NR20.40 will effectively prohibit FLW Outdoors from hosting events in WI.

[tyee unlogged]

Oct. 4, 2006 Gerald O’Brien Chairman Wisconsin Natural Resources Board 101 South Webster St. Madison, WI 53703

Dear Chairman O’Brien:

I represent FLW Outdoors, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, and I am writing today to express grave concern about proposed changes to Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 20.40 relating to fishing-tournament regulations.

In 2007, FLW Outdoors will operate 247 tournaments in 13 circuits offering combined purses in excess of $43 million to the nation’s bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass anglers. These tournaments annually contribute a combined $388 million to local economies, including $12.5 million in five Wisconsin counties (through 11 bass and walleye events in 2006).

Many of the changes that have recently been proposed for live-release fishing tournaments, including closing the season to such events between July 1 and Aug. 31, new taxes/fees for tournament organizers and participants, and a prolonged permitting process that will not be complete until Nov. 7 each year, will effectively prohibit FLW Outdoors from hosting events in the state.

Such a prohibition against tournaments will have serious economic implications for small businesses throughout the state. In fact, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources own study in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, the University of Wisconsin – Madison and the Chippewa Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau shows that a single high-profile tournament, like those regularly conducted by FLW Outdoors, can contribute $2.1 million to small businesses throughout the host community.

On behalf of our members throughout Wisconsin and thousands FLW Outdoors anglers who regularly visit Wisconsin, helping to fund DNR activities and facilities through license and tackle purchases, I urge you to reconsider the proposed changes to Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 20.40 until a Small Business Analysis can be completed and validated by an independent third party.

As you know, the Wisconsin DNR is already facing a budget crisis, as expenditures have exceeded revenues in each of the last five years. The proposed restrictions on tournament anglers will only exasperate the DNR’s fiscal problems by constricting license and tackle sales and discouraging future participation in the sport.

I assure you that we share an appreciation for Wisconsin’s fantastic natural resources, and we will continue to work diligently to both protect those resources and allow equal access to them by both tournament anglers and recreational anglers alike. In this spirit of cooperation, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and further discuss the matter. Please contact me at 270.252.1615 or via e-mail at cevans@flwoutdoors.com.

Sincerely,

Charlie Evans President and CEO FLW Outdoors

cc: Scott Hassett, DNR Secretary; Todd Ambs, Division Administrator; Water; Mike Staggs, Bureau Director, Fisheries Management

[Juls_OH]

Thanks for the post Tyee...keep us posted, please. Are you one of those names? Or, do you just have really good connections to have gotten your hands on Charlie's letter? ;)

Juls

[eyesmore]

nice letter, hopefully it gets the ball moving in the right direction.

[thump55]

Hopefully they also sent the letter to other offices in the state besides the DNR (tourism/commerce, etc.). They need to let the people that will be hurt financially know what the DNR is doing. These are the people that can influence the DNR decision much more than the average tournament angler.

Dave S

[hgmeyer]

Please be sure to give the guy who came up with the idea to hassle the tournament fishermen a recipe for cooking golden geese...

Hopefully, someone will see the benefit from pour presence in Wisconsin and this will die quickly. But, there is a lot of local presure to get the tournaments out of the state all together.

[leave them in the dust]

I do not fish the FLW but I am well aware of how well the tournaments are run. I am also aware of how much local income is generated when tournaments come to town. I am of the opinion however to leave Wisconson in the dust. Take your money elsewhere. If the state DNR is in that much dismay then taking the FLW to another state will leave them in the dust. Why spend time and money out of your pocket to try to find a solution. To me it is a waste. If they do not want FLW generated dollars then dont spend it in Wisconson. There are many many other states that have quality waters full of walleye that will graciously accept the FLW and the locally generated income. In my opinion I would spend my time and money where it is wanted and not spend it in a state that does not.

T

[in the dust]

I know that Wisconsin is spelled with an I not an O I just did not preview before I posted. I do not need spelling lesons but htanks anyway
T

[Stacker1]

Just remember guys, its not all about the FLW not playing here. It will be the MWC, the PWT, and the local circuits as well. every bar tournament, bass tournament, Muskie tournament, this is not prejudice against the flw or walleyes. This will include all species. If this goes through, it will eliminate walleye tournaments as we know them today. Why would this happen? Are they looking to protect the resources? Someone better get a handle on this.

