RCL Detroit Coverage

[Big C.]

I am in Detroit to fish the river after the tourney is over. I was at the weigh-in yesterday and met the FLW Outdoors writer covering the RCL. He is a real nice guy, and by the way I met Mark Dorn and he is very cool too. Anyhow, they both said you can find daily coverage of the tournament at www.flwoutdoors.com. The coverage is awesome. I read them and they give a daily preview and conditions and a wrap-up of the days action. I think this kind oif on the scene coverage is really cool and things are looking better and better for pro walleye fishing.

[chuck]

What effect does this early fishing have the spawn? Just woundered if anyone has discussed this?

[luckyketch]

The biggest effect it seems to have is on the readers of this forum.

[Juls_WI]

Is this question going to pop up on every post about the Detroit River? Really now...if you had seen all the fish on my locator and how many fish were actually caught, you would not even be concerned about it. What is the difference if a fish is taken in the summer or fall before it has the chance to spawn again in the spring? The DNR and fishery biologist have an eye on it all...let them do their jobs, and let us live within our rights and by our laws.

Last weekend it was 2:1 local anglers to tourney anglers. Who do you think took more fish out of the system those two days? I don't know of very many tourney anglers who keep any fish while prefishing. I did see however, several locals put limits in their livewells and coolers to take home for the frying pan.

If it makes you feel any better, there weren't a lot of females to catch during this tournament. They hadn't really started moving in yet.

Personally, I think weather and water conditions play a bigger role in whether or not the spawn will be harmed. The number of fish taken by sport anglers is not enough to make me worry. Commercial metters are the ones that worry me.

Just my opinion.

Juls

[Rod Holder]

Juls,

Well said! Hard to comprehend that fisheries biologists would be asleep at the switch if any real potential threat existed.

[perchjerker]

People, what do you thing about this thread? Pretty interesting stuff.

I was under the impression that the fish caught in the tourney were taken back out into the lake and released. Im not sure what to think, now.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16248

[Wormdunker]

They were released, these people do a great job running a tournament. I have been very impressed with the RCL. This was my first time fishing the RCL but it won't be my last you can bet on that.

Wormdunker'

[Heavy Duty]

The Rcl crew do a great job running the tournament they try to make every fish returnable and so do the pros bye taking the air out of the blatter and making sure the fish survive if not they lose weight. The big fish are in the system, have been for 2 to 3 weeks they were just staging in deeper water 30 ro 36 foot, if the storm that came in tuesday would of not happened there would of been several big weights that would of been weighed in by guys who figured it out but dirty water prevailed.

[Big deal]

A bunch of "sportsmen" with a messiah complex on a nothing board. Like the DNR does not watch the weigh in more closely than that. Also, where is the proof? All he said she said stuff from about 7 different people, only one of which loosely claims to have seen this, but mostly the "I have a friend who saw....."

[SUPERTROLLER]

That was my impression too. Just a bunch of hearsay evidence. I registered as a member just so I could reply to their Nonsense. It looked like a bunch of guys that are mostly hunters and don't understand the Population Dynamics of that Vast system. They can't envision that there are more than 500 or 1000 fish in the Detroit River at any one time let alone catch that many and leave some for the local guys to catch and still spawn later on. They were so dense in their thinking they believed one idiot that said the Pro's didn't even have livewells on their boats. They were supposedly throwing their caught fish right into coolers and dragging them to be weighed those coolers. Oh yeah, they were mostly females too! Look at the weights! Why is it that every time someones got a beef with tournaments that all the fish caught are 10 lb. females and that "we can't let this continue"! I realize we as walleye fisherman are more in tune with the facts but the general public on those other forums are the ones we really need to be straightening out with their facts. They are perpetuating myths and false statements that undermine us in our attempts to educate the public.

[perchjerker]

To those who responded to my post:
Thanks for the reassurance. I have not witnessed a tourney first hand, thats why I didnt try defending it on that board. I figured by posting the link here, someone more knowledgeable about the situation could respond.
I do take offense at the comment about it being a "nothing" board, however, there are lots of good knowledgeable people willing to share their information on that board. Quite a few people from WC post there regulary as well.
Its no different than here, someone starts something then all the naysayers jump on board.

[Big C.]

I just wanted to point out what a wonderful job the RCL was doing promoting the sport at through their website and magazine. Did any of you get to read the FLW Outdoors Magazine article on the Detroit River? Real good stuff. BTW- I have been here in Detroit and the RCL folks are doing a tremendous job looking out for the fishery.

[perchjerker]

Sorry we got off the topic, BigC.
Thanks for the link. Some good articles. I found it interesting they interviewed Jim Barta. He is a fellow member of the Downriver Walleye Federation, he gave a very informative presentation at last months meeting. Listening to him speak and ask questions is worth the price of membership!

[Tracy]

I posted this on another thread, thought I would copy it here too. Just my 2 cents on the subject of fishing during the spawn. As a group, lets all take a step back and reflect on what we are really doing to ourselves and who/what are we fighting for? Read on...

