Tournament weigh-in

[Fishingdog]

After seeing all of the posts and issues regarding slot limits and culling in tournaments, has there ever been discussion about using a different method to weigh fish? What is the possibility of going to a strictly length scale for competition?

At the beginning of the tournament day one, official tags would be presented to each contestant. These tags would have a number and date with an emblem that could not be duplicated for forgery purposes. Each day a new tag would be presented. Tournament officials would issue a scale to each contestant that would be used for the official photograph. Each contestant would therefore be responsible for a digital camera that would be required to meet specific requirements. Photographs would be taken of fish with the official "day tag" and the fish would be released immediately. The digital photographs would be submitted to the officials at weigh-in for official recording. These would be entered into the official weigh-in computer.

Obviously there is fear of someone messing with the pictures but the tag would help keep things honest as well as the cameras would be submitted when they arrive at the dock.

With this method, very few fish would die, there would be no issue with laws regarding slots, and tie breakers, (where ties are more possible with length measurements), could be broken with a fish beyond the quantity used for the tournament.

Not trying to heat things up here, just thought this is a great method to fix many of the problems associated with tournaments. It does take a little away from the weigh in but maybe a big screen projector could display each catch of the contestants when they are entered officially into the computer.
....just a thought.

[Paul Hammer]

Not a bad idea. But, the problem is you cannot get around slot limits. Any time you put a fish in your boat, that fish is considered kept by law enforcement. Hence, the slot limits go into affect.
You might be onto something though. Nice to hear the thought.

[FJH1]

No offence, but do they (DNR)expect you to un-hook a slot fish in the water without bringing it into the boat? If you can't measure the fish how would you know it was or wasn't a slot fish? I think he has a solid idea, catch the fish, flop it on a measuring device, snap a digital with the tag, release the fish. Probably needs some refining to reduce the possibility of cheating, but not a bad idea.

Best Regards,

FJH

[Walleye Jason]

At the Governors cup here in Washington we use a length to weight conversion rather than the traditional Actual weight.

There is a slot limit on Lake Roosevelt 16"-20" must be thrown back. But because our tournament boats are required to have a "contestant Banner" we are able to keep the slot fish in our boats. Tournament rules state that you cannot keep more than 5 fish in your livewell at a time. Once you have 5 fish you must "weigh in" There are sevral weigh in boats anchored strategically within the tourney boundaries.

Once you find a Weigh in boat, they measure and record the length of your fish on your scorecard. Then the fish get released, and you are free to catch 5 more fish. Then at the score table they take the 10 biggest fish, and calculate the length to weight conversion.

One bad thing about this format is that it requires several volunteers to man weigh in boats.

I think this works well, but you need to have many volunteers

[Gumbo]

We had a local c&r bass tournament where boat partners were competing against each other and each had to validate the other's catch. Kept it honest.

[Hawgeye]

The environmentalists would like this method much better as well. I think it may be the wave of the future since many lakes are becoming more and more restrictive. This would allow for the fisherman who can catch the most big fish to win. There would be no legal issues since the fish would be caught, measured, photo'd and released.

What is more impressive, a pro that can catch 6 fish that are 17 3/4" such that is true presently on Mille lacs, or the one who can catch 6 fish over 25"? I would say that the latter had the better day. Anyone can get lucky and hit the right spot of small fish but the ones that hit the large fish should be the victors. It may remove some of the pros strategy for which fish to keep and which fish to toss but it is definately interesting. I would love to see a PWT event try this!

[Upnorthwalleye]

I think it's a great idea but------What would happen to the weigh-in's??? This is why people show up at the weigh-in's---to see the fish that were caught during the day----I don't think it would have the same impact with Dig. photos vs. the real fish being pulled from the live-wells-----See ya Ray