2002 Wyoming Walleye Tourney's

[lundpro]

Has any one seen the new schedule? I have heard there are different waters for this year, any one know about this for sure?

[IFS]

Haven't seen the schedule but do know that Seminoe is out and Keyhole is in for the first week of May I believe. Glendo and Boysen remain the same.

[Unhappy]

Leaving Seminoe out is a very BAD MISTAKE!! Seminoe is the best body of water in Wyoming for a walleye tournament. Any real reason why it's being left out or is it just because it's too far away from Casper and there isn't any cushy motels close by?

[glendoeye]

The only good thing about leaving Seminoe out is that you have to kill all the fish you weigh, otherwise it was a good place to hold a walleye tournament. Does anyone know if Eric is still in charge of WWC?

[IFS]

Eric sold the tourney to a couple of guys from Riverton. Also heard they are increasing the entry fees for Glendo and are paying out more for first place. Yeah , know one I've talked to is to happy about leaving Seminoe either. Also they're going to no tag touraments with measuring boats on the water so you can measure and release fish as you catch them.

[glendoeye]

Thanks for the info. Sure glad to see the tags go,it's long over due. Would like to see the Glendo tournament become one of best in the country. I know for sure you are going to see 60 plus pounds to win without the tags. Tags only hurt the one who catch lots of fish and there are plenty of good anglers who fish this tournament. Only one other tornament that I have fished that has that quality of fish and that is Ft Peck in Montana.

[lundpro]

How does the measuring board boat thing work? DO you take them as you cath them or?

[wheels]

In the past at the Keyhole tournaments, you can't keep any one fish in your livewell for more than one hour with no more than a limit in your boat at any time. Doesn't seem like much time, but any negatives of this system are far worth getting rid of the tags. Anybody cheating doesn't have an advantage now!

On a different note, is the new director raising the price from last years $400 entry fee? I thought last year was too expensive.


"Friends don't let friends fish for trout!"

[Lundpro]

Who is the new tourney director? I kind of agree with Wheels on the $400.00 cost at Glendo. Wheels when does the ice usually come off of Keyhole?

[tinman]

I thought the reason Seminoe turned into a "harvest" tournament was because of the timing - very late July or early August - when the water temperature was high. I think that until the past couple of years the fish at Seminoe were released with good success. Hate to see Seminoe left out. Maybe a tournament early in July would allow a more sucessful release.

Tinman

[wheels]

The ice has been off by mid April consistanly the last two years. I'm from Cheyenne, I've just fished all the Keyhole tourneys and have had a lot of interaction with the fishing club up there because I run a website for them. If you would like the URL to the site, email me. It has old fishing reports for the last two years on it.


"Friends don't let friends fish for trout!"

[Lundpro]

I am all for getting away from the tag system, having fished several of the tourneys over the last 4 years I know that there was a bunch of speculation that not everyone was on a even playing field. I guess that when you are fishing for some pretty good $$$ some people are willing to do whatever they have too. I have always found it hard to believe that a team could weight over 20 lbs on the first day and only come up with half that on day two. Just my opinion

[Muleskinner]

Tinman,
The reason they do the Kill tournaments is Wyoming requires it any time after July 1st. Thats why Eric did the Boysen tourney at the end of June. $400.00 is a good place to stay with the entry fee as long as they pay back fairly. Granted Seminoe has some hogs in it but catching 100-13 inchers a day with maybe one 10lb. fish is not my idea of a good place to have a tournament. Just my two cents worth.


Kevin

[glendoeye]

I have on 3 different occasions caught 20 plus pounds the first day and did hardly nothing the second day because 2 or three boats were sitting in the area we caught the fish. Believe it or not fisherman do pay attention to where the leaders are, but thats fishing. What I had a hard time believing was how a lot of the boats came in at the last moment with 5 fish. You can't convince me that they all caught there 5th fish in the last few minutes of the tournament. Getting rid of the tags will get rid of that problem!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gone fishing

[Rip Some lip Wy]

Glendo is going up to $500 this year i think it's to much and i dont like them cuting out seminoe and going to keyhole but what can you do...
P.S. just my 2 cents!!!

