Minnesota tournament trail

[wwater]

I am wondering about peoples opinions on the Minnesota tournament trail. If they have heard of it and what they think of it.

[Bob]

I am somewhat familiar with it. And I think fishing tournaments ought to be banned in the state of Minnesota. And I also think most people in the state think that way.

[Vickie]

The Minnesota Tournament Trail or MTT is new this year(2002). The directors are Mike and Renee Holt and they and their team do a fantastic job of running tournaments. Mike was previously the MN director for the World Walleye Assn (WWA) but they decided to GO FOR IT themselves. They are well organized and run a very professional tournament trail. I hope everyone who is thinking of fishing a few or a lot of tournaments in Minnesota will come try out the MTT - once you've fished one you'll be back.

You can find there web site but going to the mainpage here at WC and going to Walleye Tournaments and finding them or www.mntournamenttrail.com.

Hope to see you all there!!!

Vickie

[Bad Finger]

I must live in a closet. I have never talked to a single person who ever said they wanted tounaments banned. Run better, not on weekends, yes...but banned or outlawed...never.

[MIke2]

If we are all that worried about killing fish, lets just ban fishing all together.

[gonfishn95]

Hey bad finger is that you in the closet next to me or are we the only 2 that have not heard this.
If only PETA WERE around more.
PLEASE EAT TASTEE ANIMAL.
Larry

[mnjimcarp]

i spoke with mike and renee at the walleye expo in shakopee this weekend. they are having a great response to the tournaments by many anglers in MN.
mike and renee have been involved with tournaments for several years and they are very capable, hard working people that love walleye fishing.
many of my friends and contacts are already signed up for their tournaments. keep in mind, if you want to fish the redwing event in april - call them now to sign up. they have very few spots left. as of saturday, they only had a few openings left for this first event in april 2002.
i firmly believe that this will be a long lasting circuit. mike and renee are top notch. they will work hard to put on well organized, first class, team tournaments.

[Bob]

Maybe not in a closet, but certainly with "blinders" on. I have fished all my life, dislike PETA with a passion, and still wish tournaments were banned. I am your "average" fisherman and I do not like them. If it were put to a vote in the state of Minnesota, it would be voted down convincingly. People just don't like them. If you're only asking people who fish them you're getting a poor sampling.

[eyewitness]

So where do you get your facts that "most" people who live here are opposed to them? 1) The revenue brought to some of the smaller communities due to tournaments "helps" those communities out. 2) I think you will find that the majority of competative fisherman are top notch conservationists. Most have gone to the next level of fishing that doesn't constitute killing just about everything they catch. On the contrary, most practice what they preach and are some of our best conservative voices out there. Most are much more well versed in handling, reviving, and releasing fish "properly" as they have a lot more practice at it than the "average" fisherman. 3) Although there have been some past incidents of fish mortality, the folks who are running these things, along with the DNR try to now accomodate these tournaments on certain bodies of water at certain times of the year to try and minimize mortality. That being said, these same group of serious fishermen (and women) could certainly put a lot bigger dent in the fish population if they were out pleasure fishing with friends on the same hour per hour basis as they do when competing. There are certainly some inconsiderate folks in all walks of the competative world, and that's just a fact of life. Overall though, these are some of the nicest folks you could want to fish with. They just take the sport they love to the next level and all of us "average" fisherman benefit from the enhanced knowledge they bring to the table.

[wwater]

I appreciate eyewitness' ability to write with such skill and agree with him.

I guess what I was realy looking for was, is there any concern over the amount of tournaments and concern for turn out at them with that many???

[Tackleman]

As a manufacturer, I'd have to say there is a place and purpose for these tournaments if run professionally and safely. Much of the feedback from Pro's in these tournaments has helped to improve lures, boats, and many other products the average consumer buys. It is in these settings where the products get their greatest test, and if the product doesn't perform, it isn't usually successful for long. That being said, by having a booth at the Walleye Expo this last weekend, I got to speak with our neighbor at the show, the Minnesota Walleye Trail. These guys are very professional, hold their tourney's on different lakes than other tourney's in order to relieve pressure on the "same old lakes" as other tourneys, and to allow the casual fisherman in smaller boats to compete against others like him or her. And, most importantly, they have the correct equipment in place, purchased by them, to ASSURE there is minimal, if any, mortality among fish caught. I'd suggest a visit to one of these tournaments to see for yourself the efforts made to put healthy fish back into the lake unharmed. Granted, there is quite a few tournaments in the state, but if regulated and run well, my opinioin is they do not harm the fishery. Just my opinion. Mike

[Jbob]

First of all I would like to know where you get your information from when you say that if it was put to a vote it would be voted to ban all tournaments. A lot of the resorts in MN as well as the communities need the money that we tournament anglers spend in their area. Did you have a bad expeirence with a person that was fishing in a tournament or what? If I wasn't fishing in a tournament I probably would either be fishing or guiding and taking a limit of fish home for me and who ever was fishing with me. When in a tournament all the fish are RELEASED not kept.
As for the MTT Mike and Renee are super people and run a great tournament.

