RCL Cancled?

[Jim Carroll]

I heard the RCL in LaCrosse has been cancled...Not sure yet as to why.

[WAZ]

.Yes it was cancelled in May because of high water. It has been rescheduled for July 25-28. Spoke with them this morning everything is a go. If you are really concerned you should call them at 270-362-4880. Maybe you know more than they are telling us. I am sure we are all curious as to your sources. Good way to start/spread rumors Jim. I hope thats what you did. This is one top notch organization. Also the best cash payout in all walleye tournament fishing.

[dan(or)]

saw this on another Walleye site:

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/outdoors/1out.php

dan
out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and we keep releasing the big ones!

[Jim Carroll]

Thanks Dan...

Protect the resource...or lack of entries? Some combination of both? Any cynics out there?

[800proX]

i agree 100% about the RCL, and if they can overcome all of this 1st year adversary, it will be the strongest walleye tournament organization ever. i truly feel sorry for the local businesses, and all of us tourney guys who wanted a chance to fish such a great fishery, but once again. they are taking the high road it appears for the benefit of the resource. seems like lax is a loser in all of this, and we all know there is some stuff behind closed doors on this. looks like in the future with the way things are in SD and MN, the only place for tourneys will be on the great lakes - and for how long?!?!

jeff

[Jim Carroll]

Apparently the people you spoke to this morning didn't know the tournament was cancelled last night. Maybe you know more than they are telling us...

[WAZ]

Jim I Apoligize. I also am very depressed. This just Shows you the RCL is not all about money. The RCL folks really do care about the areas resources. Good for the fish and the local fishermen bad for us tournament guys. Hope they reschedule somewhere else quickly. I'm sure the walleye would have been safe with me fishing there. Sorry again Jim For doubting you.

[Jeff Berg]

I just spoke to Sonny Reynolds and he confirmed that the event was canceled. He said that he hadn't heard from Charlie Moore directly, but, believes that it's true.

What a bummer.

[Eric_WI]

I had been looking forward to this tournament since January or February when they first announced the event here in LaCrosse. I was signed up to fish as a Co-Angler and was really looking forward to fishing with two or three different Pros on my home waters. I was extremely disappointed when I saw the paper this morning.

According to the press releases on the RCL website yesterday morning, they had 81 Pros and 67 Co-Anglers signed up for it so I have to believe that the low entry was a contributing factor in its cancellation. The fact that it was going to be a kill tournament was also starting to get some bad press here in town. In my opinion, they just dodged two bullets by cancelling it. I can't blame them too much for their decision.

It would've been great if it could've gone off as planned in May but of course the flooding here prevented it. That's the way the ball bounces I guess.

Good fishing!
Eric

[Depressed]

Here is the article by Bob Lamb that might have gotton things
stirred up. Bad press doesn't help much when your trying to put on a tournament.

Fishing for keeps
By BOB LAMB La Crosse Tribune
How fast can you fillet a fish?
I'm serious. How fast can you a fillet a fish... make that walleyes... lots
of them? If you have the fastest fingers in the Coulee Region, you might be
on a "Most Wanted" list later this month.
It seems as though a dilemma has surfaced with a walleye tournament coming to
town.
Operation Walleye, an extension of Operation Bass, scheduled a Wal-Mart RCL
Walleye Circuit qualifier in La Crosse in mid-May. However, the four-day
event was postponed because the U.S. Coast Guard closed the Upper Mississippi
River to boat traffic due to high water from spring flooding. The
catch-and-release tournament was rescheduled to Wednesday, July 25, through
Saturday, July 28, indeed a less than ideal time to catch and release
walleyes because of warm water temperatures.
Realizing the vulnerability of walleyes at this time of the summer and the
impact that 200-250 fishermen may have on the resource in a catch-and-release
tournament, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officials issued a
mandate that the tournament will be a catch-and-kill event all four days. So,
rather than catching fish, keeping them in their live wells, weighing them
and then releasing them back into the river, a couple hundred of the nation's
finest walleye anglers will simply relinquish their walleyes to Operation
Walleye officials.
Ron Benjamin, DNR fisheries supervisor in La Crosse, said the agency's
decision to require a catch-and-kill tournament was based on walleye research
and the effect that temperature plays on the resource.
"The reason we are doing that is because studies in Iowa, Lake Michigan, Lake
Winnebago and other places show mortality can be 75 to 99 percent because of
water temperatures," Benjamin said. "So it makes little sense for us to make
it a catch-and-release tournament if 75 to 100 percent die."
Studies show that once the water temperature exceeds 70 degrees Fahrenheit,
the chance of walleyes being kept alive in live wells or returned to the
water and kept alive are slim.
"There's a lot of data that show that," Benjamin said. "Then, when you add
wind, waves and boat rides with all the bumping around, the chances are
incredibly low."
Benjamin said if the tournament was postponed until after Sept. 20 when water
temperatures have cooled down, the odds would be in favor of it becoming a
catch-and-release tournament as originally planned.
Sonny Reynolds, Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit tournament director, said May
was his first choice. September is out of the question as the year-end
championship is scheduled in early October, too close to an event in La
Crosse in late September.
"It was a situation where we have to complete the tournament schedule,"
Reynolds said. "It was either July or August, and August is worse."
Reynolds said that once the tournament begins, maybe it could be changed back
to a catch-and-release format if the weather cools down and the DNR
reconsiders its mandate. Those chances are slim and none.
"The way the weather is setting up, the water will be warm, and mid-July is
as warm as we get," Benjamin said.
To try and create a positive out of the situation, Reynolds said last week
that he will give all of the fish to a local food pantry.
"The Lake Erie tournament in April, with the water temperatures in the 40s
and 50s, was a harvest tourney," Reynolds said. "The DNR wanted them
harvested because of the tons and tons of walleyes in Lake Erie."
Reynolds said the fish were donated to four local kitchens and food pantries.
"As long as the fish are going back into the community, they're performing a
helpful service to the area," Reynolds said. "Going to the poor and needy can
make a difference of having a meal one day or not."
Reynolds said the tournament will still be treated as a live,
catch-and-release event. Anglers will be deducted points for dead fish
brought to the weigh-in site. The daily bag limit is five fish per boat with
115 to 120 boats expected for the tournament. One pro and one co-angler will
be in each boat.
"We expect the fishermen to take care of the fish in their boats. They'll
take ice to keep them cooled down," Reynolds said. "When they come off the
scales, they should be alive."
If the catch in La Crosse is similar to the tournament on Lake Erie in Port
Clinton, Ohio, there will certainly be enough fish to feed hundreds of needy
folks. Reynolds said there were 2,558 pounds of walleyes caught the first day
of the Lake Erie tournament. The weather was too poor to send out anglers the
second day. On the third day, with only the top 60 anglers fishing, they
still caught 622 pounds. On the fourth and final day, the top 12 anglers
caught 332 pounds.
"We had ovations at the weigh-ins at Port Clinton when it was announced where
the fish were going to," Reynolds said. "We also had four DNR people there
who did some studies."
Now, the BIG question. Who will clean all the fish?
Sue Schultz, president of the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse, Inc., a food
recovery program, said she is certainly willing to try and work with
Reynolds. Thanks to deer hunters last fall and winter, the Hunger Task Force
distributed about 6,000 pounds of ground venison to local food pantries and
free meal sites.
Schultz, who has already contacted Reynolds, said her organization would be
willing to distribute the cleaned walleye fillets to needy families through
food pantries and free meal sites.
The key word is "cleaned."
Who would clean the fish? Volunteers? The tournament fishermen?
Schultz said maybe the cleaning process could be organized as "teach a youth
to clean a fish."
Schultz also raises other questions about cleaning tools, packaging,
inspection and disposal of remains.
I can see it now. La Crosse, presently known as God's Country, becomes the
"Fastest Fish Filleting" capital of the world

[Waz]

I cast my vote for Mr. Lamb as "CHEESEHEAD OF THE MILLENIUM".

