Night Tournaments

[Tyler]

Dad was right. It is no fun, even for just a little money or even for bragging rights, to fish with cheaters. Like I said, most guys are good guys and are not going to cheat... but I still wouldn't fish in a paper tournament (even if it was only for bragging rights) for this reason. I would just as soon just go out and fun fish than do that.

Whack'em

I agree 100%

I fished the Friday Night Mill Creek Tourney (July 18th) with a friend of mine. We showed up just in time, traffic was very bad in Kimberling City. I was very thankful that we could still fish it cause the guy that runs it was putting his boat into the water as we pulled up. We ended up taking my buddies boat and once we got into the water we ran about 20 miles to our first spot. By 9:00pm we were sorting out the smaller fish in the livewell. Between the two of us we caught over 10 bass on this one certain spot. Believe it or not we were not fishing deep at all but we decided that we should get some ice because it was very humid and we were in fear for the wellness of the fish. We didn't have time to stop and buy a bag being we were running behind. So we got some ice from a local to put in the livewell. Little by little. Well its was time to make a run and the worst thing possible happens. The motor wont crank. Long story short the engine was locked up and we has several miles to go.. But we did have plenty of time as well. We didn't end up making it back in time... So once we knew that we weren't going to make it we released all the fish. If i were to guesstimate the weight we had i would have to say we were in the ballpark of 14lbs. So the moral of this story is Yes i love to compete. It's only human to have the desire to compete. But to compete only with the other Fisherman in the proper manner is the only question. So don't compete with the life of your game. Go the extra mile to make sure they are taken care of. As for ice, ask for rejuvenate or whatever you need to do.

[Trav]

I am telling you, the tech is out there to make a instant catch and release tourney feasible. I will make it my mission in life. It will be happening. Ray Scott is a close friend to my family and MR. Satellite himself happens to be my brother. I think between all of our resources we can make it happen. Did I mention my cousin is Forrest Wood? Bill Dance showed his respects at the funeral of my Gramps.

I will make a point to never see a Bass in a live well ever again. There is no point in it. Weigh-ins are nothing but to brag. Can do the same via satelite! Lets end this cycle of abuse!

Phil and bill both agree that If I was to compete in thier trout tourneys I could be a dominating factor. I refuse to compete because I would have to truck my fish 6 miles upstream for a weigh in!

If I could just record the catch via satelite and let them go.? Then I would win every tourney. Haha, You always catch better fish below Bull Creek.

Anyway, My point is made.

[skeeter]

I am telling you, the tech is out there to make a instant catch and release tourney feasible. I will make it my mission in life.

I will make a point to never see a Bass in a live well ever again. There is no point in it. Weigh-ins are nothing but to brag. Can do the same via satelite! Lets end this cycle of abuse!

Good for you Trav !!!! Best wishes for your eventual success and I know there are many others who remain silent on this same issue who are 100% behind you but are reluctant to express their feelings. Considering the fishing "royalty" you are related to and personally know I think you have a valuable inside track on this subject but can only wonder what the "big money" sponsors will do when they can't set up their weigh-in circus at the end of the day ?

The problem initially discussed in this thread seemed to be the results of a small, local or "club" derby and the only thing that will control that, IMHO, is a change in Statewide fishing regulations by MDC.

[Whack'emGood]

Tyler,

So you were the @#$% guys holding up the blastoff.... Just kidding!!!! We fished Friday as well. We caught a bunch of keepers, but no really big-uns. We finished 6th. Its too bad that you had motor problems. Sorry to hear it. Nice job taking care of your fish, though. There were 10 boats that weighed in fish, I think. 7 limits, and 3 with 3 fish. 15 something won it, with a 5.5 toad for big bass. Not bad for a 4 fish limit (15lbs+). Once again, all of the guys took good care of their fish, and Joe, Terry, and the boys did a great job recessitating, caring for, and releasing them. We didn't even see one fish dead or struggling after they relased them all. As far as our methods, we used Catch-n-Relase chemical and ice... We also ran both aereators all night. They were in excellent shape and as lively as ever when they were weighed and then released.

Whack'em

P.S. Race Brothers Farm and Home donated 2 more 100 gallon stock tanks for us to use for fish care. Joe is filling them and putting ice blocks in them-- we use them to set our bags of fish in while we are in the weigh line. It works great. Once again, Joe and Terry and the boys do a great job. Many thanks to Race Brothers!

[Predator1]

Kudos to you Wackem and you other night tourneys and race brothers. Glad to see you all implementing even better tactics. Every little bit increases better standards and influences more fisherman to practice good ethics.

Just closed on my new house Friday, will be painting and installing hardwood floors and carpet for the next month.

Sure have missed fishn the Rock. Guess I will head down to the James this evening.

Hope the crawfish info helped you.

Anyway, glad to see you guys keepn up the good work.

Fish on.