Tyee, what is the e-mail of the person in which we can rock there world concerning this?

[WHY]

SO THEN WHY WOULD ANY OF THESE TOURNAMTNTS WANT TO CONSIDER WISCONSIN
LEAVE THE STATE AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE STATE WILL SUFFER AND BEFORE LONG THEY WILL ASK TOURNAMENTS TO RETURN.

T

[rbb unloged]

DNR hearing dates and locations. All hearings are at 7pm

Oct.30 Holiday Inn (624w rolling meadows dr) Fond Du Lac

Nov.1 LaCrosse Strzelczk great hall UW campus

Nov.2 Fitchburg community center

nov.8 Green Bay auditorium, Bay Beach Nature center

Nov.9 Sturtevant, DNR service center sutite 4

Nov.14 Spooner, AG Reasearch station

Nov.15 Rhinelander, Nicolet tech. college theater


P.S. Scott Hassett and Mike Stagg seem to be the pearsons from the DNR that are pushing the hardest(behind the scenes) for the sweeping changes.


Robert Blosser
#255

[Get real]

A Tupperware convention brings more money to a local community than a fishing tournament without raping the resources. It is getting so bad with tournaments that we cant fish our own lakes without getting overrun!

I hope the FLW takes the advice here and stays out of WI.

[CWS]

Actually, they do bring in more money than you think, however, probably not as much as a Tournament marketing guy might claim. With that being said, I think Wisconsin is speaking pretty clear with what they would like to happen. It looks like it has a good head of steam, and probably will pass through procedres and become the rule.

[to funny]

>A Tupperware convention brings more money to a local
>community than a fishing tournament without raping the
>resources. It is getting so bad with tournaments that we cant
>fish our own lakes without getting overrun!
>
>I hope the FLW takes the advice here and stays out of WI.


They should stay away so you can rape your oun resorces! lol
It's the only State that I see locals double dipping limits like it's second nature, you catch it -you kill it!

[Baked]

If for one second you actually don't think that a tournament provides benefit for a community your WRONG. Check out the revenue that gets generated over a week plus with X number of anglers from the FLW< PWT and MWC. Do this before you look at your own selfish agenda because you might not have a body of water to yourself! You also need to weigh on the fact that it brings exposure to areas that otherwise would be hard pressed to get people to come on vacations to fish.
THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!

[perchjerker]

you guys can bicker all you want about it.

My question is what is the reasoning behind this? (not the bickering but the bill ;))

[Get real]

You don't get it. It is not about the money. Keep the money. We want peace and quiet. Not every fisherman is a tournament fisherman. Everyone thinks if they can wave around $100 bills, they should do it because it is easy money. Our economy is just fine without the tournament fisherman. Go to North Dakota.

[CWS]

From what I've read, it started out with wanting to cull bass in tournaments, which brought together the research program, which came out with the reccomendations. It's funny the way things spiral. It is definitely a loss for the economy, at face value it may seem well for the bodies of water because of the loss of fishing pressure, but sometimes the revenue and exposure loss can change things too.

[Blame]

with locals having an attitude like this why should anyone want to come to your "house". Sounds like you are one of those guys that think you own all of the fish and wild life in your state. Just because you live there does not give you the right to claim the fish and or the water. And remember tournament anglers release 95% of the fish they catch! can you say the same? Probably not you catch it you kill it sounds about right for an angler like yourself. Even on my home waters i release 95% of the fish I catch, it only helps in the long run. If tournament fishing has made a detremental impact to the state natural resources it would have been dealt with long before this. Seems to me that this bill came about because a lot of the Wisc. recreational anglers can not catch fish on their Home waters like tournament anglers can and so they blame it on tournament impact instead of realizing that techniques used in the 70's are less likley to work as well as the developed techniques that tournament anglers use today.

T

[wimwuen unlogged]

I wonder how many of your local bait shops would be hurt by this. Ask them next time you go. I bet the bait shops on Winnebago and the Mississippi would see close to a 50% loss in business during the summer.

You see the same arguments on every site, no more tournies because they take my fish - tournies are great. If you want to try to make a difference, talk to your local business owners and encourage them to go the meetings. Having a bunch of business owners telling representatives how this will impact them means way more than an angler in their sponsor shirt.

That would probably be the most effective way to voice your opinion.

