NYSBCF Tournament Selection Process Presented by Chris Loftus and the T.A.B.

Question What system can be used to ensure that a statewide tournament circuit best takes in to account population distribution, geographic balance, safety, and fishery diversity while still providing the top fishing opportunities NY has to offer?

Proposal Simple and fair method for tournament rotationSimple and fair method for tournament rotation Effective process to rate fisheries on a scale of when we really want to fish themEffective process to rate fisheries on a scale of when we really want to fish them

Something to consider This is a state level circuit. With that comes:This is a state level circuit. With that comes: –Higher level of competition –More focus on ability to locate fish –Increased need for versatility –Greater commitment of time and expense

Unique Aspects of New York Large in sizeLarge in size Triangular or “T” shapeTriangular or “T” shape Vast number of world class fisheriesVast number of world class fisheries

Demographics of NYSBCF State can be divided into 6 unique sections each having a unique “personality”State can be divided into 6 unique sections each having a unique “personality” Membership density is not evenly spreadMembership density is not evenly spread Fishery density does not follow population densityFishery density does not follow population density

BUFFALO AREA 7 Clubs 132 Members 11.7% ALBANY AREA 10 Clubs 172 Members 14.8% CENTRAL 3 Clubs 246 Members 21.2% ROCHESTER AREA 6 CLUBS 78 MEMBERS 6.7% NORTH COUNTRY 4 CLUBS 55 MEMBERS 4.7% NY METRO 18 CLUBS 419 MEMBERS 36.1 % BUFFALO AREA 7 Clubs 132 Members 11.7% ALBANY AREA 10 Clubs 172 Members 14.8% CENTRAL 3 Clubs 246 Members 21.2% ROCHESTER AREA 6 CLUBS 78 MEMBERS 6.7% NORTH COUNTRY 4 CLUBS 55 MEMBERS 4.7% NY METRO 18 CLUBS 419 MEMBERS 36.1 % FASTEST GROWING AREAS SINCE 2000

Fishery Locations Fishery Locations State can easily be divided into 4 sectionsState can easily be divided into 4 sections Each section having 2-5 viable tournament locationsEach section having 2-5 viable tournament locations Viability being considered 10,000+ acres or 30+ linear milesViability being considered 10,000+ acres or 30+ linear miles

Club Team Location Selection Based on Geographic RotationBased on Geographic Rotation 4 Year Rotation4 Year Rotation –Rochester/Buffalo Area –Albany/Metro –North Country –Syracuse Area

Point Tournament Selection One from each of the following:One from each of the following: –Albany/Metro –Syracuse Area –Rochester/Buffalo Area Remaining tournament from rotation of Albany/Metro, Syracuse Area, and North CountryRemaining tournament from rotation of Albany/Metro, Syracuse Area, and North Country

Chautauqua Lake Canandaigua Seneca Lake Niagara / Erie Keuka Lake Sodus / Ontario Cayuga Oneida St. Lawrence North Champlain South Champlain Lake George Sacandaga Mohawk Hudson River Chautauqua Lake Canandaigua Seneca Lake Niagara / Erie Keuka Lake Sodus / Ontario Cayuga Oneida St. Lawrence & Ontario North Champlain South Champlain Lake George Sacandaga Mohawk Hudson River

Selection Matrix Process to evaluate fisheries based on:Process to evaluate fisheries based on: –Fishery Quality –Location to population density –Safety (Big Water - Weather Issue) Slot 1Slot 2Slot 3Slot 4 Fishery Quality60%50%45%35% Location to Anglers30%40%45%35% Safety10%10%10%30%

Key Issues not covered LogisticsLogistics SponsorshipSponsorship Calendar rotationCalendar rotation Rotation with in a regionRotation with in a region These constraints are to be the final considerations by the TD and TAB in assembling the scheduleThese constraints are to be the final considerations by the TD and TAB in assembling the schedule

Have we answered the Question? Is this a system that can be used to ensure the only true statewide tournament circuit in NY best takes in to account population distribution, geographic balance, safety, and fishery diversity while still providing the top fishing opportunities NY has to offer?

