No Rippen Lips in July and August

This was on the federation Nation Website….

Following some conversation with a number of individuals I emailed Pat Schmalz directly with a couple of questions. Below are exerpts from this email and his response. Pat’s responses are in blue.

If I remember correctly there were criteria for requiring a permit. One of them I read was that a permit was required for a catch and release tournament. I belong to a local bass club and we hold annually 7 club tournaments. The maximum number of boats that we had during any one of our tournaments this year was 11. The club by-laws limit membership to 30 members so there would never be more than 15 boats. Under the existing rules we do not need a permit for our club tournaments.

Under the proposed rules would these club tournaments, which are catch and release, now require a permit?

Under proposed rules you would not require permits unless you have off-site weigh-ins. A permit is required if a live release tournament has an off-site weigh-in.

If the proposed ban for July and August would be passed, would these small catch and release club tournaments under 20 boats be included or exempt from the ban? The July-August ban would apply to all live release tournaments, not just permitted live release tournaments as it is currently worded. Immediate release tournaments would be allowed.

The proposed July – August ban would include ALL club tournaments. If those that don’t fish big money tournaments have been quiet on these issues please speak up if you don’t want our summer club tournaments to go away!!!

Side question here…

If the ban goes into place what will stop these club tournies from using a “paper” tournament format? I know the Walleye Searchers club has gone to that format seemingly without any negative impacts to participation / enjoyment.

Catch and immediate release.

Yeah… catch, measure and release. Points are totalled based on total length of the best 6 bass caught and the top finishers are determined accordingly.

I’ve heard this works great in club tourney situations where there is a boater / non-boater arrangement. This type of bass tourney is held on catch and release bodies of water in the metro here in MN.

I highly doubt even the most strict DNR guy would have an issue with measuring a fish prior to release.

This is just a thought. Some bass guys might not be interested in this type of tournament as an alternative to a weigh in and live release or the dreaded catch and kill.

Ranger may as well start making boats without livewells.

It’s starting to sound easier to head out-of-state where we don’t have to deal with all the rules and confusion…

As soon as I graduate from college….I am leaving Wiscosin and moving down south.

Why would we want to give up our rights? Just to be like Minn-e-hota????????

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Why would we want to give up our rights? Just to be like Minn-e-hota????????

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I live on the clean side of the Mississippi, and I can’t think of one right I’ve given up in all the years I’ve lived here. It’s not MN’s fault your three letters of DNR stand for Dumb ‘N Retarded….

I certainly don’t want to give up my rights which is why even though I currently work 3rd shift and have other obligations most of the day, I will be attending the Sturtevant meeting on Thursday! I am just having a hard time understanding why we as Wisconsinites must continually fight for what other states seem to not disagree with.

Why aren’t the southern states with rivers banning tournaments when the water is likely to exceed 80*F???

This makes no sense and the DNR won’t explain…

You are correct Dave, it doesn’t make any sense at all. Especially with all the great lengths these tourney circuits go through to make sure as few fish as possible die. Even during the hot summer months.