[Chairman]

I think everyone should e-mail the Lacrose Tribune at lacrossetribune.com and let them know how many dollars you were planning on spending in their community. This is another deal where writers blow things out of proportion to get column inches. Bob Lamb's e-mail is: BOB.LAMB@lee.net he wrote the article.

These areas want us to dump $$$ on licenses and travel expences, yet treat us like they are doing us a favor letting us fish their areas. I think the tournament directors should look at where we are wanted and appreciated and go to those sites.

I think when you read the reason for cancelling from the Operation Walleye people you will see a real classy response to an ugly situation.

Just my opinion.
Chairman
NPAA#6

[I second that]

But I'd vote to call him the Di**head of the New Millenium! Also, to Jim C, why dont you lay your cards on the table and say what you really mean instead of tossing out accuzations and rumor.

[Hail to the Cheif]

Thanks Chairman. I could not have posted it better. LaCrosse can keep their small, toxic walleye, all 14 of them. And I can save them the trouble of having to EVER handle any of my money, or put up with me being there. I love the Mississippi River valley area, but I will go somewhere where I feel welcome, not like a rapist.

[800proX]

well i can safely say that i now have a wisconsin license that is worth zer in my book. i have taken the time to email both bob and his publisher mike jameson. this community will be the only real loser in all of this i feel.

jeff

[wallyrig]

See the RCL in Devils Lake in North Dakota they will love to see the fisherman come to town just like the people were treated greatly in Beaulagh,Hazen for the PWT.They rolled out the carpet and I think everyone enjoyed it Thanks Sakakawea area alot of people will be back.

[Jim Carroll]

No accusations or rumors. It makes some sense to me that they would have had a tougher time cancelling the tournament with more boats in the field. Perhaps that was not a consideration at all. The loss to the LaCrosse area will be substantial.

Regardless I want to see the RCL succeed because it is good for tournament walleye fishing. There will be more competiton and opportunity for all those interested in professional walleye fishing. I have heard there are only 40 or so co-anglers for the tournament at Devils Lake with twice that many entrants on the pro side. DL is a tremendous fishery and for anyone considering going there you will not be disapointed.

[fish cleaner]

Here is an email I sent Bob "butt wipe" Lamb.
I know the totals for everything are low but I left
it up to "Butt Wipe" to come up with a more accurate figure.

Well Bob that was quite a column you wrote. I guess now there will be
no super fast fish cleaning crew needed since the RCL is backing out.
In your article you are quoting pounds from a Lake Erie tournament that
has nothing in common with the weights that would have been seen coming
out of La Crosse in mid July. I think it would have been prudent on your part to explain this to your readers instead of letting them think these tournament fishermen are going to have 5 fish limits of 8 to 10 pound fish. I'm sure the business people that were counting on the money this tournament would have brought them are real happy with your article. Now they can rest easy knowing that the mythical 5XXX pounds of fish will still be swimming in the river instead of being slaughtered by those big bad tournament fishermen. You've done your community a great service and I hope your readers are proud of your wonderful column. You see BOB, YOUR COLUMN STIRRED UP THE SPONSORS, WHO IN TURN STIRRED UP THE RCL OFFICIALS. YOUR COLUMN ULTIMATELY LED TO THE
CANCELLATION OF THE TOURNAMENT! You seem to be a very adept writer, but here is some math you may want to include in a follow up article:

1 week of fishing
Lodging - $35 a night x 7 = $245
Gas for the boat - $25 x 7 = $175
Food - $30 x 7 = $210
Bait/tackle - $10 x 7 = $70
Gas for truck - $10 x 7 = $70
Masc. expense - $60

Total $830 x 160 fisherman = 132,800.

This would be how much money would be spent if everyone spent about the same as I budgeted for. I'm guessing there would have been quite a few with a higher budget than mine. I'm sure you will want to do a follow up column and do some research on just how much money will not be coming into your community at the end of this month. I'm sure the business readers would be very interested BOB!

BOB, when I stated research, that means actually getting on the phone with people like Jim Kalkofin, Sonny Reynolds, and the like, who can help you get a more accurate dollar amount than going by my budget.

I'm betting you may win some kind of an award for this column. La Crosse owes you a debt of gratitude!


Sincerely,
An out of work - Super Fast Fish Cleaner.

[Bullfrog]

Since the troops want to fish, and have a week in the summer schedule, why not try for the 10 or so amateur spots still open in the PWT at Sault Ste Marie? I'm booked, but you can call PWT at 218-829-0620 tomorrow. My buddy entered this afternoon when he heard the news. The dates are July 18 - 20; and this is only about 7 hours from Oshkosh.

[Wrong Boat Guy]

Imagine if the non RCL boats would have been there too... That would have been a real slaughter...

Just kidding... sorta... kinda...

[Sheila]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-11-01 AT 05:45PM (CST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jul-11-01 AT 05:39*PM (CST)

Good guess on $ fish cleaner. But just wanted to add an economics thing called the money-multipler(MM). In essence, the money garnered in the community is spent again in the community many times over. You can change the rr to achieve diff results.

OK here goes the math:
rr = 10%
amt = 132,800

MM = 1/rr X amt
MM = 1/.10 X (132,800)
MM = 1,328,000

I almost forgot calcs for the cost of a walleye!
5 fish/day - per boat (a maxed estimate)
100 boats - 2 days; 60 boats - 1 day; 12 boats - 1 day
Fish caught= 1000; 300; 60 = TOTAL of 1360 walleyes
(Assumes all boats catch limit, very unlikely but -choke- here is the lowest price of the LaCrosse walleye baby!)

$1,328,000/1360 = $976.47 per walleye ;-)

A generous catch estimate could be 75% of limit.
Fish caught= 750; 225; 45 = TOTAL of 1020

$1,328,000/1020 = $1,301.96 per walleye :D

[Jigbite]

You can be sure that lack of entrys was not a factor in this .. I know that they had more entries than what was on the web site .. it doesn't update automaticly like a leader board. Plus, there was 2 weeks to go till the tournament.

[slant eyes]

This really bites! I was going to fish with the legendary Bob Probst for a day or two in practice, if any of you have ever fished with him you know what I am talking about. We have the same problem here in Iowa, a bunch of know nothing DNR people who would rather you bring a fillet knife to the weigh in rather than give you a summer permit to fish a tourney the right way, and what is it with there 35,000$ Expiditions and brand new Dodges? My liscences are going up and they are closing parks here in Iowa, just doesnt seem right.

[Waterbug]

The number of entry's were not a factor in canceling the La Crosse tournament, in fact they will be paying a full field at Devils Lake just like they have at all of their events this year. Here is a clip from their press release .. you can read it all at operationwalleye.com

The Devils Lake tournament will feature a cash purse of $390,750 as the final qualifier for the 2001 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship, which features a cash purse of $1.4 million and a top award of up to $400,000. The championship will be held Oct. 2-6 in Green Bay, Wis.