[Get real]

I am bringing you the locals point of view. You however have no idea what you are talking about. You dont know me, my town, or my goverment.

[funny]

>You don't get it. It is not about the money. Keep the money.
>We want peace and quiet. Not every fisherman is a tournament
>fisherman. Everyone thinks if they can wave around $100 bills,
>they should do it because it is easy money. Our economy is
>just fine without the tournament fisherman. Go to North
>Dakota.

Lets assume we are talking about Bago here. The largest tournament on that lake is 300 boats, made up of mostly local anglers that would be fishing those waters anyways. Just how many square miles of water is that again? If it were just tournament boats out on the water they each would have miles to themselfs. You want peace go up north on a lake without power boats. You want a lake to yourself -Buy one-. Your Economy is no where near fine, it average at best. That area is NOT a job meca in the Midwest. If you think removing tournaments is going to control boat volume on your lake you are dead wrong. After the lake is dead from fishermen, the Large speed boats and cabin cruiser's will show up in groves! So better be very carefull what you wish for!

[Jayman]

Tourney or no tourney the same people will still be out fishing. Only difference will be all of them will be trying to keep a limit of fish if they're not in a tournament.

[money]

What do you mean it's not about the money?? Go tell that the mom and pop store/motel/restaraunt and other local businesses you don't want the tourneys in town...just so you can be alone on a lake, and have your "peace and quiet"...yeah right. They could care less that you want to be alone, it's their lively hood at stake and they could care less about your peace and quiet. Your "peace and quiet" doesn't pay their bills.

[Get real]

Looks like I am not the only one that feels that way and this bill will pass. Go cry a river and fish in it. Just not in WI.

[tyee unloged]

This all started when the Bass folks wanted culling in WI. I came here and to other sites urging for you to educate yourselves, culling is not wanted in WI and quite frankly the BASS guys litteraly used every avenue to get this recognized and by a underhanded bill prompted through the tourism dept they got their pilot program but in return it opended the door for the DNR to make regulations for tourneys. These first hearings are to set rules for the dnr to approve a tournament. The best is yet to come, they will do species regulation. YOU BETTER LOOK OUT because tournament fishing could come to an abrupt halt in WI. Don't say I haven't warned ya (might be a bit extreme ya think?)

Anyway go to the meeting and voice your concerns, If you get organized SOON it will be better coming from a group of fishermen instead of the Lake association owners or the WWF who have VERY deep pockets in Washington!

Good Luck
Tyee

[Correct]

Tyee is correct. The FLW opened up the can of worms pushing through their agenda. In return it opened up an avenue for the anti's to come in a influence governmental policy.

Go ahead and be anti-tournament fishing all you want, but the big picture here is that groups such as WWF and Sierra Club along with others can and will attempt to limit your fishing rights in general. Don;t be fooled by the pretty brochures, postcards, etc., they produce, they don't want pasrticipation sports to continue, ie fishing and hunting.

Once tournament are regulated out of existence it won't be too many years until your own rights to fish slowly disappear.

[eyesmore]

"Get Real" is probably an anti hunter/angler. If he hates tournaments so much what the heck is he doing on a tourney message board?

Either that or just another guy who thinks he owns the water.

He's just here to stir the pot and get people worked up.

[eyesmore]

WHY? Because it will be one state after another!

Excluding one recreational angler (tournament anglers) from using the resources is a strange type of discrimination.

There is no restriction on any anglers other than tournament anglers.

What if 10,000 anglers decided to meet for a get together on one lake and just catch and keep their limits? No restriction against this is there?

[wimwuen unlogged]

I'm trying to gather as many small businesses in the LaCrosse area as I can to attend and offer their point of view. They can express themselves for or against tournaments. I have yet to find one that's against them though.

I encourage anyone to do the same. The anglers aren't going to change the State's mind. The businesses and communities will have to be the ones to do it. Let your chamber of commerce know what's going on. I'm sure they will have plenty of people who'd like to voice their oppinions.

[Nick(Ia)]

Unfortunately the FLW has not shown itself to be politically astute in these matters with northern-state DNRs. They have poisoned their relationship with the Iowa DNR after the championship in Moline. The fallout from that event combined with the resident anti-tourney bias in the DNR fisheries biology dept.(which was born in a 1990's dispute with the PWT and subsequent disputes with the IWTT) has created a very difficult atmosphere for tournaments and particularly walleye tournaments in Iowa. It appears that they have overplayed their hand in Wisconsin. Let's hope not.

