Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality
Gander Mt Guide
Posted 6/15/2004 9:41 AM (#19549)
Subject: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 116

Location: Germantown and Land O Lakes, WI
I read this over on Lake-Link and dont now if any of you guys read it or heard about it, but word has it that almost 350 Walleyes went belly-up over the course of the tourny. It was also stated the the WIDNR is going to step in to regulate Walleye tournys out on Bego a little more next season. If this is fact, what do you guys feel about it? Anybody hear anything differnet?
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Jim Ordway
Posted 6/15/2004 11:50 AM (#19557 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 538

If they were filleted and eaten, I have no problem with it at all. I had heard that volunteers were filleting and packing fish.
Take care,
Jim O
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Mr. Darboy
Posted 6/15/2004 1:32 PM (#19565 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 514

Location: Darboy USA
I was there and I thought that Keith said it was 63% live release rate. Not too good, but I agree that if the fish are going to a good cause I'm not that upset. With the warm water now it will be hard to have a release rate like we do in the spring, around 90% or greater.

I belive the fish go to the fish fry at the park, Pauls Pantry, and other local food shelters. The winnebago system has tons of fish so we aren't hurting anything yet. No different than a couple guys going out every weekend and keeping 10 to eat.
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Rick
Posted 6/15/2004 1:36 PM (#19566 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Not bad. How many fish are killed by recreational anglers every
weekend on the Bago system?
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Guest
Posted 6/15/2004 2:56 PM (#19568 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Killed and eaten is one thing, killed for fame and glory is another!
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Shep
Posted 6/15/2004 4:28 PM (#19573 - in reply to #19568)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 3899

And then they were eaten. What's the point?
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eye Lunker
Posted 6/15/2004 4:36 PM (#19575 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 859

Location: Appleton wi
All the walleyes that died in the merc nationals were cut up/packaged and donated to a few charity's in the local area. There are alot of boats that have questionable live wells and its to bad they dont have alittle tighter controll over size of live wells in the merc. tourny. Coolers and stringers just dont cut it for 7hours on the water!
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Richfish
Posted 6/15/2004 4:40 PM (#19576 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 540

Location: Milw, WI
As long as they get used it is a good thing.

But better live release numbers would be nice.
Just think if all those fish were kept, how many a week come home for dinner?

Well hopfully 5 for me next time I am out there.
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tyee
Posted 6/15/2004 5:15 PM (#19578 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 1406

I avoided this one because Gander is fishing! You seen my response before and I'll say it again. Tournaments are gonna kill fish. Period. It's what you do and learn from them that is of the greater value! What do you think it would cost to have the DNR gather up 3500 pounds of fish to weigh, tag, etc. This is only one advantage! Your going to have mortality there is no way around it, Its only visible because you prefere to look at it that way. Imagine what you would see if you opened every livewell coming off the lake the past few weeks and the coming couple! Out of sight out of mind! Sheesh!! 350 fish, what are you worried about? Buzz's bowl here in Freedom cooks up close to that on a Friday night!
Good Luck
Tyee
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sworrall
Posted 6/15/2004 6:12 PM (#19581 - in reply to #19578)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality




Location: Rhinelander
Tyee,
Exactly!


Guest,
Fame and Glory? Ameritech got you bored? Sheesh. Blow that noise somewhere else.


Everyone,

The Lighthouse anglers did a tremendous job handling, releasing the live fish, and processing those fish that didn't make it. I can tell you the total tournament mortality on Winnebago is probably less thean 1.5% of the total number of fish harvested. I have a great video interview with the club members on it's way to Zach for editing, take a look when it gets posted.

I would also caution/request those who might to be very careful not to intentionally or unintentionally diminish the work and activities undertaken by the Lighthouse Anglers and the Mercury Marine National Walleye Tournament or the competitors. The tournament donates a healthy amount back to the resource and community, and features speakers from the DNR at every rules meeting. This event and the associated festival is terriffic for Fond Du Lac and great for the sport of competitive angling. The 30th anniversary will be next year, with walleye angling on Winnebago at it's absolute finest as of this year. I've been a volunteer for Mercury working the kids event back when Jim Kalkofen was at Mercury, I've fished the event, I've attended to work a promotional booth, and this year I doubled duty covering the event and working with Mr. Marine.

