Opinions on Tournaments

[know1]

My real beef with tournaments is really that fishing for money and rushing to compete is completely opposite of why I love to fish...the peace and wonder that is being outdoors and enjoying nature. Fighting for money and rushing around to beat other people just completely defeats the point of fishing in my opinion.

[rdjbobber]

This is a great country we live in to have freedom choice. We can choose to be a tournament bass angler or just a casual fisherman. I like to do both and enjoy both. Spending time with the family catching a mess of gills is very enjoyable for me as well as the kids. Being on the water and trying to outdo friends is also very enjoyable. But I can't remember the last time I won enough money to pay for a 2 or 3 day trip. At best we might have won enough to pay for the room for those days. We do visit the local shops and spend a few dollars while there. It may not be a great amount of money, but I bet the shop owners appreciate it. Dave has a very good business suppling a service on public waters as do countless others. I for one wouldn't want to see him taxed more because if you want to tax someone for using public waters, there would be a long list of occupations that would fall into that category. No matter your choice there is always going to be obstacles. I agree if we would all just treat each other with respect things might be different. i dought we will ever see that.

[bullmerc]

I didn't say anything about shutting down tournaments all together what I said is that the free-for-all that has materialized here in Kentucky needs to be controlled via some form(s) of oversight.
The number of tournaments throughout the state on a weekly basis is staggering. Tournaments tie up parking and ramps at our public waters causing the casual fisherman to either go somewhere else or stay at home. Trouble is on some lakes there will be some form or fashion of tournament held at about every ramp on a given body of water. This leaves the family very little opportunity to go fishing on a weekend.

Tournaments should be defined as a commercial gaming enterperise and should follow the same rules as any other form of gambling in the state. Win a couple thousand bucks at the track or the lottery and see how long it takes the state to stick their paws out for their share. Tournament fishing is no different. You put up your money chancing that you will win more in return. That is by definition gambling.

I have been told that other states do exercise oversight on the tournaments held on their bodies of water through permits and fees. Maybe this is why so many out-of-staters come here to hold their tournaments.

[DJD]

I didn't say anything about shutting down tournaments all together what I said is that the free-for-all that has materialized here in Kentucky needs to be controlled via some form(s) of oversight.
The number of tournaments throughout the state on a weekly basis is staggering. Tournaments tie up parking and ramps at our public waters causing the casual fisherman to either go somewhere else or stay at home. Trouble is on some lakes there will be some form or fashion of tournament held at about every ramp on a given body of water. This leaves the family very little opportunity to go fishing on a weekend.

Tournaments should be defined as a commercial gaming enterperise and should follow the same rules as any other form of gambling in the state. Win a couple thousand bucks at the track or the lottery and see how long it takes the state to stick their paws out for their share. Tournament fishing is no different. You put up your money chancing that you will win more in return. That is by definition gambling.

I have been told that other states do exercise oversight on the tournaments held on their bodies of water through permits and fees. Maybe this is why so many out-of-staters come here to hold their tournaments.

Not sure if I want any tax man in my pocket more than he already is! I'm not into any more oversight by authorities since in my mind there is plenty and asking for more means asking for more taxes.


You know Florida tried to put fees on tournaments back in the late 80's and all the big trails left the state. Alot of money went away as well....

[Duayne]

Folks, I actually fished a tournament last year! I never thought I would but a friend was in a bind and needed a partner so I helped him out. I give the experience mixed reviews. I actually had a better time than I thought I would. It was on a lake I had never fished before, so that was a plus. A minus was it was on a lake I had never fished before.. LOL It was a very hot day last year and we did nodda through the morning, which is when everyone else caught theirs. But we managed to do enough to come in forth. Had four fish and BARELY missed adding the fifth instead of replacing a slot with two fish. I am a very competitive person and found myself in strategic mode when we were catching slot after slot. Took a chance on some deep creek channel bends that ran closer to shore and it paid off a little. Anyway, the funny stuff happened at the weigh in..
These guys were so serious! There was this one guy that was watching the ppl weighing like a hawk. He said something like, "hey, you drained my bag dry and you are leaving too much water in those!" The guy weighing asked him if he wanted to do it. He was like, Heck yes! Well you're not, so just cool your jets. Then it came down to the two five fish limits, but one bag had two dead fish which cost them points and put them in second. Those guys were pissed because one of the winning teams fish looked like it was almost dead and wanted them to take points away. Anyway, I don't know how it all works but it was quite comical to me...

I have no problems at all with tournaments in general.. How some people act is where it causes issues. Might be good to go to low purse picture and weigh type of deals during spawn and really hot weather but I know that won't fly. But some fish should be harvested from most lakes anyways. As to whether they need to cut em back, I have no clue. I don't see them going out of Grider Hill and the bass guys on Cumberland are usually fishing different water than me so they rarely get in my way. As for me, it's way enough just competing against mother nature.