Chuck,
10,000 times here every year! Let the experts handle this decision. If were detrimental to the fishery the DNR's would close the season or not allow the permits for these tournaments to be held during the spawn. Each of us the right to decide to fish or not during the spawn where the seasons are open, lets leave it that way!

The animal rights groups out there would like nothing more than to see these seasons closed everywhere. Closed seasons is one of those fringe areas that they work so hard on winning. It is an easy target for mass support. Half of the visiters (fisherman/woman) to this site are in favor of closed seasons during the spawn. I'll guarantee you that the PETA folks access these sites and use these posts to help sell/prove their points. Unknowingly, you and others who agree are fighting for their cause. The problem is that they don't stop and won't stop until they reach their goal: NON-USE OF ALL ANIMALS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Each time these people win a battle it makes their next victory that much easier.

So if you choose not fish during the spawn, I commend you for your morals. That is your choice, Thank God you can make it.

Fight for your rights now or they will be taken away from you one at a time at a pace in which you'll never notice. Fish legally, while you still can!!!

Tracy

[ebijack]

for everyone's info:
the downriver walleye federation handled the fish release(lots of dedicated anglers). the first two days the fish went from the release tank down a watered tube back into the bay at erie metro park. day three the fish went from the stage to a large holding tank on a truck.

[Marble Eyes]

I was there and saw some people (I assume from the DWF) working there butts off to get the fish back into the water as fast as they could after being weighed in. I was told that they (RCL) intentionally slowed down the access to the weigh in bags so the fish stayed in the live wells longer, versus huge lines of people with fish standing in line.

I will fish another, I too was impressed both with the RCL and the pros I fished with.

Day 1-Tim Reitan
Day 2-Brian Ney

Both class acts. At the end of today I wouldn't doubt Brian is in the top 3. He had a plan, he stuck too it and it has worked out so far. GO BRIAN.

These two fellas put me at 34th on the Co-angler side. It was a great experience. Thanks guys! See ya in Green Bay.

[rangerpat]

Hey perchjerker check out the site you posted earlier & now read the posts. You know I was camped on the river & the amount of fish I saw caught & kept by locals was staggering 3 guys in a boat 15 fish in the cooler, my god my eater size range is 15" to 18" these guys are eating everything.Just about every one of these guys offered to take me fishing, now their complaining, go figure! I'll bet not a one of these guys donate a 1/10 of what we do to Walleye rearing foundations. This is a PUT & TAKE fishery, not just TAKE. To everyone I met & shared coffee with at the landing it was my pleasure!
Pat Cavins

[perchjerker]

Hey Pat-
I have been watching the thread.
I have always sided with you guys, I think you know that. I just wanted you guys to see whats being said there. Sorry I couldnt make it out with you last weekend with it being Easter and all, too much stuff to do! We did go by the launch Sat just before it started raining, I saw your motorhome. Looks like you did ok the second day.

Keep in touch, buddy.

[rangerpat]

Hey Brian, I blew it on wednesday, went for the pigs & it was like chocolate milk, thursday almost made the cut one #5 fish away should've stayed in the river. I had a blast, met a lot of great people & new friends for life. Especially a couple locals like Marty & PokeyMan, & Wyandotte Boat Landing owners are great people, heck steves wife even invited me & Greg to dinner. I owe one, to all the wonderfull people I met while in Detroit. Now when you find those 20 or so Rappallas I lost with my initials on them mail em to me.LOL I know you're a stand up guy, but don't spread there garbage please, thats what they want. Get ahold of Firetiger & 3 or 4 of you guys come over here & play in my back yard, & I'll teach Firetiger how to fish. LOL See Ya Pat Cavins rangerpat01@yahoo.com

[eyebuster]

Hey Pat,

I enjoyed the conversations I had with you at the ramp. You did very well after the day 1 boo-boo. I would very much enjoy a trip to your yard and try the fishing there. Good luck in future events.

eyebuster,
dave

[rangerpat]

Waass up Dave, The good fishing is just starting here in Green Bay & Wolf River in New London. See if you can hunt down Firetiger, Perchjerker & couple others, & come on over we'll put a couple in the motorhome & the house. Theres a bar in the basement, do we need anymore than that.Maybe time it for RCL Winnebago, Steve Fellegy & myself are gonna try a VIP day where people donate money to the Luekemia Foundation (in Justins name) for a day of pre-fishing with the pros at Winnebago. Sonny Reynolds of RCL gave me the green light, he thought it would be great. See you guys soon Pat Cavins

[JK]

Hi Pat;
Excellent idea to raise money. Hopefully I will be able to do the RCL there ( The wifes wavering). It was great meeting you, I only wished I could have helped you out more.

I worked the release tank the second day, and we were able to release 95% of the fish alive. Day 1 it was 99%. Good Luck in your upcoming tournaments.

Jeff

[StoneyPointeTom]

Hey Pat, I had a great time fishing with you on Thursday. Good luck the rest of the season.

Tom