RCL Rule #10

[Jim]

10. Boat and horsepower regulation

All boats must be a minimum of 17' in length

Not impressed!!!
This is not a safety issue. Every angler should know and fish within the safe limitations of there boat and not be discrimanated against for only being able to aford a 16 foot 2001 Crestliner... Is this a Walleye tournament or a boat show.
If the water gets to rough and i can no longer fish without jepordising the life of my partner and myself then fine i have donated my money to the cause and its time to dock the boat. If the coangler feels he has been burned because the rest of the coanglers are still fishing,give him/her money back and or free entry to the next tournament.
Just my beef of the day.
Jim

[gf]

take your beef some where else you whiner.

[to bad]

You would donate at all the waters that they fish in a 16' boat! Now how would you like to be the guy who drew your little boat,as you beat the h**l out of them trying to get them to fish as the other boats fly by with ease. Please think about the others,if you can't afford a bigger boat then you can't afford the $1,250.00 entry!!!

[Small Boat Owner]

I don`t think an 18 Foot boat is any safer out there than a 16 ft boat.I fish Lake Erie all the time in my 16fter in waves that are 2-4 feet.I talked to a co angler that fished in a 20 foot boat the first day and the boat almost sank .The captain`s knowledge how how to handle to waves is very important on big lakes. If I could of used my 16 fter out there I would have held my own against the field. I know this becauce I fished 4-07 - 4-11 in the same areas alot of pros were in and I got plenty of big fish. I agree with the saying it`s not how big it is it`s how you use it.
Just my thoughts from a small boat owner

[800proX]

well all i can say is there is a HUGE difference in 2 feet, especially 16 to 18, and i have 20 and would take 22 if they made it. i like to be as safe, comfortable as possible all the time and there is no way you can accomplish that with too small a boat. it takes away from the enjoyment.

that is not to say some guys driving a 16 footer are better drivers than 18 footers, but everything being equal, there is no contest IMHO>

jeff

[Yankee]

If you can afford to go fish Pro Tournaments, you can afford a boat large enough to safely fish in a Pro-Tourney.
I would be really P-O'ed if I was an amateur and drew a guy in a 16'boat to head out onto Lake Erie. 16 footers do not have enough room and storage a fuel capacity to do justice to a pro-caliber tourney on big waters. You can't carry enough gear, nor cover enough water.

[16 lund]

are you guys serious? This guy isn't good enough for you all because he doesn't have a bigger boat? And he should go out and buy another boat for this rule and because he can afford it? Afford it or not he loves his boat and wants to fish with you guys. give me a break. By the way i've had a small zodiac raft 20 nm out to sea in a sea state 3 while in the marines. I think the rule sucks. peace

[chadk66]

Does anybody know if there is a similar rule in the PWT. I thought I had heard that but haven't taken the time to look.

[Terry/JNR]

When prize money is involved, limits are pushed. There's no 16ft boat that I can think of that's capable of being safe 20 to 40 miles out when 4ft waves or better start rolling. Anyone who thinks they are brave enough, are more foolish than brave.

[curt quesnell]

it is a good rule, because a 16 foot boat isnt big enough to
fish the great lakes and big waters with. sure you can do it
(and i have done it) but not in a contest, and when i could
stay within a few miles of home base, and not when the weather
was tough.

they want bigger boats so they can fish most days. there is
alot riding on the ability to fish during the contest days. if
the few entries in 16 footers decided it was too rough to
fish what would you do with the co-anglers or amature partners
on those days.

and again we can get down to the fact that it is their game
and if you want to play you will need the right kind of
equipment. what if you decided you didnt need to hook up your
tether cord?, or wear a life jacket when the rules required it?
they have a set of overall rules for the safety of all entries
pro and amature.

so if you dont want to play by their rules you can find a new game OR, you can complain about the rules.

and to "small boat owner" any boat can be dangerous with a bad
captain, but all things equal an 18 footer is quite a bit more
boat than a 16 footer (and im not saying anything bad about
16 footers) for big water a 16 footer isnt recommended. if you
take the 50 mile runs in your boat, more power to you.


curt quesnell

[Chairman]

Here we go again another comment from someone that probably doesn't fish tournaments anyhow. So here is my 2 cents. If they put the size at 16 foot, someone would complain that their 14 footer was just as good. There has to be a size somewhere and the people who pay the bills made it at 17. If you don't think that is fair don't fish the event. Anyone that fished the RCL at Erie saw the care given to the angler with regards to safety. It is the best run event I have fished.
Bruce #6

[Hans]

> There has to be a size somewhere ......