Keep in mind, GMG, that only 6 fish come to the scale, too. Plus, the tournament has a 15" minimum on a system with no size limit.

Bob Lloyd from Mr Marine worked on the Mercury Marine Rescue boat for a couple hours, (called in Howard L. from Mercury with the necessary tools and extra expertise) with a bad water- in -the- gas problem , getting that rig back on the water for the Lighthouse Angler's release efforts whle getting soaked in rain and gasoline. Both gentlemen (in every sense of the word) were happy to spend their Sunday morning helping the effort. The dedication of the group to the lake is nothing short of amazing. Walleyes for Tomorrow stickers everywhere, too.

So how do I feel about it? It was, is, and will be a great event.
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Jonny Rocket
Posted 6/15/2004 7:47 PM (#19585 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 265

Location: Combined Locks, WI
Fish mortality will happen in tournaments. Tyee is right, we can learn from it and we can learn from tournaments. There are things we can do and devices out there to help prevent fish mortality. I prefer to run the Survivor on my boat. This is a fresh water intake system that supplies the live well with fresh oxygenated water while making long or short runs. I have been running one for about two years now and I have not lost a fish in the live well to date.

A few weeks ago I did the RCL league on Green Bay. I ran to Oconto in rough conditions. I had one fish that seemed weak when I put it in the box. The fish all survived the rough ride home, even the one that seemed weak. I never stopped to check on them I just kept pounding my way back. All fish were realesed healty and active after being weighed. I credit this to the "Survivor" live well intake system. Any questions about the Survivor, you can contact me at [email protected]

Jon Piette NPAA #294

PS The third place team of Todd Mueller and Dennis Doro ran a Survivor and did not loose a single fish in the Merc Nationals.

Edited by crestliner 6/15/2004 9:26 PM
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Rick Larson
Posted 6/15/2004 9:49 PM (#19590 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Actually, I very much like hearing the truth of it.

Plenty of 'eyes in 'Bago. It wouldn't bother me to have a total kill tournament and have all the fillets donated to the needy.

But of course, there will be a hew and cry to the high heavens on how many fish will be sacrificed for fame and glory, instead of for those who would appreciate a fresh meal of fish. Then, in return, there will be those who will deny ever killing a fish during a tournament to quiet the hollerers.

Hollerers hollering at the hollerers.:-)



Edited by Rick Larson 6/15/2004 9:50 PM
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Risor39
Posted 6/15/2004 10:19 PM (#19592 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 377

Location: Neenah Wi
I just don't see what all the fuss is about.So they fish for a cash prize.Who gives a crap.The ones that do the most complaining are the ones that wish they had the drive or whatever to fish these events.Just go past any landing on any given day and count the boats.How many of these are killing fish.The DNR puts a limit on the amount of fish you can harvest.I'm glad to get some of the info these fisherman provide us weekend warriors.These guys contribute more to the fishery than most ever will.How many of these guys would write articles for the magazines if they did not have some of the publicity from fishing tournaments?Would you believe some guy that you never heard about telling you how to catch more fish?We all use some of the info we take from these guys.
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Buckwheat
Posted 6/15/2004 10:25 PM (#19593 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 132

Location: Southwest shore Bago
Hi guys and gals,

I'am a Lighthouse Angler and I worked at the Merc National. We had a 63% live release this year and were told that is a great number. Some wish all torneys had that high of a release. All fish that die are iced down immediately. The fish that die are cut open by the DNR sexed and some samples taken. They are at this tourney every year and are greatfull for the data they can get from the dead fish. The walleyes cant be eaten at the fish fry but are donated to local needy and are very much appreciated. Most of these people would never get a chance to get fresh fish if not for all of us involved.
Some of the Lighthouse Anglers put in 12 hours each day. We have about 25 - 30 volenters to work. Stop in next year and say thank you and ask the DNR personel about what they are doing. We will be working at the MWC tourney at the end of the month. Look me up would like to meet some of you.
As far as 350 fish dieing look at it this way. There was 600 fisherpersons fishing the tourny this weekend. If they all kept one fish a day that would be 1200 dead fish. Do the math if they caught a limit!

