Wave Wacker

[BigPapa]

Any results from day one available yet. Big blow going on at Mille Lacs, always makes things interesting.

[walleye king]

Not really sure why, but cancelled today!

Michael

http://www.fishermenswharfmn.com/wave-wackers-07.htm

[bad call]

You have got to be kidding me that you deleted all the posts about the decision to call the second day. it was a questionable call at best and you blow up the thread because some people voice their displeasure and disappointment? i thought this was a discussion board, some things need to be pointed out and hopefully the organizers will realize they blew it and will make contingency plans so they don't ever have to worry about the outcry from such a decision again. they were not prepared for a windy day and it ended up not being a fair tournament, bottom line. hours should have been evened out(80 teams fished an extra hour on day one), a partial day was possible and a makeup day was the best choice. people could have lodged in mora, onamia, aitkin, i don't think a 30 minute drive and extra 50 bucks would be that big of a deal.if they want to side on the side of caution, fine if you have a backup plan. but to keep us in when the weather wasn't even forecasted to be as bad as day one in the mille lacs area is crazy! the weather in the cities and at devils lake shouldn't matter when your decideing to fish on mille lacs. it's kinda funny the the highschool girls golf managed to finish their state tourney at izatys yet us big boys couldn't take our boats out. just learn from the mistakes and have a plan in place in the future.

[bad call]

You have got to be kidding me that you deleted all the posts about the decision to call the second day. it was a questionable call at best and you blow up the thread because some people voice their displeasure and disappointment? i thought this was a discussion board, some things need to be pointed out and hopefully the organizers will realize they blew it and will make contingency plans so they don't ever have to worry about the outcry from such a decision again. they were not prepared for a windy day and it ended up not being a fair tournament, bottom line. hours should have been evened out(80 teams fished an extra hour on day one), a partial day was possible and a makeup day was the best choice. people could have lodged in mora, onamia, aitkin, i don't think a 30 minute drive and extra 50 bucks would be that big of a deal.if they want to side on the side of caution, fine if you have a backup plan. but to keep us in when the weather wasn't even forecasted to be as bad as day one in the mille lacs area is crazy! the weather in the cities and at devils lake shouldn't matter when your decideing to fish on mille lacs. it's kinda funny the the highschool girls golf managed to finish their state tourney at izatys yet us big boys couldn't take our boats out. just learn from the mistakes and have a plan in place in the future.

[BigPapa]

I agree, although not suprised that those posts got whacked, I am surprised that the whole thing didn't get whacked. I saw it as guys voicing their opinion, (mostly displeasure) about the decision. I was not there so I have no opinion, other than it seemd like a snap decision, given the amount invested by many. I usually fish it, but could not this year, work got in the way. I know that I would have been peeved had I been there. Just my 2 cents.

[BigPapa]

I agree, although not suprised that those posts got whacked, I am surprised that the whole thing didn't get whacked. I saw it as guys voicing their opinion, (mostly displeasure) about the decision. I was not there so I have no opinion, other than it seemd like a snap decision, given the amount invested by many. I usually fish it, but could not this year, work got in the way. I know that I would have been peeved had I been there. Just my 2 cents.

[bradley894]

well i havent fished the wave wacker but from my understanding this is a tournament of great tradition similar to our lake winnibago Merc national(walleye Weekend),, what i want to know is, what they did in the olden days when everyone had a 16 or maybe 17 foot boat with a 90 hp or less on it? and old vets out there.. were they tuffer than us ? was the tourny canceled before?

[bradley894]

well i havent fished the wave wacker but from my understanding this is a tournament of great tradition similar to our lake winnibago Merc national(walleye Weekend),, what i want to know is, what they did in the olden days when everyone had a 16 or maybe 17 foot boat with a 90 hp or less on it? and old vets out there.. were they tuffer than us ? was the tourny canceled before?

[who knows]

...apparently they never had to deal with weather before, i remember fishing in those smaller boats in far worst conditions and never had a problem. My guess is to many people complained about 4-5 foot waves. I am sure the minority overuled like it does all the time...It only takes one fair weather cry baby. Some tradition...no back up plan.

[who knows]

...apparently they never had to deal with weather before, i remember fishing in those smaller boats in far worst conditions and never had a problem. My guess is to many people complained about 4-5 foot waves. I am sure the minority overuled like it does all the time...It only takes one fair weather cry baby. Some tradition...no back up plan.

