Anyone interested in starting a fishing league?

[dan2957]

I was driving to Alexandria last night and my brain started to come up with some crazy idea about starting a fishing league.
Here is my idea, you guys let me know if there is any interest in the idea. If so I may see about how we can go about it.
I was thinking about starting a fishing league with the members of this forum. We would fish Wright county lakes. We would use a points system. Points would be awarded based on lenght of fish, if you caught more that one kind of fish. Big fish points.
I havent worked it all out yet. I was interested in finding out how many of you would want to participate. It would be open to boaters and nonboaters. It would be a great way to meet fellow FMers and share fishing tactics.
I was thinking we could have two or three evening tournaments and few Saturday events. You would accumulate points through out the season and then have a final event to determine the Wright co champ.
If you guys are interested just let me know. If you think this is a good idea or a bad one please let me know. If I get enough yes votes I'll put some more thought into it a come up with a better discription.

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If it aint a BASS, it might as well be a rough fish.

[09ultra]

Dan
Would a guy acually have to live in Wright county? I live in Sherbune and would really like to get into a tournament.I think it's a great idea!

[Farley]

I would do it, so would a couple of my buddies. Teams or individual????

I know you're a big bass fisherman, so are you thinking strictly a bass leauge or just biggest (longest) fish???

[This message has been edited by Farley (edited 01-16-2004).]

[duckbill]

I would most likely be interested in this too depending on what day of the week and what time we would need to start everyday. I would go for a partner format if I had a choice.

[3RDCROWDEER]

I am also interested in this idea, can you email me your ideas, and i would also like to help set something up. my email is [email protected]. thanks

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knock'em dead

[ackotz]

Let's see if we can all get together some weekend...and icefish too. We can meet each other and discuss the league...I would like to see the league carry over into winter also...an icefishing league or season...I'm in! (now my job is another thing altogether)
Then our fishing league can double as the "Icefishing Safety Patrol" too...

[email protected]

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"Don't worry, I'll pick up your trash for ya!"

[This message has been edited by ackotz (edited 01-17-2004).]

[federline]

Sweet. Great idea. I'd also like to see an ice season league, too, but perhaps next year so we can do some planning.

A friend of mine from over by Hugo started a league last year - he has tons of good ideas. After seeing this thread, I called him and asked him for advice - he emailed me their score sheet, financials sheet and rules sheet. Their league is called the Fat Bastards Anglers Association. They made a website, but hardly used it - http://www.fbaa.net/ Don's gonna kill me now for posting the half-completed site from last year.

I'm no expert on leagues, but the stuff he sent me makes sense. Here's what they do in a nutshell, minus the rules:

- summer league only so far
- keep it less than 15 boats, or the DNR requires permitting for each event
- teams of two people each
- 10 or 11 events
- every other tuesday or thursday, with a Fri-Sun weekend at Mille Lacs, a grand finale at LOTW, and a weekend family day thrown in there.
- they pick one or two species for each lake and set minimum size and quantities to meet for the day.
- $300 annual club fee goes towards league caps, official measuring sticks, cash prizes for season points winners, trophies, season-end banquet, other stuff.
- Among the lakes they did were Buffalo, Clearwater, Independence, Mille Lacs, Eagle, Chisago, Minnewashta...
- one of the rules: no pre-fishing same day of league
- rotate the lakes on a predetermined schedule so everyone thinks about next year: Pick 10 for first year, in second year, vote on which ones to DROP, drop the five voted out lakes, pick five more, lather, rinse, repeat in the coming years.

Don said it ended up being real fun and friendly competition, with teams helping each other. They had 16 people, 8 boats. He also sent me the results of the Fat Bastard survey at the end of the year. He's got a good framework figured out for this stuff. I guess a lot his club wanted him to run an ice league, too, but his kid is in hockey, so his time is nil...

I could bring the stuff he sent me to a gathering for discussion fodder.

-Jim

[This message has been edited by federline (edited 01-16-2004).]

[This message has been edited by federline (edited 01-16-2004).]