[Trav]

Skeeter,

It will happen and the circus as you call it will continue. Just without the actual fish. Instead of the weigh-in being the event, the "live feed" leader board and well scripted film footage and photography will keep the circus alive. Its all choreography!

The events will be more interactive during the events. Instead of waiting for the ending to climax the event it will be the clock that keeps and peaks the interests of us that watch the events.

As far as implementing the same into local clubs, They will have the same tech available to them. Sure it may take time to impress the need, but I really dont think anyone in any of these local derbys wants to kill Bass. But I do believe they are lazy and would rather dump dead Bass than to clean them and eat them.

As far as the MDC is concerned, if we can prove the tech on a professional level, we will have enough money and influence to make it mandatory for all clubs to use the same efficiency.

First of all, we need it on the books that no tourney can opporate without a permit. Until that happens, forcing laws on such operations might as well be moot. If I am correct, they all have money in tow. No different than a bingo hall. How hard will it be to manage these small tourneys if the state can moniter every bingo hall in the state.??? Especially when we are talking about our natural resources.

Give me a year to establish the system. Another year to convince the Pros to impliment the system and then we go after the MDC to pull in the reins on these maverick fishing clubs. Like I stated before, I am going to make this a life mission. It isnt just going to happen instantly. When the ball is rolling it will snowball. Everyone will want to live up to the standards of the Pros. That is a given, and if they dont, we try to lobby for laws on organized local tourneys.

[Gary Lange]

The Weigh-in will still be there! It will be at the boats of the leaders as they catch and weigh before release and all will see it as it happens and know who is in the running to win except the TV will keep that for the final chapter. Good idea! Will it ever happen even if the technology is there I don't think so.

[Whack'emGood]

Its a good idea Trav. It may work with the big tourneys. Unfortunately, it will never work with local tourneys... too expensive to implement. Sounds good though, good luck!

Whack'em

[Tyler]

Tyler,

So you were the @#$% guys holding up the blastoff.... Just kidding!!!! We fished Friday as well. We caught a bunch of keepers, but no really big-uns. We finished 6th. Its too bad that you had motor problems. Sorry to hear it. Nice job taking care of your fish, though. There were 10 boats that weighed in fish, I think. 7 limits, and 3 with 3 fish. 15 something won it, with a 5.5 toad for big bass. Not bad for a 4 fish limit (15lbs+). Once again, all of the guys took good care of their fish, and Joe, Terry, and the boys did a great job recessitating, caring for, and releasing them. We didn't even see one fish dead or struggling after they relased them all. As far as our methods, we used Catch-n-Relase chemical and ice... We also ran both aereators all night. They were in excellent shape and as lively as ever when they were weighed and then released.

Whack'em

P.S. Race Brothers Farm and Home donated 2 more 100 gallon stock tanks for us to use for fish care. Joe is filling them and putting ice blocks in them-- we use them to set our bags of fish in while we are in the weigh line. It works great. Once again, Joe and Terry and the boys do a great job. Many thanks to Race Brothers!

I am sure we would have got a check of some sort if we would have made it back. We had prolly close to 13 lbs. 2 of the fish were smallies over 18".

Now to keep the topic back on track. Sorry guys.

[getfished]

Tyler,

So you were the @#$% guys holding up the blastoff.... Just kidding!!!! We fished Friday as well. We caught a bunch of keepers, but no really big-uns. We finished 6th. Its too bad that you had motor problems. Sorry to hear it. Nice job taking care of your fish, though. There were 10 boats that weighed in fish, I think. 7 limits, and 3 with 3 fish. 15 something won it, with a 5.5 toad for big bass. Not bad for a 4 fish limit (15lbs+). Once again, all of the guys took good care of their fish, and Joe, Terry, and the boys did a great job recessitating, caring for, and releasing them. We didn't even see one fish dead or struggling after they relased them all. As far as our methods, we used Catch-n-Relase chemical and ice... We also ran both aereators all night. They were in excellent shape and as lively as ever when they were weighed and then released.

Whack'em

P.S. Race Brothers Farm and Home donated 2 more 100 gallon stock tanks for us to use for fish care. Joe is filling them and putting ice blocks in them-- we use them to set our bags of fish in while we are in the weigh line. It works great. Once again, Joe and Terry and the boys do a great job. Many thanks to Race Brothers!

We also ran both aereators all night

I don't understand what the above comment means. I have an 04 Champion 187 that has a hydro-air pump and an aerator pump but I only use one or the other. The livewell valve as I understand it closes to prevent surface lake water from entering the livewell when set to recirculate. That is when I use the hydro-air pump. When the valve is set to the open position and the aerator is on my understanding is the aerator pumps surface water in to the livewell and when the water level is full it simply goes out through an overflow drain. Is this correct? How do you use both pumps at the same time? I am apparently missing something. I certainly would like to extend as much care as possible to my catch.

Thanks for any feedback.

GETFISHED !!!