[Rick Grates]

Everyone had a chance to be on top on day one. Congratulations to all that finished in the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Way to go Kirk and Tony.

I wanted to fish on day two, but the decision is not mine to make. I do know that at 4pm when the first flight would have came in, the wind was horrible. I dont know how we would have went in to the dock to weigh in with such conditions. My Craft took a beating in the one foot water/sand on day one trying to get to the scales. I'm glad I didnt have to do that on day two, I would have walked my fish to shore!!!:)

Rick Grates
Litchfield, Mn

[Rick Grates]

Everyone had a chance to be on top on day one. Congratulations to all that finished in the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Way to go Kirk and Tony.

I wanted to fish on day two, but the decision is not mine to make. I do know that at 4pm when the first flight would have came in, the wind was horrible. I dont know how we would have went in to the dock to weigh in with such conditions. My Craft took a beating in the one foot water/sand on day one trying to get to the scales. I'm glad I didnt have to do that on day two, I would have walked my fish to shore!!!:)

Rick Grates
Litchfield, Mn

[bad call]

don't you think the people who had to be in an hour earlier got a little screwed? an hour with the bite going on at mille lacs could mean the difference between 50th and 1st. wasn't fair and better options were available besides a complete cancellation

[bad call]

don't you think the people who had to be in an hour earlier got a little screwed? an hour with the bite going on at mille lacs could mean the difference between 50th and 1st. wasn't fair and better options were available besides a complete cancellation

[Rick Grates]

I see your point, but It took me 45 minutes to get back to big point with my distance to run. Guess I wrote an hour off anyway!!

Just looking forward to next year now.

[Rick Grates]

I see your point, but It took me 45 minutes to get back to big point with my distance to run. Guess I wrote an hour off anyway!!

Just looking forward to next year now.

[Whiners]

Get Yerself yer own tourney. Then when it blows up and is dangerous out there, you can send 'em out anyway, and when someone is hurt or killed, take the heat here for THAT.

[Whiners]

Get Yerself yer own tourney. Then when it blows up and is dangerous out there, you can send 'em out anyway, and when someone is hurt or killed, take the heat here for THAT.

[bad call]

were you there whiner?, usually in the summer there's a 40% chance of thunderstorms. if we could fish in 30-40 with gusts up to 46 on day one with a small craft advisory i think we could fish on day 2 with lighter winds and no advisory. people are voicing their displeasure becaused they're ticked, but more so i believe because they want there to be a better solution in the future, that's all.

[bad call]

were you there whiner?, usually in the summer there's a 40% chance of thunderstorms. if we could fish in 30-40 with gusts up to 46 on day one with a small craft advisory i think we could fish on day 2 with lighter winds and no advisory. people are voicing their displeasure becaused they're ticked, but more so i believe because they want there to be a better solution in the future, that's all.

[Wow]

For anyone that was on the water on wed. you would know that when that rain storm came by at about 1:00 the bite died a lot. I wouldn't think the guys that had an extra hour had much of an advantage. Christmas trees of arcs that wouldn't bite was the norm after that rain rolled in. Most of the people I talked to at the weigh-in had there fish before that rain shower rolled by. The wind picked up after the shower rolled by and it was no fun after that. Six footers on the north end of the lake was common. I know several people that had been fishing the north mud flats and spent more then an hour to an hour and a half just trying to get back to the weigh-in. The forcast for Thursday was worse however with my 20/20 vision it turns out it was about the same. How does a guy out run thunder storms and hail when it's ripping out there? Blame the weather man if your mad.

[Wow]

For anyone that was on the water on wed. you would know that when that rain storm came by at about 1:00 the bite died a lot. I wouldn't think the guys that had an extra hour had much of an advantage. Christmas trees of arcs that wouldn't bite was the norm after that rain rolled in. Most of the people I talked to at the weigh-in had there fish before that rain shower rolled by. The wind picked up after the shower rolled by and it was no fun after that. Six footers on the north end of the lake was common. I know several people that had been fishing the north mud flats and spent more then an hour to an hour and a half just trying to get back to the weigh-in. The forcast for Thursday was worse however with my 20/20 vision it turns out it was about the same. How does a guy out run thunder storms and hail when it's ripping out there? Blame the weather man if your mad.

