Proposed - Port Clinton Booster Club Walleye Tournament

[ALUMACRAFTMAN]

Hello all. After participating in the successful Huron Walleye tournament for the towns school Athletic Booster Club last fall, we are looking at the possibility of setting one up for the Port Clinton School Athletic Booster Club. I am meeting / discussing this with a few folks and we are just at the idea stage. Without having dates or places established, other than sometime in mid May or June and in the Port Clinton area, we are asking any ideas for the tournament you guys may reply with. Any suggestions from the number of people on one team, entry fees, weigh in, facilitie locations, rules, etc., would be appreciated. Many of you have seen and participated in various tournaments and any input of what you liked or disliked at particular tournaments would be of great help.

This tournament is not set in stone, yet, but we are working on it and we will let you know how it progresses as we meet with school and city officials. Any replies you may have please post them on this forum or send me an e-mail.

Thanks again.

Dick Chicoine (Alumacraftman)
rchicoine3@aol.com

[Trophy]

My suggestions would be to have it in Late May/early June. That will allow for the more stable weather, and water conditions, school would be close to being out, and the fishing is usually great at that time. For the location I think Catawba State Park is hard to beat. Plenty of room, shelter house,4 ramps,etc. If you take this event to reality, and need volunteers I will help. The only request I have is that I have hashed this idea for our school also, so lets communicate on dates so we don't double up on the same weekend.


Trophy
ch.79

[bountyhunters]

you might hold you tour right after schol lets out .GET THE kids involed ,they could put on a lunch stand ,help launch boats ,etc .p.s count me in ,I:LL fish for kids .

[FreeByrdSteve]

Dick,
Send me an email if you want some more detailed info on how we did things in Huron. Depending on when it is I can probally help out.

You may have better luck getting the kids involved if it is on a weekend when school is still in session - coaches should be able to help. For the Huron event, several of the volunteers were on the Football staff and the kids that helped with the boats and the weighin were members of the freshman football team.

Booster Club members were able to get over $1000 in donations from local businesses to be able to guarantee prizes, plus several companies donated items for additional prizes. 50% of all entry fees went to the booster club.

One of the biggest decisions I had to make was how many people could be on a team. I ended up deciding that teams could be 2,3, or 4 people. In order to try and equalize things in terms of the cost and number of rods that could be run, I decided the entry would be $50 PER PERSON on the team and a team could run the legal number of rods based on the number of people on the team. We had 40 teams and 120 people so it worked out to an average of 3 per team, but there were lots of two person teams and quite a few 4 person teams. Basically we wanted to place a few restrictions on things as possible. Anyone was eligible to fish the tournament. Sharing of information including on tournament day by VHF Radio, Cell Phone, etc was ENCOURAGED. The goal was for everyone to have a good time, raise money for the kids, and for everyone to catch fish.

We had a seperate OPTIONAL Big Fish pot - $50 per TEAM to enter. If I remember correctly 30 of the 40 teams entered. I recommend this - anyone entered has a good chance to catch the single biggest fish.

One thing you wil want to consider is that some people with bigger boats will likely want to fish but will not want to launch in the morning at Catawba. We let them come to Huron by water. We did require everyone leave and return from Huron and based on feedback I received, I would encourage this. Don't make the takeoff so early that it will limit people that want to run boats over from say West Harbor, or even Turtle Creek, Portage River, etc.

Check the schedule and don't overlap one of the big tournaments in the area.

RCL will be in Port Clinton the end of April.
Gander Mountain GNWC wil be in Port Clinton May 1
World Walleye Association will be in Port Clinton May 8,9

Let me know if I can help.
Steve Carlson
steve199132@yahoo.com

[ALUMACRAFTMAN]

We are still "looking" at the idea of a tournament but not anything for sure yet. FreebyrdSteve, thanks for helpful info. One of our hopes is to have it before school lets out in the first week of June. If any one knows of any other tournaments, other than the major ones Freebyrd listed, please let me know. We are looking to try and get it in around May. As far as tentative ideas, we are thinking of the following so far:

1. Have it before school is out and hopefully have some of the kids not just at the tournament to help out but possibly solicit local vendors for tournament donations.

2. The fishing area would be the entire Western Basin.

3. Start of the tournament would be at a designated time in the morning, launching/underway at any location within the Western Basin on the good faith system, as well as the finish time.