See ya in Oshkosh
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Risor39
Posted 6/15/2004 10:29 PM (#19596 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 377

Location: Neenah Wi
Hey BuckwheatTHANKS!!! If it were not for people like you there would surely have been more fillets.
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jerry
Posted 6/16/2004 6:40 AM (#19599 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 2567

Location: Manitowoc, WI
Buckwheat.....to you and your buds with Lighthouse Anglers.....thank you very much!!!

Tyee....excellent post.

Sworral.....more good points. Lot's of quality conversation here.
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walleye express
Posted 6/16/2004 9:12 AM (#19607 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 2680

Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay.
If you are a true sportsman, you very much resent seeing any wild creature wasted. I respect the guys putting on any tourney, where they place responsible/knowledgable people overseeing the release or proper processing care of the fish they feel will not make it. If any, this has been my own and only gripe when it comes to fishing tourney fish mortality.

The (Glory Factor) used to bother me some. But I'd have to re-examine my own soul to justify killing all the deer I have, knowing full well I could buy all the meat I and my family needed from the super market. These fish are in many cases planted, sustained, monitored and regulated for our specific use. Rather it be for Joe Weekend Sportsman or properly regulated tourneys. If the local, state or federal authorities that be, thought tourneys were overharvesting and indeed throwing the ecosystem off a notch, they would step in. And finally, we do nothing but hurt ourselves as sportsmen when we critisize verus rationally discuss this issue.

Edited by walleye express 6/16/2004 9:21 AM
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Gander Mt Guide
Posted 6/16/2004 9:13 AM (#19608 - in reply to #19578)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 116

Location: Germantown and Land O Lakes, WI
Is there a penalty for bringing back dead fish? If not, should there be inan effort to promote successfull release?

The Survivor that Cliner refered to is made by Rob Idzakowski of YNOT Technologies (Bracket Pro). A great product that's well worth the $30.00. Every tourny that has fish in the well should require it.
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WalleyeFIRST
Posted 6/16/2004 9:31 AM (#19609 - in reply to #19608)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 1382

I don't know of any walleye tournament that doesn't have a significant dead fish penalty.

Also look into the EZEE Pump, been around a very long time, and is what alot of boat companies OEM for an approved freshwater pickup system for their boats.
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Buckwheat
Posted 6/16/2004 12:06 PM (#19623 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 132

Location: Southwest shore Bago
Every live fish gets a .10 of a pound bonus added to it.
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Rick Larson
Posted 6/16/2004 6:34 PM (#19644 - in reply to #19607)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Very good points Captain, with emphasis on "any wild creature wasted".

It may well be a renewable resource, but there is a limit and such a thing as overharvest. A wasted creature is a step in this (overharvest) direction, because we all know that if one is getting away with it, then others will use this as an excuse (to do this).

And for glory? Any fished killed and released back to the water in an effort to gain the prize is an act unworthy of glory!

Buckwheat, very good of you this charitable work you do! Thanx Alot! See you at the MWC.


Edited by Rick Larson 6/16/2004 6:50 PM
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sworrall
Posted 6/16/2004 6:46 PM (#19647 - in reply to #19644)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality




Location: Rhinelander
Rick,
None of which happened at the Merc National.
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Rick Larson
Posted 6/16/2004 6:51 PM (#19649 - in reply to #19647)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



That's good. I would expect nothing less from any high class tournament!:-)
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eye Lunker
Posted 6/16/2004 8:02 PM (#19650 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 859

Location: Appleton wi
Thank the almighty God for lady Bago!
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Richfish
Posted 6/16/2004 10:12 PM (#19658 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 540

Location: Milw, WI
Got to step on eye lunker's statement.