[bad call]

actually i agree the bite died a little, but i think it was a function of not being able to fish as effectively. we decided to run south where there was less wind for our last 1 1/2hrs and immediately started catching fish as were others. we caught 2 over 19inches that helped alot. i guess the forecasts depended on which ones you looked at. the ones i always check online were not as bad, if you watched the news they always pump it up and even they were predicting it wouldn't be to the brainerd area until 4ish. they made a mistake, hopefully they have a backup plan next time. i'm sure i'll be just as excited next year when the time rolls around. hopefully they don't lose too many teams.

[bad call]

actually i agree the bite died a little, but i think it was a function of not being able to fish as effectively. we decided to run south where there was less wind for our last 1 1/2hrs and immediately started catching fish as were others. we caught 2 over 19inches that helped alot. i guess the forecasts depended on which ones you looked at. the ones i always check online were not as bad, if you watched the news they always pump it up and even they were predicting it wouldn't be to the brainerd area until 4ish. they made a mistake, hopefully they have a backup plan next time. i'm sure i'll be just as excited next year when the time rolls around. hopefully they don't lose too many teams.

[JLDII]

I understand people getting upset, BUT...I also understand the Herricks deciding to err on to the safe side here also. I doubt any of the people complaining on here are the owners of the boats that lost kicker motors and windsheilds coming in on day 1.

At weigh in time on what would have been day 2, there were solid 3-4 footers smashing into the weigh in dock which has only 1 foot of water under it normally.

Under those conditions, would you rather be the man jumping out of the boat with the fish and risking getting crushed between the boat and dock, or the man trying to control the boat with your lower unit buried like an anchor in sand up to the cavition plate or deeper?

A safe call is always the right call!

[JLDII]

I understand people getting upset, BUT...I also understand the Herricks deciding to err on to the safe side here also. I doubt any of the people complaining on here are the owners of the boats that lost kicker motors and windsheilds coming in on day 1.

At weigh in time on what would have been day 2, there were solid 3-4 footers smashing into the weigh in dock which has only 1 foot of water under it normally.

Under those conditions, would you rather be the man jumping out of the boat with the fish and risking getting crushed between the boat and dock, or the man trying to control the boat with your lower unit buried like an anchor in sand up to the cavition plate or deeper?

A safe call is always the right call!

[Somethins_Fishy]

>I understand people getting upset, BUT...I also understand
>the Herricks deciding to err on to the safe side here also. I
>doubt any of the people complaining on here are the owners of
>the boats that lost kicker motors and windsheilds coming in on
>day 1.
>
>At weigh in time on what would have been day 2, there were
>solid 3-4 footers smashing into the weigh in dock which has
>only 1 foot of water under it normally.
>
>Under those conditions, would you rather be the man jumping
>out of the boat with the fish and risking getting crushed
>between the boat and dock, or the man trying to control the
>boat with your lower unit buried like an anchor in sand up to
>the cavition plate or deeper?
>
>A safe call is always the right call!

Sounds like the tourament chose poorly on the weigh-in location . Why would you hold a weigh-in for a tournament with $60k boats coming in at a local that is normally 1' deep ? It's kinda like having a tourny leave out of Hoyles in Saginaw Bay . There's 1-1 1/2' of water for a while, big rocks to remove your prop and at the time of the year they hold the tourny all of the fishing is a 40 mile run away in the Charity Islands, LOL ! Makes no sense . :confused:

Am I'm missing something or is the water level is a fluke and not normally this low ? Is there some financial reason ? If not, then maybe the tourny needs to look at better launches that have water .

Not trying to start anything, really I'm just curious .

[Somethins_Fishy]

>I understand people getting upset, BUT...I also understand
>the Herricks deciding to err on to the safe side here also. I
>doubt any of the people complaining on here are the owners of
>the boats that lost kicker motors and windsheilds coming in on
>day 1.
>
>At weigh in time on what would have been day 2, there were
>solid 3-4 footers smashing into the weigh in dock which has
>only 1 foot of water under it normally.
>
>Under those conditions, would you rather be the man jumping
>out of the boat with the fish and risking getting crushed
>between the boat and dock, or the man trying to control the
>boat with your lower unit buried like an anchor in sand up to
>the cavition plate or deeper?
>
>A safe call is always the right call!

