Tourney fisherman please read this

I am addressing this to the tourney guys on pool 4 and also to anyone else that this applies to. I was down fishing the day of the tourney and I gotta tell the boys in the contest (if this doesnt apply to you,kindly disregard) had nothing but no respect for anyone else on the water. Shooting through the channels and rocking the hell out of everyone else just to be the first one to wherever they were going with no respect to others. It’s actions like this that urine off people and give the tourneys a bad rap… Lets have a little more respect for each other and like I said this is also directed to anyone else who does the same crap to others.

this is why i dislike tourneys….your honest everyday joe trying to have a good day on the water gets blown by by some a-hole w/a 225 on a 19 foot boat in a channel 30 feet wide…..i honestly dont think that any tournament is that important..and i honestly dont see ANY need for them but thats just my opinion

I would partilly agree. There are a small number of people that may foresake common curtisy during a competition. However, I see just as many, or even more, non tournament anglers and pleasure boaters doing the same things and worse on busy weekends down there. You have to keep in mind that the river may not be all that wide in areas and if you are running the back channel you need you keep it up on plane in a lot of areas. Also,at this time of the year, its the only game in town for walleye anglers. Head to MIlle Lacs for the opener and you’ll see the same and worse on a lake 10 miles wide.

Put me down for asking for courtesy all around… Ive had less problems with tourny anglers than I have had with regular fisherman (of course they outnumber tourny anglers considerably!)…. though I understand that your fishing the back channel and most anglers NEVER take their boats through there…. I would say that with increased awareness about the fishing in the back channel there will be more and more people fishing it and running it…. and I suppose at some point in time there may be accidents as a result…. we all need to show extra courtesy during these few weekends where pool 4 is one of the biggest circuses around….. and maybe if you hear a boat coming at you in the back channel as a courtesy you could move aside a bit and allow them some room to pass… because dropping off plane can be a problem at times.. and can even cause larger wakes than when running at speed….. I have no idea what situation you are speaking of since I was not there, and quite likely you did all you could and still got almost beached….

when it comes to the back channel Ive seldom fished it…. and Ive not had problems being buzzed when I do…. well.. I should say nothing like the problems I have if I venture anywhere near the dam…. let face it, on a nice weather weekend at this time of year on pool 4 if your boat is NOT constantly rocking from the wakes of passing boats the ONLY place you could be is the back channel!! or up the vermillion river….. other than that “surfs up!!”

I wasn’t going to even give this post a secound look let alone respond to it…Because if someone doesn’t have the courage to post there name in their profile I usually do not respond..

However because I am a Tournament fisherman and have been for the last 12 years…I must reply and I know that I am in the minority as a tournament angler..

I have fished Redwing for years..the last few weeks the weekends are a zoo…and I must point out that 2 weeks ago there was not a tournament on the water..There were many boats that would come flying by full wake to bounce you around..I have had guys in 14 foot boats at full throttle come within 10 feet of me..Cause I do the three-way thing and fish alot of middle channel structure and use 10 foot rods so when a boat comes by and damn near takes my rod out I know he is way to close..

The only solution to this in my opinion is to show some respect to your fellow anglers the only person I can change is me.. And I’m sure that I have waked a few people..But for the most part I try to show courtesy to my fellow anglers..

I do not believe everyone in a big boat is in a tournament..

I do not believe every tournament angler is disrespectfull.

And If it wasn’t for tournament anglers your boats, equipment, and techniques for fishing would not be as far advanced as they are today..You would not be getting such great information off this board as you do for free..You don’t have too put thousands of hours on the water in all types of conditions,you can just turn your computer on and get some of the most up to date knowledge in this area..and be helped on how to use new techniques…

This is just my Nickels worth..And I am Proud to be a Tournament Fisherman..

Greg Vandemark

Tournament fisherman or not, it don’t matter, I’d rather have a guy blow by me at WOT leaving a minimal wake, it’s here and gone just like that, than some one meaning well and slow down 60ft. from me so he can idle by thinking he’s not going to rock me onto the bank. If I’m heading somewhere fast and see a fisherman up ahead, if he’s far enough to the side I’ll go WOT, otherwise I slow down a long ways away and idle past him. Hope all do the same for me.

