Eric,

As a matter of principle, we don’t and won’t support any preferential treatment of one group of park patrons over another. Treating small groups differently than larger groups would be giving a preference.

We also do not see a realistic need to alter policy to encourage more tournaments. In reality, we find that nearly all clubs, of all sizes, are limited to holding events on weekends. That is because most of the people who can afford to participate in that rather expensive past time activity can do so because they have a job that provides them to money to play at that level. And that means that they are only available on weekends. And during the period from thaw to freeze, and excluding our closed season from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends, all our weekend dates are usually filled now. There just is not more capacity except weekdays. I think we could offer a much reduced rate, or even no rate, for tournament permits on weekdays and it would not make any real difference. Most people can’t take off their day job to fish. Those who can, enjoy being out there without the pressure.

I do like that you are think though. That is what we need in the mix. And we have decided to take what I think is a very logical step in that direction. We’ve been doing this whole tournament permit thing here for a decade now, and some of the problems just won’t go away. So, I have decided that there is probably no better source of ideas about how to control problems with tournament events than the people who organize and participate in them. For that reason we have decided to hold a public input session at our 2009 tournament permit drawing that will take place here on October 7th at 9:00 AM. The majority of the clubs and coordinators are there together for the drawing and we want to collect their ideas for how to combat what we are calling “bootleg tournaments”, promotion of exotic species hazards, and other issues. I can’t say that all the ideas gained from those experts will be used, but I feel sure some of them will be.

To give others a chance, I’ll accept suggestions and comments about all things related to our tournament policies by mail, email, and even in these public forums. Your per-boat fee idea will be in the mix. Now maybe some of the other guys here will chime in and share what they know, or even what they think.