RCL - Saginaw Bay

[Dunn]

I would just like to say that I have came back from Linwood, MI where the RCL made it's second stop this year and I couldn't be more impressed.

I would like to thank the staff for the RCL including Sonny and Sharon Reynolds and everyone else with Operation Walleye for puting on a good show from the end of the audience.

Congradulations on a very well run tournament, and I hope to see more to come.

Congradulations also to Jason Kaniszewski, Paul Dunn, and John Pratt and everyone else that made it through the 60 cut and then on to the top 12 cut.
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Marshall J. Dunn
OffShore Release
Bluewater Research, Inc.
N.P.A.A. # 701

[river king]

marshall what happened at the final weigh in?on the live leader board keenan was the leader with 30 lbs and plautz was 2nd then keenan/s weight dropped did he get some kind of penalty or something??

[Juls_WI]

Here's a doozy for you...LaCourse would have won it with 34+ pounds but had motor problems coming back in and ended up 8 minutes late. The penalty cost him the win, and he ended up in 5th. Stupid motors! That had to hurt.

Juls

[T-Mac]

Bummer! It would make you take to drinking some of that Crown Royal he is sponsored by, huh Juls?

Seriously...it really is a bummer!

[Juls_WI]

Keenan had to catch a ride in also, because of motor problems, and his fish ended up with a dead fish penalty..knocking him into second place.

Before I forget, I wanted to congratulate Dan Plautz for his lucky win! Enjoy it! ;-)

Juls

[Dunn]

Keenan weighed over 30 lbs but had motor problems and had to hitch a ride to weigh his fish. He also recieved a dead fish penalty which dropped him down below Plautz.

Rick LaCourse weighed 34 lbs but as stated was 8 minutes late and had 8 lbs deducted. He was late due to gasoline problems, possibley junk in his fuel line.

He was fishing a spot that had produced big fish every day of the tournament, but somethings you just can't control. Weighing in the 34 lbs is impressive enough despite the deduction of weight due to oncontrolable motor problems.
-----------------
Marshall J. Dunn
OffShore Release
Bluewater Research, Inc.
N.P.A.A. # 701

[Dunn]

I would like to point out that the winner, Dan Plautz, did not win due to luck. He was able to find his fish, catch them effectively and keep them alive. Those are the skills of a good fisherman not of a lucky angler.
----------------
Marshall J. Dunn
OffShore Release
Bluewater Research, Inc.
N.P.A.A. # 701

[Juls_WI]

Not taking anything away from Dan. I know him and respect him and his fishing abilities too. I meant the "lucky win" in the fact that two pros who caught bigger weights today, had motor problems. That in no way says that Dan is a less than successful angler Marshall. I'm sure he would tell you he was lucky today too. It's all part of the game.

Juls

[Sheila]

CONGRATULATIONS to Dan Plautz for the win! You did it and I'll bet it feels great.

Condolences to pro friend Rick LaCourse. So sorry to hear about the 8 lb. penalty. If you could've got in just 3 minutes earlier... oh well, water under the bridge. Good try!

[river king]

i dont know about that dead fish penalty i fished the 1st 2 days and we never had or seen any fish called live or dead. the saginaw bay club was not very happy with the way the fish were handled not very many releasable.everybody gets there fish out of the live well and puts them in a bag and sometimes guys had to wait in line for a spot in a tank to come available. not a very good way to handle this the rcl really needs to rethink the weigh in method. just my 2 cents worth

[Road Kill]

A large percent that were caught in this RCL were dead before they could be returned to the water. This needs to change!

[Road Kill]

A large percent of the fish that were caught in this RCL were dead before they could be returned to the water. This needs to change!

[Dunn]

It was also the anglers responsibility to not get into line to early. Simply keeping your fish in the live wells a few minutes longer on recirculate instead of removing the fish to go wait in a line already 15 deep is the anglers fault.

We're all going to need to adjust a bit to this new style of doing things, the anglers and the staff.
----------------
Marshall J. Dunn
OffShore Release
Bluewater Research, Inc.
N.P.A.A. # 701

[Non-Tournament Angler]

Standing in a line 15 deep with a bag of walleyes waiting to be weighed does not sound good at all. It is no wonder that a large percentage of fish died. Trying to put the blame totally on the anglers is not right. Ultimately, the people in charge of this weigh in should have been making better decisions. This really sickens me and certainly doesn't help me tolerate tournament fishing.

