Tournament crowding

basshunter · 04-19-2009, 08:47 PM

I'm sure my opinion regarding tournament fishing is in the minority here but I need to get this off my chest. Once again my weekend angling was ruined by another Bass tournament. My home lake was swamped with 30 additional boats Saturday and Sunday for an exclusive members only tournament. The public launch parking lot was overflowing by 6am (It's interesting how a "members only" club tournament is allowed to monopolize a public launch). Typical pressure on a weekend day is usually from 10-15 boats. Like most Bass anglers I practice 100% catch and release but I still fail to understand how a fishery can sustain this kind of pressure. I reviewed the WDFW fishing tournament calendar to confirm there are 10 more weekend days scheduled for contests this spring/summer.

According to WAC 232-12-168 Sec 3b. .."Fishing contests which adversely affect fish or wildlife resources or other recreational opportunity may be denied."

I'll be renewing my complaint with the WDFW commission regarding the liberal permitting of tournaments. 3-4 tournaments a year...OK. 8-10 tournaments is excessive.

rip n lips · 04-19-2009, 09:17 PM

Just remember how much money those tournaments bring in to the local shops and stores around your lake. I don't know how big the body of water your'e talking about is, but 30 boats isn't that many...There was a bass tournament at Potholes Resevior this weekend and there were 124 boats.

FishNChip · 04-20-2009, 08:35 AM

Before you talk to the WDFW, keep in mind the youth that are passionate about the sport! I am involved with a lot of kids who enjoy the whole bass tournament experience, it seems to be a positive life experience and keeps them out of trouble!

BassinFever · 04-20-2009, 09:25 AM

I live at Lakeside, Ten Mile Lakes! There is no doubt that the tournament thing has picked up over the years. I have been there for twenty years now and have seen a steady rise. There have been club and Open, and B.A.S.S. and all the others from February this year. Every weekend at least one if not four or five tournaments going on.

It seems like a lot, but these lakes are big and I do not think it is harming the fishing all that much. It really does bring in a lot of money to this little community that it needs.

There may be other areas that have smaller facilities that may become crowded though! At least this local area has had the for thought to put in a huge ramp facility and overflow parking at Ten Mile.

I would hate to see anyone call for an end to tournaments.

Yes, I fish a tournament or two a year!

1bigfish · 04-20-2009, 11:34 AM

Greg,

I would not blame this all on the tournament. This was the best weather we have had this so far this year and lots of people headed out to the water. Heck even the Salem launch on the Willy was full this weekend.

The real problem is that Silver Lake just sucks for public parking. Sorry but that is just a fact.

As for the typical pressure on a weekend day only being 10-15 boats. Well I must just go up there are the worst weekends. I was up there twice last year. Both times there were no tournaments and both times there was way more then 15 boats both on Friday and Saturday.

Personally I would not let this ruin my fishing. I would do one of three things. Launch at the resort, wait till they are off the water and fish the late bite, or fish a differnt lake.

I am not trying to sound harsh but it is not like you didn't know this lake host several tournys a year and if you don't want to fish the lake when they are then you can easily plan around them.

And just for the record, I don't belong to a club, the last tourny I fished was more then 5 years ago, I have never fished a tourney on Silver, and I have no plans on fishing any tourny anytime soon.

built2fish · 04-20-2009, 01:17 PM

Tournament fishing, IMHO (or I wouldn't do it and neither would most tourney anglers) does not hurt bass. Sure, heavy pressure may make bass more wary and the fishing more difficult, but hey if you ask me, I'd say that actually helps the mortality rate to fall, based on the fact that wary pressured bass are more difficult to catch for eaters too!

..... And let's face it, it is not like silver lake is a secret or anything, but I can understand your pain. I wish I could have the Willamette to myself every weekend too. At least those were not wakeboarding boats by the hundreds like many of us deal with, even as early as now.

