Special Tournament Fishing Regulations?

[OkobojiEagle]

Do you think DNR established fishing regulations for a given body of water should be "relaxed" for tournaments?

 

 

oe

[plumworm]

Living in Green Bay and remembering the big "stink" when the Wisconsin DNR closed northern Green Bay to the "elite fisherman" 2 years ago, I say no, the State has every right to protect it's resources. I have lived in Green Bay and fished the bay for over 50 years. It can go from baby butt flat to 6 ft. rollers in a very short time. 5 smallies in a live well on a 1.5-2 hour ride in that type of water is not good conservation. Each state has a right to protect it's resources according to their knowledge of that resource. I was also a marshal in that event and the water was baby butt flat for the first 2 days but believe me that is unusual. No event should ever preclude good conservation and the "elites" that bad mouthed the Wisconsin  DNR, like KVD should be ashamed of themselves. By the way, his nephew won the event.

[A-Jay]

 My short answer is ~ No, regulations should not be relaxed.

 

I have a feeling that a some what Longer answer of yes, may follow directly below this one.

 

A-Jay

[BrianinMD]

No, the regulations should stay as they are.

[Lund Explorer]

Would anyone be happy if they relaxed the regulations for a group they didn't belong to?

 

Say - - - - - - Bucket Fishermen?

[gulfcaptain]

No, it's what it is.  We all have to follow them, therefore they should as well.  

[J Francho]

It depends. As long as those special rules apply for anyone with a legal right to fish, then sure, change the regs for that area. It's been very successful for the pre season tournaments on Erie.

[Zach Dunham]

Living in Green Bay and remembering the big "stink" when the Wisconsin DNR closed northern Green Bay to the "elite fisherman" 2 years ago, I say no, the State has every right to protect it's resources. I have lived in Green Bay and fished the bay for over 50 years. It can go from baby butt flat to 6 ft. rollers in a very short time. 5 smallies in a live well on a 1.5-2 hour ride in that type of water is not good conservation. Each state has a right to protect it's resources according to their knowledge of that resource. I was also a marshal in that event and the water was baby butt flat for the first 2 days but believe me that is unusual. No event should ever preclude good conservation and the "elites" that bad mouthed the Wisconsin  DNR, like KVD should be ashamed of themselves. By the way, his nephew won the event.

 

 

I agree that the rules should not, and should never be, relaxed for any one specific group, but they are horribly bad regulations to begin with. The Wisconsin DNR's logic during that time was that the smallmouth were "a different strain" in Sturgeon Bay. The archaic rules in the north need to go (like the no cull rule in Minnesota, various pros said they shouldn't go to places like that either until they change their silly rules). All over the country people go on hour+ runs (or more) with fish in the livewell and those fisheries are doing just fine! That's why they have live release boats and whatnot.

[OkobojiEagle]

The regulations that are often relaxed for bass tournaments:

 

No culling.  DNR regs state that if a fish is placed in the boat it is to be counted toward your daily bag limit and can not be returned to the water and replaced with another fish to be counted toward your daily bag limit.

 

Black bass daily bag limit is 3 fish.

 

 

oe

[DILLY07]

The regulations that are often relaxed for bass tournaments:

 

No culling.  DNR regs state that if a fish is placed in the boat it is to be counted toward your daily bag limit and can not be returned to the water and replaced with another fish to be counted toward your daily bag limit.

 

Black bass daily bag limit is 3 fish.

 

 

oe

I was up in Okoboji for Spring State with Iowa Bass Nation. Your right Iowa lakes allows 15 inch fish with 3 daily bag limit. Rivers is 14 inch fish with 5 daily bag limit. 

 

I think you cant cull til 1 p.m. 

[wnybassman]

It depends. As long as those special rules apply for anyone with a legal right to fish, then sure, change the regs for that area. It's been very successful for the pre season tournaments on Erie.

 

 

But the original trophy season on Erie was not set up with tournaments in mind, it just evolved into that.

[J Francho]

That's true. I guess the original question is more like when they close down a city for an F1 race, like Toronto or Morocco. But it's not like pro fisherman are driving 180 mph through the streets. Maybe more pros should drive Bullets? Lol.

[RAMBLER]

NO!

[etommy28]

Florida does this for every lake through tournament exemptions. 

[lmoore]

I was up in Okoboji for Spring State with Iowa Bass Nation. Your right Iowa lakes allows 15 inch fish with 3 daily bag limit. Rivers is 14 inch fish with 5 daily bag limit. 

 

I think you cant cull til 1 p.m. 

 

Iowa allows culling for tournaments, but doesn't change the length and/or bag limits.  For registered tournaments, I think this year they extend the tournament time past the 1 pm they used to have during the summer, but not sure on that. 

 

PS. Fishing the fall state tournament at Dubuque?

[DILLY07]

Iowa allows culling for tournaments, but doesn't change the length and/or bag limits.  For registered tournaments, I think this year they extend the tournament time past the 1 pm they used to have during the summer, but not sure on that. 

 

PS. Fishing the fall state tournament at Dubuque?

Yep, I'll be there in Dubuque. Hope to meet you.

[Sam]

Some great input.

Tax avoidance is OK. Tax evasion is not.

You owe the taxes.

If you are paid in cash you can evade paying the tax if the tournament does not report it under your social security number.

You also owe taxes on prizes and equipment you win.

[CDMeyer]

I think each state deserves and should have the right to protect its resources