[Roger]

Everyone of those guys could have killed and ate his limit any other day just like the rest of the anglers on the bay

[Boo Hoo To Yoo]

I can only assume you don't have an answer to the problem with that response. It is obvious you are driven by the cash and could care less about the fishery. Gee, it really doesn't surprise me!

[Rick LaCourse]

Great win for Dan Plautz. One of the finest guys I have the chance to compete against. We all knew what the rules were when we signed up to fish the event. What happened to me was part of the game. I still managed to get in to weigh my catch. Maybe better luck next time. As for the release rate I still don't understand what all the complaining is about. There were 480 angler days fished the first three days. I beleive that means that they could have harvested 2400 walleye's legally. If the story is true that 525 were harvested and donated to the food bank's and other charities what is wrong with that. Everyone on the bay takes their fish home to eat. I don't the problem. I would like to thank the members of the Saginaw Bay Walleye Club for taking care of the handling of the fish and cleaning them. I know they made sure that they got to those that needed it the most. I donate at least a couple of deer a year that I harvest to the local church, I know just how much these donations mean to them.

[Bigfoot's Little Sister]

You Go BRO!! I'm proud of you and congrats to all who fished. It is a great thing to donate to those in need. Keep up the good work!

[Hawk Eye MIke]

Tough luck on Bigfoot catching the winning weight but not "winning." As he said, everyone knew the rules going in. Classy to congratulate the winner depsite your own disappointment. That makes him a real winner.

[Al]

I don't see why it is so difficult. If you are an angler in a tournament, you see that there are 15 guys in line waiting to weighin, why not leave your fish in the livewell for a while longer? I do see where this is the anglers' responsibility. If you can't see how fish have a better chance in the livewell than a bag of water, something is wrong. I fish some bass tourneys and I've really liked what I've seen the last several years. Many of the smallmouth guys have added oxygen systems to their live wells. I'm not talking about Pro Air, I mean real O2 that goes through a regulator and a stone/diffuser. It makes a world of difference on big water fish. It also helps a lot on very hot days. A little ice, and a shot of O2. Aren't the anglers installing those on their livewells in the walleye world?

[Bo #582]

I fished this event as a co-angler and I would do it all over again. The format was very exciting. To all you walleye guys and gals who want a little thrill, join a RCL event in your local area. I had a great time with my two partners, Tim Minnema, who I believe ended 4th overall, and Todd Riley, who like me did not make the cut.The comment by Marshall regarding the fisherman waiting to bring up their catches is very true. Rod Hill had a 0 for the first day of competition, and had a huge bag the 2nd day, and waited until almost last to weigh, so that his fish would be released alive and they were. A little thought could have been used by all, but overall, the SBWC did a grat job, and the needy families in the area benefitted. Great job everybody! and Tim, if you read this, remember fire tiger will always work. Sorry that this post is so long, but just wanted to add my 2 cents. Tight lines to all, Bo #582

[Terry]

In watching the weigh in I believe they would have had a better release rate if they would have used the basket`s like we usualy do in the contest and not the bags,walleye are not as tough as bass,just a my thoughts.

[Walleye]

Not as tough as bass?! Heck, I eat bass for lunch!

[Scott Richardson]

Rick, you are a class act and a good sport. Such an attitude will reap rewards for years to come. Sorry for your troubles, but glad you made it in in time to avoid the prospect of a DQ.

As for the fish that were lost, it's always better for the image of the sport to have a high release rate. But, that said, it is certainly true that everyone in that tournament has a license in their pocket that allows them to to legally take fish. If the DNR thought there was a problem with the fishery, I am sure they would modify limits or do what they could to lessen pressure. Even on heavily pressured waters, tournaments account for a small percentage of the pressure and help conservation in the long run by promoting catch and release and contributing cash toward the improvement of the fisheries.

[Chairman]

I had a great time. This is a first year format and there will be mistakes. Sonny said this will not happen again and I believe him. The bags will work fine if the guys put water in them before they put the fish in the bag. I did and had no problems with dead fish.
Give these guys a chance and they will do a good job.
I think there were some personal problems and they were aired in the public where they did not belong.
Looking forward to the Mississippi River at La Crosse. Hope to see some of you there.

[Bo #582]

Bruce, I believe you are 100% on your idea that there were possibly some personal problems or maybe even a little envy involved with the public erring on the dead fish subject.