[dan2957]

No you do not have to live in Wright Co. I picked Wright county because this is the Annandale forum. I think Wright Co has 167 lakes so we would have a lot to chose from.

This would NOT be strickly Bass fishing. Some people like to Bass fish Some like walleyes and pike and others like crappies and sunnies. I think you should be able to fish for the fish you have fun catching and are the most confortable catching. We would come up with a point system based on length of fish.
Example: Walleye
15" = 2 points
20" = 3 points
25" = 5 points
Bass
15" = 2 points
19" = 3 points
Same thing with Pike, crappies and sunnies. We need to decide what value is assign.
I think the league should be open for anyone to join. I didnt think about teams but that can be a possibilty. I would encourage all members to sign on here and become a FMer like us. I understand some people dont have a PC and I think we could work around that. I hope that we have enough boaters that are willing to share their extra seat so that any non-boaters that want to be a member could fish too. We will just have to see how it works out.
Weekday events would be held in the evening about 6pm the 9pm or 9:30pm. We will take advantage of the long summer days. I would say 6pm would be a start time but if you are a little late that would be ok, just launch your boat and fish. I think Saturdays would be a good choice for the all day event, 7am to 3pm.

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If it aint a BASS, it might as well be a rough fish.

[knoppers]

sounds great, but I am a nightshifter, so it would have to be a weekend for me (fridays are open).

[dewoutdoor70]

i would be interested in that would be fun to do something in the winter to even if only on weekends

[Farley]

I'm all for it. Here's my email if you need any help organizing anything.

[email protected]

[dan2957]

I think an ice fishing league would be a great idea too as well as the icefishing saftey patrol.
I kinda want to keep it simple this being our first year. Lets get our feet wet and learn how to do this the proper way.
One thing I really think is important is to keep the cost very low. I DO NOT want to be turning a profit with this. A simple member fee $20 -$30 per person and maybe very small fee when entering an event, $5-$10. So please keep this in mind.
Federline I would love to look at those financial, score, and rule sheets you spoke of. I have looked at some other clubs via the internet, that how I came up with the points system. ALL ideas are welcome.
I am thinking that Buffalo is kinda the central location for all of us. I was thinking about Buffalo Bar and Grill for the meeting place, they have a large back room with large tables, but we could meet on the ice too. How about next Saturday afternoon? Does anyone know of a place? Just let me know what you guys think about the meeting. I will start putting some ideas on paper this weekend.
The guys that have sent there email address, I will get to you this weekend.
Start brainstorm, this is OUR club. Let's have fun with it.

Weekend anglers are welcome as well.

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If it aint a BASS, it might as well be a rough fish.

[09ultra]

Dan
You can count me in to, I think this would be fun and a great way of meeting some of you guys! You can email me at [email protected]

[bassfishingnerd]

Sign me up, but not for ice fishing. I've never been, and I don't want to lay out the $'s just yet. A summer league would be good for me.

[email protected]

[federline]

Hey, I vote yes on keeping the cost low - brings in more people. The $300 fee this other guy did, and the the Mille Lacs and LOTW trip, are probably more than this group is considering - sounds like a lot of us are short on time, but could commit to local jaunts.

I'm gonna pass on Don's advice for how to organize a league, I think it might apply, you be da judge:

1. Set rules, make sure they are in line with DNR, county and local regs.

2. Set schedule, make everyone give input, then make everyone vote on the options.

3. Set lakes and species to dates (might have everyone write down their top 10 lakes in order, and the ones with the most votes and highest ratings are used to decide where, then you only have to figure out when each one goes)

4. Make teams only after 1, 2, and 3 are done

5. Get financial house in order, collect fees.

6. Go fish!

Here's some info from the DNR website on tournament fishing permits:

"A permit will be required for any fishing contest that is limited to specifically named waters if one or more of the following apply: There are greater than 30 participants for open-water contests or 150 participants for ice-fishing contests; The entry fee is greater than $25 per person; The total prize value is greater than $25,000; or The contest is limited to trout species only. Contests limited to youth age 18 and under will not need a permit. Fishing contests that are not limited to specifically named waters, that is, are statewide, will not need a permit, unless they are limited to trout species only. "

The whole thing is at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/tournaments/regulations.html.

