is SABAA crazy?

[August]

Floatie, I fished almost all types of comps todate except tests. Ive generally done ok. My eyes opened when I started fishing divs. You learn so much more about bass and how they behave. The multi day discipline brings a whole new chapter to the ball game. It forces you to understand them better. The longer the tourny the less the effect of a lucky bigfish becomes and the more consistant bigfish start playing a role. I feel the level of competition is also higher. You might have the same guys fishing divs and cash comps, but they put in more effort into divs, more prep. They really lift it a notch, and then you have to too. All this just forces you to learn learn learn. The history system also makes you need to be consistent for a long time, forcing you again to rely less on luck and more on skill, luck only lasts that long. Divs have learn me a lot. I wont be able to fish it for ever, but even if i leave it today, it would have learnt me so much about bass that I can take with me for the rest of my social fishing career

[Floatie]

Thanks August,
Always enjoy reading your advice. You have done very well actually. Not just generally Ok.

[smurf]

Best part of the season was winning some money back at the Elite Series

Watch out...the taxman reads this !!But I suppose after all the expenses are taken,you have very little to declare.
I am just reading that you made the InterProvincial Team after one season :eusa_clap: That is a great achievement for an angler, who has no "history" of the previous season, to end up in contention for team selection for WP. I have been out of the system for some years now...do they no longer use a 60%/40% system for selection ?

[Jim_From_Zim]

I suppose it only fair that I also post something?

I've read the whole thread from the beginning and I seem to think that its all about money and whether or not the game of bass fishing is for the rich only.

So lets break it down in this exact sense shall we? I'll cite a few examples, but please note this may not be a true reflection to your specific region...

Lets start with Gauteng C4C series:
9 events at R 400 per boat. Thats R 3 600 per season, not counting the Champion event at the end of the season.
-What do you get for your money? The chance to win money back into your pocket as it is a money series.
-Can you claim a SA record size fish (if not a member of SABAA?): No
-Can you get involved to change the rules/constitution/the way you like things to suit your specific needs? No

Ebass series in Gauteng:
9 events at R 555 per boat. Thats R 5000 per season, not counting the finals
-What do you get for your money? The chance to win money back into your pocket as it is a money series.
-Can you claim a SA record size fish (if not a member of SABAA?): No
-Can you get involved to change the rules/constitution/the way you like things to suit your specific needs? No

Divisionals (note - specific to the western cape where I take part. I am not sure of the other regions)
6 events at R316 per boat (yes, only solo though, not team). Thats R 1900 per season not counting the chance to represent your province and perhaps country.
-What do you get for your money? Nothing if you dont do well. If you climb the ladder and get into the teams, you normally get money back in the form of entry paid, fuel costs paid etc to inter provs, nationals etc
-Can you claim a SA record size fish (SABAA member): Yes
-Can you get involved to change the rules/constitution/the way you like things to suit your specific needs? Yes

Divisionals with ELITE series (Western Cape Specific):
6 events with an additional R 1 600 entry for the season (add divisional costs to this of R 1 900) = R 583 per event per person
-What do you get for your money? Its treated as an additional money series inside the divisionals. You stand a chance of winning R 3 333 per event. (Nav, how much did you win back this year?) IN ADDITION, If you climb the ladder and get into the teams, you normally get money back in the form of entry paid, fuel costs paid etc to inter provs, nationals etc
-Can you claim a SA record size fish (SABAA member): Yes
-Can you get involved to change the rules/constitution/the way you like things to suit your specific needs? Yes

Money Trail (WC):
6 events at R 350 per boat= Thats R 2 100 per season
-What do you get for your money? The chance to win money back into your pocket as it is a money series.
-Can you claim a SA record size fish (if not a member of SABAA?): No
-Can you get involved to change the rules/constitution/the way you like things to suit your specific needs? No

So which is the more expensive then, and which do you get the most or least bang for your buck?
Most expensive: Divisionals with ELITE series
Least expensive: Divisionals only
Most bang for your buck: Divisionals with ELITE series
Least bang for your buck: C4C, Money trail and EBass series

So in reading all of the above, we have to look at which would suit our pockets, wants and needs.
You also then have to consider if you wish to enter more than one series/divisionals as this could also have an impact on your pocket.

