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Member
Posts: 40
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 06, 2011
WILLOW CATS NOT ALLOWED FOR DUBUQUE, IA, AIM PRO WALLEYE SERIES TOURNAMENT
TO: All anglers competing in the AIM Pro Walleye Series at Dubuque, IA, June 22-24.
After conferring with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Mississippi River office, the decision has been made to ban Willow Cats, also known as Tadpole Mad Tom (Noturus Gyrinus) for use as bait during the June 22-24 event. There are growing concerns by DNR and fisheries biologists of the association of the Willow Cats and Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS), or “bleeding fish disease” and also the risk spreading of Aquatic Invasive Species by their transportation and use.
Other competitive circuits have banned the use of Willow Cats to support the DNR and their efforts and make the health and safety of the fishery the number one priority.
Good luck to all of the competitors.
Kurt Kainz
AIM Tournament Director
[email protected]
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Member
Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | A good move. This also eliminates a lot of off the water competition and eliminates the urge to move them across state lines. It happens all the time, and I feel that banning them from the tournaments just simplifies things for everybody involved.
I like fishing with them, but finding a shop with them and having to drive 100 miles to get them, not too mention the $16 plus per dozen gets frustrating. | |
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Member
Posts: 121
| So Marshall... which walleye circuit are you guys actually fishing this year? | |
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Member
Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | None this year. Taking a year off. After the FLW League shut down I lost a lot of interest. I wish there were more of a state wide circuit that did more than just one body of water. You guys do something cool on the river, but I want to compete on the river, on Winnebago, maybe Petenwell/Castle Rock. I want a true test of skill, not just who's the best on one body of water. Hopefully we'll have something pop up soon. | |
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Member
Posts: 105
| I would love to see a Wisconsin Trail only....4 stops..
Mississippi River, Lake Pepin
Madison Chain, Lake Wisconsin
Green Bay, Winnebago
Petenwell, Chippewa Flowage
Then a Championship somewhere as well.
There are many more options one could look at as well.
I think a trail like that would get a pretty good turn out for it. | |
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Member
Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | I'd be in on that for sure.
My favorite was the GNWC, the last year it ran the schedule was like this.
Mississippi Pool 8 (Early April)
Petenwell (Late April)
Winnebago (June)
Green Bay (July)
It was a great way to fish waters I hadn't been on before, but also to make myself take the time to prefish them hard and for more than just a day. There are a lot of teams on the western half of the state that really got left out on tourneys. You have river series, and then you have Fox Valley series. Keep it affordable (about $200 per team) and pay out 75 percent, put 15% toward the championship and keep 10% for expenses. Here's the breakdown as I see it, and yes, I do understand this wouldn't be a big money maker for anybody, but this is what I'd love to see if at all possible.
40 boats @ $200 each = $8000
75% payback = $6000 payback (not including big fish pots etc...)
15% towards championship = $1200 per event (assuming 40 boats)
10% expenses = $800 per event
4 events would put $4800 into the championship kitty, and the same $200 entry for the top 30 boats would put that pot up to $10,800.
If somebody needs more $ to help cover expenses, do like most circuits do and charge a $25 per person membership fee per year. If you had 50 different boats fish over the year that would be another $2500 to help offset costs.
I'm well aware that there are a lot of costs that I don't know about and maybe my formulas don't work the best, but at least it's a starting point. I just hope somebody has the time to start something like this up for all of us that want more of a state circuit experience. | |
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Willow Cats Not Allowed For AIM Event In Dubuque, IA