[ND]

To those with the " I have a license to fish mentality": You will find the welcome mats disappearing in time.The taking of a resource without regard..........well,go join the tribes.

[Al]

In your infinite wisdom, don't you think that the DNR figures in harvest rates vs license sales? Or do you think they pull a number out of a hat? Granted, you can't have wanton waste. Sounds as if a food shelter got them. Now what can be wrong with that?

[Scott Richardson]

It never ceases to amaze how many fishermen earn a biology degree by merely baiting a hook.

It's the DNR's job in each state to monitor fisheries year to year and adjust limits based on scientific surveys of populations. Ours in Illinois does a wonderful job. Every DNR I have had the pleasure to be in contact with for stories has done the same. You might not agree with their decidions. But ask them the reasons and they always are based on sound science. Their actions are not guesswork.

Tournaments do not need constant justification to the few naysayers who are out there. Their value to the sport, to boat and tackle development and an understanding of fish behavior, their contributions to conservation, are without question. Tournament anglers pay more in conservation fees in one tournament than in-state anglers do through their licenses or taxes.

Catch and release overall at tournaments is a very high percentage and the ones that aren't able to be released get eaten. I don't know about anyone else, but part of the fun of being a walleye fisherman is eating them once in a while.

It was tournaments and tounament anglers who came up with catch and release and selective harvest.

This is still America. The welcome mat is always out.

[WAZ]

I did my part in conserving the walleye population. Only caught one fish in two days. It was released alive.

[jolly]

This was my first tourney as a co-angler. I had a blast and I guarantee I'll do it again. Cashed a check for $900, should help with college. I went over with the keenan boys and staid with them for the whole week. Mark spun the hub on his prop that was why he needed the ride in and left his boat 30+ miles out. I had to go find it and get a tow in ( thanks Steve Vande Mark).

One of the reasons I think there were so many dead fish was because many of the fish were coming from low 60 degree water temps into the 80+ temps in hoyles marina. the water tanks in the line to weigh in were also very warm. any fish that were still alive when released probably died when they hit that warm water. All of the fish I wieghed were very healthy in the livewell, but looked pretty bad by the time the were weighed.

Other than the dead fish it was a great tournament,

Brett Jolly

[Non-Tournament Angler]

Well if this post doesn't prove my point to a "T". Caught in 60 degree water and released in 80 degree water with a long wait in a plastic bag...hmmm...you do the math! "It was a great tournament except for all the dead fish"? That sounds like sh#t! I don't care if they all had a license to kill their limits...so do the Indians! The people in charge are at fault, not the fishermen. They are following your instructions...sounds like rather poor instructions!

[Bo #582]

Please fellas and gals, don't forget the simplicity of the subject. State of Michigan allows 5 fish 15" or longer per angler. 192 anglers for 2 days are allowed 1920 walleyes to be harvested from the Bay. The count, as you all know, was much smaller than that and the local needy families surely benefitted from the tournament with some of the finest eating there is.Saginaw Bay Walleye Club members who made that possible by fileting the dead fish should be commended. Good job, fellas and don't forget the revenue brought into that area from the tournament.

[skeeter]

One thing a lot of the public and even fisherman don't realize
is, when a tournament series goes to apply for a permit through the DNR to hold a tournament on any particular body of water they set the policy. Its either catch and release or catch and kill. The next stop for the RCL is catch and kill. ITS NOT UP TO the tournament series to make a choice in most areas.

[mnjimcarp]

dear friends at walleye central!
hold it... this started out to be a very cool post regarding the great experience that dunn had at the RCL! so many agree. the RCL is a Class Act. we really need to try and avoid the negative, uninformed responses that try to get people worked up.

until one fishes several tournaments or has some type of relationship with the expereinced tournament anglers; they have no possible way of understanding or commenting on what the tournament public has done to promote catch and release. i for one know that prior to fishing with many of the current pros and tournament competitors, i had no clue what these individuals had done for catch and release.

enjoy the positive contributors that are informed and try to avoid being sucked in to the small worlds of the uninformed.

have a nice day fishing.

[FireTiger]

I agree with C/R pre-spawn and spawn wallys, but in our club we have a huge fish fry at the end of each tourney,

[FireTiger]

Hey guys , the posts were great I wish I had time to fish the tournament, but my question is this, why do you guys keep on responding to the Non-tournament anglers, I know buts,anonymous responses,sounds like a bunch of mud mixers attempting to downgrade the experience,just like a crying child IGNORE THEM!!!!