I think that the major tourney organizations need to devote some resources to political action. It is also time that the boating industry and equipment manufacturers got their act together and started paying attention to the golden goose before the nest is laid to waste. We, as tourney anglers, need to organize and work our local communities to let business owners know that this income stream is about to diminish/stop.

I'm in agreement with perchjerker regarding our need to know the real and underlying reasons the WI DNR is pursing this with such vigor. Anybody have a clue? It appears that the DNR bureaucracy in each state is much more amenable to local/non-profit tourneys than the "for profit" or national organizations. Could it be that the DNR has a thing about using the resource for profit? If so, why?

[Kubota Kid]

This rule could turn out to be a good although NOT for Wisconsin. With a rule like this, it will make the tournament homies in WI come to other states and spend dollars that would ordinarily be spent in WI. This is a good thing for other states and is a good thing for the WI fisherman who has long played the tournament game in his "own" backyard. It forces the WI guys to get off their buttskies and see what other bodies of water are like other than Spring VAlley. All tourney circuits are down in entries and this eliminates the state of WI so other areas can reap the entries off of the arrogants attitudes of the WI goverment people who suck a salary off the WI taxpayer. I say they should add a 150.00 non resident fishing license too. I already have WI on a short list of states I won't ever visit and this rule just made my decision making all the more better.

By the way, Your Packer team isn't all that great anymore plus your your cheese has blue stuff all over it and tastes like something that came from the lower regions.

[Jim Coon]

Bill NR20.40

I have concerns with this bill. Although I agree there needs to be some guidelines for tournament promoters. I feel no catch and release tournaments in the months of July and August is not acceptable. This means any fish that are currently released for others to catch will now be killed. This will result in more negative publicity and will hurt the resource. Tournament anglers are restricted in their limits while fishing tournaments to a smaller bag limit than when they are just fishing. They are also penalized for bringing in fish that are not deemed releasable. As I read the bill I have questions on what is the definition of Possess. As I stated while I feel we do need to improve the current system. At the same time I feel we need to get the input of tournament promoters, Tournament anglers, and the public. When the current board was formed to look at tournament and regulations, I volunteered to participate and was told they did not need any additional people. In my opinion if more people were involved this would have added input into the meetings. None of the people were paid for their time or expenses so there would have been no additional cost.

This bill will also have a negative economic impact on local business. Just to mention a few Motels, Gas Stations, Bait Shops, Marine Dealers, Supper Clubs, and Grocery Stores. In many cases anglers families travel with the anglers resulting in shopping and entertainment dollars spent by these families while the anglers are fishing. This will also effect the organizations that assist the tournament promoters. No tournaments will result in a loss of income for these organizations. In my case this will affect Walleyes for Tomorrow, Oshkosh High School, and Marinette High School. In summary this bill will impact more than just the tournament promoters and the anglers.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to s. 227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rule will have an economic impact on small businesses. The Department’s Small Business Regulatory Coordinator may be contacted at SmallBusiness@dnr.state.wi.us or by calling (608) 266-1959.

Please call or e-mail or both your comments.

This is just a few concerns of my concerns. I hope all concerned people will attend the meetings and voice their opinions. After the bill is passed it will be too late.

If anyone wants to contact me e-mail info@fishtfm.com or call 920-731-3474

LET’S ALL STAND UP AND BE HEARD BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

Here are the meeting dates and locations

October 30, 2006 Holiday Inn, 624 W. Rolling Meadows Drive (US 151 & 41), Fond du Lac
Monday at 7:00 p.m.
November 1, 2006 Strzelczyk Great Hall, Cleary Center, UW-La Crosse, 615 East Avenue South,
Wednesday La Crosse at 7:00 p.m.
November 2, 2006 Fitchburg Community Center, 5510 Lacy Road, Fitchburg
Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
November 8, 2006 Auditorium, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Center, 1660 East Shore Drive,
Wednesday Green Bay at 7:00 p.m.
November 9, 2006 Suite IV, DNR Service Center, 9531 Rayne Road, Sturtevant
Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
November 14, 2006 Spooner Agricultural Research Station, W6646 Highway 70, Spooner
Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
November 15, 2006 Theater, Nicolet Technical College, County Highway G, Rhinelander
Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

[10pound]

Here is my solution- ANTE UP TOURNAMENT ANGLERS!!! (I am a tourny angler myself) Times are changing! You want to fish for the bucks, pay the state fee and follow the rules! I believe what they are proposing is similar to ND & MN, but MN doesn't charge. I agree tourny fisherman many times think everyone should kiss there butts! I've seen it first hand. Sometime sit in a bait shop and watch the difference between a tourny angler and a tourist. The tourny guy is usually an a-hole! (not always)


YOU GOTTA PAY TO PLAY!

