I feel that paying down farther into the amateur field would be very beneficial to keep teams coming back. Most am teams are truely in it for the fun and if they have a better chance of getting a little something back, whether it be a check or tackle packs, makes it just a little more inticing to hit the next tourney. Try to keep the am entry fees lower also, so the average joe can get into the show without spending an arm and a leg. Smaller boats = smaller crews = more $ out of pocket per person.
I definately like the idea of random observer's on am boats on the first day and mandatory for the top 10 on day two. Granted, it could get tight on an 18 ft boat adding an observer, but it is something that could be planned for in advance.
I also feel that there should be a mandatory bump to the "pro" side if there are teams tht are consistantly dominating the amateur tournaments. Also, anyone that is sponsored should be fishing pro.
I, too, would like to see earlier start times.
I also think Clark has a good idea for amateurs to be able to catch their limit and weigh the best 5, 6, or whatever. Keeps everybody in the running on day two even if you didn't box a limit on day one. And it also gives a two man crew a fighting chance.
Just a few of my random thoughts...

There definitely needs to be some sort of rule as to when a boat/team is required to move from the amateur division to the pro. There are teams that consistently win the amateur division and are content to do so. We need rules to bump these teams out of there comfort zones!

It is like the Sprint Cup drivers going down and racing in the Nationwide series for practice.

I have fished the bay harbor tournament the last two years and still haven't broke the top ten. I still had a blast both years. I would definitely enter the other tourneys on the am side of it. I believe the rules that go with bay harbor make it possible for new teams to give it a shot and entice newcomers to give it a shot. The nine line limit and the 5 fish a day make it possible for a smaller boat to compete.

I have been in several tournament with a 5 fish limit and I didn't like them. Tournaments should be a test of your abilities not how lucky you can be and catch a big fish. I have also witnessed events where they weighed in the 12 biggest, what a waste of big kings. 2 limits, 10 fish seems right to me. This shows skill in catching a number of fish as well as different kinds of fish. If people want a division where you don't need to catch many fish, just have a big fish division or a two fish event. I don't think you will see a big increase in the number of people involved. I don't know of one fisherman that starts the day saying "My limit is one fish."

I have never seen an observer on an anateur boat. I have never heard of a captain takeing a lie detector test, pro or am. You will not have to do this many time to make people think twice about cheating.

Bruce- Arcadia, MI.

I like the smaller boat division, then if there is rough weather they could call the small boat division and not the whole Am side. Paying down maybe 20 wouldnt be bad either. I think the earlier start time wouldnt be to smart, alot of guys in the smaller boats that dont have radar, or like the Ludington tournament, you would have 250 boats WFO in the dark! That might be a safety issue

The earlier start times for the AM Division that I spoke of should have had some accompanying clarification...

I think the Pro Division should start an hour after sunrise. AM Division could start at sunrise.

In watching the Bassmasters Classic this past weekend, those boats did not leave the starting point until well-after daybreak.

Sure, it would make the Pro Division fishing tougher...but hey...they are Pros!!!

BFG you cant compare salmon fishing to bass fishing. You can catch a bass out of a mud puddle in the driveway! I understand where you come from on the start times, but maybe the three tier system will work with a Pro, Am 1 and Am 2 for smaller boats. Same start time, but different entry fees. I feel the Am division is as hard or harder than the Pro side. You have more boats and some damb good fisherman in the Am.

Sorry, but I don't see where boat size has anything to do with salmon fishing. We are fishing on Lake Michigan, not the millpond. Do you really think that a small boat division will add that many more boats? My boat is not as fast as smaller boat, let's have a division with a speed limit.

I think the shotgun start is one of the most exciting parts of a tournament. If your boat is smaller or slower, get out of the way. When I had a faster boat I was right out in front. Now I just wait for them to leave and then go. So what if I am 10 min. late getting to my spot.

I can't agree more to what Bruce has said! Fishing the Am side is a good test of your ability to catch both species and would hate to see that changed.These days its been pretty easy catching 10 salmon and those 4 other's sometimes can be alot of work.The combination of the two makes it a real test of the teams fishing ability.With that said the pro's should try the same format with the 4 trout,let see how they do.On the issue of start times and boat size? The start is one the best things with everyone leaving at the same time,would hate to see that change.Boat size has nothing to do with your ability to catch your limit,there are teams that have small boats now and did have in the past that have won and finished real well in the division.If there is a problem with size or speed just hang back let everyone go,just follow the pack 5 to 10 min extra is no big deal. Good Luck To Everyone This Year!!!!!!!!! Chuck

While I agree with much of what I have read here this is my 2 cents worth. I have been back in MI for 3 years and fishing the Big lake for the last 2 and here is why none of you have had a chance to win any of my money. No chance to feel competitive my old 18ft Starcraft was too slow and too small fished 2 very comfortably and 3 cramped and 6 lines was pretty much the max sure I could run core on boards but some jerk allways ran my lines over so since it is considered inpolite to sink them for trashing my gear I keep it in the boat unless I am all by myself in a area. I have several friends who feel the same way with 17 to 20ft boats why should 2 or 3 guys in a small boat pay the same to fish against 5 or 6 guys in a larger boat. When I heard about the 333 I thought it would be something I would have a fair chance at then I found out I had to be in the main tournament to enter the 333 well do the math 2 guys in a 18ft boat have to win the 333 to get their own money back knowing full well they have virtually no chance against 5 guys in a bigger boat unless it is a 5 fish max weigh per day. So for me to consider entering as a AM here are my rules 9 line max 3 man legal limit max weigh and score the best 5 each day. As it stands now I will fish the Onekama Shake Down if by some chance I make it into any money I will try a few more. Call me cheap if you want but I know that paying the entrance fee and slapping some stickers on my wifes Taurus ain't gonna win me any NASCAR races either. AM class should be just that a level playing field where a couple of friends or coworkers can see a chance of being competitive in a small boat. You do that and you will see a big increase in people willing to fish in the AM class there are a lot of guys who go out and get 4 to 6 fish on a regular basis but how many guys in 17 to 20ft boats do you know who bring in 10 to 12 every time out? Pro Rules need to be the same at every port and the same with AM rules but AM rules and PRO rules don't need to be the same. Keep the AM class simple and fun and you guys stand a lot better chance of winning my money and I have a better chance of winning yours. Get a 100 or more AM boats at every tournament and put more prizes in the pot everyone wins. It is simple math 100 boats at 200 ea is way more than 50 at 250 ea or 30 at 500 ea. In a 200.00 tournament 3 guys can each kick in a 100 and be in the 333 and the AM and with a 5 fish max weigh per day they will know darn well they have a chance. So they can smile when the big boats go by knowing that they have just as good a chance of winning as anyone. Ok I realize that is more than 2 cents worth so I will stop here. Tight Lines and Good Times to all