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| New Weigh-in Format for I.O.W.A. Circuit
By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
Through a partnership with the Iowa Organization of Walleye Anglers (I.O.W.A.) and its executive director Dean Higgins, the I.O.W.A. Advisory Board and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the format for tournament walleye fishing in the state of Iowa is making a huge shift for the 2011 fishing season.
Going away from the traditional weigh-in process, where fish are kept in livewells throughout the day and then brought to the scales for a weigh-in, the format has now been changed to a catch, measure, photo and release.
According to Higgins, it took a lot of discussion among the tournament anglers, the I.O.W.A. Advisory Board and DNR fisheries biologists to come to this decision. “From a tournament angle, there are a lot of reasons for us to go to the catch and release format.”
Mike Hawkins, DNR Fisheries Biologist in the Spirit Lake District agrees. First of all, there is the decreased potential for tournament-induced mortality. Higgins notes, “We’ve always worked hard at the I.O.W.A. tournaments to limit the stress by keeping livewells in the boats going during the day, providing oxygenated water at the weigh-in site before they are weighed and then at the release site to make sure they all look good before they are released. However, we do acknowledge the potential of post-tournament stress.”
Hawkins adds, “Tournament related mortality is well studied. It comes down to a series of accumulating stressors: being in a livewell all day, the temperature in the livewells, the ride during rough water and the weigh-in process. The combination of these stresses can build up throughout the day and increase the chances of the fish dying either during the tournament or after release.”
Temperature seems to be the largest determining factor notes Hawkins. “Research shows that 70 degrees seems to be the tipping point.” For that reason, DNR biologists have been reluctant to endorse tournaments in the summer when the water temperature exceeds 70 degrees.
As a result, when Higgins put the schedule together in recent years, the tournaments could only be held in April and May and then in September. “This really made it tough on the teams. We would have three tournaments in a six-week period. For those teams who like to pre-fish for each tournament that meant giving up a lot of vacation time and family time in a month and a half. Plus, there were places that we wanted to go, but we couldn’t because of water temperature issues,” said Higgins.
Looking for an answer, Higgins and the advisory board began to look at other options. They found that the AIM (Anglers Insight Marketing) walleye circuit and the PMTT (professional musky tournament) were both using the catch, measure, photo and release format with success. “AIM has done this for three years, while the PMTT has done this ever since they began the musky circuit. They have found it a great way to promote their organizations, while at the same time to protect the fish,” says Higgins.
“Given the information from recent studies, the DNR feels that the catch, measure, photo and release tournaments are worth trying. The format reduces or eliminates many of the stresses that can build up during a traditional weigh-in tournament. I believe that post-release mortality during May, June, September and October would most likely be eliminated or very low,” adds Hawkins.
The Process
Here is how this format will work. All teams will be required to have a digital camera with a memory card. All teams must use the same custom ruler to measure the fish. According to Higgins they will be designed not to allow for modifications (shortened). At the morning check-in, teams will be given a certain color decal that will go on the upper portion of the ruler.
How about cheating? “That’s probably the biggest question people ask about this system. They wonder if someone could take more than one photo of the same fish. Well the answer is yes you could, but you would be caught and disqualified. A walleye's tail is like a fingerprint and no two tails are the same. At the completion of the weigh-in, our staff will look at all photos and zoom in on any two fish that are the same length,” asserts Higgins.
At the same time, teams will no longer have to decide which fish to keep, It eliminates the slot issue and the culling rule.
“Each team will get to measure and photo six fish. It will create a more even playing field. Those slot fish and those over-fish can now be measured, photos snapped and the fish quickly released. We will now have a weigh-in of the true fish that were caught-not the ones that fit into a certain length,” adds Higgins. “We will also have a conversion chart so that we can give a weight to each fish!”
Another goal is for the weigh-in to go much more smoothly. First, there is no rush to get to the scales, because the worry about keeping the fish healthy is eliminated. Teams can get their boats safely on the trailer without worry, and now both team members can bring the memory cards and their scorecards to the trailer.
As a result, the weigh-in becomes a highlight for each team. “The concept includes having two big screen televisions that will show the fish to the entire crowd. At the same time, we can now hold weigh-ins at other places besides a boat ramp or a parking lot. There are a lot of possibilities for this. The goal would be to be where more people could watch the event,” says Higgins.
In addition to the new format, the advisory board has developed a couple of programs to encourage new anglers. The first is the Mentor Program. “We will assign rookie teams and other teams that request a Mentoring team. The mentoring team will be made up of volunteer teams that have experience fishing the circuit and have knowledge of a variety of walleye fishing techniques. The mentors will introduce the new teams to others as well as give advice,” notes Higgins.
The second program is the Take a Kid Fishing program. “This new program allows a parent to bring along a son/step son or daughter/step daughter to participate in the tournament as a third person in the boat. Only one child per boat and the child must be between 8 and 16 years old. This format will require two-person rules. If you are trolling you may only use four rods and etc. If you are casting, only two people may be casting.” ??
As in the past, an I.O.W.A. Team of the Year will be determined. According to Higgins, “For the Team of Year format, you must fish four of the five events to qualify for team of the year. If you fish all five events, you can throw out your worst finish. The Championship will be included for the Team of the Year points.” ?? ??
The Schedule:
In addition to the normal four qualifier series with a culminating state championship, the I.O.W.A. circuit this year will feature a series of open events that anyone can fish. “We’re trying to get more anglers involved. We think an open even with a $125 entry will be a good option for this. The regular qualifiers will still be $240 for a two-person team entry.”
Higgins shared the excitement of the new schedule and format. “I think this will really be good for the I.O.W.A. circuit. First of all, we won’t have to stack so many qualifiers in April and May. Of course, you want to get that early spring bite, and that’s what we will be targeting at 5 Island near Emmetsburg in mid-April. Then we wait until mid-May before we head to Storm Lake and then mid-June before we head to Lake Rathbun. It makes scheduling easier for both the circuit and for the teams planning their work and personal calendars. Plus, we can now have an open event on the Mississippi River in mid-July, followed by a late September visit to Spirit Lake and East Okoboji.”
To learn more about the I.O.W.A. circuit, check out the I.O.W.A. website (www.walleyepromotions.com), which contains all the rules, registration, schedule, special awards, contact information and sponsors.
Interested anglers can call (515) 571-1085 or email Dean Higgins at [email protected].
2011 I.O.W.A. Schedule:
April 17, 2011 (Q) 5 Island, Emmetsburg, IA (Weigh–in at Casino) (Alternate Ice location: Little River, Leon, Iowa) ??
May 15, 2011 (Q) Storm Lake, IA (weigh-in at King’s Pointe Resort)
June 11, 12, 2011 (Q) Rathbun 2 day event (weigh-in at Honey Creek Resort)
July 16, 17, 2011 (Open) Mississippi River, Pool 14 Only, Clinton, Iowa
Sep 24, 2011 (Open) Spirit (Saturday) ??
Sep 25 (Q) East Okoboji (Sunday) ??
Oct 22, Oct 23 State Championship Prairie du Chien, Mississippi River
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Member
Posts: 2300
Location: Berlin | Very nice, I might have to move to Iowa.  | |
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Member
Posts: 191
| congrats I.O.W.A. your anglers will love the new format. I surley do!
Robert Blosser
Edited by rbb 2/3/2011 2:10 PM
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I.O.W.A. makes huge shift for 2011