“While we are sure that there will be some disappointed tournament participants, we feel that calling off the La Crosse tournament was the best decision for both our competitors and for local anglers,” Evans said. “Good community relations is a key element of the sport, and we are certain professional walleye anglers understand that our decision was made with their best interest in mind.”



Waterbug

[jigemup]

Just another figure to think about. I am the fishing manager at the Gander Mountain in LaCrosse. As a store we have been somehow surviving one of the toughest seasons we've had in the past five years our store has been here. Until last week the river for the most part was unfishable- the water was muddy and excessively high and the fish were dispersed. A handfull of major tournaments were cancelled and relocated due to this high water and thus we were struggling going in for the year. Now, the water has subsided and the bite is good to great with walleyes in the 4lb + range quite common. We were banking on the RCL being an edge to get us back on our feet for the year by bringing the "best of the best" walleye anglers to our area.
We began bulking up stock two weeks ago- thousands and thousands of dollars of Rapala, Storm, Northland, and the like to meet the needs of these anglers. In fact I myself was signed up to fish the event and give anglers coupons just for walking in our doors prior to and during the event.
Now today I had to be the first one to break the news to handfulls of anglers just arriving into town to begin prefishing. I had several guys stand there in utter amazement as I read Bob's article to them- they were in a state of many emotions from steaming mad to in disbelief that they had just drove 400 plus miles to turn right back around. The worst part is many of them just walked straight out the door and never looked back; now that hurt as they were guaranteed customers for the next couple of weeks. I hope a few people take into consideration what a drastic impact the RCL pulling out had on our area and not to mention the amount of work some of us put into preparing for all of the RCL'ers arrival. We were going to roll out the carpet big, but now it's over and maybe in another 7 years they will try to come back or sooner- it's been that long since the NAWA (1994) was here and they got the same crappy treatment!
I think a public appology by Mr. Bob Lamb himself is the least we should expect. Oh- yea I forgot to mention he had a nice walleye recepie on the same front page as the article- hmm now doesn't that make you just wonder his bias! Pro bass- I think so!

Very, Very Frustrated, Jigemup

[Eric_WI]

The Tribune is a rag. I don't subscribe to it and won't until they stop letting blow-hards like Lamb spread his factless opinions to the community.

Now I'm going to shut up and go fishing!

Eric

[jigemup]

This is today's article in the LaCrosse Tribune- it's obvious now he is anti- tournament- please e-mail this fella pro's and am's alike and give him some feedback- he's laying the blame on everyone else but himself....so frustrating.......

Fishing tourney officials make right decision
By BOB LAMB La Crosse Tribune

Operation Bass pulled the plug on its Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit qualifier in La Crosse later this month.

It was the best decision, considering the public outcry after the tournament was changed to a "harvest" event.

Like most folks in the Coulee Region, I can handle catch-and-release fishing tournaments, although there are too many to suit me. Yet, when a tournament becomes a catch-and-kill or harvest event, that's where I draw the line, regardless if we're talking about 1,300-1,400 fish in a huge body of water.


I agree with tournament director Sonny Reynolds that Wisconsin, especially the La Crosse area, is a great venue for a tournament. I agree that big-time tournaments with national media exposure are extremely beneficial. I also agree that the economic impact is enormous.


Yet, the bottom line is the resource. If we don't protect our resource, tournaments and the resulting economic impact also disappear.


During a conference call early Tuesday, the top two officials with Operation Bass - parent organization of the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit - expressed their concern about the possible negative impact the tournament may leave in its wake. Charlie Hoover, president, and Charlie Evans, chief operating officer, emphasized that their first concern was the resource. Their second concern was the possible community backlash.


Late Tuesday, Evans said he and Hoover decided to cancel the tournament.


In their defense, Operation Bass originally scheduled the tournament in May, but was forced to postpone and reschedule because of flood conditions. At this late a date, it would be extremely difficult to postpone the four-day event to late September, when walleyes have a much better chance of survival as the water temperature drops below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.


"Obviously, we had this tournament originally scheduled when the water temperature was cooler in May," Evans said. "We agree with the Wisconsin DNR that high water temperatures lead to mortality. Our research shows the same thing as theirs does."


Evans said tournament officials were fully prepared to reduce the daily bag limit and to restock walleyes if the DNR wanted.


"But we still feel this was the best decision of all," Evans said.


Evans said he shares the disappointment from anglers, tournament sponsors and his staff, but still the resource was top priority.


Evans said Operation Bass has enjoyed tremendous support in the La Crosse area when it staged its two All-American Bass Championships in 1998 and 1999 and the EverStart Series bass qualifier several weeks ago. Operation Bass hopes to build on that relationship with its walleye tournament.


"We have tremendous respect for La Crosse and the last thing we want to do is to have a strain on that relationship," Evans said.


While the decision to cancel the tournament keeps Operation Bass in a positive light with the community, no one at Operation Bass, or anyone else for that matter, will convince me that it was the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that created the mess. The DNR, by state law, cannot, and I repeat, cannot deny a fishing permit in this particular case under present state statutes. However, state law does contain provisions for other than live release when the DNR determines that weather conditions and water temperature are not conducive to survival of fish intended for release and the release may constitute malicious waste of natural resources under the provisions of s.23.095(1), Stats.


The DNR is simply following the letter of the law. It couldn't stop the tournament, but made sure it was a catch-and-kill tournament.


What this state needs is some teeth in its tournament fishing laws.


I'm not naïve enough to believe that Wisconsin is attracting all of these regional and national tournaments because we have such a great fishery resource and that we are such wonderful Midwestern folks to be around. The reason these big-time fishing organizations are flooding our gates is because our tournament laws are archaic.


Other states have simply adopted stricter laws to keep pace with the influx of fishing tournaments. For example, Iowa doesn't allow catch-and-release walleye tournaments in June, July or August.


"We need to have more meaningful, enforceable tournament regulations that allow tournaments to happen as long as they are run in a sportsmanlike process that doesn't harm or waste the resource," said Ron Benjamin, DNR fisheries supervisor in La Crosse.


Tim Andryk, special assistant to DNR Secretary Darrell Bazzell, agrees with Benjamin that the agency's hands are tied under present law.


"We can require keeping the fish, but we don't have the authority to deny a permit," Andryk said. "We're looking for legislation to give us more authority for restricting these tournaments."


Hello... is anyone listening?


State Rep. Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, is and he hopes to speed up the process.


"This needs to be looked at sooner than later," Huebsch said on Tuesday. "First and foremost is to protect our natural resource. We also have to look at what other states are doing. If we're attracting tournaments because our laws are so lax, we have to take a look at them."


Huebsch said, however, that he doesn't want to send a message to tournament organizations that they are not welcome, "but that we do have protection for the resource."


Indeed, it is time for our elected officials to wake up and take a swift approach to regulate fishing tournaments before it's too late.


Meanwhile, Evans said the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit will return to La Crosse in the future. How soon is uncertain as the 2002 schedule hasn't been finalized.


Bob Lamb is the Tribune's outdoors editor. He can be reached at 6080-791-8228, or e-mail to: blamb@lacrossetribune.com

[Amazed]

I am virtually amazed that this guy can work for a paper and have such a biased opinion are ther no editors at the LaCrosse Tribune. How come everything is so one sided . No mention of how many people actually were for the event.

