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| Canceled due to weather.
Boats went out, but were called back.
One boat went down. Passengers were rescued.
More later.
Dave Landahl
Edited by Dave Landahl 4/28/2005 10:27 AM
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | A real bummer!!
Please keep us posted, especially on who went down. Many of us have friends out there and hope they and their gear are safe. | |
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| Sunshine,
My source is one of the sponsors of the event. He didn't know who went down, but said they were safe.
Not sure about their gear or possible injuries.
Dave Landahl
Edited by Dave Landahl 4/28/2005 10:20 AM
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| According to Juls Davis the US Coast Guard canceled the event today, not the FLW.
I spoke with Juls at approximately 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
Dave Landahl
Edited by Dave Landahl 4/28/2005 1:54 PM
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| So what happens now? Do they cut the field and let them fish tomorrow, or does everyone fish tomorrow? | |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Everyone fishes on day three with new format. | |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Thanks Dave!
The coast cancelling............. I don't want to start a bashing thread, but I will assume that if they are jumping the gun it is because of what happened the last time the FLW was there. Coast Guard suggested they cancel because of forcast later in day and they went out anyways. It almost became deadly for one boat.
I'm surprised Juls made that statement? She was there last time. If things get ugly by 1 or 2 she'll be happy that she is on shore. | |
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| From the FLW:
DAY TWO OF WAL-MART FLW WALLEYE TOUR EVENT ON LAKE ERIE CANCELLED
PORT CLINTON, Ohio (April 28, 2005) – Even the best fisheries have their bad days, and this was the case on day two of the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour event on Lake Erie. While forecasts called for improving conditions Thursday, a major storm blew into the Port Clinton area, and competitors were recalled shortly after the field had launched. The second day of competition was subsequently cancelled due to the inclement weather.
Pro Greg Schenecker of Watertown, S.D., and co-angler Dale Todd of Janesville, Wis., will retain their lead from day one with five walleyes weighing 30 pounds, 4 ounces. Anglers will be paired with new partners on Friday and competition will resume with the cumulative weights from days one and three determining the top 10 pros and co-anglers who will advance to the fourth and final day of competition Saturday.
Rounding out the top five teams are pro Richard LaCourse of Port Clinton and co-angler Joseph Fallaw of McHenry, Ill. (five walleyes, 29 pounds, 14 ounces); pro Patrick Neu of Forestville, Wis., and co-angler Jeff Sather of Montevideo, Minn. (five walleyes, 29 pounds, 5 ounces); pro Larry Lambert of Lakeside Marblehead and co-angler Michael Watson of Spirit Lake, Iowa (five walleyes, 27 pounds, 11 ounces); and pro Mike Schaefer of Fond Du Lac, Wis., and co-angler Don Jelinek of Fargo, N.D. (five walleyes, 26 pounds, 5 ounces).
Pros and co-anglers fish for a combined boat weight and are randomly paired each day. The FLW Walleye Tour is the world’s most lucrative professional walleye-fishing series. At the $650,000 million Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Championship on the Mississippi River in Moline, Ill., Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, pros will fish for as much as $140,000 cash and co-anglers will chase as much as $22,000.
Daily takeoffs at Port Clinton start at 7 a.m. at West Harbor Launch Ramp. Friday’s weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. at the Waterworks Park on Perry Street and Saturday’s weigh-in starts at 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart store located at 4070 East Harbor Road in Port Clinton. The community is invited to attend daily takeoffs and weigh-ins, which are free and open to the public.
Anglers from 21 states are fishing. Normally, the full field competes during the three-day opening round for one of 10 final-round slots based on their three-day accumulated weight. Because of the cancellation of day two, anglers will be cut based on their two-day accumulated weight. Weights carry over to day four, with the winner determined by the heaviest three-day weight in this event. | |
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| At 8am the winds at South Bass were 33 knots with gusts to 39knots (34 to 40 is gale warning). I talked to a guy who tried to go the the far west end of the reefs and had not made it by the time the tournament was canceled at 9 something, left west harbor at 7am.
(don't mess with mother nature or in this case Lake Erie)
dean | |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Totally agree Dean! | |
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| My question is why continue to hold these high-end tournaments on Erie?
I know the fish are huge and plentiful, but from a business standpoint you limit promotional days, filming opportunities and you risk injuring people. Bad publicity all around.
Just thinking out loud. I'm not leaning for or against Erie tournaments, just wondering why the various organizations keep butting heads with this body of water?
Lots of good people putting their money into these events only to get a shot at a shortened tournament and limited opportunities to advance.
There are plenty of safer inland waters to hold these events for field sizes of 150 boats or less. The fishing may not be as good, but these are pro tournaments where the top pros figure out how to catch them with the hand dealt to them.
Any thoughts folks?
Dave Landahl | |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Not a popular opinion but I vote to stay at Erie BUT move the dates to later in the year when weather patterns are more stable.
