LOZ Spooning has slowed a bit

[fishinwrench]

15 minutes ago, 196champ said:

Check out this tournament in Sturgeon bay, one of by best friends ended up winning it this year.

Each boat is given a scale, calibrated each day, and an app where the fish is weighed on video and released.

For the fish to count the scale and release have to be on camera, the format worked very, very well in his opinion.

the facebook link has great content/videos of action during the day.

https://www.facebook.com/sturgeonbaybasstournament/

http://www.sturgeonbaybasstournament.com/schedule/

 

The technology is certainly available to eliminate "weigh-ins" and calm any worries about cheating.  

Guys are spending thousands on FFS, spotlock systems, ect.  but throw a fit about rigging their boats for any type of immediate release scoring.

Personally I'd be really excited about any system that eliminates my need to house fish, and cull.   Livewells just add weight to a boat and burn up battery charge capacity.  Who wouldn't WANT to avoid those headaches?

[Flysmallie]

3 hours ago, DADAKOTA said:

 I do not see how most folks justify tourney fishing when they just lose money.  Sure seems to be no shortage of tourneys and folks that will pay to play.

Been that way since at least the 80’s and I don’t see that ever ending. I see people buying lottery tickets and spending their money in casinos hoping for a miracle so it doesn’t surprise me.

In the early 90s I fished a small monthly tournament series out of a marina every single month for several years. Usually 45-60 boats. And you could pick out a group of 4 to 6 boats that would be the guys that won. I remember it well because that was my goal. To be one of the few that all the others didn’t want to show up. And time after time they were the ones. Sure an occasional odd duck would get lucky and get into the money but it was that small group that were always the ones to watch. I often wondered why some of the others even showed up. 

 

[Ketchup]

10 hours ago, 196champ said:

Check out this tournament in Sturgeon bay, one of by best friends ended up winning it this year.

Each boat is given a scale, calibrated each day, and an app where the fish is weighed on video and released.

For the fish to count the scale and release have to be on camera, the format worked very, very well in his opinion.

the facebook link has great content/videos of action during the day.

https://www.facebook.com/sturgeonbaybasstournament/

http://www.sturgeonbaybasstournament.com/schedule/

 

So after reading this thread, and seeing the same guys commenting negatively about tournaments, anglers who enjoy tournaments, the drafted number of dead fish during a tournament, etc. etc., the same we have read here for years, i spent the past 30 minutes looking at every post made by the FB link posted, and must say, they do have a decent system. Yes, i could see a few twists that i would change with their catch/weigh/video/release, but overall a good system. 
 

As a few know, i run a local bass club, and we haul those poor fish around all day, bouncing them off the lids and bottoms, just to let them go in an area they have never been, just to probably die. I mean, our very small club probably kills less fish in a year than an avid fun fisher does due to the care and additive we use to care for the fish, along with the knowledge to do so. 
 

BUT, after watching the link, i may just adapt this type of system starting next season. We have several who fish alone, so doing the videoing may be a hurdle we will have to work around.  

[196champ]

If you would like any more information regarding the set up and any improvements they would recommend let me know, i would be happy to get you in contact with them.

 

[Walleye13]

That certainly looks like a feasible and manageable solution to me. Hoping this gains some traction in the tournament arena. State DNR’s could help by publicly supporting the concept. Thanks for sharing the link 196 Champ! 

[Seth]

On 6/29/2022 at 8:41 AM, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I didn't think non tournament anglers were allowed to cull?  Is that correct?

And you are saying that tourney anglers can't be trusted.  A bunch of liars and cheats.😁 

Otherwise you wouldn't need the MDC to provide "boat officials, calibrated scales, and a web based live streaming platform to every bass club in the state. 😁"   

I'm just trolling you.  But seriously I don't see how you can reasonably defend the practice of hauling fish all over and killing some in the process.   You can when compared to catch and keep though I guess.  I wasn't that concerned with it when I thought it was just largemouth in lakes.  But then I got my jet boat and you guys are horning in on my river action.😂

The logistics of keeping everybody honest and making sure that scales are all the same make, model and calibrated exactly the same just doesn't seem like a real possiblity. If you're going to do the catch/release deal then I think you'd have to go by inches. That's how the kayak guys do it. I don't think you'd see the same interest in inches tournaments, but I could be wrong. I'd likely still fish them regardless since I'm just there to have a good time more than anything.

[Seth]

On 6/29/2022 at 11:59 PM, fishinwrench said:

I actually asked, in a group conversation a few years ago, with 4 MDC biologists, 2 agents, and a hatchery supervisor......" If the number of tournaments isn't ALREADY excessive now, then at what point might you consider that it was?"  Double the amount? Triple the amount?  Could it EVER be deemed excessive?

I really pinned them down and kinda demanded an answer.  ANY answer. From ANYONE.    I wouldn't let them change the subject.

Nobody in the group would address that simple question, and the conversation (which was going very smoothly, and everyone seemed to be enjoying it) suddenly ended.   🤔 

 

Anyone here care to take a stab at it ?

@Seth ?  🤷‍♂️

The number of tourneys on LoZ is insane. I don't know how anybody could say otherwise. Everything about that lake is excessive (boat traffic, bass tournaments, etc). That's why I avoid it like the plague between May-November.

[snagged in outlet 3]

11 minutes ago, Seth said:

The logistics of keeping everybody honest and making sure that scales are all the same make, model and calibrated exactly the same just doesn't seem like a real possiblity. Maybe I'm wrong though. If you're going to do the catch/release deal then I think you'd have to go by inches. That's how the kayak guys do it. I don't think you'd see the same interest in inches tournaments, but I could be wrong. I'd likely still fish them regardless since I'm just there to have a good time more than anything.

Is the payout that great that people cheat?  And if the money in the payout isn't that much and you still have to worry about cheating....  I wouldn't be involved with those people personally.   I used to gamble on the golf course quite a bit.  If it was somebody I didn't know I would tell them straight to their face.  "If I have to follow you around because you might cheat me I don't want to play you.  In fact I don't want to be around you at all.  If you need money so bad you are willing to cheat someone just ask and I'll give it to you and save face for you."

[fshndoug]

I need money Pete so I can buy new fly tying material.

[Seth]

1 minute ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Is the payout that great that people cheat?  And if the money is the payout isn't that much and you still have to worry about cheating....  I wouldn't be involved with those people personally.   I used to gamble on the golf course quite a bit.  If it was somebody I didn't know I would tell them straight to their face.  "If I have to follow you around because you might cheat me I don't want to play you.  In fact I don't want to be around you at all.  If you need money so bad you are willing to cheat someone just ask and I'll give it to you and save face for you."

I doubt our little river club stuff would be a big issue, but I could see the bigger money lake stuff could be a different deal. Hundreds of dollars is one thing, but thousands would be more likely to make people do stupid stuff. Plus your talking 15-30 boats for us versus 50+ to over 100 at the lake.

Money makes people do stupid things. We all know that.