Idea for a Walleye Tourney!

[Peluso]

This morning while I was laying in bed fighting the flu, I saw a Big Bass Tournament on TV. The format was you had to register for this, and to qualify you had to catch the biggest bass in your state. If you caught the biggest bass you met up for a tournament of big bass championship status. The final event was a two day format and you still had to catch the biggest bass to win it all. Well, this got me to thinking (which doesn't happen much for a hockey player :)) With all the questions about the NPAA event having up to a 1000 people fishing in a tournament and the RCL etc. etc. I think with the combined efforts of Walleye Central, NPAA and whoever else would get involved we could do something very close to this. Block off certain regions across the US and Canada. Make everyone who wants to fish in the Big Walleye Tournament register, to qualify you have to catch a big walleye in your region. This way everyone who wants to play can. Make it so it has value inside your region. Even if you don't qualify for the Big Tourney at the end you still have a crack at something in your region. With this kind of wide spread coverage I would have to believe sponsors would like the idea to have such a big audience. This would be a tournament for everyone every time on the water. Just in case everyone is wondering, make the final event a 150 to 200 fisherperson event. That way if you caught, lets say the 20th biggest walleye in your region you still will be able to fish the Big Tournament. I think this would be great for walleye fishing! Everyone who is interested could sign up and see what happens. I know this is just a rough idea, but I think it could be worked out so everyone could enjoy this. Just a thought, Good fishing and don't forget to shoot the puck. Mike Peluso

[Stan]

Mike,
I like it! (even though I DEFINITELY would not be in it--based on my largest fish!) One thought. If it is restricted to persons catching the largest one (2 or 3) in an individual region, won't some states have an unfair advantage just due to the fact they have great large walleye producing waters? (Lake Erie comes to mind) Perhaps the three laargest walleye caught in each state would qualify.
This could really become a great "everymans" tournament and encourage a broad spectrum of walleye anglers to get involved.
Where does something like this get its "push" to get going? Sponsors within the fishing manufacturers?
thanks for the idea, hope you get over the flu quickly.


Stan

[Peluso]

I thought of that, the final event would have 150 to 200 teams. Meaning, each region, depending on the region will be given so many qualifiers. I thought of Erie too, and maybe that would have to be one region. You would have to register for a certain region if you wanted to qualify. I think if a person sat down and hammered it out it could work nicely! Thnaks for the get well, Good fishing and don't forget to shoot the puck. Mike Peluso

[Sam]

Peluso,
I like it! If there is anything I can do to help this come to life, let me know. I think I know some sponsors that would be interested. Also, I could contact the bass counterpart and get some pointers for you as to how they got started.
angler74@epix.net

[Juls_WI]

Mike,
You do some pretty good thinking when your sick! ;-)

Get well soon!

Juls

[HLS]

I think this is absolutly brilliant! I think some of the powers in the fishing business should step in and make something like this happen. Give Peluso a break on this one he has a hockey season to deal with. But I believe we have lots of people in here that could make this happen. I for one would love to see this happen. This would be a great thing for everyone. They could have updated region results here on Walleye Central and totaly make it a part of all of us here. Lets see if we can round up some support on something like this. Good thinking, HLS

[Ness]

You're amazing, Mike. Normal people with the flu lie in bed and moan... You in your delirious state have come up with one very interesting idea.

[Backwater Eddy]

Great Idea!

[TLY]

What would be the qualifying dates year a gets to participate in year b?. What about registration stations?

Can this be pro-am? Suggest leave us am's out until it works.
Sounds fun. Maybe see some of you at Mpls gathering in feb.

TLY

[dan(or)]

This is an interesting twist!

In-Fisherman has a regional contest for the biggest (one award) and over a certain size by region (recognition for catching a trophy fish bigger in areas where the eyes grow larger.

I would like to see a catch and release qualifier, if you don’t release you don’t qualify….

I live out west, Oregon, traveling to the final event may be a consideration…….

Like the idea, the devil is in the details…

Dan
Out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fishes for them :-)

[ebijack]

howdy mike, hope you get rid of this flu faster than me (been 9 days so far).
anyways, the tourney you were talking about is put on by a bass organization/mag. you join the org. and mag for a nominal fee, fill out the registration card, get your rules list and then you fish, where and when you want (till the cut-off date)for michigan, you had a chance of having the biggest bass with one over 5.5 lbs. it usually took 6lbs to be tops in this state. texas was usually over 10lbs to qualify. each state big fish was determind by the biggest weight verified (certified scale and witness @ scale...i used a clerk at the store when i weighed in)
you take a pic of the fish, and weight reciept and mailed em in. you kept trying for big fish till the cut-off date. every issue that comes out has each state listed as to who and size fish is in the lead.
the only kicker to being able to qualify was you could NOT work for ANY of the sponsors in any way shape or form. (like giveaways/drawing type events)
that tourney is ment for the average weekend fisherman. they've been running that for 8yrs or more now? the tourney is always held somewhere close to the middle of the USA (tenn or there abouts) they put on a big spread for the fisherman's families etc also. they put 2 anglers in every boat and each angler gets 4hrs to control the boat and fish his/her water. depending on how you draw, you either get the first or second 4 hrs. the tourney is 2 days, and you only weigh in your biggest fish each day.
hope that helps....i could see walleyecentral being the organization/mag...(like scott and zach etc need more to do) he he he