Why? I thought it was a contest about how well you could
fish, not how big a boat you had. It's a dumb rule.

[Jesse-WI]

<<Is this a Walleye tournament or a boat show?>>

Actually it is both. Hence the name RCL and the larger prize money and prize bonuses.

[Box]

Hans,

This from a guy who says that towing with a truck "too small" puts other people on the roads at risk? :) You "can" tow a 22 footer with an S-10... hehe...

I don't fish tourneys, I dont have an RCL, I don't care. But it's a rule, same as needing an RCL is a rule. Again, I don't care, but I think that it is a good rule. There is a huge difference between our last 16' boat and our current 17'10" boat, and yes I was on Mille Lacs in both. Feel much better now in bigger boat.

I got out on a local lake yesterday, still hope to hit Waconia one of these summers. Hope all is well,

Box in MN

[whitey]

DUDE!!! Size DOES matter

[Eric Olson]

Chairman ... Well put!

Keep in mind this is a PRO - AM tournament. This means that you (The Pro or person with the boat) will fish with 3 differant amateurs that are paying $500 to have a quality fishing experience, and more importantly a safe one!
For those of you that have fished Erie you understand how fast bad weather can blow in as well as rough water kick up. I would say that a 16 foot boat going out on Friday last week would be an unsafe situation, putting your amateur at risk and not what tournament fishing is about.
Remember, not everyone knows how to drive a boat in waves like that, no matter the size of boat. The 17' rule is there to provide a general level of safety so decisions regarding blow days will be safe ones!
Everyone knows that almost all 16' walleye boats are less capable of running in poor weather than a 17' walleye boat (generalization but true)drivers being equal.
As far as "is this a boat show?". No this is a contest to catch the most lbs of fish consistantly in any condition. The competitive nature of a tournament can sometimes allow contestants to make unwise decisions regarding safety.

I agree with Bruce on this point as well. Set the limit at 16 and the 14' boaters would take issue. You could run a river tourney in a 14' but is that really a boat you as an Am are goig to feel good about fishing in if it gets rough??? I know the important thing is, can you catch fish, not what is the condition of the boat or how big is it. But remember look at this through the amateurs eyes. Money, Time, and a quality learning experience for most.

Lastly I would like to commend Sonny Reynolds, Tournament Director of the RCL for his decisions regarding weather, safety and rules. Sonny made the call on Thurs. to cancel the day. He used any and all resources available to him to make an educated and thought out decision.I was fortunate to make the first cut and fished Friday. We waited till 10 and he again used any resources available to weigh safety and weather factors. We went out and the weather improved.
If anyone wanted to fish a tourney at the Pro or Am level and wanted to get a first class show, try the RCL. You can fish 1, 2, 3, or 4 tourneys. It is a first class deal and will be the cutting edge in tourneys for the future!

[Jim]

I started this post yesterday morning and i would like to end it here and now.

My post was out of line and uncalled for and i apoigize for it.
Chairman you are 100% correct when you say the planers of these events had to draw the line some where and if it's 17' fine.
The family and i were planing our holidays and we thought after fishing all the local tournament this summer, a good way to end the season would be to try the RCL at Devils Lake North Dakota Sep 5-8th. When i was reading through the rules and came across this rule i flew off the handle and spoke before i thought.
At no time did i want to offend the members or organizers of the RCL. Once agian i am sincerly sorry. and please let this Post die.
Good luck to all this tournament season and i look forward to meeting you when i grow up.
Jim

[Dutchman]

Man I'm gettin' old. I can remember the first tourney boats being 16' with 50hp. Oh how I envied those guys then. We where more cautious, and nobody fished with a good blow. The times they are a changin'

[Swat1]

Wow don't say old when you say you remember those days....lol I started with a 16 footer and a 40hp motor and was happy I had such a good rig. Within 2 years I was up to a 75 hp motor still on a 16 footer and was still there. now I have an 18 footer with a 200 Optimax but I wonder what it will take 2 years from now???