[JasonMN]

I really do not understand why the RCL backed out. Who cares what Bum Lamb and few other anti-tourney narrow minded people think. Who cares if they cause minor headaches by blocking the ramps...call the police and have them removed. Why would the RCL give into pressure from a handful of people at the cost of damaging its reputation? Giving in just encourages people like Knob Lamb and other anti-tourney and/or PETA types.

Forget wasting your time emailing Bob Lamb. You will never change his mind and he probably enjoys reading how angry you are.
I would hope though, that sponsors/supporters of the tournament would withdraw any advertising $$$ from the La Crosse Tribune and let them know why.

IMHO, the RCL "wussed out". They should have run the catch and kill tournament. They could have stocked a bunch of fingerlings after the fact to assure there was no permanent damage to the resource.

Also, where does the NPAA stand on this issue?

[Eric_WI]

ABSOLUTELY!!!

You hit it right on the head Jason. The way to get rid of Lamb is to: 1. Not buy advertising space in the Tribune, 2. Cancel your subscription to the Tribune and when they ask you why you did it, TELL THEM!!! 3. Spread the word to other business owners in the community about the income that Lamb cost them.

[AquaMan]

Don't you guys think you might be giving him just a wee bit too much credit?

I mean, maybe the RLC was planning to cancel when the DNR converted the rules anyway regardless of what the paper or this writer had to say.

Todays tournement directors are truely concerned about image and the environment. They do, in fact, do the right thing on their own.

I give the credit to cancel the tourney to RLC without bias.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

Eric@crowncomputerinc.com

[bob oh]

You guys are amazing. What actually did he say that has all of you conservationist up in arms?? DNR says it wants the fish killed instead of released and the guy writes a story asking how they are going to be cleaned and you want to --- silence him of course. Yeah, you all have a right to your opinion, but he doesn't. So much for America, the land of the free..... It's free as long as you agree that it's free and you can have your tournament. What a sad state of affairs!!!!!!

Bob

[Fish cleaner]

Hey Bob oh, why don't you just go fish!

[walleyeworld]

It was already arranged who would clean the fish, how they would be kept and many other things Mr. I want to keep my fishery fo myself Lamb new this and was told this he just to forgot to tell all the facts just as he did this morning. He doesnt like tournaments and even stated it. He compared Eries catch to the pis poor catch that would be on the Miss. River. He made no mention of the offers to restock and take specail care of the fish. Just as articles written weeks before on the everstart series he felt that the tournament anglers are just a nuisnace. The Everstart series he only wrote about how supposedly sombody had sped through a no wake area and in reality it wasnt even a no wake area it was an area where one of his buddies thought should be but didnt take the time to have the DNR post it. A local bait shop owner won that tournament but that wasnt one of his buddies so he spent mor lines talking about the no wake zone than the winner. Now he wants to have no tournaments but has failed to mention that some local tournaments in Trempeleau this week will kill just as many fish but has made no mention of this

[800proX]

thank you walleyeworld for setting it straight.

as for bob oh - why not at least mention the positives of the tournament coming to town. he obviously is reaching a more broad audience than us here, and the fact of the matter is we are in response to his actions. maybe if you read todays article by him you might agree before jumping in here and defending an individual attacking us as a whole. why could he not mention that there are still pros going to town to have a kids fishing derby, RCL was going to restock 50,000 fry at their cost, give away fishing trips, etc...

how bout the effect on the local businesses that are paying his salary through ads, and circulation? he has lost sight, and for him to be an outdoors writer only shows the mentality of that paper. he should be a columnist for PETA instead.

jeff

[Lets Not Forget]

I would be that some of the information and decisions were based off of what happened at Saginaw Bay. The method of fish treatment were pathetic at best. Call anyone in the Saginaw area and see what they think about how the RCL handled taking care of the fish? They did not seem to concerned about the resource out there.

[Bear]

Aquaman,

The rules that the DNR have for the catch and harvest tournaments have been in place for at least 3 years. Between the dates of June 1 and at least Sept 1 any walleyes tournaments held will be catch and harvest. The RCL had to know day 1 from the time they resceduled the tournament.

All I have to say is that it is a bad deal no matter which way you look at it.

Bear

[Bear]

Aquaman,

The rules that the DNR have for the catch and harvest tournaments have been in place for at least 3 years. Between the dates of June 1 and at least Sept 1 any walleyes tournaments held will be catch and harvest. The RCL had to know day 1 from the time they resceduled the tournament.

All I have to say is that it is a bad deal no matter which way you look at it.

Bear

[800proX]

not in the state of Wisconsin Bear, from what I have read. That is why he is also calling for reform from the DNR. as it stands, there is not the case you stated other than in other states.

correct me if i am wrong, this is just what i have read so far.

jeff

[Waterfowler]

Bob oh,
You are right we all have our opinions as does Bob Lamb. Unfortunately we aren't able to our spin on it and then have it published in a public forum in the LaX area. Many of us have written to the Trib and to Bob personally. My letters to editor have not gotten a response. I wrote a well thought out professional letter. Nothing back from anyone yet. I wasn't name calling or personally degrading Bob L. in any fashion, just disputing some facts in his report. Why don't they respond?? Why can't my thoughts on this issue be publicized?? I'm not associated with any of the professional tournament organizations, but as a fisherman/conservationist I will not stand by and be idle. This tourney was going to hurt the resource about as much as any other local boy tourney would. Why doesn't bob include these tourney's in his articles?? Don't tell me it was going to have a catastrophic effect on that particular pool of the Mississippi. I look forward to your response!!

[Fish-on]

Just a couple observations:

I have done calculations for the amount tournament anglers spend in a community and the figures above are quite conservative.

When doing preliminary work for having a walleye tournament in LaCrosse last year, Bob Lamb's name kept coming up. Seems he's got a problem with walleye tourneys and always casts them in a bad light. Probably a guy who keeps every walleye he catches and is afraid the tournaments will come in and get a few that might have been his. I see that all the time.

The research mentioned about delayed mortality in walleye tournaments was mostly done by one person in the Iowa DNR who has an anti-tournament bias and his figures reflect his bias. They are mostly from two surveys done over ten years ago (I've studied them) and I think there are a lot of holes in them that should be looked into. I believe that delayed mortality goes up when the water warms, but I doubt that it is anywhere near the 75 to 100% they keep throwing around.

I think the RCL pulled the plug for two primary reasons. They didn't need the negative publicity that Lamb and his henchmen would give them, and they stood to lose a lot of money on this event because of the low entries. I think both factors were weighed and they made a business decision. It's probably the right decision for them and may be the right one for walleye tournaments in general, but I have spent quite a bit of time in LaCrosse and bought lures, maps, booked motel rooms, and bought a Wisconsin fishing license which I will probably not now use since LaCrosse was most likely my only chance of making the RCL championship this year.

This hurts man.

[Jim Carroll]

Excellent post! After fishing a lot of tournaments there is no way I believe the mortalilty rate is anywhere near those numbers, especially with todays improved livewells. After reading his columns it seems to me that this guy has a grudge and doesn't have his facts straight. In the end LaCrosse is the biggest loser of all.

[J.P.]

Once again no position, no stance, no reaction from the NPAA? Why are we members? What good is this organization? I think it is time for a useful organization for tournament anglers. We have a tournament series up and cancel an event that is very important to our livelyhood. We have a lame, liberal writer attacking the move. We have no voice for the tournament angler.

