16' Boats allowed in the FLW League events...

[hgmeyer]

I am wondering about this rule change... 16' boats are now allowed. Wisconsin League is headed to Green Bay and the Winnebago chain again. Not sure I would be comfortable in some (and really the majority has been iffy in 18' and on the bay in a 34' w/ flybridge...LOL)weather... This could become a sticky point for some Co's who find themselves paired with a boater willing to go out when he shouldn't...

How would you react?

[chadk66]

I would bet the odds would be extremely small that someone would enter in a 16' boat, but you never when all you have to do is pay to play.

[Rippin_Eyes]

It all depends on the driver of the boat! Seems to me guys who drive 620's and 621's think windshields should stay on running wide open in high seas..... Bays de Noc rings a bell from last years leauge finals.... heard of a lot or trashed boats.....

[Juls]

>It all depends on the driver of the boat! Seems to me guys
>who drive 620's and 621's think windshields should stay on
>running wide open in high seas..... Bays de Noc rings a bell
>from last years leauge finals.... heard of a lot or trashed
>boats.....

Chris,
I'm surprised you would make a comment like that. It's not only 600 series owners who can drive like crazy men.

The aluminum brands are also unfortunate enough to have drivers who think their boats are tougher than mother nature. ;)

Were there any trashed boats? hmmmmmm? I know there were some boats with some "trashed" equipment, but did any boats fail? I don't remember hearing that.

Also, just a correction (becasue I just can't help myself lol)... BDN Finals were two years ago. The league finals were at the Mississippi River last year.

Juls

[Rippin_Eyes]

awww i knew you would catch that... haha..... just have to rib those ranger guys and gals.... haha...... I do know a few guys who run their 2025's hard...... "the minnesota wreckin crew"....... they know who they are....

I think its great they are letting 16 foot boats in!!! I ran one for a lot of years and never had an issue...... just have to drive smart!!

[wimwuen unlogged]

I too find this a bit curious. It appears to me that the league is turning into an all big water trolling event. At least that's how it seems in WI and MI. It may be different in MN and the heartland, but I wouldn't want to be out on Erie in a 16 footer.

I don't care how good of a boat driver you are, 4 footers on Green Bay and Winnebago are not fun to be in even in 18 footers. I can understand for river events, but I think 17' was a good cut off.

I agree that you probably won't see too many 16 footers enter big water events. I go as a boater, so it will never be my issue, but I do have friends who are cos and just hope that they have good experiences.

I think the FLW is trying hard to draw more boaters in MI and give a chance to more people for the Heartland division. I guess we'll see if it pays off.

[Vikings Fan]

Some boats did sustain severe structural damage at Little Bay De Noc last year. Which was mostly kept quiet. The two I knew about were aluminum.

[thump55]

I was puzzled last year because I saw some 16' boats in the Winneconne tournament.

[Pro Co]

Safety issues aside, if I'm a co-angler who coughed up some bucks to participate in a tourney, I'm gonna be pretty pi$$ed if I draw the boater who entered in a 1984 16' Gruman......especially when i see my buddies in the shiny 621's....

[Stacker1]

You would probably get a better ride in the grumman any how.....LOL

[hgmeyer]

Stacker...

That was cold... And those old Grummans were rough ridin' sobs... Now a vintage Lund Resorter... "smoooooth" as a baby's bottom

Really, I thought the 17' limitation was as low as they should have gone realistically. And, even then I was concerned about some brands versus others...

I know we all probably started in a 16' tiller (mine was a Sylvan) with a 40hp... But, I was never ever considering Green Bay or Erie... And, there were days when I didn't go out on Winnebago that I would now in my 19'...

I am just concerned that the "paid my money so I'm going out" thought will arise when the 19-20-21' head out and that 16' competitor is deciding the fate of himself and another person. Will the FLW think about calling a weather/blow day based on the smallest craft entered... or on the majority of entered boats...

I just don't see the percentages favoring this call. Too many opportunities for disapponted competitors and maybe a serious safety issue.

[KHedquist]

>You would probably get a better ride in the grumman any
>how.....LOL

Stacker:Wedgie::stirthepot::rules::-)


NPAA # 292 All fisherman are liers except for me and you, and I'm not so sure about you?
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[Juls]

>Some boats did sustain severe structural damage at Little Bay
>De Noc last year. Which was mostly kept quiet. The two I knew
>about were aluminum.

Was that in a League event? I know there were in the Tour event on the last day, but I wasn't aware of any in the League event out of Oconto last year.

Juls

[AndyR]

In the Minnesota and Heartland divisons I see no problem with the 16 foot rule now.

On the other hand, I can see someone being paired in a 16 foot alumimun boat that when you stretch out your arms you can hold on to the side of the boat! Haha = NOT FUN! But realistically how many boats are going to enter in that? Not a lot.

The newer 16' boats that have a 90" beam are going be a LOT better than those narrow boats. Whats the difference between that and a 17' boat with the same beam width anyhow? IMO, almost nothing.

In Minnesota and the Heartland division it was a good move! Should atleast get 5 more boats per tournament.
For the tournaments on the great lakes? Kind of a split view.

[hahaha Stacker]

Dude your out of your mind!!! the 621 is one of the best rides on the market...PERIOD.

