Incentives for 2009

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. 

Rod Give-A-Ways - Courtesy of Sportsmen's Hide-A-Way we will continue to be able to give away those great fishing rods that we have been.  We will give away one at every tournament, and two at every tournament with more than ten boats.  Don't forget about our December toy drive tournament.  We will give away upto five additional rods.  One for each five toys donated upto five rods.  All rods are given away by random drawing.  

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.  You must notify the tournament director that you are claiming this at the draw or first thing in the morning before the launch time.  

BONUS JIG PACK - Courtesy of King Cobra Lures.  You will received a small bonus pack of jigs if you win a tournament and you come to the scales wearing a King Cobra t-shirt.  You can buy a t-shirt from Manuel when you see him.  

 Rules Changes for 2009
THERE ARE NO RULES CHANGES
The following adjustments from 2008 will remain in place

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 beauty 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.  

Special Thanks - to the following sponsors. 

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Yuma Reel Repair - Donated several very top quality reels at our BBQ which were given away  by random drawing to those who fished our club in 2008 and/or signed up for the 2009 season.   Also included were a couple gift certificates for a free reel cleaning and service INCLUDING PARTS.  Awesome donation.

 

River Marine - Has given us $500 worth of gift certificates to give away to our 1st place anglers at each tournament.  $25 to the first place Pro and $15 to our first place Am at every tournament in 2009. 

Preferred Plastics Custom Baits - Kevin has let me know that he intends to continue to support our club for another year. Some time this summer he will be sending us another huge box of those great plastic baits for us to give away to you.  

TTI Blakemore - Conntinues to send sample packs of hooks for us to try.  We gave away a couple hundred  packs at the BBQ and many of the hooks in the prize bags also cam from TTI.  Many of those who won the tackle boxes will have also found Roadrunners or the new vibrating Road Runners enclosed as well.  Bleading Bait Hooks, Daiichi Hooks, X-Point Hooks, Standout Hooks, Roadrunner Baits, Reel Magic, Tru-Turn, and many other products come from TTI-Blakemore.  You should check them out.  

Izorline East - Sadly the tough financial year has made it impossible for the east coast rep for Izorline to support us with another sticker/winner program like last year, but we owe him  a big round of thanks for his support in 2008.  We gave away 40 full spools of Izorline in 2008.  You guys know what quality fishing line costs.  He did let me know that a future sponsorship as the economy recovers is not out of the question.  

There are many more that need to be added to this list, but I have to get to work this morning.  I'll try to continue to update it through out the week.  
Bob - Updated  February 9th 2009

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.   Coca Cola - As a surprise, one of the reps from Coca Cola donated a cooler sink for us to use as our fish sink at our Mittry Lake tournaments.  He brought it to the BBQ filled with Coke and Diet Coke.

Harold Wah at: Sportsmen's Hide-A-Way 1645 S Engler Ave Yuma, Az 85364 (928)783-6722

Click Map for Large View

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 in the three seasons we have hosted Yuma Pro Am so far we have not left anybody on the bank who has signed up. There are several top local anglers in addition to our regulars who have let me know that they will be available to fish if we run short of boaters.  In addition Kelly at River Marine has gone out of his way to let me know that when practical he will ask his prostaff guys to come fish if needed.  I have even put anglers I trust in my spare boat a time or two when the situation demanded.  It is very important that you do your part also.  Boaters (Pros) and Non-Boaters (Ams) both need to sign up as early in the week before the tournament as you can.  This is an important part of planning that will help me talk with other anglers and make sure there are seats open for the new guy.