[artcarney_agr]

I didn't say anything about shutting down tournaments all together what I said is that the free-for-all that has materialized here in Kentucky needs to be controlled via some form(s) of oversight.
The number of tournaments throughout the state on a weekly basis is staggering. Tournaments tie up parking and ramps at our public waters causing the casual fisherman to either go somewhere else or stay at home. Trouble is on some lakes there will be some form or fashion of tournament held at about every ramp on a given body of water. This leaves the family very little opportunity to go fishing on a weekend.

Tournaments should be defined as a commercial gaming enterperise and should follow the same rules as any other form of gambling in the state. Win a couple thousand bucks at the track or the lottery and see how long it takes the state to stick their paws out for their share. Tournament fishing is no different. You put up your money chancing that you will win more in return. That is by definition gambling.

I have been told that other states do exercise oversight on the tournaments held on their bodies of water through permits and fees. Maybe this is why so many out-of-staters come here to hold their tournaments.

If they limit the number of tournaments, and the number of boats in those tournaments, then they need to limit the number of all boats on the water overall.

Recreational boaters fill parking lots just the same and bass boaters. I spend more time waiting on recreational boaters than I do bass boaters.

You're crossing lines that do not need to be crossed, and stepping on toes that do not need to be stepped on.

Fishing, whether in a tournament or not, is recreation. If you start putting limits on a body of water, then those limits need to apply to everyone. What next? Applying for a permit any time you want to be on the water ? It's bad enough that people keep trying to tack on boat ramp usage fees!

[cra97]

I believe that this is just the same old people gripping because they never do good in tourny's. The Lakes around here are full of fish. Sure their pressured but if they were as bad as you think the Fish & Wildlife will step in and do some regulating to straighten them up. Chill out guy's and go fishing. Quit worrying about what someone else is doing and you'll probably catch more fish. Read up on fish care in the Livewell and make sure everybody you know gets the same information and our fisheries will be fine. If any of you actually think that tournaments of any kind don't bring money to the local economy's go talk to the business owners around the Lakes, I'm sure you'll be suprised. Last but not least, sure there are numbskull's fishin tourny's just like there are numbskull's everywhere else but carma usually takes care of them. You never hear about the thousands of honest competetive fisherman out on the waters who are there to have fun trying to catch 5 fish and them let them go unharmed for another day.



Just my 2 cents

Won't hear about ME releasing FIVE FISH from a tourney unharmed, that's for SURE.....I never have 5, I limit myself to 4 to make sure its fair...LMAO

Rob

[GeoFisher]

First......I pretty much DISPISE most tourney guys........At least the ones that I meet on the water. Most guys I've met off the water are GREAT, but the ones on the water are those TOTAL TOOLS, that jump your spot, pull up on you, WASH you out, cut you off, Tell you "this is my LAKE"......whatever..............but..........

* Boats are BETTER due to tourney fishing and BASS.
* Lines are BETTER due to tourney fishing and BASS.
* Poles are BETTER due to tourney fishing and BASS.
* Reels are BETTER due to tourney fishing and BASS.
* I think Fisheries Management is BETTER..........
* I think Opportunities to FISH are BETTER.........
* I KNOW bait selection is Infinitely BETTER.........

So.......I can deal with the MORONS, knowing they have contributed to the sport I LOVE.

Later,

Geo

[GeoFisher]

Not sure if I want any tax man in my pocket more than he already is! I'm not into any more oversight by authorities since in my mind there is plenty and asking for more means asking for more taxes.


You know Florida tried to put fees on tournaments back in the late 80's and all the big trails left the state. Alot of money went away as well....

The TAX Man should ALREADY BE THERE........if you're not paying TAXES on the winnings, you are CHEATING. I fished a tourney at Dale Hollow this past winter.....FIRST and ONLY tourney I will fish......

The few hundred bucks I won WAS claimed as earnings.

Sorry,

Geo

[GeoFisher]

If they limit the number of tournaments, and the number of boats in those tournaments, then they need to limit the number of all boats on the water overall.

Recreational boaters fill parking lots just the same and bass boaters. I spend more time waiting on recreational boaters than I do bass boaters.

You're crossing lines that do not need to be crossed, and stepping on toes that do not need to be stepped on.

Fishing, whether in a tournament or not, is recreation. If you start putting limits on a body of water, then those limits need to apply to everyone. What next? Applying for a permit any time you want to be on the water ? It's bad enough that people keep trying to tack on boat ramp usage fees!

HM......that is a tough proposition......but I think commercial enterprises that use PUBLICLY FUNDED ramps, should pay a surcharge to BLOCK that area from the PUBLIC.

Generally speaking.......the funds used to build that PUBLIC ramp were collected from TAXES from locals.......NOT always the case.....but in GENERAL. SO they should have the opportunity to use that PUBLIC ramp.

[rustedhook]

I have no problems with tournaments, but I would like to see them stopped on lakes less than 3000 acre's.

[DJD]

The TAX Man should ALREADY BE THERE........if you're not paying TAXES on the winnings, you are CHEATING. I fished a tourney at Dale Hollow this past winter.....FIRST and ONLY tourney I will fish......

The few hundred bucks I won WAS claimed as earnings.

Sorry,

Geo

I have no problem taking my winnings without paying taxes. They steal from me alot more than the few hundred I make from winnings. If I was treated fairly then I would do the same.