2009.02.06
Debate heats up over "competing" bass tournaments
In my Tuesday column I wrote about how some local bass tournament promoters plan to hold a bass tournament at Smith Mountain Lake at the same time the BASS Elite Series will be here, April 23-26.
The amateur tournament, named Beat the Elites, will operate with the same format, running for four days with cuts after days two and three.
The boater entry fee will be $450, with a top prize of $12,000 based on a 100-boat field.
Well, let's just say I've heard some interesting feedback on this.
Critics say the open tournament is rude and will reflect poorly on the region. Some predict ugly confrontations between pros and locals fighting over fishing areas.
But some amateur anglers point out that other lakes host local contests on lakes during Elite Series tournaments, and claim there is room enough for everyone to fish. They also argue that BASS reduced the potential economic impact by eliminating co-anglers from Elite Series tournaments and say that having another tournament will help make up for some of that hit.
I'm still not convinced the local tournament will come off. Tournament organizers say they need 40 or 50 boats to make the tournament worthwhile. I wouldn't be surprised if they can draw enough boaters, but I can see them having a hard time getting enough co-anglers (at an entry fee of $225) to match up with the boaters.
I'm wondering what others think about the tournament.
Good idea? Bad Idea? And why?
Very interesting article, I've not heard anything about this. Nice Blog I enjoyed reading it.
--Thanks a bunch. mt
Comment by P. Roberts — February 6, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
After attending the Bass Elite last year and speaking to several of the final twelve, my concern is with the amount of boat traffic these guys had to contend with. It appeared that everyone who owned a boat was on the water on that particular weekend, which made it pretty precarious for our guests. After all, it's my understanding that a hefty fee was paid by Franklin County/SML to lure them here for economic impact, aside from the multi-million dollar advertising campaigns to stimulate tourism and revenues.
The locals sometimes wish we could go back to the way it was before when nothing was "elite." I miss Camper's Paradise, to me and others, that was the true essence of the lake and now it is gone forever....instead we have 15.00 tossed salads.
Can we at least agree that all anglers, businesses and residents should strive to promote preservation and conservation of our local resources and study the DGIF Management Plan for SML and be aware of any potential negative impact this rapid growth has on the future of the fishery?
You could make an argument to support either position, however, the golden rule should apply to all involved.
Comment by Angie Behan — February 6, 2009 @ 8:42 pm
Just to stir the pot.
Comments that I have heard in the last two days include the following:
"These guys are just ticked off because there will be no co-anglers in the Elite Tournament."
"Their economic impact theory is laughable."
"My brother plays golf, so I guess he should be allowed to play alongside of Tiger Woods in the next Open to see how he stacks up with the big boy's."
"This is just rude, they should hold their Amateur Tournament on another weekend and stay out of the way."
"I don't think the BassMaster's appreciate this at all."
"The fee's and payout don't add up."
"It's gonna be a mess out there."
These comments came directly from several area bass fishermen.
Has anyone else heard any feedback?
--Thanks for the comments, CH. I'm hearing plenty of feedback. But everyone is afraid to go on the record. I'm going to see how this shakes out over the next few weeks and then revisit the issue. mt
Comment by C.H. — February 9, 2009 @ 7:41 pm
$100.00 Float tuber in championship
Tournament fishing is often perceived as a run-and-gun sport of fast, flashy boats, but one B.A.S.S. Federation Nation angler is proving that it doesn't take big money to be successful.
"I just have an old round float tube I bought for about $100," California Federation Nation member Pat Wilson told BASS Times.
Wilson is just one step away from the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, having secured a berth in the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship next month on Kansas' Milford Lake. If he places the highest among Western Divisional anglers, he moves on to the Classic.
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/federation/news/story?page=b_bt_Fed_float_tuber
Wilson will represent California in the Federation National Championship. The float tuber will compete in a boat.
The 38-year-old police officer, who didn't fish a tournament until he joined the Sonoma County Belly Boat Bass Club in 1994, credited his success to the time he's spent in a tube.
"It really makes me methodical," Wilson said. "If fish aren't biting where I'm fishing, I can't just run to another area. I really have to pick my spot where I'm going to fish and pick it apart."
And while anglers on boats can carry almost unlimited amounts of tackle, float tubers have very limited space. "I like to have four rods: I just stick them on my lap and I look like a porcupine," Wilson said.
Surprisingly, that's exactly how he approaches tournaments fished from boats, such as pro-am formats in which he has won several boats.