4. Possibly utilizing the pavilion area at the Catawba State Park for the weigh in and/or measure location. Registered anglers could either use there boats or vehicles to get to the weigh in at the designated time.

4. No dead fish penalty

5. The entry fee would be per person. We are thinking about having two divisions - One division for teams with three or less anglers per boat and another division with four to six anglers per boat. The entry fee would be the same amount for both divisions - as stated, per angler. We do know the pros and cons of this. The objective is to try and raise the most money for the benefit as well as making it fun and competitive for all who enter it. Half of all the entry fees would go to the school, the rest to the anglers. The half for the anglers would be divided and awarded to the top three places in both divisions. Any feed back on this or other ideas for the tournament would be appreciated.

6. Possibly having a member of the staff from the Sandusky Veterans home present to choose and/or select fish that may be donated by the anglers. Not sure if that is possible, legally, but we are looking in to that.

That's about it for now. We will keep you posted as to how this progresses and the prospects of having this tournament.

Dick C.
RChicoine3@aol.com

[Trophy]

I hate to bring this up, but in the prevention of cheating, It would only take 1 dishonest team to put a bad taste in everyones mouth, and kill this event from being an annual event. I think you would be better off having a Single start/check in point. That way the boats can be inspected before starting. Just my opinion.

Trophy

[toughgeye]

I ansolutely agree, as much as noone wants to admit it the temptation in this format is just too great. You must have one check in area. As FreeByrd stated, you should be able to leave any port but meet at Catawba b/f the tourney. Just my 02 cents. Also, I think that with the previously mentioned format, the person who wins will have their doubters which is a shame if they legally win.

[ShoreBoundOne]

Dick,
You know i am in. Sounds like fun. 50 dollar entry fee with a optional big fish pot is a good idea. I like the idea of no more than 4 to a team. I will help in anyway you need, just give me a call.

Mitch

[ALUMACRAFTMAN]

Thanks for the feed back guys. Mitch we are looking at two divisions, 3 anglers or less in one boat for one division and 4 to 6 anglers per boat for the other division. We are going to try and keep the cost down to either $20.00 or $25.00 per person, regardless of division. The school will get fifty percent of all entry fees. The other fifty percent would then be paid out to the top three places in each of the two divisions. We are also hoping for some trophies as well. Money for the school is first priority, followed by fun competition amongst us walleye hounds.

I have been getting some e-mails that mention the same concerns as Trophy, FreebyrdSteve and Toughgeye about a centralized start and finish location. The reason I was thinking of a "launch where you want" was for a couple reasons. I would make registration available the night before as well as early in the morning the day of the tournament. This would hopefully get some of the guys from turtle creek to east harbor to enter, thus more entries (especially for the larger boats) and in turn a smaller entry fee.

The other option would be to run it similar to how Steve ran his in Huron last fall. We are considering a later start time, around 8:30 am, allowing time for the bigger boats to run to the start location. We are looking at Catawba State Park. The boats could come up to the pier, be checked out and then stand off in the vicinity of the area until show time. For finish we would do it the same way. The teams would have to show there team number in the vicinity of the dock by a set time. Then a team member could bring the fish up from the dock (with help from the students) to get there fish weighed. The teams boat could either head back to his home port and drive down to the park, or stand off and wait for his teams fish to be weighed.

The problem I see with this could be some serious congestion at the ramp, dock and vicinity. Regardless of the number of boats we get entered, that Catawba ramp and dock can be a zoo on the weekends. We are thinking of other locations in the P.Clinton area but still have those concerns.

So we are still undecided on the honor system or the way mentioned above.

I have a meeting with the Booster Club Council on February 10th for a presentation so keep the ideas and feedback coming. I appreciate all of the volunteers and I will keep you updated as it progresses.

Dick Chicoine
RChicoine@AOL.com

[toughgeye]

Alumacraftman-
This may be getting a little more complicated than you would like but maybe something to think about. How about a division for boats 25 feet and over and a division that is 25 and under. Allow the larger boats to use the honor system and set up a different payout system. For boats (trailerable) have them launch at say catawba with a livewell check. Not trying to be prejudiced against larger boats, and i understand this is a "benefit" tournament but the least amount of controversy you have the better. Or even offer a larger cash payout to boats who meet at the launch and have the livewell check.

[Trophy]

Another option may be to use the system that the L.E.C.B.A. used where 1 team member from each team has a name put in a hat. The names are then drawn to fish off somebody elses boat, and be a spotter. The spotters fish go towards his own teams weight. That way you could still leave from your "home" port, and cut down on the congestion at Catawba.

