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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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| 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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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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| Not bad. How many fish are killed by recreational anglers every
weekend on the Bago system? |
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| Killed and eaten is one thing, killed for fame and glory is another! |
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| And then they were eaten. What's the point? |
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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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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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| 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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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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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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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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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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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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Location: Neenah Wi | Hey BuckwheatTHANKS!!! If it were not for people like you there would surely have been more fillets. |
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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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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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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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| 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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Location: Southwest shore Bago | Every live fish gets a .10 of a pound bonus added to it.  |
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| 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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Location: Rhinelander | Rick,
None of which happened at the Merc National. |
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That's good. I would expect nothing less from any high class tournament!:-) |
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Location: Appleton wi | Thank the almighty God for lady Bago! |
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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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