Artificial Only Walleye Tournaments

  • grubson
    Harris, Somewhere in VNP
    Posts: 1806
    #2315466

    From what I’ve heard from two different bait dealers near me is that pollution from agriculture is the main killer in this area. The streams and ponds just can’t produce anymore.
    Get up north of the agriculture into forested areas and the streams are full of minnows.

    Ripjiggen
    Posts: 12551
    #2315471

    From what I’ve heard from two different bait dealers near me is that pollution from agriculture is the main killer in this area. The streams and ponds just can’t produce anymore.
    Get up north of the agriculture into forested areas and the streams are full of minnows.

    That and the lakes that many were trapped in now have restrictions to not allow it.
    The crack down of bootlegging minnows has also played a significant role.
    Restrictions are the biggest culprit to the bait shortage.
    The restrictions of importing that only Minnesota and Maine have were put in place long before AIS was a thing. 1960 in Minnesota.

    Fife
    Ramsey, MN
    Posts: 4070
    #2315482

    Many NWT and AIM checks were cashed using a nightcrawler this year, but to your point I think minnows were a small contributor.

    I’d fish an artificial only tournament. I also signed up for a tournament that has now banned FFS. I used it in that tournament the last 2 years, but we’ll see how it goes.

    Gary Korsgaden
    NULL
    Posts: 118
    #2315514

    You’re right, banning live bait from tournaments will have no impact on the minnow shortage but I doubt that Gary was inferring that it directly would.

    Excuse my ignorance then what was he inferring exactly? If it was just a discussion on should tournament anglers only use artificial baits why bring up the minnow shortage?

    Well, I have seen first-hand chubs bought and dumped so other anglers can’t get them on the Missouri more than just a few times. Tournament anglers buy large amounts of minnows wiping out bait shops a long way. Anglers’ tournament and nontournament driving a lot miles to get prized chubs. Two main reasons I see to have artificial events only 1) Artificial bait companies would love the tournament pro’s promoting artificial baits. As some have said it is the way of the future. Hard to get bait, shops closing the business just not profitable anymore. 2) Would take the blame off the tournament anglers, who gets the finger pointed at them for transporting AIS via their bait buckets. As I read this post the majority would be ok with artificial tournament events only. But a caveat here is as I pointed out tournament anglers are good customers for the bait shops, they make the cash register ring. Sales bait shop owners they would not want to lose. Let me point out one of the first meetings when the Minnesota DNR and lake groups were discussing regs, to stop or slow the spread AIS. The MN DNR stood up for the bait dealers and the anglers using live bait. In a couple of instances brought my concerns the regulations posed to bait shop owner’s and anglers that use live bait. Shared my concerns on both sides of the AIS prevention issue. There sentiments surfacing stronger the past couple of years against harvest of fish and game. Thanks for the great feedback

    Ripjiggen
    Posts: 12551
    #2315520

    If I’m not mistaken you can not bring minnows from Minnesota to either of the Dakotas. Not sure why the Missouri River tournament buying up the chubs has anything to do with the minnow shortage in Minnesota. I know it was just an example. However there are already rules in place to discourage that activity. No?

    Are there not already rules in place of transporting minnows in buckets that virtually eliminates AIS transportation.
    Frankly I think AIS transportation has bigger issues than minnows buckets.
    That is another topic for another day.
    Are people really pointing the finger at tournament anglers for transporting AIS via bait buckets? That would be a new one for me.

    I’m fine with tournaments going to strictly artificial only. It is a small percentage of the fishing population, but still don’t think it fixes the real issue of the minnow shortage in Minnesota.

    Why not fix the main issue before restricting others with it would be my question?

    https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/minnesota-minnow-shortage/

    Here is a good article articulating the real issue and a reasonable solution most states don’t seem to have an issue with.

    gim
    Plymouth, MN
    Posts: 18629
    #2315532

    That’s a good article. Detailed and thorough.

    Jimmy Jones
    Posts: 3133
    #2316065

    Isn’t a large portion of the control to keep minnows from other states from entering Minnesota the fear of that hemoragic[?] virus?

    Gary Korsgaden
    NULL
    Posts: 118
    #2316121

    Isn’t a large portion of the control to keep minnows from other states from entering Minnesota the fear of that hemoragic[?] virus?

    Isn’t a large portion of the control to keep minnows from other states from entering Minnesota the fear of that hemoragic[?] virus?

    Part of the problem the article posted here, share a lot about it

    Gary Korsgaden
    NULL
    Posts: 118
    #2316155

    Tournaments have gotten so much better each and every season. Credit should go to the contestants and event coordinators that have pushed for better….

    Gary Korsgaden
    NULL
    Posts: 118
    #2316160

    You’re right, banning live bait from tournaments will have no impact on the minnow shortage but I doubt that Gary was inferring that it directly would.

    Excuse my ignorance then what was he inferring exactly? If it was just a discussion on should tournament anglers only use artificial baits why bring up the minnow shortage?

    Because certain areas tournaments are held blamed for lack of minnows available to be purchased by non-tournament anglers.

    Dutchboy
    Central Mn.
    Posts: 17283
    #2316201

    I would think tournament anglers would welcome a live bait band. I haven’t seen anybody sponsored by Jimmys Leeches.

    KPE
    River Falls, WI
    Posts: 1771
    #2316668

    Starting to think I’m just no good at fishing, I hardly ever catch anything on plastics unless I’m trolling the river with raps.

    Leeches, crawlers, and crappie minnows get me about 90% of all my walleyes.

    I don’t much care what the tourney guys do in all honesty. I recently stocked up on the preserved shiners so I always have something “real” to fall back on in my bag. Hoping to try them out soon.

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