KOTC Participants...please read

[DTro]

I need your thoughts on a matter that was discussed into the wee hours of the night last night.

My intentions of this contest were to make it a BIG fish contest. Meaning the biggest fish, not the second biggest. I thought implementing a 5" or bigger total would help in administering and keep the entries to a manageable level.

I'm second guessing that thought and I think I was wrong. I would really like to see everyone's biggest fish count.

So I basically wanted to take a vote. Should we or can we change to rules with no upgrade restrictions?

The only way we can do it is to make it retroactive. The only problem with that is if people released or didn't take photo or get measurements of bigger than previously entered fish.

Like I said, I want this to be about the biggest fish, and it will encourage the people with big fish already to know they can still top their previous one.

Please post your thoughts, and I will make a final decision before next weekend.

Thanks

[aanderud]

Yeah, I think it should be unrestricted upgrades. Otherwise you run into a lot of luck playing into it. That's not really right, having luck dictate your score.

Who knows if the 27 pounder will bite before or after the 32 pounder...if the 27 bites first and you enter it (likely), you're hosed when you get the 32.

Well, I don't have a bigger fish to register with the new rules, but I know some people do.

Does anyone have any bigger ones that they didn't photograph and/or measure because it wasn't upgradeable? I would guess most would have been measured to verify upgradability, but if it wasn't an upgrade a pic might not have been taken with the control item.

[harvey lee]

I would vote to keep the rules as is and maybe change at the start of next season. As mentioned, someone may have thrown one back. The rules were set at the start and I believe we need to live by those rules until the end of the contest. Only my opinion.

I believe this could also change the standing a bit. I know its for fun but can you bump a team up or down by changing the rules mid season??

[rushing]

I fully agree with the dropping of the upgrade thing but lets finish out this season with the contest we started.

[Larry FlatCaster]

I vote that we allow unrestricted retroactive upgrades. Its really not going to affect the overall point totals.

This is a no money contest.

Its goal is for the big fish. I know that I would need almost 10lbs to upgrade from my 39lb. (Very unlikely.)

I would hate to see some one catch a fish that is close to 10lbs or smaller miss an upgrade because of the 5pt rule.

Thing to keep in mind....... What is the goal of the contest? What are the ramifications of making the change? What are the effects to the spirit of the contest?

This being the first year, we should allow ourselves as a group to be flexible in finding a winning combination. Its a lot easier to do when there isn't money involved. But I guess I would rather not wait a few years to get the right formula.

[DTro]

If you would be negatively affected by this change (no picture of released upgradeable fish) please chime in.

[Lowblazah]

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I vote that we allow unrestricted retroactive upgrades. Its really not going to affect the overall point totals.

This is a no money contest.

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Ditto that...besides like LFC said...there is no money and there is no prize...so why would it matter.

Plus...This way we all get to see more pics of folk's catches. Instead of the "I would have taken a pic but it wasn't an upgrade"

[harvey lee]

This way we all get to see more pics of folk's catches. Instead of the "I would have taken a pic but it wasn't an upgrade"

One can place there photos up even without a contest. If this is just for fun, why would we need to change mid stream? I'm just concerned that some players might not return due to they might believe its to gain an advantage on another team. I will say if everyone is willing to make the change then that would be fine with me.

[PierBridge]

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I would vote to keep the rules as is and maybe change at the start of next season

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Me too!

[rushing]

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If you would be negatively affected by this change (no picture of released upgradeable fish) please chime in.

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I have a pic but not with a control object. I don't remember the exact measurements either but it was one point shy of being an upgrade.

I think its too little too late to be changing anything this year.

Changing things now is just opening up a whole can of worms. No picture with control object or no measurements. These fish cant be counted but others can? Just not fair to these people. If we are going to do this why not just drop the whole contest and start a new one?

[Riverhog]

We should probably keep it the way it is for the rest of the contest and make changes for next season. However the vote turns out I'm fine with it though. I'm just out to have fun and a little friendly competition.

[peder]

Lets finish as the rules are now, fine tune the rules for next year. I feel the KOTC has been a great idea and its been fun reading the posts and seeing the pics. Great job DTRO.

[Shack]

I see DTRO's point on this matter, but I would have to say "Keep them the why we started with". For the over all future of KOTC and to keep the contestant's feeling good about it, that have caught "upgradeable fish" with out any document of it.

But in the end, this is only my opinion and this is not my contest. I would side with any decision made.

P.S.

Thanks for asking us

[Tyler Holm]

I would have to say "Keep them the why we started with".

I have caught upgradeable channel(s) (1-3pts), but don't have any pictures taken with a control.

If we would make the change, why would it have to be retroactive? Being retroactive seems a little unfair, but if we would happen to start the change effective Aug 1 or something, it would be the same/fair for everybody (3 power months).

[Farmboy1]

I say leave it for this year. I don't think we need to listen to Larry complaining that his 40 lb fish is not big enough

[PierBridge]

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If this is just for fun, why would we need to change mid stream? I'm just concerned that some players might not return

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This is all about fair play and having fun!

That leads me to some other changes we could think about for next year I know of a few people who will not be back because it was supposed to be just for fun not all of the participants live, breath and take Cat fishing as serious as some of us do and they can't get out as often as they would like or hoped so having them feel like they are a burden or ragged upon by other team members which defeats the purpose of having fun IMO I think the format Should be tweaked.

I know Hanson had some ideas about having a monthly type series with season ending points also, not sure on the particulars but this may be too much paper work for Dtro who is already doing this for us on his own free time. "thanks Darren"

I'll throw out a simple suggestion for starters being Flats are not all that easy to come by we could count the 3 biggest Flatheads of the 5 team members and 4 or 5 of the biggest Channels which are easier to catch.

Just for Fun....what say you!

[harvey lee]

I would like to suggest we leave things as is and everyone can make a list of the changes they would like to see next year and then they can e-mail them to Darren to look over. That way, everyone has a chance to voice thier opinion on any things they might like to see different.

[Flaco651]

Fine tune and make some changes for next season. We're half way through now and should keep the current rules and format. Thanks Dtro for putting this on and the work you put in to keep the KOTC going.

[sparcebag]

Harvey that sounds good leave them and change next year when I can get in!My first suggestion will be anyone upriver from OOOH GraniteFalls gets 50 points booster.

[Shack]

DTRO,

I know this is thinking way ahead, but next year will this years contestants be invited back or will it be a first come, first served. Or will it be all together new group. Just thinking!

[ec30_06]

We might as well finish the season with the original rules. Then changes can be made after evaluating the whole season.

[DTro]

Well, the tribe has spoken. Rules will stay as is.

Thanks for your input guys!

I will be posting a scoring update maybe tonight yet, stay tuned.....

[Shamu]

I vote that we change the ruling and go for the biggest fish.