"When he steps on the back of a boat, he generally has three or four rods and a handful of baits," said Rich Caro, president of the Sonoma County Belly Boat Bass Club. "He keeps it extremely simple."
Key to this simple approach is knowing a fishery long before competition begins.
"I research the time of year I'll be fishing, the predominant species of bass I'll be fishing for and the lake I'll be fishing, and that really helps me determine what I'm going to be doing once I get there," Wilson said.
Although most of Wilson's time is spent kicking around in his tube, the angler has captained boats in team tournaments and other pro-pro events.
"He's very comfortable running a trolling motor," Caro said. "He's got a lot of experience with a boat, even though he chooses not to own one." He added that Triton Boats will provide a boat for the Federation Nation championship event.
Caro said he can't wait to see how far Wilson can go.
"Twenty-five years ago, I would have never thought our club would reach the level it has and that one of our members would make it to the Federation Nation Championship," Caro said.
Caro said he wouldn't be surprised to see Wilson in the Bassmaster Classic.
"If anybody can do it, this guy Pat can," Caro said.
California Police Officer Patrick Wilson will be participating in the Bassmaster Classic 20-22
Why haven't Roanoke Valley progressed to this level?
Comment by Static Lines — February 15, 2009 @ 12:00 am
Tailor a skirt for old lures
remove the old skirt from a spinnerbait and replace it with a 3 or 4 inch grub. Pull individual strands from the old skirt and strands from the old skirts and thread them through a large sewing needle, making sure there is a long end and a short end.
Push the needle through the grub and pull the short end of the strand out of the needle eye. Instant legs and a different look to the old spinnerbait might catch more bass.
Comment by Static Lines — February 21, 2009 @ 8:15 am
After viewing your Carp catch video in Virginia Tech Duck Pond Monday, June 04, 2007 and their subsequent draining of the pond due in part of searching for evidence of April the 16.
What is the current conditions of the duck pond and was they able to clean it and reestablish a better fishing quality of the pond or is it still basically stagnant.
--I don't know as I haven't been back since it was drained. Anyone have any insight? MT
Comment by Static Lines — February 24, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
I cannot believe some people actually take these pro anglers so seriously. The one person who commented on "the final tweleve were worried about boat traffic" who cares. sport fishing is about adversity. The top prize in this series will make a bigger difference to the winner than the winner of the Elite series. These guys are fisherman not athletes, not idols, not celebrities, not important.
Comment by Jay johnson — February 25, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
Mark do you have a current fishing report for New River and Claytor as well as depth fish are being caught.
--I was there a couple weeks ago and we caught some nice yellow perch off the bottom in about 25 feet of water on minnows. You might contact Mike at Rock House Marina (http://www.rockhousemarina.com/) to find out the latest. mt
Comment by Static lines — February 27, 2009 @ 12:56 am
June 5, 6, and 7, 2009 have been designated as Free Freshwater Fishing Days in Virginia. No fishing license of any kind will be required for rod and reel fishing in freshwater except in designated stocked trout waters on these days. Plan some time to go fishing and boating; take the family fishing and boating or learn to fish and boat! See our Where to Fish section to get started!
Don't forget that June 20, 2009 is the deadline for submitting photos to the Kids 'n Fishing Photo Contest!
Comment by Static lines — February 27, 2009 @ 9:23 am
If you are going to quote me, please quote me accurately. I believe it states in part, "my concern."
(Consider the definitions of idol, celebrity, athlete and adversity in the dictionary. You may re-think your position.)
If you feel compelled to be on the water during the Elite or congested holiday weekends, safe boating practices, and common courtesy must prevail for everyone. Actually, we do care!!
Boat Safe/Boat Sober and Be Happy!
Comment by A.B — March 8, 2009 @ 1:10 am
Mark,
I am very concerned about this competing event against the Bassmasters Elite Series. First off I feel sorry for the people involved with local chambers of commerce, visitors and convention bureaus, etc. These people have placed thousands of dollars and hundreds and hundreds of hours to place a positive impact on the region. Now due to some well maning yet miss guided people there is another tournament to directly impact the elite anglers.
As a tournament angler and organizer for over 25 years I hope that the state agencies directly involved revoke or require that this amatuer event either move to another lake or date. I understand and feel for the reasons given for the competing event. I just feel that there are other ways to get our point accross. The potential for negative publicity is enough to stop the event and reconsider.
Comment by Dan Miller — March 28, 2009 @ 9:37 pm