The NPAA is a joke. This has been a big year for the group and it has exposed itself horribly. I hope all tournaments anglers realize it is time to come together and form a true association for us to be heard. This is getting rediculous. The NPAA has worked against our own, against our interest, for the tournament organizers (instead for the "tournament anglers"), and have embarrassed us with their title. I am embarrassed that I have "donated" money to a spineless, unorganized, group of "good 'ol boys."

Disgusted

[oheye]

Great post. You can bet PETA is well organized and not afraid to take a stand to protect their interest. The NPAA seems to be just an extension of the PWT.

It is time or we will lose.

[gonfishn95]

Why is there always the name calling and slandering, and no one uses their real name?
All of this because of a business decision on the RCL'S part and someone wrote an article. AMAZING.

Larry Dawson NPAA #273

[Scott Richardson]

This is a tough issue, isn't it?

One thing is for sure, You have got to respect Sonny Reynolds and the RCL for being willing to make the tough call and to take the heat from the inevitable army of people who will disagree no matter what you do.

As an outdoor writer, I certainly respect the columnist's right to an opinion. As I read the first column, though, he sure was soft peddling if his intention was to criticize a harvest format. He simply laid out the DNR's position, which seemed wishy-washy in itself. I never read anywhere where the DNR biologists thought the resource would have been significantly harmed by the few hundred fish that would have been taken. The columnist didn't come out publicly against the tournament until AFTER the decision to cancel was made. Pretty safe stance to take then. It reminds me of the political principle that a good leader is he who determines which way the crowd is going and then runs fast to get out ahead of it.

The fact is everyone in the tournament would have had a license in their pocket that would have permitted a legal limit for each angler. The tournament limit is half that. THe total diminishes to just a few fish by the final day.

In truth, there's nothing to stop 200 boats from showing up at LaCrosse next weekend and taking that many fish home in coolers. If the fishery is that fragile, DNR ought to be tightening restrictions in a hurry. They have more problems than the RCL.

I hope the locals who let loose the supposed public outcry about the RCL are releasing everything they catch, too. To do otherwise would be hypocritical.

I've said this before _ tournaments owe no one apologies for their existence. They have advanced tackle and boat development, including the design of modern livewells that have saved more fish than they ever killed. Tournaments also have accelerated our understanding of fish behavior and tactics to catch them. They donated hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to conservation. They are the ones that started the concpet of catch and release.

Should tournaments be restricted or banned in hot weather? I leave that to the biologists and policy makers. However, I would think any responsible decision should be based on good science and analysis of what the fishery can handle with regards to harvest. We who fish the Illinois River have been told by our DNR biologists that there are so many sauger present that we hardly harvest 5 percent of the saugers even in a good year.

Again, congratulations to Sonny for having the courage of conviction. Agree with him or not, but one thing is for certain _ he has shown everyone that tournaments are not all about money.

[Lena-of-the-Northwoods]

Now you know why folks around here often laugh and call it the
"LaCrosse Enquirer".
There is a difference between a reporter who waits for a story and a reporter who goes to find a story.
If Mr. Bob were looking for a story he sure could have found one.
He could have found all the local guys who were entering as Pros after coming off smaller tournaments on the River. He would have found some people who love fishing as much as some people love other sports.
Lamb could have asked "What makes people travel from Michigan, North & South Dakota, Oregon, Montana, and all over Wisconsin to fish in the River by LaCrosse?" He would have found big names of big professionals and he would have found men who make it a career and try to feed their families.
He would have found in talking to Professionals that they are required to do activities with children that promote conservation. A Pro has to write so many articles about fishing and techniques and has to have proven himself in sportsmanship and in keeping fish alive. It's interesting to learn about how much they have to balance in life.
He could have looked at the Co-angler side and he would have met people who experience this as part of their retirement dream, people who work at sporting goods stores and go to college. He would have met sportswriters from magazines as well as couples from Canada. One of the only women anglers signed up to participate works in LaCrosse in a very important job--he really missed the story.
If Mr. Lamb wanted to know about conservation, he could have talked to the anglers--Pro & Co--who have great concern for the welfare and handling of Walleyes.

He could have talked to local tournament directors and found out about the many ways they work to keep fish alive in a tournament and he would have found that not two weeks before the DNR watched as every fish caught in a tournament was released alive.

There were so many stories to be told, and he could have learned about how hard a professional fisherman works to have the right gear, the right area, to be instructive to the co-angler, and that fishing ethically is what makes him a professional. He could have registered to enter as a co-angler, rode in a boat, and he could have learned what it really means.

Instead, he went to the DNR who can get political and works with protesting groups when they want to add more rules which give them more control rather than true management of resources for the taxpayers to enjoy the sports they have invested in.
Fishermen are taxpayers, too.

See, therein lies another story, he could have gotten a list of all the protesting people who join radical groups that have injured other animals and killed other people who don't agree with them. He could have asked where they work and he would have found many work for taxpayer funded agencies, with great retirement benefits and vacation plans. He could have asked why they have to use power and force and be so extreme instead of opening dialogue and learning. He could have asked why they dabble in denying other people's rights. If he found out what they really feared, he would have been ashamed.

There were so many angles and so many anglers-and Mr. Lamb
missed all the good stories.

So, don't worry about the RCL. You and I know that the best and most lasting stories are about the one that got away.

From Lena-of-the-Northwoods

P.S. Folks should tell RCL to hold it in Prairie du Chien next year. The River people there would protect your right to fish and the Walmart people are nice and the paper there would be excited to have the real story for folks.

[bob oh]

I understand what you are saying. I can't however, answer for the Trib. If you wrote them and asked for a response you should have received one. I don't know their letters to the editor policies so I can't speculate on that. However, in most cases I am familiar with newspapers try to run at least representative letters. In other words, if they receive 10 or 12 letters on one topic they will try to run enough of them to give readers the different points of view. And, slamming the local newspaper is a national pasttime. If you agree with what they write they're great, and if you don't agree they are biased and a piece of crap.
However, if Bob is writing a personal column, it is just that, a personal column - the way he views things. If you disagree, fine, that's your right. What bothers me is all the people who disagree so they want to silence him. But, I'll bet if he were anti-PETA they would love him and want him on the front page. It's the old "my way or the highway" mentality that is becoming prevalent in this country.

bob

[Paul Hammer]

Is life really that bad. I think you point out an exact reason the NPAA does not comment on this board anymore. No matter how they respond, people are going to tear them up. Have you called the NPAA to see how they feel about this? I know that others have and talked about this. Are you even a member?
The RCL made a decision not to have a tournament because the conditions where not viable for a catch and release tournament. Of course they are going to catch some grief. They are the first ones to do this, cancel a tournament with resource in mind. Of course this will torque some of tourney anglers off. Of course this will torque some of the sponsors off. But, you know what, it was there decision. I personnaly feel they are making a good stance.
The RCL is a first class operation. They have raised the bar in tournament angling by increasing the amount of money they pay out.
One more thing JP. I am not personally attacking you in any fashion. I just get disgusted watching people trash each other with no knowledge of the situation. Did you know that the RCL is a strong supporter of the NPAA. They are a sponsor of the NPAA. The NPAA works hard to get their members to fish this circuit. Pick up one of the NPAA Tournament Programs sometimes. Look at who helps this organization. Read on what this organization is about and how they help the industry. If you were a member, you would know of this because you would get newsletters that keep you updated on the what the organization does and what it's members do.

