Texas Transplant
Well-Known Member
I watched the progress of the recent Federation Championship. Our SC State representative, Gary Pope, came close, but only managed a runner up in the Southern division.
I asked our Federation rep how we choose our 'Champion' (because I never heard of him and barely found his name in the records from the last two years), and got the following:
Whomever has the largest sack, from the 12 state team members, in the Regional tournament, is the SC Federation tournament. Our 12 man state team is made up of 3 boaters and non-boaters from the regular trail, and 3 additional boaters and non-boaters from the 6 Man tourney.
You can fish the entire regular trail, 6 tourneys, win 3 and qualify for the state team and win the overall regular trail championship; followed by a win at the November Championship; and not be the SC State representative for the Federation Championship. In short, that happened.
Man, what a poor way to pick a representative. In short, someone can do really well in the 6 man (a 2 day tourney), make the State Team and have a good regional, and qualify for the Federation Championship. No requirement to fish the year end Championship or to fish the regular trail. The problem with this is that the 6 man competition lake is known in advance. A club can spend as much time as possible, sharing info and learning the prevailing fall patterns, and put three boaters on the state team. That is exactly what happened 2 falls ago.
Three boaters from one club camped out on a really good point for both days. They simply waited for the fish to come up, caught what they could, culled when they could, and all three finished 1-2-3.
Stinks. But then again, that's what the rules say.
Tex
I asked our Federation rep how we choose our 'Champion' (because I never heard of him and barely found his name in the records from the last two years), and got the following:
Whomever has the largest sack, from the 12 state team members, in the Regional tournament, is the SC Federation tournament. Our 12 man state team is made up of 3 boaters and non-boaters from the regular trail, and 3 additional boaters and non-boaters from the 6 Man tourney.
You can fish the entire regular trail, 6 tourneys, win 3 and qualify for the state team and win the overall regular trail championship; followed by a win at the November Championship; and not be the SC State representative for the Federation Championship. In short, that happened.
Man, what a poor way to pick a representative. In short, someone can do really well in the 6 man (a 2 day tourney), make the State Team and have a good regional, and qualify for the Federation Championship. No requirement to fish the year end Championship or to fish the regular trail. The problem with this is that the 6 man competition lake is known in advance. A club can spend as much time as possible, sharing info and learning the prevailing fall patterns, and put three boaters on the state team. That is exactly what happened 2 falls ago.
Three boaters from one club camped out on a really good point for both days. They simply waited for the fish to come up, caught what they could, culled when they could, and all three finished 1-2-3.
Stinks. But then again, that's what the rules say.
Tex