[Fish_on]

Just one correction Nick, the tournaments that first started the problems were MWC tournaments in 1989 and 1990. The DNR did a very poor study on the fish released at these tournaments and determined that most of the fish died, even those that swam away fine from the weigh-in. There are some serious flaws in the study in my opinion and there was also some personal bias against tournaments by the person heading the study. Plus, the weigh-in techniques and the livewells have both improved drastically in the last 16 years.

Unfortunately much of the rules we have for tournament fishing in many states are a result of the findings of these Iowa DNR studies.

I am not opposed to kill tournaments in July and August. I believe that should be accepted if need be and used as a bargaining chip to negotiate away some of this other bad stuff.

[sdfishing]

>"Many of the changes that have recently been proposed for live-release fishing tournaments, including closing the season to such events between July 1 and Aug. 31, new taxes/fees for tournament organizers and participants, and a prolonged permitting process that will not be complete until Nov. 7 each year, will effectively prohibit FLW Outdoors from hosting events in the state."

After further review, and as a tournament angler, I'm always "for" the tourney angler." BUT, the only rule that I would disagree with is charging higher taxes and the prolonged permitting process. As far as not being able to have C&R tourneys from July 1-Aug.31st?? That...to me, doesn't seem like a big deal. So, have your C&R tourneys from April thru June, and Sept-Oct. that is still lots of time to hold tourneys. I do not like catch and kill tourneys...the SD Gov cup is a catch and kill tourney and it always made me cringe when I saw all those dead fish. Over all, studies show there are no ramifications...but it still made me cringe. Higher fees...well, that probably just comes with anything in life, fees (fishing/hunting licences, ramp fees, park fees), always go up, I've never seen them go down. But, not being able to get the permitting in time to schedule tourney dates for people to take vacation....etc. That's a problem. Just my 2cents.

[Mark Dahl]

Big time Bass tournaments have stayed out of Wiscosin for years because of the no cull rule. My understanding is it was waved for an Elite 50 tournament with the DNR doing a mortality study at that time. Not an FLW tourny. Ultimatly Nick's question needs to be answered. What is behind all this. Go to the meetings and find out.

Mark Dahl #465

[ND guy]

>You don't get it. It is not about the money. Keep the money.
>We want peace and quiet. Not every fisherman is a tournament
>fisherman. Everyone thinks if they can wave around $100 bills,
>they should do it because it is easy money. Our economy is
>just fine without the tournament fisherman. Go to North
>Dakota.


come to ND thats fine. Just stop keeping the WI whoppers of 7-11 inchers. Not even a nugget on them. Let us have future fishreries for ourselves and the decent NR that come to our great state. We'll take the tourneys and all of the moneys they generate.

[they are good]

>I wonder how many of your local bait shops would be hurt by
>this. Ask them next time you go. I bet the bait shops on
>Winnebago and the Mississippi would see close to a 50% loss in
>business during the summer.
>
>You see the same arguments on every site, no more tournies
>because they take my fish - tournies are great. If you want
>to try to make a difference, talk to your local business
>owners and encourage them to go the meetings. Having a bunch
>of business owners telling representatives how this will
>impact them means way more than an angler in their sponsor
>shirt.
>
>That would probably be the most effective way to voice your
>opinion.


Wimwuen,

I have spoke with a baitshop owner about the tourneys in Devils Lake. One of them said flat out that the tourney in DL this last summer kept him afloat. He almost had to close up shop and spend more time at his real job. There is 1 claim that tourneys and the angler $$ SAVING A BUSINESS!!!!

[wimwuen unlogged]

I hear the same from almost every baitshop in the LaCrosse, WI area. They tell me that the out of state and non-local (in state) guys purchase so much equipment that it makes up a very large percentage of their annual sales.