Question and Answer Question - Last year more of the tournaments were near our homes. Why are you favoring the east again with the schedule?Question - Last year more of the tournaments were near our homes. Why are you favoring the east again with the schedule? Answer - Some years the schedule may have more tournaments close to your house and other years all tournaments may be 2 hrs or more from your house. This system will keep the schedule balanced, but with 15+ tournament sites in New York to chose from this circuit is not likely to feel like the “home court” circuit. Remember this is the next step up from local competition. This amount of commitment may not be for everyone. We do hope that for those looking to fish a true state level circuit we are providing a system that is fair and a circuit that will be enjoyable and rewardingAnswer - Some years the schedule may have more tournaments close to your house and other years all tournaments may be 2 hrs or more from your house. This system will keep the schedule balanced, but with 15+ tournament sites in New York to chose from this circuit is not likely to feel like the “home court” circuit. Remember this is the next step up from local competition. This amount of commitment may not be for everyone. We do hope that for those looking to fish a true state level circuit we are providing a system that is fair and a circuit that will be enjoyable and rewarding

Question and Answer Question - I believe the Lower Niagara River should be added to Western Region?Question - I believe the Lower Niagara River should be added to Western Region? Good question! We used the criteria of 10,000 acres or 30 linear miles as a minimum criteria. Although the lower Niagara river does not meet the 30 mile criteria the western basin of Lake Ontario does meet the 10,000 acre criteria. This question will be brought back to the next TAB meeting to be discussed in depth. We will than get back to you with either a response that the lower Niagara river was added or the reason why it was not.Good question! We used the criteria of 10,000 acres or 30 linear miles as a minimum criteria. Although the lower Niagara river does not meet the 30 mile criteria the western basin of Lake Ontario does meet the 10,000 acre criteria. This question will be brought back to the next TAB meeting to be discussed in depth. We will than get back to you with either a response that the lower Niagara river was added or the reason why it was not.

Question and Answer Question - Why did you not include Black Lake in the North Country Region.Question - Why did you not include Black Lake in the North Country Region. Answer - Fair question. The black and white answer would be it did not meet the 10,000 acre criteria. At the same time we need to realize that just as body weight is not the only measure of a person’s health, surface acreage is not the only measure of a fisheries ability to handle a 100 boat tournament. More important is the amount of shallow flats. Black lake does have lots of shallow flats. It also has lots of fish holding aquatic vegetation. Therefore at the next TAB meeting we will come back and look at adding Black Lake to the list.Answer - Fair question. The black and white answer would be it did not meet the 10,000 acre criteria. At the same time we need to realize that just as body weight is not the only measure of a person’s health, surface acreage is not the only measure of a fisheries ability to handle a 100 boat tournament. More important is the amount of shallow flats. Black lake does have lots of shallow flats. It also has lots of fish holding aquatic vegetation. Therefore at the next TAB meeting we will come back and look at adding Black Lake to the list.

Question and Answer Question - I do not agree with a rating for one of the lakes. How do I encourage the TAB to change this rating?Question - I do not agree with a rating for one of the lakes. How do I encourage the TAB to change this rating? Answer - Send your TAB rep and TD an . Provide supporting information on why you think it should be changed. If possible attach tournament results. Your will be reviewed at the following TAB meeting. Your TAB rep will than get back to you with information on the decision that was made.Answer - Send your TAB rep and TD an . Provide supporting information on why you think it should be changed. If possible attach tournament results. Your will be reviewed at the following TAB meeting. Your TAB rep will than get back to you with information on the decision that was made.

