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Member
Posts: 158
Location: Upper Sandusky Ohio | Hello folks:
After some serious considerations, and confering with others we have decided to shoot for the weekend of October 22nd, thru the 24th. I know that this conflicts with Walleyecentrals get-together but here is our thought process. Most people from any distance away will not want to make 2 trips to Ohio this late in the year due to work, lack of vacation, tourny schedules etc. We thought that if we had our's the same weekend, we could capitalize on the opportunity of having everyone from both sites in the area on the same weekend. We do not wish to interfere with walleyecentral's annual event, in fact we encourage people to attend their function, as well as ours, and hope their people do like wise. Here is an early look at how we think things will go. Friday evening the Walleyecentral dinner/raffle will be held. Saturday morning is the "Bragging Rights Tourny" for W.C. Saturday evening we would like to have the Walleyefirst event consisting of some sort of event, food, raffles, etc.. Sunday would be the first ever Walleyefirst Walleye Weekend Fishing Tourny. We are still planning at this point so any suggestions, ideas or help is greatly appreciated. Thanks folks. Lets make this an awsome event. |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| Trophy,
I don't want to sound like a troublemaker, but I think there is probably going to be some bad press if this is held the same weekend as WC's. Look at the bad press FLW got when they tried to hold a bass event the same week as the Bassmaster classic, or whatever it was. I hate to say it, but if 2 weekends in the fall are too much for some people to travel, perhaps we should consider a spring fling? I seriously doubt that WC will encourage their attendees to come to a WF function the same weekend. Heck, you can't hardly post a link to WF, or even mention WF on WC without getting it pulled. And I'd hate for some to have to choose one over the other.
Just my thoughts, and I look forward to seeing the thoughts of others. Maybe I'm just paranoid. Thanks for all the work and effort trying to set this up. |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | I disagree with Shep. (sorry Shep ) I l like the idea of going one weekend and seeing all my pals from both "camps". I've been going to the WC event for a few years and saturday night is very loose for the attendees. Having a WF event that night sounds exciting. There is (I'm assuming) a large group of people who would participate in both. WC doesn't really have an organized activity saturday night or sunday so this would fit in.
Because many will be traveling long distances, I would suggest a tourney on Sunday that ends early afternoon, like 1:00 so we can meet and converse at weigh-in area before departing. Starting earlier in am could be an option. |
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Member
Posts: 714
| Because of events that have happened in the past week to me on WC, I have absolutely no desires to attend their get together. I would very much like to attend one for WF though.
Either way it goes, I'll probably be looking for a "ride" when and wherever it happens, since my rig is not set up for trolling, and I don't own much of any type of trolling equipment. |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| OK, not having attended any of the other site deals on Erie, I don't know what they do. So, if Sunshine thinks it's a good thing, what the hey! I'm in! And besides, I don't really care what the other site thinks.
Now, I don't have a boat that I would take out in 6-8 footers, but if it's calm, I'd be game to bring it. Jack you are more than welcom to ride out with me. I'd probably go on Friday. |
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Member
Posts: 714
| Thanks Shep!
Lets see how this thing unfolds. I'll gladly drive my truck if you'd like since you've got the boat.
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Member
Posts: 158
Location: Upper Sandusky Ohio | To clear up any misunderstanding I again emphisize that we do not wish to clash with wc. They will hold their formal dinner/raffle on Friday night, and host their tourny Saturday. That for the most part is the end of wc's get-together. Walleyefirst would start their event after Walleyecentral's tourny, and host our tourny on Sunday. There will be no conflict at all. It will actually benefit Walleyecentral, and Walleyefirst by having more people in the same area. The city of Vermillion wins by more revenue generated, Walleyecentral wins by drawing more people for their event, and Walleyefirst wins by getting extra exposure in the Lake Erie area, and the biggest winner's will be the people who would like to attend from say Minnesota/Wisconsin area. They will be able to attend both functions and not have to choose one or the other if time is a factor. Thanks for the reply's guy's . Any Ideas of what you would like the event Saturday Night to consist of? |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Trophy,
I really think that your vision for this event is great!
My suggestions:
1. IMHO the number one activity is the ability to meet and put faces with the names of the people that we have been talking to on this board. There needs to be a vehicle in place to allow this to happen. Name tags are a must!