I also read into other threads that perhaps SABAA is not looking out for the general angler. Well, I guess they are not looking out for the general angler but for the members only. Sure, there could be spin offs for the general angler but most of the time its not felt by them. I guess that if you want to make a change, join SABAA and get involved.
Joining SABAA with more members will also lighten the work load, strength the voice of the association and lower the fee's. The more the merrier comes to mind.
Also, you might not like the historical rules with regards to divisionals/interprov's/nationals etc, but the only way you are going to change this is to get involved and make your voice heard through the correct channels. if you have a better way of doing things, then suggest it and give a good example of a trial run of it. That way you will be able to better your point.

Perhaps the guys in the other regions could shed some light onto their divisional cost and their respective money events in their area?

I hope this gives a better perspective of which is which. I just dont like seeing a certain group or body getting the short end of the stick all the time for no apparent reason.

[Brenden]

Thankyou JFZ for putting it into perspective. I couldn't after 10 posts made it more clear myself, told you okes I need a PA.
@ Smurf, there is no longer a history requirement for provincial team. it only comes into play from Divisional level in WC at least cant speak for other divisions.
because of World Games, Protea Zone 6, Presidents, Nationals etc, it becomes obvious that most of the above qualified chaps cannot afford or take time off work to attend the provincials so it allows for others to have an opportunity to enjoy the provincial championships and gain the experience from it. so all in all everyone really gets to gain something from it. Like JFZ explained the Elite series assists be it just with R1000 back to anglers that qualify and represent at the various levels. we hope to grow the support and generate more income to afford more to anglers as well as for our conservation fund, juniors etc.

[smurf]

Thanks Brenden,those guys will gain some valuable experience from that venture.

[Riprap]

Thanks Jim, knew you couldn't resist a post sometime and a very valuable one at that!
Quite correct with the history for inter-provs, allows up and coming guys some exposure which is a good thing.

[August]

thanks Jim, ill sommer make a print of that and keep it in my boat

[Navrik]

Well done Jim...give the man a bells! I seen Brenden has a PA position open so please apply!

@Smurf I managed back to back wins at Theewaters on the same weekend. It landed me 2 x R3,333 of which as per our practice I donated 10% of my winnings back to our club which in turn will cover some of our collective costs as a club somewhere in the future. From Jim's cost breakdown and just taking the subs for the year into account I actually made a small profit which helped fill the tank for each event.

Due to the cost of getting to Nationals, Zone6 and Internationals it allowed some of the newer guys the opportunity to get to Interprovs which I regard as a huge honour and I am over the moon with excitement about another big learning opportunity and also to meet some of my on-line friends in person and share a cold one with them!

[Rory]

Okay Ive read this thread from start to finish and now have a headache!
For a first timer like me please provide feedback on the following....

Money trail / classics etc - per event fee ( no affiliation required? )

Divisionals - per event fee + affiliation
( ie I need to join a club in order to be affiliated? What cost? )

Divisionals ( Elite ) Affiliation cost is higher but there's cash up for grabs in the 6 divisional comps?

Only way to make WP team is to fish divisionals?

[Rory]

If I want to fish Elite divisionals its -
Affiliation cost to sabaa R?
plus
R1900 divisionals
plus
R1600 elite?

[Jim_From_Zim]

R 1 900 to enter divisionals, no entry fee per comp. That R 1900 includes SABAA, gold membership, WCBAA, fishing license, etc. This allows you to fish the 6 comps for divisionals.

ELITE series is an additional R 1600 for the money series at the same time as the divisionals. There is no extra fee's to pay per event.

No, you cant do ELITE series and not Divisionals, you have to do either divisionals or both.

[Brenden]

Hi Guys,
breakdown as follows for entire season
SABAA R800
Wp R300
WCBAA weigh in facility R250
angling license R50
Colours evening (prize giving dinner) R500 = 2 x tickets

Eilite series = R1600

total spend R3500

[Rory]

So who do I pay the money too!?

[Brenden]

PM Sent Rory