Bago is man made.



Edited by Richfish 6/16/2004 10:14 PM
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Big Sky
Posted 6/17/2004 12:10 AM (#19663 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 31

Stated point missed, I think, is tournament fishing is for big fish ( = $$) that possibly die upon release while weekend warriors take the smaller fish on an average. Not necessarily a fair comparison from both sides. I read this as many wish the tourney's were run better to save the spawners. Many are jumping on the concerned anglers from the wrong angle. Sure many weekend anglers keep fish. That's not the point. They don't target larger fish that tourney anglers do for obvious reason...money. I would bet that many weekend warriors release the larger fish they are concerned about and thus expressing that point. Don't jump on this as this is just how I read between the lines. I would also bet that those tourney anglers would normally release the larger fish on a normal weekend and not hope they die. Just a fact of tourneys that has argument on both sides.
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Gander Mt Guide
Posted 6/17/2004 8:34 AM (#19672 - in reply to #19663)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 116

Location: Germantown and Land O Lakes, WI
BINGO. Sworrall help to make this point by stating so emphatically that the tourny minimum size limit is 15", that means that a majority of those 350 fish that died were problally spawners because we all know the big ones need more O2 in the well than the little ones and they're always the ones that go belly up first!

All the guys who scream CPR to fish over 20" from here to Walleye Central to Lake-Link to Next Bite and every other walleye board on the web are the same guys who whine about a guy mounting a 25" because it's a breeder are some of the same guys who tournament fish and have no problem with killing a 25" for money....kinda hippocrytical is'nt it?? If a fish dies and goes on a wall it's a shame but if a fish dies and it's for money it's....."Oh Well, it happens".

It's my opinion that a 63% survival rate is terrible...NOBODY IS FAULTING THE GUYS WORKING THE TOURNY, Tourny Directors and Anglers are the ones who need to step up to protect these fish. Tourny's are on a different plane than Weekend Warriors..they're under much more scrutiny...when I see that 350 fish go belly up, my first thought was.."Does that happen at every tourny????" More emphasis on sucessful release has to be made by Tourny Directors.
When I asked about penalties for dead fish here's what I got from Buckwheat...... ".10 lb Bonus for live fish" That's a far cry from the " Significant dead fish penalty" that Walleye First stated.
If these were Musky tournys, and you'd bring in a dead fish, you're done for the day and you'd get a 10" deduction. There's tools like the Survivor that where mentioned, maybe they need to be made a requirement.

Edited by Gander Mt Guide 6/17/2004 9:08 AM
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tyee
Posted 6/17/2004 2:14 PM (#19682 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 1406

Gander, You have to FULLY understand what you are fishing for here.

Do fish die at tourneys?
Is that important to you?
Do you think that if fish died in every tourney that would be a bad thing?
Should they limit the number of tourneys if fish are going to die?
Do tourney anglers put more effort in to keeping fish alive?
Do tourney anglers feel bad when their fish die?
Are Tournaments good for walleye fishing?
Should our DNR regulate Tournament fishing to control the resource better?
Do tournamnet directors and participants support this regulation?

The answers to these questions for any sportsangler are obviously YES don't you think?

Are tourneys about fame and Glory?----NO
Should tournament fishermen take the blame because 600 of them killed 300 walleyes?---NO
Is that going to hurt this body of water?----NO


The harder questions are more like
How many fish can be harvested from a particular body of water?
What regulations need to be changed to minimize mortality?
What is the overall impact to the fishery?
What will the long term effect be on a body of water after the tournament?
What can be done to improve the image of tournamnets and their anglers?

These are the questions you should be fishing for answers on!

You planted the seed so you obviously had your own questions and answers. The quality tournaments have much higher success rates than the local bar ones. The bigger fish targeted are not necessarily prime females. This system has an abundance of 20-22" males. And thanks to B.A.S.S, the FLW and a smart responsive DNR, we will have them on board next year policing and setting rules and regs for tournaments where the more difficult questions can be addressed.

