Your board of directors are currently in discussion of the Alabama Rig and its use in NBT tournaments. One member has suggested we ask for imput from members. So if you would like to add a short opinion to the topic please respond to this post or email me at donnie@nbtbass.com. I will forward your response to the other board members.
By charter the NBT organization caterers to: all ages and physical ability’s ( Youth / Age / Gender: All fisher persons should be allowed to compete on a level playing field ! ) See our rule M – 2 & 3 All bass must be caught live and in a conventional manner. Conventional manner to me, has for all years required the ability to / for: Searching / Locating / Enticing fish to bite on a properly presented (1) lure with (1) fishing rod. I’m all for Banning the use of the Alabama Rig. In all of our tournaments. Gary Woods
Just so we are clear. BASS has only prohibited the A-rig and any multiple bait rig during the Classic and the Elite Series, those circuits for the top pros. The also have a series of rules, like no landing nets for these competitors, specifically designed to challenge the best anglers. BASS does allow the use of A-rigs in the Opens, Federation Nation, College Bass and any other BASS sponsered events.
Also prohibited, btw, in the Classic and elite series are: Double soft jerkbait rigs, drop shot rigs with jigs as the bottom weight, double topwater rigs and any mutli-rig lures.
I think all of the board members have heard this same thing some time ago, and where asked the same question, is it legal or not? Read the comments in Bass Master, FLW etc. think about the required skill and the time it took all of us just to be proficient in what we do, fish competitively.
I agree with Gary 100%.
Why are we even having this discussion, for info and a possible vote???? If its for a vote, now or in the future, the outcome will be the same, " whoever is catching fish with them will vote yes, and those who have the competitive, one rod, one lure spirit will vote No " .
Looking at the number of members that have had any comments on his issue I would say any vote would be out of the question.
Why doesn't the "Board" make a decision on this? I don't think that ANY Tournament Trails are taking a vote on ANY rules and other rule changes, That's why they have a Board of Governors/Directors.
I personally believe that it should be banned,especially in the NBT. We have young anglers who can't throw the A- Rig. We also have individuals with handicaps who can't throw them. How do you teach fundamentals to our future anglers if all you do is find a school of baitfish and start throwing? How do you further handicap the ones who can not throw it whether it be a physical handicap,age, or due to past surgeries? How then, is it an even playing field for all who compete or wish to compete?
I say if it legal you should be able to use it. take a look at crank baits ( 2 or 3 treble hooks ) and how much of a killer bait that they were when they fist came out. If you have the shoulders and the desire to throw them I say a person should be allowed to use them
M, Al tho there are 6 hooks in a crank bait they are still attached to a SINGLE lure, by th way, Crank Baits where used in the 1900's. In your statement you said "if you have the shoulders", How about a Jr, 13 years old ,80 lbs who has the desire to use it, and a 17 year old, 175 lbs, who also has the desire to use it, you said "shoulders".... Remember ALL Jr's are fishing for the SAME thing......winning, do you really think that's fair competition?????? Read what basshawg21 said about the rig, I think he said it ALL..
I would like to thank each and every member that replied to both the message board and on email. I hope we can get some answer for you in the near future. I know I will be gone on spring break after tomorrow. There will also be a newsletter coming after I get back. Maybe we can get an answer for yall then. MOST OF ALL THANKS FOR FISHING NBT !!!
Just an FYI from my district asking for a simple yes/no vote via text message. So far I've heard from 6 adults and 2 juniors. 4 adults and 1 junior are AGAINST banning the A-rig/T-rig. 1 adult and 1 junior are FOR banning it. 1 adult is ok either way. I haven't put myself in those numbers yet but Hank is. If I can get some more numbers I'll update.
Guess I shouldn't have posted it that way guys. Sorry. But I did feel it was important to let everyone know the feedback I was getting. I'm not pushing for a vote. I just want my guys to be heard as well. Still haven't heard back from about half of them.
For the record.... I haven't caught one bass yet on the T-Rig. I'm not even trying to use the A-Rig in Tennessee because I don't see the sense in throwing five baits with only one of them having hooks or all of them having crappie size hooks which is what you have to do here if you throw the A-Rig. I did however flat wear out 2-3 pound white bass and caught 2 stripers/rockfish last weekend. Lost a few good ones too. Going back tomorrow to help stock the freezer for the fish fry.
One of my adults said... "Ban it. I worked too hard over the years to locate and understand what it takes to make them bite. It takes the sport out of it."
Another adult said.... "I wouldn't want to ban something that would help a junior catch a fish."
A junior said.... "It's not sporting. I think we should ban it."
Another junior didn't want it banned but didn't want anyone throwing the A-rig in Tennessee because it was too easy to cheat and not follow state rules with the A-rig. They felt we should only allow the T-rig (3 wires/baits) in Tennessee but the A-rig was ok in states where it was legal.
No one told me to put their names on the board so I left that out of it.