Sounds like the tourament chose poorly on the weigh-in location . Why would you hold a weigh-in for a tournament with $60k boats coming in at a local that is normally 1' deep ? It's kinda like having a tourny leave out of Hoyles in Saginaw Bay . There's 1-1 1/2' of water for a while, big rocks to remove your prop and at the time of the year they hold the tourny all of the fishing is a 40 mile run away in the Charity Islands, LOL ! Makes no sense . :confused:

Am I'm missing something or is the water level is a fluke and not normally this low ? Is there some financial reason ? If not, then maybe the tourny needs to look at better launches that have water .

Not trying to start anything, really I'm just curious .

[JLDII]

Mille Lacs is about 1.5 - 2 feet lower than normal right now.

[JLDII]

Mille Lacs is about 1.5 - 2 feet lower than normal right now.

[Wow]

Any one have any Yamaha lower unit paint? I'm missing some after trying to weigh-in on Wed. I think I might have lost a little more trying to get my ribbon on Thurs. Sounded like the right call at the time!

[Wow]

Any one have any Yamaha lower unit paint? I'm missing some after trying to weigh-in on Wed. I think I might have lost a little more trying to get my ribbon on Thurs. Sounded like the right call at the time!

[Terroreyes]

After reading all the posts like these over the years. Not taking any sides. I've come to one conclusion.......... ****ed if you do, ****ed if you don't. :banghead:



Visit DOWNRIVER TACKLE in the Walleye Central Directory
http://www.walleyecentral.com/wcdirectory/fullpage.php?ckey=47

[Terroreyes]

After reading all the posts like these over the years. Not taking any sides. I've come to one conclusion.......... ****ed if you do, ****ed if you don't. :banghead:



Visit DOWNRIVER TACKLE in the Walleye Central Directory
http://www.walleyecentral.com/wcdirectory/fullpage.php?ckey=47

[ricks]

3 to 4 footers, come to erie if you cant take it dont sign up

[ricks]

3 to 4 footers, come to erie if you cant take it dont sign up

[walleye king]

You guys are so funny. Why all the craziness now, there is nothing you can do. However, if you feel it truly was a bad call and you were fishing the tourney, then simply don't fish it next year.

Michael

[Afraid to speak]

Printer-friendly copy | Reply | Reply with quote | Top




Afraid to Speak Mon Jun-11-07 09:07 AM




#28356, "RE: wave wacker cancellation"
In response to Reply # 0



There are to kings on mille lacs and they are Geo. Nitti and
Bill Herrick. It makes it hard to talk about the tourney
because if you cross either one you are out the door.

In 22 years of the wackers the weather is always discussed
at all meetings and to just plan for an exit route if it
comes into play.

In so many words hit the shore somewhere.

The real problem was the facilities at the drop off for
weigh in was horrible at best !

The sand had filled in around the docks which mad it almost
impossible to handle your boat in 4-5 waves crashing in 1 1/2
water. The harbor channel was gone do to re design. A
nightmare at best again.

The weather man again instilled visions of Katrina coming
after 4:00pm.

The docking area : No-Way to handle that weigh in again.

Bad choice and the directors part but what do you do on day
one.
Let's use back up plan 'B' but there wasn't one.

Talk of Lodging problems for so of the elite pros's staying
at Hunter's point was another issue for the talk of fishing
on Friday.

$70,000 first place and no back up plan.

The average Joe blow forks down $750 to enter.
$1450 per team,
To most guy's that's a weeks check and another $750 to spend
to get there and to not have back up plans. What a joke.

The fisherman weren't given a chance to vote on fishing for 5
hours or cut the final day short , nothing , it's over.. the
king's have spoken.

To those of use who have fished these Mille Lacs tourney for
years this is unheard of. 16' pro-anglers with 50-hrs. mercs
ruled the water back in the beginning and now 20- yar crafts
, warriors , rangers with huge outboards and the tourney was
called.

Maybe the Graduation party scheduled by the organizes on
Saturday should have had a back up plan.

Teams all the way back to 100 place had a chance to finish
to the 35 place where a least you could get your entry back.
The bite was unbelievable.

Talked to two different guys about LOW tourneys where it
really blows and have fished this for years said this was
nothing.

Bottom line . The tourney was called because of the
mistakes of the weather man again.

The day ended up a little breezey, The Storm Never Hit the
Lake.

$70.000 tourney cancel with players such as Good- Roach-
Anderson

Because of the weather man.

The winning team who received the $70.000 was Kirk Decamp
and Tony Nitti. Great job.

Maybe sour grapes on my part 3 oz. out of the money.

The PWT went great out of Hunter's Two times now.