Oh, and by the way, you jet skiers, I’ve got some new toys to show you this year. COME ON OVER BOYS

I have to agree that the wake from WOT on full plane is considerably less than the wake from someone at half throttle trying to ‘give ya some room’. With this big old creek filling in from siltation at the rate it is there are numerous places and times that in low water conditions the safest, fastest and maybe only way through a spot is at full throttle and up on plane. While the tournament anglers may have the big boats, motors and fancy toys, they also spend considerable hours running them and they are probably alot safer than the people that venture out a half dozen times in a year and do not know the behavior of the craft they are running…. One of those deals where some courtesy and understanding is key on both sides of the issue. IMHO anyway!!!

Barc

It won’t be long Herb..You know what I saw on Pepin last Saturday a wind surfer!! the water temp is 40 and they were wind surfing…LOL Everyone has there thing for the River..

Just have to have enough room for everyone to get along..

Hey Reefrunner couldn’t of said it better myself…

Fished my first tournament at 8 years old and will never quit

TOURNAMENT FISHERMAN ALL THE WAY AND PROUD OF IT!!!!!!!

Nate Cadwell

One comment I would add to this is how did you know it was a tournament boat?This sounds like a generalization if I ever heard one.From what I saw none of the boats had to display a ribbon or a number so I don`t understand how you could tell for sure.I was on the water in my tournament rig but not fishing the tournament so it could of been me.Don`t get me wrong it is certainly not something I try to do,but their is times that it is going to happen wether it is an accident or a have to situation.Sometimes you just do not see someone fast enough and come off as being disrespectfull.Say by chance you happened to be fishing in the Hay Creek area yes you better expect to get rocked but it will happen even without a tournament going on because it is the end of the no wake zone.Guys have already gone a fair stretch at an idle I don`t expect anyone to go another 1/4 mile to clear the boats.I am a tournament angler no dought and you are certainly allowed to voice a concern here just keep in mind the money generated by a tournament for the community and the local habitat organizations.Every tournament boat passing you buy has probably paid an extra $10,$20 or $30 a boat to go back to the areas fishing resources.So maybe a little boat rock is not so bad if we are pumping $3000.00 a day or more into the waters you are fishing on so it will be good for years to come!!! Let`s keep the peace amongst ourselves we have enough political problems coming down the pipe from anti-groups that truely deserve all of our frustrations directed towards.Negative disscussions after the fact are what gives tournaments a bad name!!Brett

Brett I totally agree. How does one person tell a tournament boat from a boat that is a “weekend warrior”? I fished that tourney and we had no boat markings whatso ever to distinguish us from others. Its this mentality that destroys the credibilty of every tourney angler on the circut. So as I am to believe that you have this uncanny sense that tells you what boat with the “200hp” motor is a tourney boat and what one isn’t? THAT MY FRIEND IS VERY IMPRESSIVE!!! I personally run a 100hp..so does this make me just a half a *$#@%? Secondly, when there is 400 hundred boats crammed into an area the size of a small parking lot, you cant always please everyone. Obviousely you have never been on the croix on the weekends..if you want something to complain about try it out this summer. Thirdly, when I have shelled out tens of thousands of dollars on equipment/boats, buy licenses from more states then most people have visited,and pay my hard earned money from my “day job” you are right too assume that motor will be running wide open when i’m running from spot to spot. I, as most other tourney anglers also, take great pride in my boat handling skills and safety. I apologize for the wake that ruined your day on the water, but if its not the tourney guys then whos it going to be the next time. Remember where you are at…pool 4…one of the most famous stretches of water in the world for hog , spring eyes and saugers. If you want peace and quiet, no wake, and the whole river to your self then maybe you should take up trout fishing.

I would rather fish with 25 tourney boats around me compared to 1 pleasure boater/jet ski. We all have a right to be there,dont point your finger at the tourney fisherman. The uneducated boater will cause more harm than anyone hands down. Mix that with booze and watchout.Just my side of things.John

I hate the big party cruisers with the huge wakes that just gotta come up next to you. The fishermen’s wakes aren’t near as bad.

Dave Gulczinski

John Mannerino makes a great point.

If Fishermen start bashing other fishermen tournament anglers or not, then who is going to listen to us when we collectively complain about the oversized craft that rock the hell out of the entire river. I would rather get buzzed by 200 hp motors all day than deal with annoying jet skis and intoxicated doctors running cabin cruisers all day. So enjoy the non-pleasure boat water season now while it lasts and lets remember that anglers need to stick together and work together out their.