Paul Hammer# 921

[JP]

I am a NPAA member. I will not renew. I believe we all need an active association looking out for our best interest. I believe the RCL made a good decision.

I am disgusted by the DNR and the writer. The DNR in WI has no authority, they said it, to deny us the right to hold a tournament, but "think" they have the authority to refuse us the right to release our catch? Come on! Talk about hypocrisy. We make a living at doing this. These type of irresponsible actions are getting rediculous.

As for your statement about the RCL supporting the NPAA. I am a huge supporter of the RCL. The RCL is not the target of my frustration. Nevertheless, tournament anglers need to esteblish themselves in a position of power in order to have some pull. We are going to continue to get our teeth kicked in by the DNR's, PETA's, Liberal Media, and other organized efforts in the world until the day we work together. The NPAA is not the answer. The simple statement that the tournament organizations support the NPAA can cross a grey line of conflict of interest if not managed with the utmost of integrity for the interest of all tournament anglers.

I feel for the RCL and all tournament anglers. This is not good. We need Wal-Mart and we need the RCL. I am also disappointed in any fellow tournament anglers who were not signed up for LaCrosse. There are times you need to put the interest of the sport in front of your own. That is what makes legends. That is what makes a sports succeed.

[Paul Hammer]

JP,
I highly respect your comeback. That was thought out well. It is good that you support the RCL. I feel they are the future of the tourney anglers. I appreciate your response. It is good to have a civilized conversation on this topic.
I have one more question for you. I like the NPAA and what they do. I like that they fought and lobbied to get temporary boat registration permits in South Dakota. I like that they are working with the Montana Game Fish and Parks to help bring tourneys back to Fort Peck. I think they work hard to protect the anglers best interest. I feel they stand up for us well. This is my opinion. You do not have to agree with this.
Why do feel the way you do about the NPAA? What has the organization done to make you feel this way? My experiences have been good with the NPAA. When I have a problem, I call Charlie Moore and he talks freely about the problem. He answers the questions I ask of him regarless if I like the answer or not. This is just my curiousity speaking here. Simply because I think you and I do not see eye to eye on the NPAA. This is fine. I just want to know why.

Paul Hammer

[joeyo]

There is no such law in WI. there were three C&R tourneys on Winnebago in June and one in August

[Waterfowler]

I understand your points, but I also disagree. I'm not trying to silence Bob or anyone from the Trib. I just want my opinion voiced and publicized. From what I read here and on other sites, I'm not the only one who feels this way. I find it hard to believe if anyone had the same info as is posted here and other sites they would not be upset at the lost revenue. Don't tell me the local boys tourney's are generating the same types of revenue?? I'm not against these guys either, I just hate seeing outdoorsman/fisherman bullied around by PETA or Bob L.

I guess enough has been said on this issue. We obviously won't get "our" side of the story printed in the trib. Even if we did, it's too late to save this event anyway. I feel that LaCrosse has paid the price for a few loud squeaky wheels. That's too bad for the local businesses.

[walleye world]

I think every one of these posts every one on toher sites should be forwarde to the lacrosse tribune. They have an opinion page if they wont print if maybe we should spend some of the NPAA money collected and place an ad to voice our views. Everyone who has cnacelled rooms should tell the motels the real reason this tournament was cancelled because Mr. lamb saying he was speaking for a majority was only really voicing his own views which I admit are no more or less valued than ours but he is using his venue to voice his and we need a place in the area to be heard also. Maybe atleast if he gets enough views posted on there site or sent to the editor maybe someone will wake up and hire somebody not as biased or at lest willing to print both sides

[JP]

Paul

I don't think we are that far apart. You mentioned that you "like" the NPAA. I do not have a problem with anyone at the NPAA, I am sure they are good people. I just believe that they do not have their priorities and/or focus in the right direction. I do believe they give alot of lip service and will be happy to listen to your problem. However, they do not seem to have a the best interest of a unified group in mind in their effort to resolve and/or move a sport forward. They "play the fence" better than any association I have witnessed. When they should clearly be on one side of the fence they do nothing sending a clear message of a unorganized, powerless, association that can neither make a decision or act on one. This troubles me.

The NPAA's position should be clearly spelled out before situation's arise. Therefore their reaction and effort is not only expected but definitive and concise. Right now we have an "anglers association" that does nothing on really hard, troubling situations. PETA would blow the NPAA out of the water. Would you feel comfortable sending the NPAA to Washington to testify along side PETA? Are you kidding me? That would be the end of tournament fishing. Same goes for tournament circuits and the NPAA. They are a lame duck association that has absolutely NO power. If I ran a tournament series, I too would support the NPAA and hope they continue to do business as usual. For your points on their efforts in SD and MT, that is easy stuff. Those type of things should be business as usual efforts that could be handled by administrative asst. corresponding with local, state, and national officials.

What will make a US Congressman and or US Senator listen to the NPAA? If the NPAA were a force within their interest. If they carried the power and pull of a unified front. How do you get this? First, you win the respect and confidence of your constituants. By making a stand, making tough decisions, and doing everything earthly possible to protect your associations best interest you will do this. The NPAA has had several opportunities this year to do this and everytime they ran and hid. Therefore they are not right for the job. Once again, I am sure that Charlie and others at the NPAA are good people who lend an ear. But the game has gotten tougher and we need a player. The NPAA has had their chance and they fumbled.

JP

[AquaMan]

JP, I am very impressed with your collective insight and well written prose. You sound like the man for the job, honestly!

Your points are well placed. In order for any organization to be effective at making change, they have to gather momentum on a common topic of issues and develop the constituency to support that cause. Further you need the people to direct that cause to the right ears and the money to provide the grease. Get in line...

Unfortunately we, as sportsman, are divided on so many topics that focusing a beam of light at the capital is merely lighting the grass in the corner of the front lawn.

Our associations and beliefs are so varied that to expect one group or another to speak your words is difficult in not impossible.

The NRA, Ducks Unlimited, Wildlife Forever, Sierra Club, Pheasants Forever, The Grouse Society, Turkeys, Elk, Moose, Deer, Walleye, Bass, Trout, Geese, Flowers, Guns and so on. My buck can't carry my voice to where I want it any more and if it got there I am not anyone is listening anymore.

You should not expect the NPAA to be your "David" unless they agreed to that in the first place. The article written above is a opinion from a simple writer who's merely "going" with what he thinks is right. Although some of you feel he is a turn coat, there are still a lot of fisherman that are not behind tournaments and further more that subscribe to NIMBY.

With that said, trust in the RLC's decision to avoid more conflict than was worthy and head to the next tourney with the best of luck.

Pick your battles!

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

Eric@crowncomputerinc.com

[Eric_WI]

I don't think that anyone has stated that Mr. Lamb doesn't have a right to his own opinion. The injustice here is that he used his "position of authority" as the local sports writer and inaccurate information to influence the popular opinion about the tournament.

Eric

[JP]

Aquaman

Very well said. You are obviously a man of thought.

Thank you for your kind words. The angler will pick his destiny not one person.

JP

[Eyecatcher]

Was Chris Bahl going to fish this event?