As for the orriginal statement of this post.... As you can see from what I just said you can run with a 16 footer and I have been out on Erie in one with 6 to 8 footers staring me in the face for the next 15 miles and I think that is where my gray hair came from too...lol I have also been there in my 18 footer under the same conditions and believe me It was not near as harrowing in it as it was with the 16 footer even at max hp.

Todays so called tournament boats are so far ahead of what they were just 10 years ago that you really can't compare them. Sort of like comparing apples and grapefruit. Both are fruit but that is where it ends.

Dan
Swat 1

[Jerry]

Does any one remember when fishing was for fun.

[Hawgeye]

I have to go along with Mr 16 footer on this one. You guys are biased because you might be afraid to be outfished by someone that has a little more limited means. I have to say that I have fished Lake of the Woods, Lake Winnipeg, Devils Lake, Lake Sakakawea, Leech and Winni on severely windy days in 16 footers and have hung with most of them. I know they are not Erie but not every tourney is held on Erie.

Just because he disagrees with a post does not have to immediately label him as a whiner!

This is not intended to be directed at you Chairman, I just feel some of you get so caught up in your "pro, country club atmosphere" of "better and bigger than you" that when you start labeling people for what they say, you are no better.

Larger boats are better on the big water but guess what, I would put a smaller boat against anyone fishing a river or smaller lake with hidden and small structures. I will outfish you too because the small boats can hang in on spots much better. I know because I have ran the 20' boat and I have ran the 14' boat.

All I have to say is lay off the guy with the name calling, open your ears and your skulls. You don't have to agree, just try to respect people a little!

[MIFISH]

Rule number #10 will be academic if Sonny and the MoneyBoys dont get more than 75 some pros to enter the RCL. Do you actually think the sponsors are going to dish out that kind of MONEY$$$$ to attract that caliber of PROS to the RCL when the MAJOR pros didn't enter Lake Erie??? Think about the dollars and cents ladies and gentlemen. The best run tournament in the world isn't worth spit to the promoters if the major pros do not enter!!!!

[TIM(WI)]

Started looking for a new boat for next year and this thread has convinced me that bigger is better.

[curt quesnell]

i hope and i would bet you wont be dissapointed....


curt quesnell

[Jugs]

They have already cancelled 1 day of the first tournament for safety on a windy day. Do you have any idea how big some of the tournament waters are. If you cannot afford a bigger boat how can you afford the entry fee,you could fish as an Amature. If you took me off the water because your boat wasn't safe and the tournament was still on,I would hurt you.

[Droool]

Get a life Jugs, you would probably have trouble hurting yourself. Threats are juvenile...

[bob oh]

Jealous???

Bob

[Kelly2]

It's a good rule!They fish big dangerous waters,safety comes first.If I fished as an amateur and I have.I would be a little upset if on day one I showed up at the dock and my pro-partner is sitting in a 16'aluminum boat as six footers are pounding the shore,and he either says sorry its to rough i'm not going out(basically eliminating me from the tournament).Or worse yet he go's out and kills me.Either way I would feel cheated.The RCL regulars are professionals and most do this for a living.Its every amateurs dream to be paired with a big name pro in a big boat that they could never afford.Nothing against you or your boat I'm sure your a great fisherman and you have a nice boat that anyone of us would be proud to own.You should consider fishing as an amateur,its a great experience and you will learn alot.The other guys are'nt on vacation there in there office,they don't like to make donations.Trust me I've fished on both sides,its alot less intense and enjoyable as a amateur.Have a great vacation.:-)