Dan, the rules for Don's league are on his unfinished league website, http://www.fbaa.net/ under "league rules". Send me an email so I have your address, and My email is [email protected]. I'll send the stuff he sent me to ya. They are in Microsoft Word and Excel formats, but I can convert them to text, too.

Another thing to figure in is making sure the lakes chosen have enough legal parking space.

Gotta run!

[dewoutdoor70]

me email is [email protected]

[JollyJoker]

This is a great idea! Glad to see so many people interested. Sign me up!
[email protected]

[ackotz]

"Hi, my name is Andy...and I'm a fishaholic..."

This thing seems to be gathering momentum...and that's good.
I, for one, agree with Federline and others, that we should keep this thing local and affordable...at least in the first years.
If we go to LOTW or even Mille Lacs, we begin dealing with incurred expenses such as hotel and travel. I know, it's too much for me right now (newborn!). However, I would love to fish tournaments locally. We have great lakes in Wright County:

Buffalo, Pulaski, Clearwater, Sugar, Cedar, Maple, Eagle, Locke, Pleasant, Twin/Sylvia, Beebe, Ramsey, Waverly, Howard, Ann to name a few (and Ida and Charlotte are good for Northern Pike!)

[email protected]

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"Don't worry, I'll pick up your trash for ya!"

[This message has been edited by ackotz (edited 01-17-2004).]

[ackotz]

Ok...I'm apologizing in advance for this "copy" being so long!

I like these guidelines (which are borrowed from the L.E.T.S. fishing league (as put on by some members of this website)...

Consider some (or all) of these guidelines and rules:

Rules and Information

This is from a league from FM (L.E.T.S.) in which teams of 2 anglers compete for points. This is a multi-species tournament series which allows for a wide variety of fishing options...

League Size- (up to us)

Teams- 2 people must sign up to be league members. Teams may use substitutes, but at least 1 registered team member must participate...(I'm OK with this idea)

Events- Each event will be a 2 day tournament. Saturday's event will run from Noon until sundown, Sunday will be from sunrise to 2pm. Each day will have a 1 hour break 4 hours into the event. This will allow for a lunch break as well as scoring of fish caught during the first half. (I'm not cool with this, to me it seems too involved!)

Dates:

...to be determined by us!!

Headquarters/Meeting Areas for each event will be announced...

General Rules-

Our league should be a catch-and-release league. Taking some fish for the pan is ok, but selective harvest is strongly recommended... (I like this idea too)

1) All rules and regulations of the State of Minnesota must be observed at all times. There will also be a boat and trailer inspection for aquatic vegetation prior to teams launching their boat.

2) A cell phone or marine band radio must be in the boat at all times. This is necessary for safety and to contact other teams for large fish verification.

3) Teams must respect other teams. No fishing within 30 yards of another team will be allowed unless invited by said team to do so. Non league boats must also be respected at all times.

4) All check-in deadlines will be strictly enforced. A watch synchronization will take place each morning.

5) There will be a staggered start. Teams will draw for starting position before each event. Boats will then leave the starting point in 5 second intervals with the last team being the starter boat. After the break, this order will be reversed. On the second day, order of start will be determined by total points, having the lowest scoring team go first, highest last. In case of a tie, the first days' starting order will be used. This order will be maintained after the second days' break.

6) Scoring- The scoring system will be based on weight converted to points. There will also be points awarded for attendance.

Point values-

Attendance= 2 points per event

Walleye= 1 point per pound / Minimum size = 12 inches

Pike= .5 points per pound / Minimum size = 20 inches

LM/SM Bass= 1 point per pound / Minimum size = 12 inches

Sunfish= 2.5 points per pound / Minimum size = 7 inches

Crappie= 2 points per pound / Minimum size = 9 inches

Perch = 2 points per pound / Minimum size = 9 inches

Muskie= Any legal fish will be worth 8 points!