[Paul Hammer]

Hear!! Hear!! This has been a good conversation. JP I appreciate your comments. Very well thought out comments about the NPAA. Just food for thought JP. I was looking over the new NPAA website and it has a news section now. In that news sections it tells of a survey that is coming out in the next newsletter. The survey is in there to accomplish the goal you are talking about. How to unify the thoughts of the organization and direct the NPAA to the common goal of the oganization.
Aquaman. I think you hit it on the head. In an organization, you cannot please everyone. It can be hard to keep a straight line on the thought process.
I do appreciate the comments. One thing though JP, I think the NPAA deserves a little credit on their work in SD and MT. I do not think just anyone could pull it off. They use the numbers of the NPAA members to get these things accomplished. I feel they had the interest of the anglers on the forefront on these issues. You can call it a start in the right direction.

Paul Hammer

[fishinfool]

Heaven forbid a town the size of Lacrosse has a 100 people with boats and licences come to the town and decide to buy, bait , licences, motel rooms, gas and food then these poor people catch some fish. Maybe they will make all the vistors donate there fish to the food pantry , have Bob Lamb filet them and then maybe Bob and the rest of Lacrosse can get a meal out of it. Maybe they should just put up asign if you dont live here dont fish here just buy bait, gas , licences spend your money in our malls but then get the heck out of dodge if you want to eat those fish. Who cares that the state has one of the highest costing out of state licences, how about a refund for the fools that prefished the area nd didnt keep any fish

[bob oh]

I did not mean to imply that you wanted to silence Lamb, but a lot here did...read the post below yours. However, he DID NOT cancel the tournament, RCL did. If they did it because of this one story they need a lesson in backbone...if they did it because they felt it was the best to do...hurray for them. What I can't understand is that if they said they cancelled for the resource why are so many of our "conservationists" fishermen upset that they felt it was best for the resource to cancel...don't believe them???? I am sorry that it seemed that I aimed the silence thing at you, I ddin't mean to because I just saw you saying that you wanted your side presented -- I agree with you and would be amazewd if the Trib didn't allow someone to disagree.

Bob

[frustrated]

I think a lot of people dont understand that the trib is basically the only game in town they play favorites to the max. They made no mention of the local kill tournaments going on. Bob has been riling up people for years and working with his click. I personally know of 5 people who called the trib and asked for the views to be printed on there opinion page 2 of them buisness owners but to no avail. Bob did a lot of calling and firing up people on his own not only with his article and made the mistake of contacting someone he didnt know was working with the RCL to make it a good tournament. If one of his chronies was running the tournament he would of had nothing but good things to say.

[Dave in Mpls]

Thanks, eyecatcher...

I needed a good laugh before leaving the orifice!!

Regards

[Chris Bahl]

Dave in Mpls and Eyecatcher

I was going to fish the event in LaCrosse. What is your point? Who are you? I don't know where you two are headed but feel free to e-mail me at teamstizo@home.com, let me know who you are and what your issue may be. It will be interesting to see if either one of you have the courage to do so.

JP, AquaMan, and Paul Hammer

Great points, good conversation.

Chris

[Kelber]

Coward (aka Eyecatcher)

For the record, I notified Chris of your cowardly statement. I would like to hear your intentions in person. Our paths will cross. You should be banned from this site for good.

Jason

[Chairman]

Just what is it that the NPAA is supposed to do? The RCL is a private corportation with all the decisions made by their executive board. The NPAA has no right to tell the RCL or any tournament anything. They could discuss rules and policy, but they have no real power to make any demands. They had no reason to consult the NPAA or any ot the anglers who had signed up to fish the tournament. It was a business decision for the best of the RCL and the tournament anglers.
As a new member of the NPAA board of directors, I am going to do my best to see what the membership wants and where they are headed. Remember it is easy to throw your money at a club and then sit back and complain. The NPAA will become stronger as the members get involved.
If any of you have ideas on how to make the NPAA a better organization, feel free to contact Charlie Moore or any of the board members with constructive suggestions.

Bruce DeShano
NPAA #6

[Skeet]

RCL gave the SBWC the job and responsibility of taking care
of the fish. It was the clubs fault - NOT enough help, not enough
tanks and didn't seem to care. I saw many bags of fish laying around with live fish
in them flopping around. The club didn't seem to even care
about releasing any fish. The club dropped the ball on
the RCL big time. SBWC took the responsibility, then failed, then
tried to pass the buck and blame the RCL. IT is a fact. Ask
Sonny Reynolds.

[walleye man wonders]

Very well put Skeet. And was there an ulterior motive behind certain club members to do this. Its awfull funny that when the PWT comes town they get all the help they needed and more. Is that because a certain member of the club worked for the PWT. Why did certain members of the club take media individuals personally and show them faults that were going on yet these faults were directly the responibility of the SBWC through there negligence they did not provide the service promised to the RCL yet the RCL fulfilled its obligations to the club as far as providing materials free of a charge.

[skeet]

Wonder NO longer walleye man your 100% right. I believe the
plot was to make the RCL look bad or even to fail! Just my
personal feelings. I even saw write ups stating the fault was
RCL! WRONG! Email me walleye man

[Dave in Mpls]

Chris-

That comment was certainly not meant to be directed at you, either directly or indirectly. I sincerely apologize if that is how it came across. Check your email

Regards

[Embarrased to be from La Crosse]

La Crosse is resembling Madison more and more every day. The NAWA Anglers were treated like #####, as were the Red Man All American anglers a few years ago. Rumor has it that some of the local bass anglers started this, but I haven't confirmed that yet. It may get ugly, considering how many bass bit the dust at Catfish Days and Everstart this year. As for the Bob Lamb article ... I'm not surpised, he always goes for the easy story. I call him Mr. Obvious, no imagination whatsoever.

Move the tournament up to Winona, that's where I'm going as soon as I can find a house there.

[Local tournament angler]

On the Mississippi River in June July and August it is absolutely the case...go check it out. Bear and I have been fishing under these restrictions since they were imposed. Why do you think The MWC has the Pepin tournament in September, and the Championship on the river in May and now October???

[Sunshine]

I'm hearing the same thing around the state, that it was cancelled because a handfull of local bass anglers made several threats to the RCL organizers on Tuesday and started a petition.

I think that the organizers did the right thing for the long hull but this sure hurt a lot of people. This not only gives La Crosse a black eye but also hurts the image of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin DNR, tournament fishing in general and the RCL.

[yum yum]

If I sent in my favorite recipe of pan-fried smallmouth with Newberg Sauce do you think he'd publish it ???? Oh yeah, the 6 lb'ers taste great baked.

Yum yum.

[Embarrased]

Yes they did - I wouldn't come here either

[Embarrased]

Yes they did - I wouldn't come here either

[Sunshine]

Why didn't the PWT return to Madison WI the second year like they were supposed to? Because the fishing wasn't as good as they expected? How were they treated? Everyone likes the Red Carpet rolled out for them and they want to feel welcome. You can over look slow fishing when you feel good about yourself, your organization, and the entire experience. But when the treatment of staff and fishermen don't meet your expectations along with the fishing why should you come back.

This all sickens me for several reasons with many of them being personal. But I'm from Wisconsin and I'm usually proud of that fact. Right now, I wish the state was projecting a more positive image.