One told me that an average out of state tourney angler will spend as much or more at his shop in a week then a local who fishes the Mississippi does over a year.

[Corey Bohn]

I see that South Dakota is considering a proposal to change the dates when catch and release walleye tournaments can be held in South Dakota. Currently, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks prohibits live catch and release tournaments in July and August.

The current South Dakota proposal is to expand that time frame when catch and release tournaments cannot be held in the state to June 1 through September 15.

The South Dakota proposal is unlike the Wisconsin proposal, which also includes new taxes/fees for tournament organizers and participants and a prolonged permitting process. South Dakota is looking only to expand the time frame that catch and release tournaments cannot be held. It doesn't give any reasons as to why, other than the fact is it being proposed for consideration and will be open to public input.

I read it on the Tony Dean website (www.tonydean.com). It's included in the heading "Fisheries staff recommends cutting Oahe walleye possession limit." It's about 2/3rds of the way down the article. Click on Recent Reports on the homepage to get to the article.

It's not nearly the poison pill that Wisconsin is proposing, but it will make it a lot harder for tournaments to maintain and to portray a good image because it will bring a lot more kill tournaments into the fray in South Dakota, which undoubtedly will be an issue for those in the public that already feel tournaments kill too many fish, etc., etc.

I know this doesn't effect the FLW because according to the 2007 schedule they will not be in South Dakota next year, but it will effect a number of local tournaments in June that according to the new proposal, would now become kill tournaments.

Like I said before, I don't know the reasoning behind the proposal to expand the dates in South Dakota for when live catch and release tournaments cannot be held, but I assume they feel water temps play a factor. I would think that up until at least June 15, the water temps aren't an issue in South Dakota on the river, and even at that date it's going to take a very warm spring for it to become much of an issue with the livewell and recirculation systems in today's boats.

As a tournament angler, I thought I'd pass this info along because it appears things are changing and it's going to become harder and harder for tournaments to maintain a good image in the public eye. It only stands to reason, the more kill tournaments there are, the more public scrutiny.

I intend to call South Dakota GFP to see what the reasons for the proposal are and will make a post on the subject after I find out more info. Until then, enjoy the fall fishing.

[Limitout]

One thing you are not seeing is were the money is coming from during these tournaments for stocking these lakes. It's not the local angler's it's the tourney guys. Almost every tournament to my knowledge donates a good chunk of change to keep those waters well stocked and are the first one's to react or provide help when they see problems with waters or ecology. Can you say that???

[dirty underpants]

SOAP BOX...SORRY


1st. Wisconsin has been a state for a long time, and our cities have been around for quite a while as well. Longer than any fishing tournament has been in town. We will probably survive if a 100 boat tournament and entourage skips out. Just like we are surviving since CWD was supposed to close us down.

2nd. Most of these resources were great before tournaments. Yes, tournaments do donate money... but I mean really, did tournaments look at a site and say "Well.. the fishing is so-so now, and some will have to sleep in pickup trucks, but with our money and support, it will be a great site in a few years" No. An area already had the fishing resources to produce, and infrastructure to support it.

3rd. It was mentioned already. The big money bass circuits don't come here. The "big money tournaments" don't come here, and we are just fine. Yup, get by ok without high price bass guys.

I have fished local tournaments, and heavily considered larger ones. I don't know for sure what I think, other than I can't help but get a little defensive as a born and raised Wisconsinite with the tone and arrogance of some posts. You really think the Fox Valley area is going to fold up because of a change in fishing rules!?!

SORRY

[Hmmm]

Underpants,

You're missing the real issue here. It's not about more regulations on tournaments, etc. I personally felt theat the no0-culling law should never have been tampered with. Rules are rules and all in tournaments should know them prior to entry.

The real issue here is the potential for you as a Wisconsite to lose your rights to fish. Don;t scoff at this, becasue it could become a reality. The anti-groups tried to attack tournaments in a forward and public forum, but were knocked out by overwheleming support of fishing in this country. However, with the DNR members and politicians who are in favor of the little fishies swimming in our streams, rivers, lakes, etc., but not being fished for ever-present don;t think this type of potential ruling will be limited to only tourney anglers. This is classic incrementalism by the antis. They've done it in our schools, they've done it all over the US with various hunting issues. They're now focusing on using a back door to limit the rights of anglers.

