MWC Anglers

[ethics??]

I have heard that in some of the areas that the MWC goes there are MWC anglers that have access thru State DNR's and Local clubs to transmitters that track walleyes on Lake Michigan(Bay De Noc and Green Bay). Is this permitted? It does not seem ethical that they can use this info to find the fish.

[DMKTGMAN2]

I haven't heard of that happening and would be interested to learn if others have heard such things and from where. It does seem unethical. Minimally it is not in the spirit of fair competition. Anyone with such information can email me at pwuebker@wildlifeforever.org.

[tjighead]

HOPE THIS IS NOT TRUE.BUT IF IT WAS IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU WERE IN THE RCL. COULD NET YOU A COOL 400,000,000 . IN GEEN BAY.IF YOUR IN THE RIGHT BOAT!

[jigman]

It wouldn't surprise me one bit. Anytime you introduce $$$ to what the rest of us consider a break from the daily grind, you have problems.
Remind me again what good comes from tournaments?
For every answer "for".....I have five reasons "against".
Thanks for letting me vent......
Tight Lines

[Nofish]

Hey Ethics,

I know a bit about what you are talking about, I think.

As far as the DNR goes, anyone has access to the information on any tracking studies being done or done by the DNR or any biologist, if you know where to look.

Actually, if you have read this years Walleye Guide by In Fish, you have a bunch of ths info, about several areas in the country, albeit watered down.

In Fish and several major publications use and reference this info often. If you read the articles, you also have this info. If you have access to any college library, you can look it up in many fisheries publication catalogs. Junior just has been given another useful task, huh? ;-)

And, no, I have not accessed this information pertaining to any waters I have fished in the MWC.

I have the same info as any one who talks to the DNR at the rules meetings, or listens when they talk at the rules meeting.

As for anglers actually having these transmitters, if they do in the tournament, that is absolutely illegal! Pete can back me up on that.

I also highly doubt that the DNR or a club would loan out a piece of equipment that costs a couple of thousand bucks.

There are anglers, that belong to clubs assisting the DNR, that help with some of these studies. You could too if your club was assisting. In fact, the DNR probably could use more volunteer help, if anyone cared to ask.( That was not a personal slam, but a generalization)

I know of a few clubs where anglers have helped the DNR and have this info, and they still bomb out in a tourney. Several of the anglers I personally know, dont fish the MWC, so it is a moot point.

The bottom line is, even if you have a marked map, you stil gotta make them bite.

I agree, if you take the transmitter out in your boat and use it during the tourney, as I said prior, that is absolutely illeagal. And very unethical. If you know that the DNR tracked a bunch of fish and they pass through the area that you are fishing, is that unethical?

What if you are fishing the tournament, and a friend of yours, a guide on that body of water tells you the night before the tourney where he has been slamming them, is that unethical?

What if you are just out to relax, and you go where a guide or charter captain, or just another angler at the dock tells you to go? Is that unethical?

I always prefer to find my own fish and fish my own spots. I love the challenge of figuring them out myself. But even if I do get a hot tip, I still have to go there and make them bite. (Have you caught my handle? :-) )

Just my thoughts........R

[Big C]

People have depth finders and underwater cameras. These are not illegal. Tournaments sometimes prohibit their use(cameras) during a tournament but not usually during the pre fishing days. I dont see a problem as long as it was not used during the actual tournament if they are prohibited.

[jbird]

I know of alot good that comes from tournaments.

1. Some clubs use these as tools to help raise funds. What better way than to fish. These type tournaments are usually big fish but none the less it still involves money.

2. Economy is a big factor. You might not see it but tournaments help the local merchants in many ways, think of hotel rooms, food, bait, landing costs(which can be a big one) ect. All these funds go back into your comunity one way or the other.

3. Learning different techniques on your favorite waters, with so many different people fishing on your waters everybody has a different style this could benifit you also.

4. Catch and release. Most tournaments aleast give the fish a chance to live. We are not there to hurt your resource just enjoy it in our way. I live on the Winnebago system and we get battered with tournaments, but I bet on an average weekend more fish are caught and fried, then caught and released. I am not saying this is bad because I love fish and I have nothing against harvesting walleye, I do have a problem with the double dippers and we all know there are people out there who do that.

5. I like meeting new people, and some of the nicest people I have met are in tournaments. (yeah there are a few rotten apples, but that goes with every sport)

6. Learning new lakes, if your on a trail such as the USFA-Team Walleye trail, you spend more time learning new lakes and brooden your horizon instead of sticking to the same old routine. Now don't get me wrong I love the Winnebago system and fish it as much as possible, but its nice to break up the routine.

These are just six reason off the top of my head to give. I have many more. I don't mean to open any can of worms or ruffle the feathers but all in all alot of good can come of these events.

just my 2 cents
jbird

[Nofish]

Hey J Bird,

Well put. I also know that because of the Great Lakes Sportfishermen Club in Escanaba and their affiliation with the MWC, and the donation of the land from Mead Paper to build the rearing ponds, they annually stock more walleyes into Little and Big Bay's De Noc, than the state of Wis stocks in the entire state!

These walleyes have been caught as far away as southern Green Bay! (Tagged fish)

Awesome, huh?........R

[Bayside]

Back in 94 or 95 the Michigan DNR was at the MWC rules meeting during the Bay de Noc tourney and they had "lost" 4 large walleyes they were tracking. They ask anglers to notify them if a fish was caught with a transmitter in it, to my knowledge none were. Apparently they tracked the fish from little bay and had lost contact with the fish down around the Cedar River.