But REMEMBER before jumping to conclussions be sure of what your asking. In the whole scope of tournaments and walleye fishing in WI. and some fish dying, whats more valuable!

Good Luck
Tyee
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Gander Mt Guide
Posted 6/17/2004 2:39 PM (#19683 - in reply to #19682)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 116

Location: Germantown and Land O Lakes, WI
Tyee, what the hell are you talking about? Fishing for what? Some of you tourny guys get pretty defensive awfully quick as soon as anybody has any type of critisism.

I'm not asking that tourny's be cancelled or saying that they're good or bad, all I'm asking for is that the spawners are kept alive or that better care be taken if possible. If your defense to spawners dying is saying " Well that's too bad, fish die" or " look what the weekend warriors are doing", then maybe the DNR should become a little harder on walleye tournys.
I think the WI DNR has a pretty good clue as to what's happening on Bego without NEEDING tournys to do it. Is there good info to be had, absolutley, but let's not say that walleyes are being sacrificed for the good of the DNR as an excuse for them being belly up.

I could care less about the Money, the Fame , the Glory...I care more about the resource. So far from what I've seen from the Merc tourny directors is'nt punitive damages for dead fish, but a reward for bringing them in alive...more like a bounty.

Pretty simple stuff actually.
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tyee
Posted 6/17/2004 4:53 PM (#19691 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 1406

John,
I couldn't care less if there was a bounty or not, They could have killed everyone as far as I'm concerned, ACTUALLY I would prefer that they do just that when the water gets above 65 degrees as then we know they are going to be consumed rather than possibly die later! Big females or not as long as the "professionals" (not monday morning quarterbacks)determined that it wouldn't hurt the resource!

Your not the only one looking out for it, the DNR WILL be getting control over tourneys and the numbers of them allowed and setting regulations etc.
Good Luck
Tyee

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Hafe
Posted 6/17/2004 5:42 PM (#19693 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


I'm going to jump on the wagon here, I'm not a tournament fisherman,but I have been guiding for over 10 years on this system.My boat rule with clients is anything over 20 inches goes back if possible,unless they will mount it. So far only 2 people have taken big fish back home,and they were both over 10 lbs. Well past spawning time for them.Do Fish die in tournaments "Yes",but some released fish survive.What should thet do?,keep all the fish caught,and donate them,to needed people?,or try and save what they can? Tournament fisherman are ego motivated to catch big fish,no matter what they tell you.It is a rush to be The Man on stage,and that is human nature.I know of Nobody that wants the system to suffer,especially the tournament guys.This is there hobby,part time job,only income for some,and a passion that runs so deep,they will do what ever asked of them,from the DNR or Tournament Officials,to make it better for all.In my own observations,locals will kill more big fish,for the table,than any tournament fisherman ever will do in his career.A 63% survival rate is by far better than NO fish released to carry on.My hand goes out to all the guys that baby,and pamper the fish at the way-in,they are doing a great job saving what they can,for the future.....hafe
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Risor39
Posted 6/17/2004 7:49 PM (#19697 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 377

Location: Neenah Wi

The only thing that concerns all of us is the fish population and can it handle the pressure.The law says you can harvest 5 fish period.I have no problem whatso ever about someone keeping 5 fish if it does not hurt the population be it tournament fisherman or average joe.If we all are so concerned with the tournament fisherman targeting the big fish lets close the river in the spring.Or close the whole system and make it catch and release.Sounds kind of stupid to let a renewable resource go to waste.Why are tournament anglers put into a different category than other anglers?They have to obey the same rules as you and I and then some more rules for the specific tournament they are in too.Tournaments are not going to be the distruction of the fishing on any body of water.Mother nature has more to say about the fishery than anglers do.Mother nature has a way of keeping things in check if we don't screw around with it to much.Yes limits and so forth do make some difference.Look at Escanaba lake in northern Wisc.no size or bag limits and there are still good and bad years of fishing regardless of bag or harvest limits.So that would tell me angler harvest has not desimated the population.Spawning conditions of bait and preditor do.So this discusion of are tournaments good or bad have little to do with the overall health of the system.Keep what you can use put the rest back.Big or small you decide what is right for you.