Dido on big party cruisers, if there were only tournament fishermen on the water and no one else we would not be having this discussion because it would not be a problem, give me the tournament fishermen any day!

Just my comments. If the original poster was talking about channels or cuts the situation is different. I know some of these areas in the backwaters are tight but if you run at a slow speed it can be very dangerous and the only way to navigate is to be running up on plane. I know its not fun to get bounced aroung but I’ve spent my time beached on sandbars to know sometimes it can’t be helped.

Tournament fisherman, average joe, experienced angler yadda yadda yadda! I understand certain situations arise where slowing down isn’t the greatest option, but those situations are few and far between. Beyond those “special” situations, if you have no reason to rock me……….

And let’s not start rationalizing nor begin discussion of I am a tournament fisherman so look out, or I am not a tournament fisherman so look out! Blah blah!!! Can you tell I need to go fishing!!! This kind of banter is BS!!!

SHow respect when ever it is possible!

Bye Bye

Jim W

I realize that tournament fisherman arent the only ones who will buzz ya while fishing, but the attitude of some of the guys posting here is where you get a bad rap, “I paid alot of money to fish this tournament so you have to like it when I treat you like SH1T”. I have another example from last year, I went down to lake Mendota to fish the opener last year, cold, rainy lousy day, very few boats on the lake, my partner and I were casting cranks on a flat and along comes this boat pulling planer boards coming straight at us I’m thinking hes gonna turn, nope comes within 20 feet of us I could have netted one of the boards, thats how close he was, yes he was a tournament fisherman, he wasnt in a tournament I beleive he was probably guiding, but his name was plastered all over his boat, I looked his name up on the web when I got back, he was a madison guy and low and behold this guy was twice named sportsman of the year by the MWC, there were also 2 kids in his boat so he was teaching them just what it takes to be a true sportsman. Are all tournament fisherman like this, obviously not but when you have your name and lots of sponsor stickers on your rig I think you need to show more respect than just the average “weekend warrior” because we are worthy of being on the water with you even if we only spent $5 in minnows to be out there.

Jay

If you are refering to my post then say it. Maybe I was misunderstood, but the fact of the matter is I’m not going to go 5 miles an hour for everybody elses sake. there are hundreds of boats on the water and hes sinlging out the tourney guys. Yeah if you were the only guy around then I can see being polite and slowing before and acclerating after your boat, but when iits solid boats up and down the river what the heck do poeple expect. I apologize for the way my post came across, but I refuse to be lumped into group of 3@#$^&&. I am fortunate to be able to afford a large boat with a big motor, but I should not have to be told that I am rude, incosiderate, or unsafe..nothing could be further from the truth….I am finished with this, so lets ALL try to be more considrate of each and others feelings and motivations.

I’m simply gonna put my thoughts here,so if your viewpoint is different,don’t take me wrong please.I started fishing the river about 10 years ago.For a few years,all my fishing was done on the G.A.F.F.Then I started using my dads very shallow 14′ jon boat with a 6hp motor.That was the only boat I had to use,so I used it.Several times i’d like to have been able to walk on water after being “waked” by a person in a larger boat.I have had them dang near run me over,treat me like I wasn’t even there.It didn’t matter what type of boater they were,fisherman,tourney anglers,pleasure…whatever.After a rather bad day on the river(see my post about scariest river experience) I made up my mind no more small boat.Now I run a 17′ deep V.I still sit and watch as big boats run right past the little guys,treating them like they don’t belong there.I fully understand the backwater shallows.I very rarely even venture to the backwaters.I see this poor behavior right in the main channels with plenty of room to spare.Still,they insist on going by the little guys at 1/2 plane.The examples I see have nothing to do with tournament fishing,avoiding shallow water hang ups,or even being intoxicated.The most flagrant example of this is,in my opinion,just poor additude towards fellow fisherman.They don’t care if your in a big or small boat.Sometimes I think you should be required to fish out of a shallow jon boat with a 6hp before going to anything larger than 16′ or 40hp.Just use common sense and treat everyone with some respect.As for the jet-skis,I do think the season is open now,and there is a daily bag limit of 10!

Some observations from two weeks ago on Pool 4 at Redwing.

Many boats on the river, I think a tourny was being held but not relavant. I saw small boats(flat bottom) which seemed overloaded being within a few inches of water entering boat. Below the Y, boats were lined up across the whole channel preventing ANY traffic from going through without coming to a complete no wake and weaving through the boats. Rules being violated? You be the judge.