Time to bring it to Geo.

Thanks.

[observer]

I wasn't there but if in doubt you need to error on the side of safety. There has been times in some tournaments where anglers were allowed to continue during thunder/lightning storms. Anglers should not have to balance common sense vs. paychecks. Just my two cents.
Good fishing to all.

[afraid to speak]

i was talking to a contestant this morning and he told me while looking out the resort window of hunters point around 11:00 am two guys launched there bass boat and took off.

No-walleye boats but a bass boat.

So those of you that weren't there can you know understand the crying wolf mentality.

I remember the cry the Russians are coming!!!

Monday and I'm still whinning.

As they say... GET OVER IT!!!!

[catfishkiller]

I commend the Herricks!

Excellent decision - MY HATS OFF TO YOU GENTS!

I fished the tourney and although we ended 50-ish, the POTENTIAL for advancement on Thursday was great as 1# spread 20th through 50th place. It was anyones tourney on Thursday.

Catching the radar screen at Hunters thursday AM one could see why. The rotation in central ND could have gave anything and the prediction was less than friendly.

On Wednesday we fished the northern mud flats. Getting out was easy but by around 1:30 pm we were drifting with 3 boat socks and the front and rear trollers facing into the wind to maintain control. I don't care what you say your boat can do, backtrolling was no longer an option. Being in the 4 pm return group we left at 2:30 to allow enough time to return to the weigh in dock.

We coursed A to B as the crow flys to minimize the travel. As we approached 2 and 3 mile reefs (roughly 1/2 way) I swear the waves were 6+ ft tall as we had problems climbing them without water entering through the back of the boat. We were forced to crab left and right to make forward progress. These were the worst conditions I've been out in - ever. Upon later removal of my rainsuit, I had 2 small dry spots on my sweatshirt (my underarms), otherwise 100% of my clothing was completely soaked, top to bottom.

If conditions were similar, I doubt that we'd have fished the north end on Thursday if we'd fished; however, I'm sure that someone else would have. With the potential for 10 additional mph of wind I'm sure it wouldn't have been pretty.

Herricks made their decision based on a great deal of information. These men know this water and what it'll give. One of the variables that weighed on them was that one team didn't check in Wednesday following tourny hours. I don't need to comment here, but I'm sure it played a roll in Thursdays cancellation.

All gripes behind, I have roughly 360 days to get ready for next years event! Glad I'm alive to fish it!

Thanks!

catfish

[afraid to speak]

You fishing the north end had nothing to do with Herrick's decision. It was from your poor judgement.
If you have fished for years you would always have a spot all over the lake to fish just in case of bad weather.

You could of fished by big point. Why did you need Bill to stop you from driving to the other end of the lake.

The point is you manage yourself out there.

To some it looked like the Deadliest Catch with water coming over our heads. No different from the show you make the decision to compete.
I was in 1'fters in the south end knowing it was going to blow.

Why did you go to the north end under those conditions. Did Bill make you go? The state let the girls golf and we all know about lightning.

We are grown ups not children.

If you wanted to drop out that was your choice but to some we never got are choice.

I fished on Leech in the Classic when it blew and we fished.

[catfishkiller]

You have issues...

And If I were you; I'd be afraid... not just to speak...

catfish

[stevefellegy]

"We are grown ups not children."

I can believe this thread keeps going...and then I keep it going myself with this post! lol But my lip is REALLY sore from biting it for 6 days now.

To all of you that have an opinion on how the Wavewacker event is and has been run in the past...all power to you. BUT!!! ONLY "children" would not sign their full names to these postings/opinions if they actually wanted someone to respect them and attempt to discuss the situation. Here or otherwise.

Just for the record...I wanted to fish the second day, of course, but NOT with THAT forecast in play. The FACT is, there was not a BETTER choice but to cancel the day. There was NO choice! And that's too bad. But that is the FACT! In the end.....the ACTUAL lake conditions at the weigh-in site/times were impossible! FACE REALITY!

So..."children".....if you want respect....act like "grown ups"!

Steve Fellegy
218-678-3103

[Nightie]

Steve the year you won the big tourney on mille lacs you caught those fish on the north end. People thought you were crazy driving that far under those conditions. The tourney was out of Izatys and you drove a 17' alumacraft with a 50 Yamaha. The waves weren't any nicer than Wednesday.
That was your choice to run not the directors choice.

How would you of felt if they cancelled on speculation that the sky was going to fall.

