I understand where grub is coming from, however I'm retired so time doesn't
affect me at all. Some of the younger (most I would think) have commitments to family and all, so it may take more time to get the jigs done
in the allotted time.
I'm kinda neutral as far as only 15 tiers. Grub may have the right approach in having a newbie swap. I don't like tieing 25 or 30 all the same, but it gives everyone a chance to get in. I feel that this forum is an opportunity for all
to learn, not just the pro's. After all we all remember the first jig we did and how exciting it was to catch a fish on it and also to compare with other jigs to see what we were doing right or wrong.
The only reason I started the Panfish Jig Swap was so many of us were left
"holding the bag" because of quick fill up of 15 tiers. That's also the reason I restricted swap 11 tiers from entering, thinking they had their own swap going on. Maybe we could have an unlimited swap with every 15 tiers being
a branch of the whole swap. What I mean by that is as soon as there were 15 entrants they would be group A, the next 15 or so would be group B and so on. Then the groups would swap amongest themselves, but the swap would be opened to all. Just a thought!
The reason for encouraging newbies for Panfish Swap was for the newer tyers
to be exposed and thus learn from the more experienced tyers. The problem wth an all newby swap is it would be "the blind leading the blind". That's not how you learn. The experienced tyers give the others a goal or challenge if you will to try more advanced jigs, colors, material and etc. In my case it gave me a challenge to tie smaller jigs (1/100 to 1/32) that I would not normally tie.
Maybe the way to "have the best of both worlds" is to have strict criteria for
the jig swap. For example 1/80 oz jig, maribou, sickle hook. I would not get in that one as I don't feel I have the expertise. A no restriction swap I would get in all of them.
Sorry for the long discertation, but I would HATE for the swaps to end!!!
Just tossing out some ideas.

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Crappiekiller3

"If it ain't a Crappie, it better be a Smallie!!!!