I would also suggest that they extend activities to Sunday. Some kind of PR fair/activity/show with the locals that require Pro's to hang around. If a day gets lost you can make it up then by having the final 10 go out. The rest of the field that does not make it participates in the PR activity. You'd have a lot more people witnessing the final weigh-in (pro's included, because many hit the road as soon as they are eliminated now).
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Location: Devils Lake, ND | I agree as well, keep going to Lake Erie, Saginaw Bay, Bay De Noc, but do it wisely. We need a tournament or two each year with huge sacks of fish. It keeps the spectators in the game. If every tournament was like Bull Shoals FLW or the Fox Chain PWT, it wouldn't take long for the fans to disappear.
How good are those two TV shows going to be? I truly appreciate a tough bite, I feel the beter fishermen prevail under those types of conditions, but not every event can be held on marginal waters. There has to be a balance.
I see nothing wrong with having a blow day built into the system. We used to. I remeber fishing a few Sundays when the events were Thur, Fri, Sat events. The excuse is that many of the anglers have to get home, or they loose time at work. I won't go there, as I feel my opinions on this topic are too strong for this message board.
Let's just be thankful that this time a higher power stepped in and didn't let the FLW crew risk someone's life again. It seems to me that there is still a tournament director or two out there that doesn't mind sending folks out in life threatening conditions. The PWT has done a great job in being over cautious. I see Bernie has figured out that saftey is number one for the GNWC as he has already cancelled the event for this weekend on Erie. Steve Poll is doing a great job with the WWA as well.
I have never heard a tournament pro complain yet about someone caring too much about his life and saftey. Granted, it stinks to look at a flat lake and wish you were fishing, but I don't ever want to be the guy that says, "Thank God someone drove past me as my boat was sinking."
I am sorry that this turned into a Soap Box post, but I hate hearing that one of my fellow competitors could have been killed because someone that doesn't have to leave shore made a bad deciscion. When it comes to safety for me and my comrades, there is nothing more important. | |
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| Did you guys find out who swamped thier boat and is the boat a total loss? | |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | Johnnie, I couldn't agree more. In this day of doing whatever it takes to "go on with the show", I find it difficult to understand the mindset of a tournament director who would send a group of fisherman out under extreme circumstances. Apparently they didn't learn anything from two years ago. In fact, the FLW has a poor track record when it comes to thsi type of scenario. Green Bay in 2001 was the same thing. There was a small craft advisory out for the day and they still sent them out on the Bay. Does anyone out there know what a small craft is considered by the Coast Guard. A vessel of 65' in length or smaller. I think most 65' vessels are more seaworthy than a 20' walleye boat.
Folks, if you're in these tournies, safety of the competitors is #1. | |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | I talked with friends there and they say that Ken Poole was the Pro. He's fine!!!!! Another boat was right there to assist.
Obviously, I agree with both Jerry and Johnnie on this one. I made a promise to my family a number of years ago that no tournament director was going to make my decision for me on whether to go or not on those bad days. BUT I do not fish the high stakes/high $$$ tournies like the PWT. Peer preasure, $$$$ preasure, sponsor pressure etc. could make it a very tough call.
Johnnie/Jerry,
What's your take on what would happen if you refused to go out on a PWT/FLW tourney. Obviuosly you would be DQ'd for that day. Would they send you home and ask you to never come back?
Edited by Sunshine 4/28/2005 2:25 PM
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Location: Devils Lake, ND | Dennis,
I have a very good relationship with Charlie Moore on the PWT side of things. I am willing to bet if I got very adament about staying on shore that he would want to discuss things further and possibly re-think his deciscion. In all actuality, I feel that Charlie and I feel the same about the weather issue.
There are situations no one can predict, and I hold no one responsible for that. The tournament directors that I have fished under for many years have always made it clear that the final deciscion rests with the pros. I feel they will always respect that.
To be honest, in the past few years, there was only one time that I made the call myself to pull the plug. It was at Dunkirk, NY on Lake Erie. I had decided on my way to make a second pass on my spot that the day was over for me. It was seconds after I made that deciscion that I heard the call come over the radio that they day was cancelled and we were to head in.
If my personal feelings are to stay on shore due to safety concerns and the director wants me to be DQed or banned from competition, then it is time for me to move on. I can make a very good living guiding on Devils Lake and deciding for myself what is safe for me and my clients.
I had an interesting discussion with my day three partner at the Chain, and it didn't really focus on safety, but it fits here well.
The two of us agreed while fishing in 25 to 30 MPH winds, temps in the low 40s, and 1" of rain, that we were not really promoting the sport as best we could be. Does it send the right message, even if it is safe, to be out there trying to look like a hero? Would anyone in their right mind be out there in those conditions? If not, then why are the tournament anglers out there?