Edited by Risor39 6/17/2004 9:04 PM
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Buckwheat
Posted 6/17/2004 8:38 PM (#19698 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 132

Location: Southwest shore Bago
As I sit here looking out onto the lake I see 31 boats. I figure I can see 2 miles. Each has 2 or more people on board. That makes a min. of 62 people times 5 "eaters" each. Theres 310 dead fish if I did the math right. I wonder how many more boats are on the other 26 miles of lake. Let's take a deep breathe and chill..............

Keep your hooks sharp!
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sworrall
Posted 6/17/2004 9:58 PM (#19705 - in reply to #19698)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality




Location: Rhinelander
GMG,
Listen, you have been here for one thread and have attacked some pretty well established ideals and some pretty well established members with no regard to fact, biologically or logically speaking. If that is your goal, get your backside back to Lake Link where that crap is acceptable. Here it isn't. Period.

If you have a positive point to all this, fine.If your true concern is for the resource, I suggest you speak to Kendall, he can enlighten you, I am sure.

So far, I read disdain, negative attitude, and pure unadulterated bull in you posts. You obviously have little or no knowledge about the system, the DNR management of same, the tournament permitting process, or for that matter, how this system became such a prolific walleye producer. I didn't see your mug in the crowd as a volunteer working with the DNR to release 63% of the fish caught. I didn't see you filleting the one's donated to the good causes chosen by the Lighthouse Anglers. In fact, it seems the only times I DO see you is on threads like this one.

If you don't understand a live fish bonus and try to make that negative then you indicate your total lack of grasp of walleye tournament angling. I am pretty sure you don't follow the LLB coverage we offer here, but if you did you would see the RCL in South Dakota scoring has the top ten as little as 1/10 a pound seperated. If one brings 5 fish to the scale alive, that means FIVE TIMES that amount as a bonus. Enough, some days, to make the difference between 1st and 5th. Incentive, sir, not 'bounty'.

The very fabric of WalleyeFIRST is community. Discussions are what we strive for. We will disagree, that is a given. What I am asking you to look to is respect for others opinions, and care not to use language or 'attitude' you did with Tyee.

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tyee
Posted 6/18/2004 4:54 AM (#19710 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 1406

John, Your right! I might have confused you a bit, I assumed the level of conversation on this thread was a bit more mature and educated when you stated your initial post! I assumed that by your handle and the fact that you worded that initial post very well you knew much more than you really do about this topic. As presented it looked to be a thread to create controversy. My apologizies to you for that and I didn't mean to insult your intelligence. The people here know each other very well and welcome opinions from EVERYONE here. Please read more on the topic of sportfishing and tournaments and what is going on as I am sure you will learn a bunch based on your posts so far..... Mr. Worral, thank you kindly but not necessary.....John, You obviously have NOOOOO idea what you said and to who in this last post!
Good Luck
Tyee
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Nofish
Posted 6/18/2004 8:17 AM (#19714 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 376

Location: Menominee MI, In Da UP Eh?
My turn! My Turn!!!
(with both feet first he jumps in...)

All Kidding aside, here we go.

GMG, first, you are welcome to post opinions here, and I see your points. Spawners in any system need to be protected, as do any age class of fish.

Tournaments need to be run well and most are run far better than most people truly realize. Limits are smaller than state allowed, minimum length is sometimes larger than state allowed etc...

I agree 60% (ish) survival rates are not optimum, but they are not bad either. There are still many, many fish, of ANY size that made it back to the lake system.

Yes tourney anglers target larger fish, but the majority of these fish in tourneys are not large fish. Many limits of average fish are brought to the scales, and subsiquently released,alive.

It used to be the Winnebago tournaments were catch and kill events. That is 100% mortality, and was not very popular.

I am not making excuses for tournaments, nor trying to sway anyones opinion. Though you are right there are two sides to the coin, I think the Wi DNR has a pretty fair grasp on the system and knows what it can take.

