You're not wrong, but what year was that Ross won that $100K in the FLW event, 2006? The NWT would need to be close to $200K to match the buying power that $100K had in 2006. New boats back then didn't cost over $150K.
With how horrible the walleye coverage is its not a surprise payouts havnt got better. They could pay a couple high school kids to put together a better coverage package than what they do now
I agree about the crap coverage. The memes that were circulating through the NWT Facebook page last year with the Amish horse and buggy saying the NWT media team was en route to the next tournament or something like that. The guy holding a flip phone from a mile away poking fun at their coverage you would think they would get a clue and do better! I will have to admit they did do a little better this year with some live on-the-water coverage, and more and more guys are self-promoting with live on-the-water YouTube streams, which are fun to watch and learn from.
The guys them selves live coverage is putting the pressure on them to actually get rid of their dial up internet
Actually well established pro's are sponsored by boat manufacturer 's, OB,Electronic's ,rods/reel company's the guyz with sponsored rigs were responsible for X dollars by year end usually in September after the championship sweet deal new fully rigged boat every season,guz I knew always had buyers lined up, ranger boats would take the rig back to clean it up,strip exterior badging repair all damage even replace seats if some knuckle head ashed his cigar and burnt a hole (me)even car manufacturer 's like Toyota, for added bonus money iffin pro finishes HOA Wearing logo apparel like"tailpipe" Ted takaski,he hit a few big pay days with his Tundra tow vehicle,I remember Ted rolled in one day at the launch pulling his ranger 619,poor tundra grunting with the rear bumper squashed down to 12"s off the ground. Guyz winning sponsor gear sold it.
That even made it better then. I know quite a few guys fishing NWT now and can tell you firsthand they aren't paying full price, but most/average touring pros are definitely not getting a boat free. They are getting a discount, making it affordable to run it for a year, take the depreciation hit, sell it, and not lose money. But with the used boat market, that is even becoming a stretch. Some get battery deals, some electronic deals, some tackle allowances, rod and reel allowances, or discounts, etc. Watched the Tour Level Gold S4-EP 5 "The Gambler" currently on the home page. They are saying entry fees, travel, gas, and lodging; they are in the game $20,000 plus per year for a chance to play. They are not making it on tournament fishing alone.