[walleye world]

When people such as Mr. Lamb use there venue of media coverage only for the good of themselves this is what happens. WE as a whole have to stick up for what we believe in. Bob in his article made no mention of the fact there were local tournaments going on at this time. Did he bother to find out if they were catch and kill no. We all need to do what I have done not only write to letters@lacrossetribune.com but to his editor, the Local convention bureau and all the poor buisness that lost tons of money becuase the RCL backed out becuase of unwarranted pressure by Mr. Lamb and his cronies. If the fishery couldnt handle it the DNR should be doing something about it . Is Lacrosse telling visitors come to our city, buy our bait, gas, motel and licences but only let the locals keep the fish. LAcrosse is a large city and I would estimate that during a week they have a lot more out of state plates at the ramps do they tell those people fish but dont keep!! If this is the case they need to post signs fishing prohibited and start checking there own locals as I see many of them sit by the dam on a daily basis get a limit and go home and then come back again. I probably spent more in gas and bait upther this year then they pay in taxes.

[Chairman]

I saw a lot of "PRO" anglers standing in line with a bag of fish sitting on the hot cement and no water in the bag. At a 8oz penalty for each dead fish, I would have thought the "PRO" would have waited until the tank was available for his fish. I know I did and weighed 5 live healthy fish. Don't put all the blame in any one area. I feel this new circuit will make the changes necessary to keep the fish alive. In fact, Sonny has already implemented a rationing system with the bags so you will not have a bag without a tank to set it in. Give this group a chance. Again,k the media used this to sensationalize something that happens at every event. Why the RCL wsa singled out is anybody's guess.
Chairman
NPAA #6

[219guy]

I am having a diffacult time trying to understand who was fishing on the pro-side that apparently has never used a weigh bag? Is this a new concept to some out there? Is it a new concept to some "pros" that fish need water in order to stay alive? In 13 years of fishing tournaments, I have weighed a grand total of 7 dead fish. (Out of 10 total caught:-)) It hasen't been tough.

[Skeet]

Like the above post says. I know where the blame goes. I talked
to Sonny Reynolds about it. Check with Sonny before you say
don't place blame! Facts speak for themselves.

[Skeet]

Mr Chairman and I and many people saw the bags of fish laying
on the ground, by the one tank the club had flopping all over. You need not make excuses for this club as I have talked to
Sonny Reynolds you should get your facts straight before you
say don't blame. This wasn't a media thing. It was a drop
the ball thing. Ask Sonny! They sure didn't need this to
happen again.

[Still torked in LaCrosse!]

I just wanted to restate what our loss was as I had written it in a previous post......this will make you really know first hand how sad this whole thing is and nothing has been done about it!

Just another figure to think about. I am the fishing manager at the Gander Mountain in LaCrosse. As a store we have been somehow surviving one of the toughest seasons we've had in the past five years our store has been here. Until last week the river for the most part was unfishable- the water was muddy and excessively high and the fish were dispersed. A handfull of major tournaments were cancelled and relocated due to this high water and thus we were struggling going in for the year. Now, the water has subsided and the bite is good to great with walleyes in the 4lb + range quite common. We were banking on the RCL being an edge to get us back on our feet for the year by bringing the "best of the best" walleye anglers to our area.
We began bulking up stock two weeks ago- thousands and thousands of dollars of Rapala, Storm, Northland, and the like to meet the needs of these anglers. In fact I myself was signed up to fish the event and give anglers coupons just for walking in our doors prior to and during the event.
Now today I had to be the first one to break the news to handfulls of anglers just arriving into town to begin prefishing. I had several guys stand there in utter amazement as I read Bob's article to them- they were in a state of many emotions from steaming mad to in disbelief that they had just drove 400 plus miles to turn right back around. The worst part is many of them just walked straight out the door and never looked back; now that hurt as they were guaranteed customers for the next couple of weeks. I hope a few people take into consideration what a drastic impact the RCL pulling out had on our area and not to mention the amount of work some of us put into preparing for all of the RCL'ers arrival. We were going to roll out the carpet big, but now it's over and maybe in another 7 years they will try to come back or sooner- it's been that long since the NAWA (1994) was here and they got the same crappy treatment!
I think a public appology by Mr. Bob Lamb himself is the least we should expect. Oh- yea I forgot to mention he had a nice walleye recepie on the same front page as the article- hmm now doesn't that make you just wonder his bias! Pro bass- I think so!

Still, Very, Very, Frustrated, Jigemup

[So, there it is...]

it was really a matter of money and esteem for you. I'm glad it was cancelled, and I am from the LaCrosse area. I suppose you wanted the casino that the rest of us voted down too. You know, there was probably a little more wisdom involved in the decision than you can see.

[Crossin' Eyes]

Excellent E-mail! I hope Mr. Lamb chokes on his mouthfull of walleye and tartar sauce when he reads it!

Keep the faith!
Crossin'

[800proX]

well then enlighten us with your wisdom, please. to just come in, rip and run, shows your worth. please, we are giving you nameless, no return email poster a chance. since "you can see", please show us blind people the way.

Sonny Reynolds has spoken to quite a few of us, and it is no real surprise to find out a group of Pro Bass people are the original pot stirrers. Mr. Lamb just chose to use his pen and jot down his own emotions, which obviously reflected those of the group outside of LaCrosse. They seem to think they have some sort of territorial right over the river, which is their agenda I spose.

But really, it seems quite a few of us have done our homework, Mr. So There it is..., and it seems you are an uninformed, self riteous individual unwilling to lay any substantiating claims to your worthless post.

jeff

[wallytap]

MINE! MINE! I,me I,me,me,me,me!.....?

[Crossin' Eyes]

Grow up Mr. "Our Paths Will Cross". I'm just a casual observer and reader of this and other fishing and outdoor web sites. I'm sure there was no malicious intent in the statement.

[wallytap]

There's a number of reasons for not returning to Madison.POOR pre-tournamant advertising (most folks in Madison don't even know what the PWT is).The first home game of UW football (72,000 fans at the game.) This created lower than expected turnout at the final weigh in.The PWT folks were welcomed with open arms, but they seem to be disappointed that the event wasn't front page news everyday....This is a city of 200,000 half of which are on another format in life. The first major COLD front arrived on day one, tough fishin' all week. Alot of grumbling about the numbers of fish here.Championship tournamants are usually held in Sept. the PWT said they couldn't get the weekend of choice the second year and they pulled out.They are welcomed back at anytime!

[You had your say...]

I'm entitled to mine. Get over it and grow up.

[800proX]

yup - once again proved your worth here - absolutely ZERO. nice contribution to society you are.

jeff

[Well,]

Your the one doing the name calling. At least I didn't lower myself to your level. The tourney is history, I'm glad, your pouting. ha, ha, ha

[800proX]

and what name is that? please - enlighten us to point it out. you could not establish your previous claims, now all is there for everyone to see, so please point out the name you were called.

i am done wih all this. it is not that anyone is pouting, just disgusted with the outcome, as it seems most are.

jeff

[jigemup]

In fact NO!, I voted not for having a casino and what the ##### does that have to do with fishing other than "your" fish may be threatened. That is the reflection I get from the local nieve people who for the most, never been at a tournament other than one with themselves. Please leave a name or e-mail address if your such an advocate for the "preservation of your fish". I would be willing to bet you take your share of fish home- especially in the spring full of eggs! You are so typical of the anti-tourney angler- first in line to #####, first in line to negatively impact the resource......it goes hand in hand! I hope the 300+ legal walleyes I released last season feeds "you" and "your family" well.

Dale Radcliffe
jigemup@hotmail.com