Much is also known about the numbers of fish in the system, and the number of tourneys held there.

The WI DNR is doing fine, but anytime they can gain valuable information by piggy backing research onto a tournament, it saves them valuable dollars and man hours and they can generally get MORe done with the time/dollars spent. Again, not making excuses for tourneys, just stating facts as I have seen them and have been told by several states agencies over the past decade or so.

Your points elude to the sheer numbers of the system alone not making it able to waste fish, and to an extent you are correct, but given the population numbers of the system (check with the W DNR to read them yourself) one tournament with a 60% Live release rate is not going to hurt the system.

I'd be willing to state that all the lost fish in all the major tournaments do not add up to a month of recreational angling losses (either death by mis handling or takin home to eat).

Again, not an excuse to wantonly waste fish, but the system is very healthy and there are far more fish there than many anglers can even comprehend.

However, you did make a comment about money. You also fish for money but at/on a different level. This statement is one of the triggers that will set everyone off. The fact that tourney anglers compete for money is always injected into a battle to make the anglers seem less than genuine in their care for the system and fish. Tournament anglers hear that alot from the area in question. Money has NO bearing on the health of the system, the fish and the mortality rate.

As to not liking someone on the site, that too is your perogative, but has no bearing in a post. The same can be said for how much time anyone "puts in" on the system. That has no relative bearing and adds no real worth to a post on this subject. It actually, in my opinion, detracts from you finer points by treading too close to the "my lake" ideology.

As you can see, that tends to polarize a debate and quickly turn into an argument.

Tournament anglers do react quickly to criticism as far too often they are verbally assaulted on other sites and are forced to dfend themselves.

Speaking myself as a former guide on the system, I applaud your efforts to maintain an otherwise healthy fishery for future generations and I do like the over 20" rules/guideline. We tried to encourage CPR and selective harvest as guides too. It only makes sense.

While the mortality rate at the Merc Natl is higher than ANYONE wants to see, I believe everything was done to ensure this release rate and strive for near 100%.

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walleye express
Posted 6/18/2004 11:07 AM (#19717 - in reply to #19714)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality



Member

Posts: 2680

Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay.
Ralph.

You can't see this....But I'm standing in front of my PC soluting your post.

Good stuff...I think somebody got a full 8 hours sleep last night.
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sworrall
Posted 6/18/2004 2:11 PM (#19729 - in reply to #19717)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality




Location: Rhinelander
GMG,
Take it to email if you want to get after me. You know my email address. I don't dislike you, in fact, I don't know you. I DO frequently disagree with you, sometimes with the 'delete' key, sometimes in posts. I was making an observation from my position, which I assure you is to protect this discussion forum from unreasonable or beligerent behavior and commentary. I wasn't just stating my opinion, I was clearly letting you know you stepped over the line of the permissions on WalleyeFIRST.

I will make this very strong suggestion. If you indeed do not like me, and insist on posting inflammatory stuff like "Tyee, what the hell are you talking about? Fishing for what? Some of you tourny guys get pretty defensive awfully quick as soon as anybody has any type of critisism." perhaps you should reconsider visiting here. If you wish to be reasonable, then as Ralph said, you are more than welcome to post your feelings.

Oh, by the way, I 'log' about 40 hours a year on Winnebago.

Ralph, thanks for an excellent perspective.
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Scrap Iron
Posted 6/20/2004 4:41 PM (#19805 - in reply to #19549)
Subject: RE: Merc Nationals and Fish Mortality


Member

Posts: 106

Location: Chilton, WI
I agree with sworrall, the reason I decided to join this site is because of the respect everybody has for each other here. I was a frequent visitor of lake-link but I got sick of the arguements and whiners on there. Don't take it the wrong way, there are a lot of decent knowledgable people on there but there are also a lot of people that like to run thier mouth in a not so friendly way. That seems to be acceptable behavior on that site. I don't care for it much so I don't visit there anymore. I joined this site because of the friendly atmosphere and all of the knowledge that is shared. You guys run a fine site, this is not the place for arguements like the above.
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