Mike is having PC problems and wanted me to post this for him:
We have decided to ALLOW the use of the A-rig at the present time. Because we started the season with the rig and no other organization is banning it other than the Elite Series we feel it is in the best interest of our organization to CONTINUE to use it at this time. Although, at the end of the season we will reevaluate the issue and decide to ALLOW or BAN the A-rig the next season. As for now, NBT districts are ALLOWED to use the A-rig PROVIDED the state that is being fished, allows it to be used. All NBT districts must abide all state rules and regulations.
Thank you Joel for the post, and the decision has been made, like it or not....
David, That's what you said in your first post that no one told you to put their name on the board...............How about in the future, any and all comments be posted by the member for all to see and evaluate "on the board". I think that's where the discussion part comes in.
Based on the number of actual members on this board with comments (9) (not counting any text messages with a y/n) verses the total number of members in NBT, do you really think this is getting to 90%???
John C is right!!!!! It appears 10% has swayed the decision of the board, whereas, that 10% wasn't man enough to allow their name to be used. As board od directors, you should never nave make a pro or con decision without 51% of the members participating or voting on the issue at hand. The voting can be done by allowing members to email or mail them to whoever is doing the polling, or have them to vote at the tournaments and have the directors turn them in. In either case the person doing the voting MUST sign their name.
Just so we are clear. According to our by-laws, the only thing that requires a vote is the election of the 5 member board and that Five member board then makes the decisions pertaining to all matters of this trail. Every member has the right to be on the board and all that is required is a nomination by another member and an affrimative action by the nominee of acceptance.
This thread was started and stated by Donnie for us to gain a better understanding of how the Anglers of NBT felt about this issue, some posted here, others sent emails, other made phone calls to the directors or spoke to them in person at tournaments etc. This was one avenue we made available, but not the only one. After assimilating this information the board voted and posted the result. At no time was it stated there would be a member vote to determine this issue requiring attribution of opinions on this topic.
All members are free to express themselves politely here or if they want to remain annoymous, they may contact their director or any director and speak with them in private.
lets put this issue to rest and talk about this and many other issues at the Nationals.
Question: Can we have a Members Only meeting at the Nationals (not including family and friends) to discuss a number of issues without any, (for the lack of a better word) outside influence or discussions (Keep any dirty laundry in house, and clear the air). This discussion is a good example for that need.
Joel is 100% correct on the Vote issue. Please don't use the word Club in reference to NBT.
To my knowledge thats how it always is.. Remember last year we had about 20 of us. I dont remember any family but there could have been.. I know at wheeler we only had about 4 show up. at Chick David gave away a bunch of stuff. Anyway we will have it. I can tell you we are always open to suggestions John we are MEMBERS and Fisherman 1st. We dont own NBT you have elected us to be on the board. I look forward to Nationals week every year. When I get to the point when its all about issues and not about fishing I will let you guys get another VP... This spring its about to get that way. We are having by far the best spring ever in our district by the numbers.. (avg. 29 adults a tourney) I need to catch some fish though.
I totally agree with Donnie. I have had a great time and have met a great bunch of guys while fishing the NBT organization. I was one of the first ones that wanted to see NBT get it's start and grow. I think as a organization we have done well. Yes, we have had some ups and downs, but we have worked through them.
No matter how hard we try or what we do as a organization NOT everyone will be happy ALLthe time. As a board member I/we see that more than most members. By far, I am NOT perfect and may NOT make all the right decisions, but I try to think of the organiztion as a whole in the decisions that I may act upon. I think I am speaking for/as a board member, member, and a angler we all want to have fun and fish and it seems that is getting harder to do.
I enjoy what I do and what we are about, but I am willing to step aside and give someone else a chance to make things better and make ALL happy. If some one wants, just let me know and step up. I am sure there is someone out there that can devote more time and can make better decisions.. I would love to just go fish and have fun.
Is all this fuss really worth it guys? It's one bait/technique. And rest assured it's not done any damage in my district. The adult winners in my first two tourney's were not throwing it and the junior in the first wasn't throwing it. Not sure about the second. So rest assured you still have to beat good fisherman to win no matter what you're throwing.
So before we start going to the point that we've got board members that have helped build this thing thinking about walking away, I'd hope we'd all check ourselves and think about the big picture. Or I hope you've got someone ready to step up and take their place before we push them off the cliff. And that someone better have time and be ready to do a lot more or whoever you are or you'll have harsh critics right away too. I for one know we would not still be going today if it weren't for what Mike, Donnie, Joel and Ray have done. Lots more would have just thrown in the towel trying to build an organization in the middle of a recession.
And just so you all know I could care less which way the decision goes on the A-rig down the road. If I end up the deciding vote I'll probably flip a coin. It just doesn't matter to me either way. But I sure would like for us all to get back to thinking about the kids we're fishing with and building the future of this organization. Things like all who are qualified showing up at nationals. Every adult bringing some kind of sponsor or prize to their district at least once every season. And recruiting more members! Fishing NBT with my son has been some of the greatest times of my entire life. Seeing Hank grow and learn and continue on his quest to become a tourney fisherman... Watching other kids get their first check or win, having Dakota Cantrell in my district and winning so much, seeing the girls beat the boys every now and then, giving out plaques at the banquets....Man I love every second of that. That's what NBT is to me.