The big Lund you run today would of made that run to the north feel like a dream.

Your decision to run and to compete.

[unlogged went522]

SO many of the "click" competitors or the guys in the public eye don't want to step on any toes, after all, it's a invite and many are buddy, buddy with the Herricks. Behind closed doors, out of the way of the public, competitors are sore over the cancellation decision. Again, away from the public eye and ear. I've since spoken with several competitors from check cashers to guys near the bottom. Even one of the check cashers was sore as they felt they could've moved up. Those near that 11-12lb. mark after day 1 were in the running to move up considerably, even take the title??. These were the teams that seemed the most peeved about the decision.

I was up the week surrounding the tourny, fished most days, yep, even Thu. I thought it was pretty nice out till 5ish, and even at 5 it wasn't that bad. Watching the weather on my cell...5am. thu. the leading edge of the front was over central ND, by noon it was over fargo. I'm no weather man, but, even I could see the tourny could have and SHOULD have been held on Thu. If nothing else, mngmnt keep an eye on the radar, sat., and make the call when the call needs making, call the tourny early, weigh in 2 and 3 pm, or 3-4. The FACT of the matter, the weather was as nice on thu as it was on wed.

Now, I understand the liability aspect of it all, bad weathers coming. But, it was a "rush to judgment" decision, imo.

Why?? A tourny of this size has no back up plan?? No make up day? That's on the virge of ignorant to think you'll never need a makeup day! That at the very least needs to be implemented. Heck, didn't even need a make up day!! Could've fished day 2.

Fair?? Flight one got an extra hour, that earlier morning hour that we all know can produce BIG time, flight 2 got shafted that hour. Does that sound fair? This is for big money, you don't shaft half the field. FLIGHT 2 DID NOT GET A FAIR SHAKE!!. Sorry, flight one got more time on the water, bottom line, they had a better shot at finishing higher. THAT'S NOT RIGHT!!

I went to the weigh in, that harbor and shallow entrance was a joke!! NOT suited for 100 boats at a time on a average Mille day, let alone a day that blows a little, just about every day blows on Mille. Somone mentioned how shallow it was, it was shallow all along, not just that day, what does one expect if it's already that shallow?? The warf was not suited for a tourny of this caliber!!

Weights weren't put on the board in a timely manner! I waited through about 50 boats, not ONE weight on the board, finally said screw it and left! When did they finally put them up, who knows?? Spoke with several people waiting for weights on the board, they were saying the same thing, "why no weights"?? Even competitors were standing there waiting for weights to be put up! Not a well run tourny from a spectators stand point. Top that off with a POOR weather cancellation. Poor decisions.

Move the tourny to a suitable site, put weights on the board as they come in, even if they're unofficial so we the spectator and the competitors can see what's going on. Put a back up plan in place for weather, WHEN NEEDED.

This topic isn't HOT for no reason. It's HOT because it's a HUGE tourny for big bucks and a poor decision was made. The few that are backing the decision publicly, "inner circle", shall I use the word "click" again, competitors. And this is ringing true here and other poular web sites. Go talk to the rest of the field, see what they have to say about it.

The bottom line...to big and prestigious of a tourny not to have a back plan in place, where's the planning?? To big to shorten half the fields fishing time!! To big not to get the weights on the board in a timely manner!! To big to be held at a cramped, shallow ramp!! To BIG to cancel when the weather wasn't that bad, infact it was nice out most of the day!! I feel for the guys in flight 2 and the guys with 10+ lbs, they ALL had a shot at cashing. Heck, I feel for all the competitors not just flight 2...POOR DECISION!

The Wacker could and should be so much better! Hopefully this is a eye opener for the Herricks. Looking forward to future changes, I have a feeling there will be some changes to the tourny structure, and for GOOD reason.

[went522]

"that earlier morning hour that we all know can produce BIG time" My bad, not a morning hour, just an hour. It was a shotgun start for all, just weigh in times differed and flip flop on day 2, correct? Regardless, it's an extra hour fish time for half the field.

BIRDDOG

[rms]

The 2nd flight actually got more time to fish. They didn't have to be back as soon as the first and all of the boats were gone in less than 15 minutes from the take off site. Didn't Kirk and Tony get their big fish around 3:30? Where they were fishing it could have been dicey trying to get back by 4:00 if they were in the 1st flight.

