New Incentives for 2008

1st Out of the Money - The first angler out of the money (not counting options) at each tournament will not have to pay their basic entry at the next tournament. Only at the next tournament.  If they skip it they lose their free entry.  

$500 Cash For Anglers of the Year - Courtesy of River Marine the 2008 pro angler of the year will receive $300 cash at the awards BBQ in January 2009.  The amateur angler of the year will get $200 cash.

A New Set of Free Rods - For our tournament give-a-ways.  We recently received an order of Acadia sports fishing rods in assorted lengths, actions, and styles. We will give one away after the weigh in at every tournament.  If you aren't there when we draw for the free rod we will draw somebody else. We also have a few extras for special promotions that will happen through out the year.   

Fish For Free - Bring a buddy - Any current member who has fished atleast one previous tournament who brings a new member to fish with us will receive a $5 discount off their basic entry upto 5 discounts per tournament if they and the new member both are able to fish that tournament. Bring five new buddies every tournament and you could fish for free all season.  

Rules Changes for 2008

Must Be In The Draw - This rule will be relaxed to allow the tournament director the flexibility to make pairings and changes and add anglers after the draw... only for the purpose of trying to make sure that everybody who signed up gets to fish, and trying to make sure that everybody who wants to fish with a partner gets one.  

More Boaters (Pros) than Non-boaters (Ams) - Since the tournament director is always the last one out, and comes in before the weigh in, in the event that there are more boaters than non-boaters the tournament director will fish solo.

1. Be low priced so maybe more of the "I'm not sure if I'm good enough," guys will get out on the water.
2. Give guys without a boat a chance to get a taste of the sport and/or get out on the water.
3. Grow the industry locally by getting more people involved who were not involved before.

I am doing it because I think its good for everybody.

Required:
  $15     Membership (once per season)
  $25     Tournament Entry

Options:
  $ 5      Big Bass of the Tournament  
  $ 5      8 lb lunker pot.  (rolls over if not won)
  $15     Big Bucks - Top 3 Split

Its a great opportunity to get into tournament fishing at a low price whether you have a boat or not.

What if my boat is broke down?  A pro who's boat is in the shop can opt to use that tournament as their one throw out or they can opt to fish a single tournament in the season as an amateur.  However, they will draw last after all regular amateurs present at the draw have drawn.  If there are not enough boats they will have to sit this one out or hurry to get their boat fixed.   

I don't know.  I'm not sure I'm good enough. That's the beaughty of this format.  Draw a good partner who catches fish and you could be in the winners circle even if you don't boat a single fish yourself all day.  Not only that, but if you paid attention to what your partner was doing right that day you will have learned something.  Not the same as hiring a guide, but a lot cheaper.  

Outback Steakhouse generously offered us TWO dinner for TWO certificates for our August 2007 Tournament.  We will awarded those to the first out of the money team. (not counting options)  Ouback happens to be one of my favorite restaurants in the area.  They have a great training program which results in consistant quality service and food.

Quantum Fishing  donated reels to our club for us to use a give-a-way items at tournaments or at our year end BBQ as we see fit.  I am glad to get support from Quantum.  I've had the opportunity to experience excellent personal customer service from Quantum, and as many of you know my favorite reels for flipping are the Quantum Accurists.  When I sent a sponsor request letter to Quantum I didn't tell them all of this. I just asked them to sponsor our club, and they did. Thank you guys.

Stanley Special thanks for items donated to our anglers

FREE DIAMONDBACKS
BASEBALL TICKETS
Courtesy or Pepsi Cola of Yuma

	Pepsi Cola of Yuma has donated 4 Club Box Tickets to Game 31. We will be giving them away by random draw to two lucky anglers who fish our May tournament. One angler will receive two tickets and a VIP parking pass.  The other will receive the other two tickets.  All anglers who fish in May will be eleigible to win.

New Owner Manual Garcia has committed to continue to support Yuma Pro Am in the same or larger capacity as Simon did in the past.

The Dual Concept spinnerbait by King Cobra Lures is a real innovation on an old idea.  A light wire spinner bait has more vibration and can get more bites in many circumstances. Unfortunately it wear out quickly and break on that fish of a lifetime.  A heavier wire spinnerbait will hold well, but may not have that little extra virbation to get those extra bites on a tough day.  The Dual Conceept spinerbait addresses both concepts.  Good vibraition, and good durability. <C:LICK HERE> For more information.  There is a large selection available at Sportsmen's Hide-A-Way.

Item Updated 7/7/2007
I just received 6 boxes of sample packs of hooks from Daiichi.  That's over 600 hooks in 300 sample packs.  If you don't get a couple packs to try remind me.  I've got plenty to give out.    Thanks again TJ.

Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Yuma They have let us know they will becovering sodas and bottled water for our awards BBQ and season opener in Janauray.  Thanks Guys. That doesn't just mean we will have some sodas with our steaks.  It means I can spend a couple more dollars on other things to make the BBQ fun and give away more stuff. Yuma Pro Am only holds back enough money to cover the basics, and when somebody like Pepsi Cola generously decides to cover an expense like this for us it is just like getting few more dollars in the bank.

Harold Wah at: Sportsmen's Hide-A-Way 1645 S Engler Ave Yuma, Az 85364 (928)783-6722	Click Map for Large View
	Harold let me know the other day that Sportsmen's would be paying for the steaks for our year end / season opener in January. Remember those steaks we had last year? Harold paid for those. I cut them and grilled them, but without Harold's generosity we would have had hotdogs and balogna sandwiches instead. A big thanks to Sportsmen's Hide-A-Way.

Culprit Baits - A truly excellent selection in soft plastic baits.  Also check out their line of Riptide saltwater lures.

Get Great Exposure for Your Tackle Business - Yuma Pro Am is seeking tackle product sponsors. These will be given away by random draw at each tournament and for the year end awards ceremony.

Tackle sponsors will be named and if supplied their logo displayed at every tournament weigh in. They will also have their name and/or logo displayed prominently on the Yuma Pro Am website.

Other promotional requests may be considered based on the level of sponsorship.

Please contact webmaster@YumaProAm.com or call for Bob at (928)580-1270 .  

Its going to happen.  Yuma is going to have a low price draw team format (pro/am) fishing tournament series.  What exactly does that mean.  You can sign up as a pro or an amateur.  The only difference between a pro and an amateur is that a pro owns a boat suitable for tournament fishing and an amateur doesn't.  If you want to know if your boat is suitable for fishing our tournament series click on the link rules ad scroll down to Qualified Boats.

What if there aren't enough pros to match up with amateurs?  Its not completely solvable problem, but we will introduce a couple things to help:  

1. New members will get to draw first if they are present at the draw for position.  
2. Those present at the draw will get to draw for position before anglers who call in to have somebody draw for them.  
3. While we believe that anybody who has a suitable boat should fish in the pro class we understand that some people may still wish to fish in the amateur class.  For those who do own a boat we will allow them to sign up as "amateur with a boat."  this will allow them to take their boat if their aren't enough people fishing the pro class that day.  They will still accumulate amateur points, but they will compete for that day's tournament as a pro,
4. Pro Angler of the year will be determined by the total of your best 11 tournament finishes of the year.
5. Amateur Angler of the year will be determined by the total of your best 10 tournament finishes of the year.
6. If an amateur buys a suitable boat they may switch from fishing as an amateur to fishing as a pro.  They may only do this before the 7th tournament of the year.  They may still sign up as an amateur with a boat so they will be open to bring their boat if their aren't enough pros for the amateurs who want to fish.