[Goldtooth]

I am pleased to see a post on the Wyoming walleye ciruit and have a few comments on the tournaments.
First off, Wyoming has some great walleye fishing.. just ask the folks who live in Denver Ha Ha! I am pleased to see a change in ownership for WWC and just want to say "it's about time." If you know how to treat people, fisherman this circuit will be very succesfull.I for one would have to agree, this has been a major problem with the past director and an obstacle to overcome for the new ownership.

Secondly, I would like to address the proposed $500 dollar entry fee for Glendo. I have no problems charging a $500 entry fee for a tournament but, what exactly is the value to the fisherman? In the past 2 years we have seen the fees jump up from $300 to $500. Why? I sure as ##### know that it's not the community support, great dinners or comradre of fisherman.

I feel that the Glendo tournament is not in a position to market itself at these entry fees, given it's past reputation. It's under new ownership, prove yourself first!

My suggestion would be to see how other tournamnets are run in the rocky mtn region. I would take a close look at the MT Gov cup, wich I feel is worthy of a $500 dollar entry fee. Why? It is run by the Glasgow chamber (hint: community support) rules meeting Thursday night followed by dinner and free beer (which gets my vote), dinner on Friday night for all fisherman, local talent for entertainment, great P/R from the people who fish the tournament(ask Golden), past 2 years sold out 4 months prior to the tournament date and in the past 5 years incresed the entry fee by $50. If you attend this years tournament, please bring your notebook! Hands down the best in the west but it can be beat.

One other suggestion that I have to tournament directors of any walleye tournament is wether you realize it or not,the walleye fisherman whom attends each event is a very markatable audience. In the past I think we rely on entry fees too much and not enough on corporate sponsorship. If you think that I am wrong, please take a look at an average tournament walley fishermans expenditures form boat,rods,reels,electronics,to local support from communities, bait shops et. It is time tournament directors actively seek these sponsorships for increased payouts. The average tournament fisherman has paid more than his fair share in the past.

I am a diehard walley fisherman, in the advertisning business. Just my 2 cents..

[Lundpro]

Great post goldtooth, I agree 100% on the money aspect. It seems that there has been less sponsor involvement over the last few years. I remember when we used to get a bag of jigs, plastics, hooks or something at these tourney's, however that seemed to disapear.Most tournaments also have somekind of big door prizes so too speak, never seen them here. There are alot of things that us fisherman see that the directors don't.

[wheels]

Heck, I remember the days when everybody fishing the tournament got a hat, along with the bag of "goodies"! At least if you didn't fish worth a crap, you could always joke about your $300 hat!

In my opinion $500 is way too much, and will most likely count me out.


"Friends don't let friends fish for trout!"

[Lundpro]

So is there anyone out there that has been in contact with the new owner(s) - directors?

[IFS]

I agree $500 is to much. Especially if the extra is all at the front end. Maybe if they pay more places so more guys had a chance to cash a check. I was one of the last minute boats with five fish. My partner and I tagged four decent fish then fished for the big boy. Have a place in Elkhorn Bay that 'always' has a fish in it. Did't catch the big boy so ran to the spot , boated number five and beat feet for the weigh in.

[SLS]

I also think that leaving Seminoe out is a very poor way to start out as the new director of the WWC! The reason Seminoe makes for a good tournament is the fact that is the largest reservoir that was visited and there was a lot of water to spread out on. Keyhole is a nice reservoir, but too small for a large number of teams. Maybe this will give someone else a opportunity to take over the Seminoe tourmament.

[wheels]

In my opinion leaving out Seminoe is a good move. I think that the lakes year classes are too spread out to be a good tournament location.

Just my 2 cents.

"Friends don't let friends fish for trout!"