Tar Heel · 04-20-2009, 04:42 PM

I am not a Tourney fisherman and probably never will be (competitive yoga, anyone?), but I do feel that Tournaments on certain bodies of water do mess up the fishing. Some of the "community holes" on the Columbia & Willy are constantly yielding their biggest fish to tournamnets, and there aint no way, no how I'll ever be convinced that the fishers are returning the fish to near where they are caught. In a 20 mph wind or cold afternnon, guys just arent going to bash waves for an hour when they are already exhausted to get back to the hole where they caught the fish. I don't think it hurts "the fishery," as much as "the fishing." There are so many bass in the C and W Rivers it wouldn't have an impact on the overall fishery, but it does displace fish temorarily til the niche is filled again by the "next biggest" fish that winds up in the prime spot. My solution has been to try to find new areas that I don't see other bass fishers at, and sure enough, I tend to catch way more of the 4-5 lb CR fish in these spots than in the well-known community holes where you see boats all the time. That isn't an option on the likes of Silver Lake, but those fish probably end up near to where they were caught anyway.

micropeterous · 04-20-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basshunter

I'm sure my opinion regarding tournament fishing is in the minority here but I need to get this off my chest. Once again my weekend angling was ruined by another Bass tournament. My home lake was swamped with 30 additional boats Saturday and Sunday for an exclusive members only tournament. The public launch parking lot was overflowing by 6am (It's interesting how a "members only" club tournament is allowed to monopolize a public launch). Typical pressure on a weekend day is usually from 10-15 boats. Like most Bass anglers I practice 100% catch and release but I still fail to understand how a fishery can sustain this kind of pressure. I reviewed the WDFW fishing tournament calendar to confirm there are 10 more weekend days scheduled for contests this spring/summer.

According to WAC 232-12-168 Sec 3b. .."Fishing contests which adversely affect fish or wildlife resources or other recreational opportunity may be denied."

I'll be renewing my complaint with the WDFW commission regarding the liberal permitting of tournaments. 3-4 tournaments a year...OK. 8-10 tournaments is excessive.

Any thought that local club tournaments help a local economy need to be thought through a little. Do people really show up and spend the night at a one day tournament? I seemed to have a lot of company when I'd show up for a tournament, sleep in my camper, launch, fish, and leave. If I was fishing Clear Lake I'd invest a couple of bucks at a local car wash and clean the gunk off my boat. I don't think I ever helped out local economies all that much. That said I don't think the fish suffer as they get released and swim on home. As far as the launch issues go it is pretty much first come first served as we all find out when the salmon are running and the launch lots are full by 0700.

basshunter · 04-20-2009, 06:13 PM

I'm well aware that Silver hosts many tournaments per year. In fact I have every event marked on the calendar...and that is just the problem. I would never hold false hopes of eliminating all tournaments. That would be both selfish and unrealistic. I do believe state regulations are too liberal concerning these contests and I'll continue to lobby for tighter regulations regarding fishing tournaments. Silver is a small body of water. Current WAC regulations allow a maximum of 35 boats for up to 2 weekends per month to accommodate fishing tournaments. It doesnt take a math wizard to figure out how much additional pressure a body of water gets from these events. If Bass fishing is growing as fast as everyone believes..then we can only assume it wont be long before the maximum # of events are scheduled. Its no big mystery that the WDFW is great at mismanaging and is rarely proactive considering our F and G resources. ...as far as bass tournaments keeping the kids out of trouble.....I doubt limiting these contests will have a direct correlation to the amount of heroine use in our kids... Tight lines.

RB fish · 04-24-2009, 03:17 PM

I do not know about Was. rules but in Ore. the lakes and pools on the river must have a permit if tournament is over 24 boats and only 6 permits are available per body of water per year. Myself I would rather see tournament fisher person on the water at least the fish will be put back in the water instead of a pan of lard.

Midnghtshdow · 04-24-2009, 03:52 PM

I am a club member and I know what weekend you were talking about. The funny thing is that I fish silver every weekend, and when i got there i had no problems getting a spot!! That was because i was there at 6 am! Early bird gets the worm ya know

Any ways i was on the lake all that day and did not run into but 2 local fisherman boats. I was not in the club fishing either, and for the pressure on the lake all the people on here that have fished silver know that it has always been an not easy task of catchin a bass. And when i club had our open there we made most of the people launch at silver resort. I really dont think the local fisherman have to worry cause they have there top secrete spots