Question about KDFW and tournaments

[mattplapp]

If you read your post, the one that started this it in no way mentioned a specific lake. You never mentioned KY, Barkly, Kincaid or Williamstown. So my point was to the region as a whole I can tell you I am 100% correct from the stance that we as a dealership sponsored over 1,800 tournaments in 2006. I know the average number for each type, weekly, monthly, classic, weekday, weekend and so on. My numbers are solid.

Now if we look at KY Lake and you think that it has too many touranments, well you better think about how many recreational non-touranment anglers are out there. When you come up with a number multiply it by 10. The tournaments are a small drop on every lake. Big ones don't happen M-F for the most part. They don't happen Oct-April and the really large ones you are referring too, since KY Lake is home to a lot of Classics, happen in August-Sept which I'm sure is why this post started.

The tournaments are also helping every other angler. They bring a lot of traffic to the ramps and tackle stores which in turn allows those businesses to improve their offerings to every anlger.

I'm done ramblin now.

Matt

[artcarney_agr]

Matt, you're the man! I've never known such a guy who takes pride in what he does and what he sells! Ever thought about opening a store in Western Kentucky?! We need you there man! Sportman's Edge in Paducah just started carrying Skeeter; I'm not too sure about that place. I talked to one of their sales rep's this past weekend, and he didn't even fish! Oh well, I guess when it comes down to it, Plapp's is the only way to go!

[mattplapp]

Amen Trex. We were having our tournament at Cox Park in Louisiville and I saw the most amazing thing. For about 1 hour we had the honor of watching pleasure boaters attempt to trailer their boats. But the best part came when a boat was appoaching its trailer with about 15-20 feet until it was on the trailer and another pleasure boat actually went in-between the boat and the trailer on plane traveling at least 35-45 MPH. I honestly thought I saw something. We all looked at each other and shook our head in disbelief. We all thought we were seeing UFO's, but then we saw the drivers hat fly off and sure enough he came back. I'd say he was less than 2 feet from a disaster.

You never know what you'll see on days like that.

Matt

[2ozone]

All I can say is I was out on KY lake Today and the north end was nuts. I believe is was just as bad as the summer with the pleasure boaters if not worse. Boats all over the bays and a lot of bonsi milk runs going on.

I agree that the businesses need the income to survive, but the Lake was crazy.

Bob

[mattplapp]

Well you have to look at the number of championships being held. It's tough to pick a date in Sept and Oct to not step on another tournament and everyone wants their classic at the best place, so KY and Barkley are going to get hit hard in those4-5 weeks every year.

Matt

[bullrdr6]

With the size of KY and Barkley they can easily handle the amount of boats that are there at this time. I'm sure most of you know how big these lakes are, and there is a ton of water south that doesn't see boats very often.

I think most people are, including myself, see the number of boats and think that they are all on the north end of the lakes and most of them are. I've got a buddy thats down there this week prefishing for BSWTA and he told me that he's been going south and not seeing hardly any boats.

I'm sure these lakes get no more pressure than any of the other major lakes in the country such as Guntersville, Pickwick and so on.

Charlie

[Danny]

Safty first....

Last year, or perhaps the year before, I was fishing tournament and we were launching out of Mineral Mounds, at the same time, the MW classic was going on out of the "tournament" ramp across the bay. First, some of the MW anglers were launching over at Mineral Mounds... no problem, right? Well one angler got upset at being in line to launch, so he pulled out and passed the entire line... at the same time, almost running over me. Second... going out of the bay, had I not put my boat in nuetral, one of those MW guys would have run over me going out on half plane, instead of idleing.

You'd think those guys were fishing for over $100 grand.

Economic impact, well, these tournaments have had me staying away from the area over the last three weeks. Sure I'm just one person, but Matt says pick a number and multiply by 10 ... LOL... for recreational anglers, but either way, I always buy fuel down there, snacks, drinks, ice, and generally eat at a resturant.

So let's be honest, they are not getting all this as a bonus, it comes at a cost as well.

This is the first year I have ever thought there were too many tournaments on KY and Barkley. I have never seen so many boats out during the middle of the week as it has been this year with all the "Pro" tournaments on top of the locals.

And, I agree that Matt makes a good point about the number of recreational anglers, but most of them are not as good a fishermen as the tournament anglers, excluding myself of course.... I never hurt the fish population... just ask those that have fished with me... LMAO

Let's keep it civil, it is a great conversation, and I have to be honest, if I owned a hotel down there, or a resturant, I'd want no limits put on the tournaments either.

I do believe though, as large as those lake are, it will be hard for them to ever be fished out, but I do believe the pressure does change the fishing, and has changed the fishing. As Scott said, it just means we all have to learn to adapt and learn new fishing methods.

Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

[Lee]

Just do as Indiana is doing....make it so expensive for out of state fishermen that only the Hoosiers fish their lakes.

[noodledancer77]

Interesting topic...

I have a friend that works for KDFWR. We've discussed this question in the past. He said that it has been discussed at staff meetings in the past also.

Managing tournaments is a tough task. First of all, you would never want to discourage a tournament from coming to the area. They bring business to local companies, notariety to the area, and license money to the state fish and wildlife agency (which gets put back into the fishery in terms of management, habitat, and boating access improvement. Many of the big tournaments actually donate a lump sum of money that gets spent on fish habitat improvement on that lake.

It just shows our responsibility as ethical fishermen to spread the importance of safety, respect for the regulations, and healthy handling of the fish that we release!!

FYI, KDFWR does have a website devoted to tournament scheduling. It is optional for tournament directors to report their tourneys, but once they do, you can look on the site to find out on any given days what tournaments are going on, and which ramps they are fishing from. Check out the fishing link on the website at www.kyafield.com.

Tight lines

ps. I'm fishing the tailwater this weekend...no way I want to fight the traffic on the big lakes!

[kc]

I'm not worried about catching fish -- I can hold my own. I have learned to fish around the tournaments to avoid the hassle and get a little peace and quiet while on the water. That moon is calling me this week end.

It just seems nuts to me that hundreds of boats are allowed to dominate and overrun a lake like these big tournaments do all in the name of the almighty dollar. I predict if it keeps up there will be an increase in accidents and bad encounters and something will be done to rein in the madness. They have my vote.

kc

[bullrdr6]

Hoosiers don't even like to fish Indiana lakes. With all the additional boat fees and launch fees much less where does the money go. I live 45 minutes from Patoka but will gladly drive 2 1/2 hours to Barkley or KY to fish. Next year I won't buy a motor boat sticker at all because I won't fish any DNR maintained lakes. Indiana has ruined their lakes and fishing industry.

KY does a fine job monitoring and controlling their industry. Yes there were a lot of big (Pro) tournaments on KY and Barkley this year but as of right now the only "Pro" tournament scheduled for next year is the Stren Series. FLW Tour, FLW Series and BASS Elite are not having tournaments there.

Charlie

[apextrail]

I agree 100 % with you. I too live 45 minutes from Patoka (sounds like I live in the other direction) I drive 3 and a half hours to KY lake.I have not fished a DNR lake for several years due to the ridiculous fees. Politicians preaching "family values" and the first thing they do is jack up fees associated with the parks and lakes. Go figure !