2. This should be a fun tournament only! Those who know the water well should volunteer assistance and suggestions to others. Allow volunteers an opportunity to address the entire group via microphone with techniques that are working. See if a couple of the well known Pro’s who frequent this site are willing to speak for 10-15 minutes. Johnnie Candle and/or Tom Minnema ???
3. Emphasize that drunkenness and unruly behavior is not permitted. I drink and enjoy a good time but using the gathering as an excuse to get blasted in unacceptable.
4. Procure blocks of rooms for the WF guys NOW! With two groups up there during a busy fishing season the room availability could be an issue. Post names and phone numbers on site of suggested motels.
5. Sunday tournaments are fine as long as you are considerate to those who have 6 hour plus rides back home afterwards.
6. People like bragging rights trophies.
7. People like seeing pictures on the web site later of those who attended.
8. Will the food be catered or are we all bringing something? Will there be food? I would suggest yes. People can spend more time together if food is served and they do not have to worry about going out to eat first. It also keeps concern number 3 down.
9. Having door prizes from sponsors are nice. Making it a big fundraiser for charity is nice but very time consuming before hand for those procuring the items.
10. Make it Fun and encourage people to bring family.
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Member
Posts: 158
Location: Upper Sandusky Ohio | Dennis:
First of all I do not wish take all the credit for this event. I have had help behind the scenes via E-mail from Gary Bowman, Jack Dunn, Mike Stinson, and Zach. In addition to others who have posted on the site. I agree with all your rules of conduct. Drunkeness will not be tolerated. Have a beer or 2 but please do not become sloppy drunk. Many of us saw what happened when that became an issue at the wc event a couple of years ago. They did the correct thing by making it a cash bar, and reserving the right to refuse if you get "over cooked". Zach has volunteered to head up the donations for the raffles. He has contacts that I just don't have. If any of our members here have connections, or wish to make a donation on their own we would welcome that with open arms. I do have a question though in regards to the Sunday tournement. How would you like to format it? I thought maybe we leave at 7-7:30am, fish until you wish to leave, and have a final cut off of 3pm. Maybe have a 10 buck big fish pot. Give a little prize for things like biggest trash fish I.E. Sheephead. Biggest Steelhead, biggest Perch something like that. It's all of our's event, so lets all decide how we want to do it. Keep the ideas flowing guys your doing great. Thanks bunches.
PS. We will need someone who is talented with digital camera's so we can get a ton of pictures. I'm not that guy. Thanks again |
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Member
Posts: 19
Location: Maumee Ohio | All the ideas sound fantastic!!! and I am definately in -----Kevin I can heads up the picture taking I have all the equipment etc...Is it possible to maybe post something about the Walleye First tournament on Walleye Central or will it get yanked?-----Just to kind of put the word out that there will be 2 tournaments. For those of you who are new and may not know about Huron Ohio in the fall. When the walleye are on the bite, it is just awsome!!! You have a very good chance of catching a trophy!!! If you love walleye fishing my thinking is you have got to love 2 tournaments. |
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Member
Posts: 1382
| Everyone here is looking forward to the event. Mike, I would definitely recommend against posting info on any another websites. The size of the event and the quality of the experience aren't necessarily tied together. We run 4 to 5 muskie outings per year in the US and Canada, and actually limit the size of the event to anywhere between 30-50 people. We have found it increases the quality of experience and gives it a sense of exclusivity for the participants.
We will let this event grow to whatever size it will reach, but we would like to emphasize that the event, for us, will be a success whether there are 10 people or 1000, as long as the experience for the attendees is a high quality one. |
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Member
Posts: 158
Location: Upper Sandusky Ohio | Walleye's on the big pond, in October WOW!! If you have never experienced it before all I can say is nothing compares to it. I don't know of any other place in world, not even the mighty Columbia River where it is possible to catch a 6 fish limit, and have them all be around 8-12 pounds. Guys I tell you the truth when I say a 10 pound fish won't turn many heads, and a 12-13 pound fish is common. If your teetering on the fence not sure of if you want to come or not, look at some of the pictures on Mike, and I's web site. The pictures tell it all. |
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Location: Rhinelander | I am really looking forward to the event! I have one 'eye over 10#, so catching fish of that quality will be a hoot for me! |
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