One bonus point will be awarded for each Pike, Walleye, Bass combination brought in for a maximum bonus of 3 points.

Fish will be weighed according to species then multiplied by point value to get the score for that species. In case of a tie, the weight of a teams largest fish will be the tie-breaker. Also, a running point total will be kept towards an end of the year league champion. These points will be based on order of finish. 1st place will receive 15 points, second 14, and so on plus attendance points. Ties will be determined by largest fish caught.

7) Limits- Each team will be allowed one persons' legal limit per day.

8) Lifejackets- The wearing of lifejackets while teams boat is under power of main engine is strongly encouraged.

9) Live wells- All boats must have a live well or other means such as a cooler with an aerator capable of keeping fish alive. Stringers and fish baskets will not be allowed.

10) Fishable waters- Any water that can be accessed by boat without having to pull, push or drag the boat will be deemed tournament water. The use of a push-pole, oar or paddle will be allowed.

11) All teams must remain in their boat except in case of emergency, or at breaks and weigh-ins.

12) Fishing in Minnesota presents a wide range of weather conditions that anglers must face. Events will only be cancelled in the event of lightning. The event will not be completely cancelled, only postponed until the lightning has passed. In event of lightning, all boats must return to the starting area within 1/2 hour from time lightning is spotted by league president. This will allow ample time for teams to reach safety. Teams failing to report in will loose all points for that day except under conditions where teams must take immediate cover and unable to make it back to the starting point. Teams will be contacted by cell phone or marine band radio if a postponement is called.

13) All rules and scoring decisions will be made by a "league president" and are final. In the event of a rules violation or conflict by the league president, the league vice president will make the call. Any rules changes will be announced prior to each event.

[dan2957]

Well I'm about to send out an email to everyone that has posted their address. Please let me know if you did not receive it.
I've not heard anything about next Saturday being a bad meeting date. So lets plan on this coming Saturday at Buffalo Bar and Grill. Say about 12:00pm, lets plan it to last one hour. If y'all think this is too soon please let me know. If you need directions please let me know.
I have printed out some rules from other group in the area so we have something to go with. I really like some of your ideas Andy so please bring them to the meeting. All ideas will be considered so bring them all.

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If it aint a BASS, it might as well be a rough fish.

[dan2957]

IF you did not get the group email I may not have your adddress. You can send it to me at [email protected].

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If it aint a BASS, it might as well be a rough fish.

[dan2957]

dodgeman98, I need your email address again. I tried to send you the email and got a error message in return.

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If it aint a BASS, it might as well be a rough fish.

[09ultra]

I agree we should keep it kind of simple at first and grow as we go.Dan I messed up on my email address it's hknut[email protected], I will get it straight one of these days!

[CrappieMagnet]

yeah...can you give me till the first of feb. guys? i have a buddy thats on vacation..i'd like too wait if that's possible?

my email is [email protected]

[CrappieMagnet]

My Arse never needs washing...! eewww just kidding. well andy, that's my urban terror game name.i test online games...sorry bout the email adress.kinda don't have a choice.lol

and it won't affect my fishing!

[federline]

I see we're setting a tone for the league here...

[ackotz]

Putting in my personal request for the league right now!!
If Crappie Magnet fishes in my boat...he has to bring and sit on his own bucket!!!

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"Don't worry, I'll pick up your trash for ya!"

[CrappieMagnet]

I hope we don't have too switch partners in this league...acknotz's gonna get wet!just kidding! OR ? LOL

maybe i should quit while i'm not ahead...?

i'll have to give that some thought....

[MNUser]

Here is the URL to one we run in the Brainerd Lakes area.

http://www.mnfffl.com

Last year was our first year and it was a big success. Lots of interest.

[ackotz]

MNUser...

Hey, thanks for the input...we'll check it out.

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"Don't worry, I'll pick up your trash for ya!"