arguing/bickering/drama, and has increased the overall quality of pics submiited.

I really don't know what previous pics of yours from 2012 and before were issues so won't comment on those...but it looks like a lot of your entries were on fish that you took home to eat so not sure how Eric's CPR issue comes into play for those?

http://aoty.norcalkayakanglers.com/leaderboard/list_by_angler/94

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Sorry I wasn't clear Jim.  I dont recall ever having an issue with any of my pictures.  But the new rules would certainly be able to go back and find something to DQ on my list, like my greenling. 2012 was a great year for me, catching species I'd previously only dreamed about, and got me into the 4th place for that year.  And a lot of those were definitely for eating.  Some of the pics are misleading though, like the catfish and crappie pics. The catfish was so big that I took it to shore to take the pictures.  The crappie was CPR'ed on my AI trampoline, so it doesn't look like a kayak. But those fish are still out there swimming.  My greenling shows the lipgrippers on it, so would have been a dq, but it was released. But I also have had a goal to CPR any lingcod over 30 inches, I just have never caught one yet. 

PolePole, I do not appreciate your responses on this topic. You gave it up to BigJim so you didn't have to deal with it.  So lay off already.  Feel free to pick apart my reasoning though! 

Thanks for the clarification Al!

I know you were super jazzed on AOTY in 2012 and it was awesome to see you getting new species and upgrading and being stoked...you can see the stoke on your entries just by reading your AOTY remarks!

I have vivid memories of getting texts from you with pics of WSB and Butts and letting out a scream of joy for you in my office or while driving.

So I guess it just bummed me out to see what seemed to be a 180 in your opinion of AOTY after 2012...

I totally respect your decision not to play...and like I said before I think it is IMPOSSIBLE to make EVERYONE happy with rules etc...but I DO care about having the game be fun for the people that choose to play...and something they can be stoked on like you were in 2012?

Not sure if that makes sense...

FWIW, I think Allen was joking?   

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Poll on 2015 prize Hobie Yak here:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=58653.0

 

Sincerely,

Jim

I can honestly say the only fish I think should be exempt from the mouth closed rule is sturgeon. If someone catches and releases sturgeon in excess of the minimum it should just be a straight point amount. If they choose to keep it them the measurement matters but if released I think estimates are OK.  Above slot sturgeon should not be zero points.

And while we're at it, can we add carp?

-Allen

Sure, lets add carp at 0 points per inch 

I think personally they are the same and raffle should be continued......

Otherwise how could IceColdChuck attempt this feat???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhZdnIxKetg&feature=youtu.be

Oh and at least China's should be separate......1080P on video.....

Here's how I see it. DOTY/AOTY is primarily a fundraiser for a good cause that also includes a friendly competition with a big prize. If the kayak goes to the top diver/angler, stakes are raised, competition becomes less friendly, and focus moves away from fundraising for friends/family.

I'm also not frothingly interested in a behemoth pedaling monstrosity (hopefully I'll have to remove my foot from my mouth come Jan 15 ). I don't want to outpace my buddies any more than I already do! But I will say that the mixed raffle has the benefit of motivating me to cross over into the angling world and helped me to better understand what you topsiders do (hugs all around).

As well, participating in DOTY in general has definitely motivated me to take LESS fish. I spend more time watching and choosing big fish than getting juiced over a full stringer of unimpressive fish.

And we should add carp to DOTY.

Here's how I see it. DOTY/AOTY is primarily a fundraiser for a good cause that also includes a friendly competition with a big prize. If the kayak goes to the top diver/angler, stakes are raised, competition becomes less friendly, and focus moves away from fundraising for friends/family.

Well Said

Don't we have enough fundraisers? What about the money going straight back into the game?