Question about KDFW and tournaments

Who,if anyone, decides the # of tournaments on a lake on a given day? Is there a limit for the # of boats in these tournaments. Can someone just start a big fish tournament and pop 500 boats on the lake w/out some kind of permit. I'm not bashing tournaments, I fish in a few opens myself, but with the popularity of bass fishing rising like it has the past few years some lakes can be strained and very crowded. I really think the KDFW needs to start limiting very large tournaments to a few weekends a year rather than every weekend like at the big lakes. Like I said I'm not anti tournament ,I'm usually crappie fishing and not fishing the same water as bass fishermen, but I think it's gotten out of hand.

For tournaments 100+ boats you must have certain permits, besides that you just need the permission by the ramp your going out of. I think that you mistaken though on the # of of touranments out there. The average tournament has less than 30 boats and their only sihing for 5 keepers. I can bet there are 3 times that # of boats at any give lake/river on any give day not fishing in tournaments and yanking unlimited fish out of the water.

Probably the only major issue I see from the affect of tournaments is proper release of the fish and that is getting better every year.

FYI, there's only a few tournament per year in this region with 200+ boats and probably only 20 with 100+ boats.

Matt

Waaaaaay out of hand! :(

Come spend some time at KY Lake. The BIG tourneys have gotten way out of hand. In general I have no problems with tournaments, but it's just ridiculous how many we have around here these days.

I don't think you guys realize that, tournament or not, there's usually always that many people out there fishing! Tournaments just concentrate them all to one ramp and makes you notice it more!!!!! If it bothers you that much, just go to a different ramp, or a different lake. I welcome all the tournaments and tournament anglers to Kentucky Lake because many Marshall County businesses depend on these tournaments.

Scott,

I totally agree, that the businesses depend on these year end classics to extend their busy season.

But you say you are from Calvert City, right? I think I saw that. If you are honest, then you have to be honest.... when there are a 1,000 boats down on KY/Barkley this week for tournaments, that doesn't even come close to an average summer day.

Last year I was fishing the weekend after the MW Classic on KY/Barkley. I got to talking to a resident, and he told me that during that week, he and his wife had counted over 300 boats come in and fish that cove and his dock.

You can't tell me that is average.... and he was quite a distance from their main launch point.


Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

>Scott,
>
>I totally agree, that the businesses depend on these year end
>classics to extend their busy season.
>
>But you say you are from Calvert City, right? I think I saw
>that. If you are honest, then you have to be honest.... when
>there are a 1,000 boats down on KY/Barkley this week for
>tournaments, that doesn't even come close to an average summer
>day.
>
>Last year I was fishing the weekend after the MW Classic on
>KY/Barkley. I got to talking to a resident, and he told me
>that during that week, he and his wife had counted over 300
>boats come in and fish that cove and his dock.
>
>You can't tell me that is average.... and he was quite a
>distance from their main launch point.
>
>
>Tight lines and God Bless
>
>Danny


Very good point Danny. I would not ever want to hurt area businesses, but come on guys, the pressure and traffic from all these tourny's is getting somewhat ridiculous.

Maybe so, but with all of the pressure, it forces you to be a better fisherman. It makes you try to come up with something beyond the usual patterns and in the long run helps add to your flexibility. Sure, you may not like the crowds on the water, but you have to look at the positives and use it to your advantage. Why do you think Dan Morehead, Terry Bolton, and Mark Menendez are so good?!?! They aren't the usual bank beaters that you see out there every weekend, and that's why they can go about anywhere and catch fish! They've paid their dues on Kentucky Lake, and are where they are today because of it. If you can't catch fish when the lake is loaded with people, well then you need to rethink your strategy!

KY lake alone will beat your numbers in the next month. You are way off with big tournaments. They have grown in size and frequency steadily for years. They are absolutely ridiculous on the big lakes.

kc

I agree with your point that tournaments have positive economic impact on the lakes area but there has to be some limits to how many boats can be handled safely in a given area over a given time period. With the reports of 1000 - 1200 boats tournament fishing this week end on KY and Barkley (and this is only the large ones in the count) I would say the limits have been exceeded. How come these tournaments can't be spread out over several weeks? It would seem the economic impact would be the same or even better if it lasted longer. Plus there are major safety issues with that many screaming boats flying down the lake. We have already had incidents down there recently. I wouldn't be surprised if there were several accidents this week end and the sad part of it is that it may include those not in the tournaments. Enough is enough!

I'll be down there this week end but I like the looks of the full moon right now. I be darned if I am going out there during the day with all of the tournament crazies.

kc

All tournaments over 100 boats on KY/Barkley are permitted by your local commissioner. Evidently he doesn't seem to think it's a detrement.
I just wish there was a way of knowing where the big tournaments were launching from and local anglers could avoid those areas and still enjoy the waters.
It can be bothersome but not nearly as bad as having to wait on a few pleasure boaters to load or unload. I've seen 100 boat tourneys launch faster than one buck-eye..........

Amen to that Trex ! I can't stand the buckeye navy or the Illini for that matter........ :)