Northern Minnesota Tournaments

  • Eric Ahlstrom
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 137
    August 31, 2007 at 2:59 am #1325594

    I was hoping everyone here could help me out a bit. A friend and I are planning on running team tournaments in northern Minnesota next year and we would like your input. There is a huge void of tournaments of any size up there right now.

    I would specifically like your input on which trail to run it through. We would like to hear the pros and cons for all the different trails. We were thinking of Fishers of Men partly because I have been fishing the FOM for three years now and am familiar with it and the people involved with it. What trail do you think will get the most guys out? If you suggest a trail please say why you think that trail is the best one.

    As of right now we were thinking of fishing Leech, Vermilion, Pokegama, Woman, and one somewhere by Brianerd.

    We want to have fun but we do not want to have just a bunch of local guys fishing to have fun. We would like to have fairly large tournaments with relatively high payouts so the guys in Northern Minnesota have tournaments of size relatively close to home. So our decisions will be made in order to do that. We would like entry fees anywhere between $100 and $500.

    I would love your guys input. Thanks

    Eric Ahlstrom

    pperovich
    Ramsey MN
    Posts: 17
    August 31, 2007 at 1:52 pm #604766

    Eric,
    Do your research with the DNR, Leech, Pokegama, Vermilion, they will require you to have special fish hauling trucks to do a live release, and also you will need a live fish tranport permit.

    haner
    Posts: 245
    August 31, 2007 at 2:26 pm #604785

    Quote:

    Eric,
    Do your research with the DNR, Leech, Pokegama, Vermilion, they will require you to have special fish hauling trucks to do a live release, and also you will need a live fish tranport permit.

    I agree. Much research needed. Not just something you can throw together and have a bunch of people show up.

    Eric Ahlstrom
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 137
    September 4, 2007 at 5:19 am #605270

    Thanks for your help,

    This is definitally not going to be something we are just going to throw together. I am asking for information in order to run tournaments next year which is why we are working on things right now. At the moment the specific lakes are not of a huge concern. I am really looking to decide if I will run my own trail or if I should run it through an organization like Fishers of Men or CATT bass or something else. is there any good national team trails out there right now besides fishers of men?

    As for the permit stuff on Leech and Vermillion, Joel Stokka runs the Excel singles tournaments in Northern Minnesota and he had 45 boats for Leech and he does not have a special release boat. His permits are always for 50 boats. I will definitelly be looking into the specifics of the permits

    Any suggestions would be great thank you.

    Eric Ahlstrom

    bait_caster
    Spring Valley, Wis.
    Posts: 142
    September 6, 2007 at 1:42 pm #606163

    There is a book called Keeping Bass Alive that will give all the information you will need to conduct a proper weigh-in. This book was written by Hal Schramm and Gene Gilliand. These guys are very respected in the fisheries community.
    Also get to know your local DNR fish manager. You will need to comply to the Minnesota DNR requirements on your permits.

    You can probably get BASS to send you the book for free. Just fire them an e-mail

    1hawghunter
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 699
    September 6, 2007 at 5:10 pm #606230

    Quote:
    Eric,
    Do your research with the DNR, Leech, Pokegama, Vermilion, they will require you to have special fish hauling trucks to do a live release, and also you will need a live fish tranport permit.

    This is only if you transport the fish from the lake to an off-site weigh-in. You will need a release boat to care for the fish and release them back in the tourney lake.

    excelbass
    Posts: 8
    September 7, 2007 at 2:51 am #606403

    Eric

    You will have to look into a surety bond of $25,000. DNR may have you supply a bond because you are a new permittee.

    Excel Bass will be running a team series named Team Excel in 2008. Lakes will include the ones you are looking to permit as well. Feel free to call me if you have any questions…I’d be willing to offer any advice.

    Good Luck

    Joel

    Eric Ahlstrom
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 137
    September 7, 2007 at 4:38 am #606417

    Joel,

    This year Excel Bass only ran/is running two Team Excel tournaments. One July 15th on whitefish and one Sept 30th on Gull Lake. Will there be an entire series next year of 4-5 touraments? My friend and I do not want to get in the way of the Team Excels but we would like to have a full series for guys up north to fish. It is no fun having to drive all over the state to fish tournaments.

    I have fished several of the Team Excels and some of the Single Excels in the past and that is similar to what we want to do. Two team tournaments just isn’t enough for us. Having more large tournaments up north would be great for everyone up there.

    Please keep me updated on the plans of Excel Bass and expect a phone call from me.

    Eric Ahlstrom

    excelbass
    Posts: 8
    September 8, 2007 at 12:16 pm #606798

    Hey Eric…give me a call. Yes, this year I ran two open charity team events to benefit the local food shelves and to test the market to determine an interest in “buddy” events. 2008 will have 4 events with a qualifing TOC. I working on a new boat deal as well…stay tuned to the message board for upodates > http://www.excelbass.com

    fyi- BASS/ABA will be on Vermillion 8/23/8

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