[Co too]

No offense meant but...I wouldn't be bothered one bit by riding in an '84 Gruman if the Pro has done his homework and put together a solid program and our livewell is full of winning fish at the end of the day. But hey, thats just me..I enter the tourneys for the fishing experience and the competition, not just to go for boat rides in "shiny boats"..Maybe wake boarding or skiing is more up your alley. Those boats are really, really "shiny"...

[K Gonefishin]

I hear that point it's a good one, but..if the lake gets nasty I would rather be in a 18-20 foot 84 grumman over a 16 footer, there is safety in size, the winning bag in the grumman won't mean squat if your 30 minutes-to an hour late or you flat out can't get back to shore, I had a 16 foot tiller a few years back I had it in 6 footer one time and boy was it not fun at all downright scary, I about kissed the ground when we got back, we where only 3 miles from the ramp when it got nasty and we where going WITH the waves what if you have to travel 10 or 20 miles going into the waves, big water can come out of nowhere in a big hurry. Those shiny boats don't just look pretty they flat out perform in big water and get you back safe.

[Jig Bite]

I can see where this would help participation in the League tournaments. If you take into account that the change is only for the Leagues that shows that the FLW is try to make the tournaments available to more fishermen. I think that the big water issue may be a non-issue if you take a few things into consideration.

If you look at the anglers that fish the MI or WI divisions most are running big boats already. I think the rule change is to accommodate those guys that have boats that are just under 17 foot that haven’t been able to fish. We all know that the wide beam 16’6” to 16’11” boats are just as stable as a boat that is 17 ft. There are a lot of fishermen that they are missing that have this size boat that can fish now and I can really see this in the MN and new Heartland divisions. I bet there are a ton of guys that have boats in the 16’6” and up size. I have seen anglers turned away that would have entered late because their boat was less than 17 ft. I saw Sonny put a tape measure on one before and he would not let the boat in the tournament. This should be a good thing for the growth of the League tournaments. This is the starting place for alot of fishermen that may be the next Tour anglers and potential boat buyers. Good business move as well.

[Stacker1]

COFFEE, someone get that man some COFFEE!! I guess a good razzing cannot be had on walleye central any longer, all the new guys here are brain washed.

[Vikings Fan]

Good reply.

[Bay De Noc League 2006]

Juls,
Their was some really damaged boats at the League finnals. Yes some guys with the bigger boats were driving like madmen. A friend of mine which was a co-angler rode with a guy in a Ranger and hurt his back bad enough he could not continue the next day. Their was plenty of Glass and aluminum boats that were damaged. Look back into discusions around that time after the tournament and you will see their was 3 Ranger's that were towed into Cedar River and never made the trip back for weigh in. Their was one Polar Craft that landed on Chambers Island and stayed the night with a wrecked boat as well. It did not matter what your boat is made of. If you drive like a idiot you get what you deserve,a broken boat. That is the bottom line. I was their and I seen the damage and wittnessed the boats that were hauled in due to rough sea's and bad driving. I have owned 16 ft boats as well and think they are ok for smaller lakes, not the great lakes. I just hope the guy's that do enter in the smaller boat's use their head and make the right choice on what water is safe to navigate.

[Jayman]

Well said, Co too.

[butch987]

I own a 16' boat and have been considering entering the Wisconsin division. My one big concern is Oconto. Now as far as rough water I think you will find the guy in the smaller boat takeing a little more care and coution than the guy in the big boat as we know the smaller boats have limitations but the bigger ones do also. I fished the MWC, Midwest, and FLW league as a boater last year but had acsess to a 20 foot when i did that. I would not have made the runs I made in that boat with my 16 footer. Do I want to fish the league yes I do but I am keep thinking about Oconto and I keep thinking about what if it gets ruff its not just me its my co also. I know I will get back safe because I wont take any risky chances but in the same hand I might throw a winning basket of fish out the window and how would my co feal about that just because he got paired with me and my 16 foot boat. If that last tournament wasnt out of Oconto and in a river or inland lake it would be a no brainer id enter the division but as it stands I just dont know if the risk is worth the reward.

[butch987]

I own a 16' boat and have been considering entering the Wisconsin division. My one big concern is Oconto. Now as far as rough water I think you will find the guy in the smaller boat takeing a little more care and coution than the guy in the big boat as we know the smaller boats have limitations but the bigger ones do also. I fished the MWC, Midwest, and FLW league as a boater last year but had acsess to a 20 foot when i did that. I would not have made the runs I made in that boat with my 16 footer. Do I want to fish the league yes I do but I am keep thinking about Oconto and I keep thinking about what if it gets ruff its not just me its my co also. I know I will get back safe because I wont take any risky chances but in the same hand I might throw a winning basket of fish out the window and how would my co feal about that just because he got paired with me and my 16 foot boat. If that last tournament wasnt out of Oconto and in a river or inland lake it would be a no brainer id enter the division but as it stands I just dont know if the risk is worth the reward.

[AndyR]

Thats why we created something called, "Plan B"!

I know what you mean, the big water can be very rough. If its really that bad then normally the tournament will be called. Just take care of the boat and dont push the limits.

But the 16 rule is nice, just to bad that the big water tournaments still probably wont get those boats. (As they probably shouldn't)

[AndyR]

Thats why we created something called, "Plan B"!

I know what you mean, the big water can be very rough. If its really that bad then normally the tournament will be called. Just take care of the boat and dont push the limits.

But the 16 rule is nice, just to bad that the big water tournaments still probably wont get those boats. (As they probably shouldn't)