The day will come when only the privelidged will be able to afford to fish. Then nobody will have the "right" to fish any longer. This is the ultimate plan.

Support all of your fellow anglers whether they are tournament brehtren or not. As long as all follow the laws they are all a benefit to fishing and the environment.

If the rigth to fish is taken away you can bet your sweet bippy the environment will suffer since over 80% of all funding of national, state and local wildlife and fishery money comes from those who participate in these sports.

Everyone needs to look at the big picture and not be so close-minded to what is really going on.

[dirty underpants]

As mentioned before, I don't mind tourneys. I have fished in several. Like you, I agree that the rules should be the same for all.

The real issue of THIS THREAD was that the change in rules would cause tournaments to look elsewhere. That was followed by a flurry of posts raising the dark spector of a vast wasteland void of natural resources and jobs. Tourism is VERY important to any area, but to paint Wisconsin as a state requiring the tournament dollar to survive, is wrong.

I have been blessed with the experiences that come with living a hunting and fishing lifestyle. I will always support it. It is more than a tradition, it is life.

As mentioned, I was born and raised in Wisconsin, been here the whole time. At the ripe old age of 34, I am well aware of the issues. I realize that the true problem lies outside this forum, in the minds of the unexperienced.

I see the issue. I see it in grandpa's eyes when he talks of selling the cottage because of the high property taxes. I see it in the woods, or lack of, as what used to be a wooded childhood getaway and fishing hole, is now a HWY 53 bypass. I see the big picture. More clearly than most.

The day is already here where only the "privileged" can afford to fish. Pick up a rod and reel, and wade a "public" creek or river. See how far you can get before someone calls on you for "trespassing". Can't launch a boat anymore without paying a fee, can't even drop a canoe without paying someone. Pretty much just have to read this board to see how much of a privilege it is to afford to fish.

I truly hope a compromise is reached, as neither extreme is good. Tournaments do bring economic value to an area, just don't believe that the allmighty dollar rules everybodys life.

[Well said]

Amen brother.

[Need something better]

You guys gotta come up with something better than "We bring money to you" If that was the case, why not just open more casino's? That brings big bucks!

I would focus on how you can help the resources and educate people. That is a real strength that you guys have.

[Nick(Ia)]

dirty, very eloquent and well stated. I don't think there is any intention to single out Wisconsin, it is just the most current battleground. Most of us love to fish in Wisconsin and will continue to do so regardless of the outcome of this regulation-just probably not as often.

The question I have always asked is: Are the rules the same for the tournament angler as they are for all other licensed fishermen? If not, why not? If the rules are the same then the tournament angler doesn't have any particular beef with the DNR that wouldn't be shared by every non-tourney angler. How much of an impact does a "no-cull" rule have on the non-tourney angler?

The real truth is that tournaments, their promotion and their regulation are all about the money. This is an economic enterprise that makes and creates income flow from a public resourch. There are industries, small businesses and individuals that profit from fishing in general but tournaments specifically. There are government bodies that profit from fishing and tournaments. Tournament anglers are not treated the same as the general angling public because we are using a public resource for potential economic gain...that's the bottom line. One of the first rules I learned in my profession was "Follow the money" it will usually lead you to the truth. This is all about the money and whether individual states feel they are getting a good enough return on their resource investment with tournaments.

This should get the bee a buzzin'}(

[curious]

Do you see many non-residents being ticketed for having 3000 perch or 500 panfish or 180 walleye?

I love the attitude from a couple of posters about the tournaments killing your resources.

[Yep]

Actually yes. people from IL are the biggest offenders.

[curious]

Well there you have it. Wisconsinittes are the biggest offenders here in northern minnesota. I guess everybody respects their own, but could care less about others!

[saugers2]

Got any actual proof of this...example....arrest records of poachers and their home states? I doubt it.....

I fish in Wisconsin every year and can't remember the last time I cleaned a fish....however, I did live in the UP for awhile (born there and lived for 18 years)....and I can say for a fact that more fish were cleaned and fried in ice houses by residents per year than any amount of out-of-staters could catch in ten years....

Get off your high horse.....

in keeping this reply on topic..

Tournaments are fished by just a small number of total fishermen and catch-kill tournaments are bad press...just that....bad press....

The fish that are killed could have been anyway...just looks bad...

If the no tournament rules were put into effect during the summer months the organizations could work around them.