I fish Lake Hallie in Eau Claire which was changed to SlowNoWake after canoists complained of boat wakes nearly swamping them. Should I care? See rules below.

If you feel someone is violating the law, utilize the numbers on the boats and report them.

The tournies or big boats are not creating all the problems-just the people. There is limited open water fishing opportunies at this time of the year when everyone wants to get out. The upper Chippewa River was closed to year-round fishing a few years ago. I would stay local even if it was catch and release thru May.

BTW, WE Warrior if your wondering.

Boating Regulations.

It is unlawful:

-To operate or use any boat, or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane or similar device in a careless, negligent, or reckless manner so as to endanger his or her life, property or the life, property or person of another.

-To operate any boat beyond the safe carrying capacity of passengers or cargo or to equip a boat with propulsion in excess of its safe power capacity, taking into consideration existing operating conditions.

Interestingly, some of my worst experiences have been at the boat landings, one in particular that still eats at me today how someone could be such an a_ _. His offspring will obviously extend the poor sportsmanship attitude that punishes the rest of us.

enjoy the time you have now. The cruisers are coming!

Only a limit of 10 jetskis Riverratt? How do you ever expect to bring their population under control like that? LOL I understand they got as much of a right to be there as we do, but sometimes they are just flat out annoying and/or dangerous.

Maybe the limit was 100,can’t remember.LOL.My opinion is the jet skis themselves are fun.It’s the idiots that feel the need to buzz in circles right next to fisherman that makes them a problem.I’d venture to guess those same idiots are the ones giving “tourny” fishermen a bad rap by running their boats so close to other fisherman for no reason.Also the same ones that run you off the trails on your sleds or ATV’s.Overall,if what your doing doesn’t seem right,it most likely isn’t.

I think some people have a warped sense of “humor”… the place Ive seen it most often is fishing the pilings of the stillwater bridge…. Ive had many pleasure boats leave their “track” and come plowing right by me… I would swear they are intentionally trying to swamp me as I have just a little 14 foot boat… Ive lost plenty of skin on my hands trying to keep my little boat from been SMASHED on the cement pilings by 3-4′ wakes….. MAYBE these people are just the biggest airheads in the world and have no idea what they are doing? fortunatly its RARE that a fisherman will do ANYTHING like that to me in that area or any other……

HAAA!

Watch out Rivereyes,Now I know you have a 14 footer!!!!

I just wanted to share this story. I know there are more of these stories out there..And the Butt-Heads stick in our minds longer.. Ok here it goes.

It was a few years ago..I was fishing with my five year old nephew ( Mike ) …We were working a mid channel hump with three-way’s down in the Wabasha area in June…On a Saturday dumb idea on my part…Any way it gets like the ocean around 10:00 am..He had taken a 7.5 lber..We were making another run..I noticed a big Crusier coming throwing a huge wake,I told Mike to hand me my life vest and to sit on the floor in front of me..To my surprise this guy shuts down a hundred yards away and watches us as he comes by,,We both waved yelled Thanks and quit fishing that spot until the next early am….So some of those skipper’s are GOOD Guys

Just one of my little tidbits…….. and not everyone is a Butt-head…You Know I don’t think I’d be as Grumpy if I lived in lakecity……..Ha

I think most of these guys have never fished before and that is their major problem. They don’t know or care what they do to us when they roar by. It becomes impossible to fish the minnesota side of the lake on the weekend because of these guys. You are right though, some of them obviously understand they are a problem and watch out for fisherman, but not enough.

labsrule

hmmmm… well… ReefRunner.. sure you know I have a 14′ boat.. and rare they are these days…. but rarer still are guys wearing live animals on their heads!!… so my feeling is my keen eyesite will easily pick you out of the crowd…. shoot…. your probably ducking constantly as the Eagles swarm down for an easy meal!!……

I heard that ReefRunner hit that animal with his boat driving to fast in a tournament and he wears it as a trophy!

To many of us blow of cruisers that come so close and pound us with a huge wake, as idiots who just don’t know any better. You’d be amazed at how many of them harass fishermen for sport.

About 10 years ago a woman I worked with was telling me about how her husband (38′ boat) and his friend (56′ boat) would head out on the St Croix Saturday AM and see who could make the most fishermen sit down in their boat.