Tough call by the tourney director, he would have had to go against the weather man's word to hold the 2nd day. If bad weather hit and Bill H. had sent people out, he would be getting thrashed like there's no tomorrow.

Hopefully, this year's event will lead to contigency plans that will make the decision easy in the event of potentially bad weather.

[nightie]

I was talking to a local sporting goods electronic specialist this morning said he told Herrick he is getting beat up on the Internet.

Herrick response was I don't care I don't listen to any of that stuff.

72-77 year old guys aren't going to change their kingdom.

If you don't like their rules than don't fish their tourney. As they say Their way or the highway.

In the wackers they are the power and the glory holders.

[Nightie]

Today was a luckily afternoon for me. I received a phone call from Bill Herrick telling me about the thread I wrote a few days ago. I wrote about the guys ages and there kingdom.
I was told by Bill he is in his mid-late 60’s and Big Mike who doesn’t have much to do with the tourney is in his early 70’s.
It was a little shocking at first to here from him .
When I was told they don’t read this crap. Well I was wrong-- they do. That is great!
Bill as you might have assumed wasn’t happy but very politely expressed his opinion about what happened. He was mad that I had some wrong facts. His tourney is not his kingdom, and there ages were incorrect.

All though they have the final say in my opinion.

Bill and his family have always represented them selves as wonderful people of the community. There aren’t many people that don’t like them myself included. My problem came with a tourney decision not against Bill personally.

Bill talked and I listened for once.

He went right to the point and I thought not being in person I wasn’t going to start a long debate over his decision.

Bill’s decision not to fish was solely based on thought of being sued if somebody got hurt. After long talks with my buddy Ricky Grates I finally came to understand his choice even though I disagreed with it. It’s too bad we live in a society that ever body sues somebody. Oh Well.
The weather report had a lot of people shacking in our boots and the tourney ended up the way it ended up and you can’t change that.

A natural change that happens to all of us when we get older is we no longer want to fight city hall and try to avoid problems and then there are people at my age that still love too fight them.

Bill I’m sorry if I offended you or your family.

I’m not sorry for expressing my opinion. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and I’m sure there will be some changes next year.

Also thank you for calling back and telling me I still will be offered a invitation for next year.

For those people that are to afraid to speak out publicly don’t worry there are some of us that will grab the Bull By the Horns and speak out against city hall.

See Ya Next year.

Nightie

[Gary Korsgaden]

I have been following this tread and cannot believe what I am reading. The Herricks made their decision to error on the side of safety, which is always the best policy. Hard for an outsider of competive angling,like me,to see logic for all the heat they are taking............. of course I recall back a few years ago, while having one of my boats checked out, the carnage of hulls waiting to be fixed after the Bay De Noc tournament, luckly in that even no one was killed although some almost were. Competive anglers are supposed to set examples...........are you forgetting that.

[john russell]

wave wacker cancelation was a joke,2nd day was nicer than the first,harbor was shallow but boats could still have been able to slowly get in at 4-5 pm on thurs,when has weather not been a factor on mille-lacs lake,with cell phones,marine radios weather could have been monitered and called as needed in case of tornado ect..are fisherman so ignorant that if bad weather is coming that have to drive across other side of lake to fish,entire field of fisherman could have fished within mile or so of weigh in site(big point,doe islsnd ,gravel,shaws reef,rocks ect..)and had as good of fishing as anywere on the lake!! i guess we can only fish tournaments if its sunny and not to windy,if you take weather out of tournament on a lake like mille lacs what is the point of it?? is not fishing in a tournament about using good judgement,how far away to fish,having seconary spots for different types of wind,were to fish in a blow ect..

[john russell]

wave wacker cancelation was a joke,2nd day was nicer than the first,harbor was shallow but boats could still have been able to slowly get in at 4-5 pm on thurs,when has weather not been a factor on mille-lacs lake,with cell phones,marine radios weather could have been monitered and called as needed in case of tornado ect..are fisherman so ignorant that if bad weather is coming that have to drive across other side of lake to fish,entire field of fisherman could have fished within mile or so of weigh in site(big point,doe islsnd ,gravel,shaws reef,rocks ect..)and had as good of fishing as anywere on the lake!! i guess we can only fish tournaments if its sunny and not to windy,if you take weather out of tournament on a lake like mille lacs what is the point of it?? is not fishing in a tournament about using good judgement,how far away to fish,having seconary spots for different types of wind,were to fish in a blow ect..