[toughgeye]

Good idea but lets not lose sight of the fact that this is a "benefit" tournament designed to raise money and have fun although we all know it is taken much more seroiusly than that.. I dont want some guy i dont khow with me in my boat for this type of tournament. I love fishing with my buddies and while taking it seriously and trying to win having fun and joking around is just as important. Not bashing your suggestion at all it is a good suggestion, just stating my opinion

[ShoreBoundOne]

I agree, its for the kids....i think the Honor system should be the way to go....i know i am not in it for the money just the fun of competition...if someone is hard up enough to cheat, oh well...he will be judged one day at the big weigh-in in the sky.
@5 dollar entry fee will probably generate more money in the long run, i like the idea of boat size bracket. Nothing against the big boats but we all know they can put alot more lines in the water than the old alumacraft:).

Mitch

[Trophy]

Your right it's for the kid's but it only takes 1 cheat to ruin the whole event. There needs to be some sort of check/balance system to prevent cheats. I do like the different brackets idea but instead of going by boat size, I'd like to recommend going by team size. Teams of 4 and over go into 1 bracket because they will be more than likely running the larger boats anyway. That way if someone is running say a 30' boat, and he, and his wife want to be the only ones on board they aren't punished by boat size. Just my 2cents.


Trophy

[ALUMACRAFTMAN]

Below is the plan we are looking at going with for the proposed Port Clinton Athletic Booster Club Fishing Tournament. I appreciate all who gave me the feedback and helping me decide on some of the options. The toughest decision was to either have a central start/finish location with a boat inspection or the honor system starting at any location in the Western Basin at a designated time. I have decided to go with the honor system for a few reasons. The main objective is to try and get as many folks entered, big and small boats, to raise money for the event. Another reason is to try and get as many folks in on some friendly fishing competition. Unlike the Huron River, I just do not think the locations we were looking at would accommodate a large number of boats of different sizes if we went with the centralized start/finish location. This will however allow me to lower the fee per person in hopes of getting a large turnout.

Anyway, though the tournament is not set in stone, this is what I am presenting to the board members on Wednesday night. I will let you know what we come up with after the meeting.

PORT CLINTON BOOSTER CLUB WALLEYE TOURNAMENT
Saturday the 22nd of May
There will be two division to choose from to enter.
Division1 = team of 4 - 6 anglers per boat
Division2 = team of 3 -1 anglers/angler per boat
Entry Fee will be $20.00 per person for either division
Winners will be determined by weight of there 5 biggest walleyes per team for each division.
There will be six teams with a chance of winning money and trophies, the top three teams in each division. Hopefully we can add some nice prizes to the placings as well. Fifty percent off all entry fees go directly to the P.C. Booster Club. The other fifty percent will be divided amongst the top three teams in the two divisions.
Registration will be on the 20th and 21st (undecided location and time) and on the 22nd from 0600 to 0630 (undecided location). A team captain name will be required and a team number assigned at the time of registration.
Fishing start time will be at 0700, launching and/or leaving from any access within the Western Basin.
Fishing area will be within the Western Basin.
All teams and there catches must be at the weigh in sight (undetermined location) by 4:00pm and present there team number to a tournament official. A half hour after the last weigh in, the winners will be announced and finalized.

This is a quick summary of how the event will be ran. We will likely have a big fish option as well. I will be sending out a more descriptive and clarified version of the tournament after our meeting. Thanks

*Below our rules from Freebyrds Huron tournament which we will utilize as well.

All boats must have all required USCG safety equipment including a VHF Radio.
Channel 80 will be the official tournament channel and will be used for takeoff and checkin.
Sharing of fishing information via VHF Radio and Cell Phones IS PERMITTED – have FUN
Winners will be determined by WEIGHT of the 5 biggest walleye per team.
Length of single largest walleye breaks ties.
Trolling is permitted.
2 rods per team member – per Ohio Law.
Only registered contestants are allowed to be on the boat and fish.
There is no dead fish penalty. Fish do not need to be kept in a live well.
Competitors must not come in contact with another competitors boat during tournament hours.
Exception: If a competitors boat breaks down – another competitor MAY assist with a tow. Any disabled boat must notify tournament officials by phone/radio
Fish must not be combined between teams.
All decisions of the tournament director shall be final – cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.