Those conditions are not dangerous at leat for boating safety, but what about hypothermia, dehydration, frost bite? I know for one, neither of us had one drink of anything that day because my fingers could not screw open a bottle of water. Is that safe? Does it promote what we should be promoting?
I'm not saying that we should anly be fair weather anglers, but there could be a line drawn somewhere. Remember, it isn't only about the tournament and the winner, but the bigger picture of promoting the sport as a whole.
Again, my appologies, this must be close to my heart for some reason. | |
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Location: Elgin, Illinois | Mr. Candle you can write "speeches" and post me on top of soap boxes with the identical message... I could not agree more... Sometimes it looks like the dog is wagging the tail and at other times it looks like the tail wants to shake the dog... Any Director who starts to factor in anything other than safety on a call of weather conditions is a tail trying to shake the dog... Ought to be safety and best interests of the anglers and the sport as a whole, period! | |
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| The winds that hit with an incoming front this morning were NEVER predicted, so how could a decision have been made before we went out??? It couldn't.
Someone explain to me why some anglers feel that they should drive WAY TO FAST for conditions, and NOT expect some problems. Lake Erie is a body of water that demands respect.
Maybe they don't care about their lives, but they have to remember they have the life of their Co Anglers in their hands too. I witnessed a lot of boneheaded boat handling this morning that made me cringe.
Johnny, you know I like you and respect you, and I agree with a lot of what you have said, BUT your insinuations that the FLW Directors are the only ones to send anglers out when predicted nasty weather was expected, is just not fair. Like you, I was also one of the anglers sent out at Dunkirk that morning, and they KNEW what was coming....the PWT sent us out anyway. The FLW had no warning of this front's wind conditions. The forcast was for WSW5-15. The front brought strong winds from the WNW for about an hour and a half...maybe two hours and then it settled back down to the predicted weather forcast.
I will agree with one thing in this thread....I would like to see the Erie tournaments moved to the third or fourth week in May, when the weather is more condusive for holding a 4day tournament. April is just too unpredictable.
The FLW is doing a pretty darn good job here in Port Clinton under the circumstances if you ask me.
Hopefully we will all fish tomorrow.....
Juls
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Location: Devils Lake, ND | Juls,
I meant no offense to any one. You are correct about the bone headed boat driving that happens. What I feel safe in and what others feels safe in are two different categories of conditions. What I, yourself, and Rick can handle on the water are diferent than the rookie that has seen Lake Erie for the first time in his life.
There are more anglers competing now days at all levels, and this will lend to more boat drivers being faced with conditions they are not used to. This is a fact that tournament directors need to consider. It is the weak link theory, if one link cannot pull the weight, then the entire chain should be scrapped.
I know that sounds like a hard line to to take, but it would not be fun to be the one co-angler that drew the weak link.
As I stated, some conditions are impossible to predict. Since I am not there with you, I have no way of knowing if the situation could have been avoided. I also agree that it could have been at Dunkirk, and that was expressed to the powers to be at that time.
Regardless of the tournament director, I have personally heard it said that the show must go on too many times. It is time to realize that the show is not worth anyone's life. After all, they are just fish.
I hope everyone gets on the water tomorrow and catches a bunch of fish, best of luck to you, Juls. | |
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| Thanks Johnny, I appreciate the reply and the good luck wishes.
Juls | |
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| First class discussion guys and gals! I appreciate your perceptions and you all hit the nail on the head! It's only a fish!
Good Luck
Tyee | |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | Well said, Juls and Johnnie. I concur with everything that has been stated. I just got off the phone with a friend fishing the event and he said the conditions, after the front had passed, were great. It's too bad they couldn't have just held everyone back until the front went through. Would that have been the correct call in your eyes Juls?
Does anyone remember the first RCL event on Erie? I remember it well, as on Day 3 Jeff Taege and I scored big after a big blow. But, on the morning of Day 3, they held us back until about 9 am for safety reasons. Yes, this contradicts what I wrote earlier, but I like to present all the facts and not just one slanted view.
Yes, I remember Dunkirk and being sent out in 4-6's with expectations of a big wind htting sometime in mid-morning. The ride back in that day, being about 8 miles for me, took about an hour. The last two miles I beilieve the waves were peaking at around 14'....very ugly indeed. Worse yet, I had to borrow Rangerpat's boat for the event and I wasn't used to how it handled. Plus, who wants to be responsible for destroying a good friend's boat?
So I encourage safety and calls made in the name of safety, along with the others who posted here before me.
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| I normally don't get caught up in this but the comment by Johnnie Candle " Let's just be thankful that this time a higher power stepped in and didn't let the FLW crew risk someone's life again. It seems to me that there is still a tournament director or two out there that doesn't mind sending folks out in life threatening conditions" is very wrong as well as the one by Jul's that the Coast Guard cancelled the day. Sonny Reynolds called the Coast Guard and requested that they call in all boats for him at 8:21a.m. and that is documented. I really wish people would get accurate info before they start "bashing" people that handled a situation as well as it could be.