[Chairman]

I usually just read this stuff and not reply. I don't think anyone can find a basis for not having tournaments in their area. Tournament anglers kill very few fish and teach a lot of new techniques to the local anglers and the locals teach them things they take to the next lake.

Tournament anglers do not get any special treatment, to the contrary they are usually restricted more to how they can fish and how many fish they can keep than the local anglers. It is rare that the touring pro's ever kill a fish and so what if they did. They are allowed the same limits as the locals are.

The tournament anglers spend a lot of money, bring in new products, equipment and technology to the area and as a whole are very sportsmanlike when on the water.

If the general concensus of an area is that tournaments are not wanted, no problem, there are lots of places that beg to have us there. Bismark is a prime example as is Winnebago, Mille Lacs, Saginaw Bay and Port Clinton to name a few. We don't like going where we are not wanted, but it is only a couple of vocal anglers at each site that stir the pot.

Chairman
NPAA #6

[s.f.]

well said, mr. chairman.

#49

[4EYESONLY]

Bob, what is it that puts such a sour taste in your mouth about tournaments? I am not trying to stir the pot as put by some of the others, its easy for you to say you don't like them, but why not give an example of what you dislike. As tournament anglers we are constantly striving to be a good sportsman(or woman) and act in a professional manner. If there is something that happens on a consistent basis that violates or gets people upset, we like to hear about it so it can be dealt with properly...

[Vickie]

wwater,

If you really were concerned over the number of tournaments and the number of anglers that would be fishing them --- WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK THAT QUESTION??? I can not figure out why you titled your post Minnesota Tournament Trail instead of "Concerned about number of Tournaments" or something like that.

Please explain.

Vickie

[Fish-on]

Not sure, but I think you might be confusing this with the Minnesota Walleye Trail. They are holding events on some of the other waters rather than the typical big name walleye waters. The Minnesota Tournament Trail is going to Red Wing, Mille Lacs, Winnie, etc.

[David Anderson]

Like yourself, I generally don't respond to this, however I do somewhat agree with Bob. WC is not the place to declare issues with tournaments in general. There are too many of us that agree with tourneys and what we see are the benefits. Bob refers to the average fisherman. In Minnesota the average guy isn't the one driving the $20,000 rig, using Loomis Rods and $100 reels. Average stuff in stores outnumbers higher end stuff 6:1. I would bet that if you did ask the average guy out there you would be surprised at how many would ban them if given the choice. Most of these people do not have a forum and are not going to do much to object. Too much work for an issue most say it either isn't really that important to them anyway....but as long as you asked........... Sure some areas get more vocal, but I think the average fisherman accept them, like it or not. 15 years ago put me in that average camp. Tourney's were fun as long as it wasn't on my lake I was fishing. Never forget the time I caught a 9.5 lb fish on 9 mile flat in and amoungst about 6 tourney guys. As I released it I felt like yelling SUCKERS as they all watched the fish go. There are still alot of old me's around with old perceptions. It's good that everyone works hard to change them. WC helps in this regard.

[wwater]

Vickie,

It turns out I am sorry I addressed the question the way I did. I never immagined this would get into a debate over the ethics of a fishing tournament. I was not sure what other issues people might have with a first year circuit, I have primarily fished indepentent tournaments that have been around a while. The only one I ever fished that was a first year tournament turned out to be a flop. Thus that was the only issue that came to mind.

Once again, I regret that I "opened that can of worms" and got into an ethical debate.

wwater

[Vickie]

wwater,

Thank you for explaining. I truly appreciate it.

What exactly are you wondering about with a first year circuit? Even though this tournament trail is new this year the directors (Mike and Renee Holt) have been running tournaments for years. I, as well as many others on this board, have also fished a circuit that flopped -- and that circuit was around for several years.

Vickie

[wwater]

Vickie,
I have a concern about the number of tournaments in this circuit and am interested in other problems that may arise in a first year tournament. just for consideration.


thanks.
wwater

[Vickie]

wwater,

I guess we'll all just have to wait and see how everything works out. Just for your information my partner and I are already registered for 5 of the MTT tournaments. We'll register for the next five or so shortly, and then the rest of them after that. Fish one and try it out - if you enjoy it - fish another and so on and so on.

Maybe I'll get to meet you at one of the tournaments. Come and introduce yourself.

Vickie

[wwater]

Vickie,

thank you for your input. I will look you up if we decide to do the circuit. My partner and myself have been trying to decide between that and the WWA and are leaning to the MTT.

Thanks

[Mike Holt]

>Vickie,
>I have a concern about the number of tournaments in this
>circuit and am interested in other problems that may arise
>in a first year tournament. just for consideration.
>
>
>thanks.
>wwater
Please give me a call if you have a concern and I will adress it Thanks. Mike Holt

[Tackleman]

Fish-on, I was specifically talking about the Minnesota Walleye Trail. See my message mentioning them.
Mike