Question and Answer Question - How many suggestion are given to those of you on the TAB.Question - How many suggestion are given to those of you on the TAB. Answer - Speaking for the two TAB representative attending the December meeting the answer would be, we received 3 e- mails over the last 12 months. In each of those 3 cases the s were brought to the TAB meeting. The proposals were discussed in-depth. Decisions were made, then communicated back to the sender. I wish we got more feed back. I hope that all members realize that the message board is not a method of communicating to the TAB. The correct method is though direct or phone contact.Answer - Speaking for the two TAB representative attending the December meeting the answer would be, we received 3 e- mails over the last 12 months. In each of those 3 cases the s were brought to the TAB meeting. The proposals were discussed in-depth. Decisions were made, then communicated back to the sender. I wish we got more feed back. I hope that all members realize that the message board is not a method of communicating to the TAB. The correct method is though direct or phone contact.

Question and Answer Question - Believe T2 and T3 in selection matrix need to be adjusted. Fishery quality is a bigger part of my decision process for the 2nd and 3rd tournament.Question - Believe T2 and T3 in selection matrix need to be adjusted. Fishery quality is a bigger part of my decision process for the 2nd and 3rd tournament. Answer - After facilitating several discussions on this selection matrix with various Federation members I would agree with you. I will bring this point back to the other TAB member for further discussion. This is one of the good things about using a process like this to select tournaments. It provides a method for the TAB to get feed back, make adjustments, than monitor how the system performs.Answer - After facilitating several discussions on this selection matrix with various Federation members I would agree with you. I will bring this point back to the other TAB member for further discussion. This is one of the good things about using a process like this to select tournaments. It provides a method for the TAB to get feed back, make adjustments, than monitor how the system performs.

Question and Answer Question - What does the tournament director do if they run into issues with scheduling in a given region?Question - What does the tournament director do if they run into issues with scheduling in a given region? Answer - They pick the tournament from the fringe of the next region(s). For example if a tournament site in the central regions backs out at the last minute, no other site in that region is available, than Seneca would become the next choice. This is because although in the western region it is on the fringe of the central region.Answer - They pick the tournament from the fringe of the next region(s). For example if a tournament site in the central regions backs out at the last minute, no other site in that region is available, than Seneca would become the next choice. This is because although in the western region it is on the fringe of the central region.

Question and Answer Question - In your Seneca example would the Seneca choice count against the central or the western region.Question - In your Seneca example would the Seneca choice count against the central or the western region. Answer - Wow, good question. Honestly that is one detail that we did not yet think through. Instead of trying to guess what the groups consensus would be I would prefer that we get back to you after our next TAB meeting.Answer - Wow, good question. Honestly that is one detail that we did not yet think through. Instead of trying to guess what the groups consensus would be I would prefer that we get back to you after our next TAB meeting.

Question and Answer Question - Can this method be used to better leverage NYSBCF marketing and sponsorship $? Will it allow for more long range planning?Question - Can this method be used to better leverage NYSBCF marketing and sponsorship $? Will it allow for more long range planning? Answer - With out a doubt. This method will enable the TD to look out several years in the scheduling process. Imagine how your purchasing power increases when you can come to a town with a contract for 3 tournaments over a 4 or 5 year period.Answer - With out a doubt. This method will enable the TD to look out several years in the scheduling process. Imagine how your purchasing power increases when you can come to a town with a contract for 3 tournaments over a 4 or 5 year period.

Question and Answer Why tie the metro population with tournament locations as far north as Ticonderoga?Why tie the metro population with tournament locations as far north as Ticonderoga? Answer - You are correct in your inference that this region is the longest from point to point. The Metro Region makes up a very big population of our angler base yet the only tournament site large enough to meet the criteria for a state level tournament is the Hudson. Instead of setting up a situation where every tournament in a region was held on the same location we decided to increase the size of the region to include 5 bodies of water.Answer - You are correct in your inference that this region is the longest from point to point. The Metro Region makes up a very big population of our angler base yet the only tournament site large enough to meet the criteria for a state level tournament is the Hudson. Instead of setting up a situation where every tournament in a region was held on the same location we decided to increase the size of the region to include 5 bodies of water.

Question and Answer Open questions to the floorOpen questions to the floor If you have any questions at this point please feel free to contact your TAB representativeIf you have any questions at this point please feel free to contact your TAB representative