The Dunker | |
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Location: Rhinelander | Easy folks, everyone's point is well taken, I'm sure. This sounds like a situation where the weather worked up fast and mean, whcih is the scourge of really big water events. | |
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| Sorry WormDunker....that is what I was told by someone who I thought was a reliable source. I should have asked Sonny I guess, but it didn't really matter to me who called it...it was a good call at the time either way.
Juls | |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | What the heck are you doing up at 2:30 am? Aren't you fishing today? Did you give up? | |
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| Guys:
Has anyone heard from IreishWeb? I was looking for Mike's name on the leaderboard, but is not listed. Did he zero on Day 1? | |
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| Mike is not fishing this event.
Dave Landahl
Edited by Dave Landahl 4/29/2005 8:28 AM
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Location: Kaukauna WI | I am no Longer fishing the FLW EVENTS Thank you for asking and rooting for me thou.
Edited by irishwebs 4/29/2005 9:06 AM
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| Johnnie, well put and gutsy post, especially your view of the Fox chain scenario. I think the decision to go should take the co-angler's point of view FIRST (ie; is it safe, proper and correct to send the co-angler out in these conditions) and then consider the size, depth and experience of the entire "pro" field in deciding when not to fish. As far as the weather predictions etc, I don't buy that. Current conditions "up stream" are always available via computer and considering the money spent and dished out to winners there is NO excuse for not having that information available and someone watching it at ALL times, period. There are numerous sources that show current wind speeds and directions from networked locations throughout any area. A computer and a cell phone is all you need. Call the weather man at the local TV station. If those things ARE happening then grousing about the unpredictability of the weather is like being angry at the dog because he has to go out. If decisions to go out are being made on an early weather report and then left to the coast guard to monitor, I don't see that as being prudent. Not knowing how it's handled makes for speculation and that's not good. Personally I can't see Sonny Reynolds or Charlie Moore purposely making a decision that would be bad for their participants just because the "show must go on", although I can also see how a large $$ event has a responsibility to it's participants to, well, fish. Unfortunately for the "pro's" and those who choose to fish for Fame and fortune, that sometimes means in the rain...with 35 mph winds. | |
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| Joel "Doc" Kunz - 4/29/2005 10:34 AM
As far as the weather predictions etc, I don't buy that. Current conditions "up stream" are always available via computer and considering the money spent and dished out to winners there is NO excuse for not having that information available and someone watching it at ALL times, period. There are numerous sources that show current wind speeds and directions from networked locations throughout any area. A computer and a cell phone is all you need. Call the weather man at the local TV station. If those things ARE happening then grousing about the unpredictability of the weather is like being angry at the dog because he has to go out. If decisions to go out are being made on an early weather report and then left to the coast guard to monitor, I don't see that as being prudent. Not knowing how it's handled makes for speculation and that's not good. Personally I can't see Sonny Reynolds or Charlie Moore purposely making a decision that would be bad for their participants just because the "show must go on", although I can also see how a large $$ event has a responsibility to it's participants to, well, fish. Unfortunately for the "pro's" and those who choose to fish for Fame and fortune, that sometimes means in the rain...with 35 mph winds.
Doc, Trust me....Rick and I used ALL sources available (short of calling a weatherman who's never right anyway!) to find out what the weather would be doing each day. This cell was never predicted on NOAA (both radio and computer), the computer weather sites...ie: weather.com and accuweather.com, and the good old weather channel, and the evening and morning news. Telll me, what other sources did I miss that would have correctly predicted something that was not supposed to happen? Funny things happen when a front moves over a big body of water...and that's what makes it unpredictable....and you know that.
I'm done with subject now....have a good one.
Juls
p.s. Don't fall getting down from "up there". 
Edited by Juls_OH 4/29/2005 4:52 PM
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| jerry - 4/29/2005 6:12 AM
What the heck are you doing up at 2:30 am? Aren't you fishing today? Did you give up?
It was 3:30 something here when I posted....we're an hour ahead of you guys. I was waking up to get ready to fish today. Had to meet my Co at 5am.
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| Juls, that's why I said in my post "If those things ARE happening then grousing about the unpredictability of the weather is like being angry at the dog because he has to go out." Didn't figure it any other way. My point was directed at the sceptics who assume it's done hap hazzardly. Knowing you and Rick as I do, I personally would figure the two of you to be very complete when it comes to such matters. Not sure about your PS, was that directed at me? If so, email me and let me know what you ment.
Edited by Joel "Doc" Kunz 5/1/2005 4:34 PM
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| Why have you decided not to fish FLW events? | |
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UPDATE FLW Port Clinton Day 2 Canceled!!!!!!