Too Many Fishing Tournaments

[RedSunset]

Is anyone out there getting tired of all these fishing tournaments?  Lake Vermilion just came off an August with way too much Bass tournament pressure.  Several folks are really concerned about what all that pressure is doing to our fish populations.  The week of August, first week of Sept. there was a 3 day B.A.S.S. event.  There was pre fishing all week then the 3 day event.  It looked like a swarm of locusts out here on the Lake.  People who live on the lake and people who came up for vacation to fish bass could hardly find a place to fish.  B.A.S.S does not practice true catch and release or Catch Record Release.  There practice is to catch hold in live well,  parade across a stage, hold the fish in a tank, releasing them somewhere in the lake.  The mortality must be quite high.  Besides the DNR is not monitoring how the fish are handled or where they are released.  Both are regulated in the Tournament guidelines for Lake Vermilion. Also those fish are displaced from their normal habitat.  Many residents on Lake Vermilion are complaining.  There are just too many fishing tournaments. Too much pre fishing.  Too often.  Time for the DNR and MN legislators to take a new look at the statutes governing them.

[Austin12345]

Ya I would be good with that.

[Wanderer]

@RedSunset is that the first B.A.S.S. event you’ve been exposed to?  
 

I don’t disagree there’s a lot more pressure but it’s unlikely there’s a high mortality rate.  B.A.S.S. has always been a leader is promoting keeping fish healthy for successful release.  Anglers are penalized for bringing in dead fish to the point it will likely impact their standing in the final results and cost them thousands in winnings.

 

Also, the DNR is very much aware of what’s going on.  All tournaments have to go through a permitting process through the DNR and are required to follow certain processes.  The MN DNR is very familiar with the B.A.S.S. tournament process.

 

Just thought you might like to know there are checks and balances in place.

[RedSunset]

Agreed there is a permitting process but the DNR is not monitoring what is going on as regards to how the fish are released.  No CO was at the last event on Lake Vermilion.  Several of the residents around Lake Vermilion who are concerned with the tournament pressure have attended the weigh ins.  No DNR official is there. B.A.S.S. is not on board with Catch Record Release.  Penalities have been in place for years when a tournament angler brings in a dead fish.  Nothing new.  Holding tanks on a pontoon boat are nothing more than a large overcrowded livewell.  Contestants holding fish in plastic bags for up to 30 minutes is not a healthy environment for releasing the fish.  Studies have been conducted that show there is a high late post tournament mortality rate.  Fish released in the middle of the lake are not getting back to their original habitats and structure.  Non tournament anglers are having the local fish pulled off the structure and displaced to other parts of the lake.  Its not just Lake Vermilion.  There are anglers and lake shore owners on other lakes in MN who are very concerned.  Too many tournaments! Period. 

[Kettle]

@RedSunset

Welcome to FM........