2016 AOTY

I'll check the settings..  it might just be that it will take awhile to be re-indexed by facebook.  Until then here is the direct link..
https://www.facebook.com/NWKA-AOTY-284017149809

Here's the base URL now:

https://www.facebook.com/nwkaaoty

Yeah too many points for rainbow trout. I mean what a 24.5 inch bow is as much or more than a 30 inch steelie. Yeah I'm guilty of getting dough-eaters from the kiddie pond for points but there's definitely something wrong here.

I get what you're saying, but it's funny because from my perspective it's really hard to get a decent scoring trout. I caught a 16" one this year that was my biggest Oregon trout so far, and then realized how few points it was.

I think the problem is there are large trout and small trout and not a lot in the middle, maybe?

To get a decent rainbow sometimes all you have to do is watch for the game department to do a release. Then go hit the kiddie pond. In WA state they even give you a sense of the average size of the fish being released (fish per lb.) so you know potentially where the big dough-eaters got released. Once you know that much it's just a matter of getting on the road and spinning around the kiddie pond.

I suggest the points for a rainbow trout be changed to a 6.5 pts per inch. It would reflect the amount of skill it takes to find and land one, relative to other similar species. I'm fully aware that everyone is on the same playing field so it's "fair" I just don't think a decent rainbow is that hard to locate and catch if you set it as a goal.

What we've tried to do in the past is set a "trophy" sized fish at 200 points. Right now a trophy sized rainbow would be 25 inches. If you drop the points to 6.50 it would push the trophy sized 30.8, which I think is far too big. I think the points per inch for rainbows is about where they should be for all of the NW. Maybe large rainbows are a bit easier to catch in WA but you can say the same thing about large cabbies in Oregon. Each region will have certain advantages and disadvantageous. As a blank points per inch I believe they are about right. 

Well keep it how you want. I didn't expect it to change but it's strange and I don't know why a 30" steelhead is less than a 30" rainbow. Those fat bows I catch in the kiddie pond don't even fight as much as a 15 inch kokanee they're so obese.

Another few things for good measure since we're soliciting feedback to engage more people.

Start specific tournaments which do not run year around. Perhaps run the following March through September.

Bottomfish  (one entry each species)
Big Bass (one entry each smallmouth and largemouth)
Salmon (one entry each species)

Start specific tournaments which do not run year around. Perhaps run the following March through September.

Bottomfish  (one entry each species)
Big Bass (one entry each smallmouth and largemouth)
Salmon (one entry each species)

I really like these type of ideas and bsteves made a good point that they can be used to get a sponsor interested in a particular aspect. I hope we can do some things like this.

What we've tried to do in the past is set a "trophy" sized fish at 200 points. Right now a trophy sized rainbow would be 25 inches. If you drop the points to 6.50 it would push the trophy sized 30.8, which I think is far too big. I think the points per inch for rainbows is about where they should be for all of the NW. Maybe large rainbows are a bit easier to catch in WA but you can say the same thing about large cabbies in Oregon. Each region will have certain advantages and disadvantageous. As a blank points per inch I believe they are about right.

Agreed. Rainbows are weird but it's something I think we just have to live with for now. Sometimes those big fellers can be easy, but sometimes they can be VERY difficult.

I do like the shorter or side competitions. Springers would be a good one to get people excited for the year.

What we've tried to do in the past is set a "trophy" sized fish at 200 points. Right now a trophy sized rainbow would be 25 inches. If you drop the points to 6.50 it would push the trophy sized 30.8, which I think is far too big. I think the points per inch for rainbows is about where they should be for all of the NW. Maybe large rainbows are a bit easier to catch in WA but you can say the same thing about large cabbies in Oregon. Each region will have certain advantages and disadvantageous. As a blank points per inch I believe they are about right.

Agreed. Rainbows are weird but it's something I think we just have to live with for now. Sometimes those big fellers can be easy, but sometimes they can be VERY difficult.

I do like the shorter or side competitions. Springers would be a good one to get people excited for the year.

Hell yeah!

We have our third sponsor lined up: welcome aboard Kayak Shed in Hood River, Oregon. I've bought two Hobies from these guys (they deal other brands too) and it's a great operation. Thanks for stepping up to support HOW and NWKA!

http://www.kayakshed.com/

Is there anyway to add a "other species" section to the categories? For people who get a chance to travel and do a little bit of fishing. This will be my first year doing AOTY. Any good info to start out with?

Is there anyway to add a "other species" section to the categories? For people who get a chance to travel and do a little bit of fishing.

How about a "Catch of the Year" category.  Can be voted on subjectively by the judges for fun side challenge.  More fish photos = More fun.  Only folks who sign up of the AOTY can post, so maybe you get a handful of entries for that side challenge alone.

My buddy Porky has made the "banners" for the past few years for NCKA AOTY/DOTY and NWKA AOTY...the lettering that says NWKA AOTY 2015 on the top of the page.

He has moved out of the area, but I'm gonna hit him up today/tomorrow to see if he can still do these for NCKA, and wanted to check and see if you guys want him to do an NWKA AOTY 2016 for you again...no worries if not, just wanted to ask before I had him work on it in case you had something different in mind.

Just let me know!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

That would be great! Thanks!

That would be great! Thanks!

Cool!

Once I get the files from Porky I'll email them to bsteves.

If for some reason Porky can't do them I'll let you know and we can figure out a Plan B for the NCKA/NWKA sites.

Happy new years fellas!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Thank you, Jim - that's much appreciated! If it doesn't work out let me know; I'm not an artist but I have artist tools.

Has an official signup started? I just got my licenses today.