Tournament Philosophies

[Tom (Mich)]

I fished in the MWT out of Bolles Harbor in Erie this past weekend. We actually did OK overall with a top 20 finish. Our best waypoint was about 13.5 miles out of Bolles - between the Sputnick and West Sister. Even a run of 13 miles made me a bit nervous on Erie.

My question is this - the top boats in the tournament fished in the area around Pelee Island, 35 miles away from Bolles. Now is it just me, or is that a VERY long way to travel on Erie in the "typical" tournament walleye boat. Granted, conditions this past weekend were pretty decent with SW winds and waves maybe 4 feet at best (with the exception of Saturday afternoon). That said, conditions on Erie can and do change in a heartbeat.

What do you all think? I'm not at all being judgemental, I'm just curious how many of you would've run that distance.

[ETT]

In a tournament the first thing you have to do is figure out what it is going to take to win. If you know where the winning fish are, why would you not go there reguardless of the distance (unless it is out of bounds or so far that you have no time to fish). If your not in the tournament to win ... why enter?

[jeff reed]

Pelee Island is farther than that. Closer to 40. You do what it takes to win. Anything less than that and you play for second place and down, as you're well aware. From the mouth of the Saginaw River to North of the Charity Islands on Saginaw Bay is 35 plus miles. The only thing you can do now is prepare for Saginaw Bay. Should be won. I predict within 20 miles of Hoyles, See you there.

[Joe]

Well, you want to win, but no tournament is worth dying for!! As Tom said erie can change in a heart beat, and in a medium sized walleye boat, you could get caught a long way away.

Joe

[Chairman]

Ken said at the meeting that if we left the harbor we would weigh fish. That was a definate statement and everyone knew the way it was going to be and made your choice from there. You have to be on the fish to give up 4 hours each day running and hope the wind doesn't blow. At least you know that if you are late you are out. Tough call to make but the strategy of tournament fishing begins to add to the picture. Good luck at the next one.

[Scott]

If you run all the way to Pelee and it gets rough, you can seek shelter on the island. If you run half as far and it gets rough.....your stuck with a test of your driving skills.