Enough is Enough

[Lil Baby]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this, but tournament fishing has gotten plain stupid. I lauched at Coffman Beach last Thursday and a tournament was setting up on a weekday. I was told there were multiple tournaments on the same weekend as the Big Bass Bash LOZ. My buddy was at the lake that weekend and said the banks were covered by boats. This has gotten completely out of control. Tournament organizers have turned a wholesome pastime into a Las Vegas style gambling operation. The fisheries are suffering for financial gain, waterways are becoming more dangerous, and boat ramps are backed up a half mile long. Many of these fish weighed don't end up living. I have fished BFLs before and seen many dead fish, nice fish, floating around the weigh-in. I get to fish during the week, but I feel for the parent that wants to take their kid fishing on a Saturday just to see a hundred plus rigs at the ramp. Now, high school and college fishing are leading young people down a pipe dream where very few achieve success and others go into financial ruin buying $80,000 boats and enough tackle to supply a Bass Pro Shop. These schools need to build a ten acre lake on campus, stuff a hundred boats on it, and leave public fisheries alone. I get sick when I hear "pro fishermen" say we need to grow the sport. The way I see tournament fishing needs to completely cease to exist because it has imploded and thrown up all over itself. I don't care what anybody says "pro fishing" is not a job. Cops, teachers, nurses, electricians, grocery baggers, those are jobs. I'm not sure what I can do, but I plan on contacting Missouri Department of Consevation for tournament information/ regulations. Also after the election I'm contacting my state representative to share my concerns. If you feel the way I do, I encourage you to speak out as well.

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[keeferfish]

I'm not disagreeing with you but if you think the LOZ is dangerous due to bass boats or tournaments that's laughable.

I was there that same weekend and normally take a kayak out in the cove we stay in. So many bass boats fishing in the same cove by 7am I said the heck with it but did fish from the bank and docks i have access to. A few of the Big Bash guys did get to see me catch a few but noting over 3 pounds but still fun to see them look in my direction! Also they, the Big Bash guys could have 3 in a boat and some had their kids.

Sure fish die but the law is the law and they could not release any and eat them all.

Good luck with the changes but more than likely all for not and a huge waste but at least you tried.

114 boats in this one at LOZ this weekend and probably many other tourneys.

Official Leaderboard - The National Professional Fishing League

[Lil Baby]

There are some reports that have LOZ ranked as high as the 3rd deadliest body of water in the U.S. and I don't see how having 4, 5, 6 7, plus tournaments on the same day is making it any safer. The last time I fished the bash, I was almost broadsided by another bass boat. No, bass boats specially aren't making the lake dangerous, but when that many tournament boats added to pleasure boats are on the lake it's naturally more dangerous especially when they are running 70 mph to a weigh in. What's more dangerous driving at 10 o'clock a.m. or 5 o'clock rush hour. Obviously the latter b/c the amount of traffic so it's not laughable its common sense.

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[keeferfish]

70mph is nothing on that lake, we were doing 70 in a 33' Fountain and were passed like we were sitting still. Caught up to the two at the no wake zone and my buddy asked them how fist they were going, first guys said 120mph, second guys said about 124mph!

No limit on cars on the road and no limit on # of boats on the water so just be safe and keep your head on a swivel!

[Lil Baby]

When you see this after a fishing tournament 🤬 - YouTube

Exactly what I have seen just to make a tournament check and it's sad

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[keeferfish]

Again not arguing (JMO) but a bunch is 1 dead fish maybe that was two in the video, one one the bank? Also trash on the bank even worse - plastic cup!

Leaps and bounds in improvement of fish care over the years, yea maybe more poplar but fish care is much improved.

They at least try to keep fish alive and release them healthy now. Even Ray Scott has photos with dozens of fish nailed to a billboard for a photo op. Catch weigh and release tourneys have become more poplar but not every fish caught and release immediately survives.

[Lil Baby]

Again not arguing (JMO) but a bunch is 1 dead fish maybe that was two in the video, one one the bank? Also trash on the bank even worse - plastic cup!

Leaps and bounds in improvement of fish care over the years, yea maybe more poplar but fish care is much improved.

They at least try to keep fish alive and release them healthy now. Even Ray Scott has photos with dozens of fish nailed to a billboard for a photo op. Catch weigh and release tourneys have become more poplar but not every fish caught and release immediately survives.

I'm not trying to get the last word so I'm not commenting any further but just to clarify my thoughts.
1. Tournament fishing was something I thought was cool; however, it has gotten out of control with the number of tournaments. Tournaments need to be reduced, not done during the spawn or hot weather, be catch, weigh, and release when available or weigh in less fish, especially on a co angler side.

2. Having multiple tournaments, especially big ones on the same weekend, and especially on a pleasure boat lake like LOZ is a safety concern. I'm perfectly aware laws are laws and just like cars on highways there is no limit of boats on the lake. Highway departments are constantly improving roadways to make them safer b/c of things like increased traffic and it's kinda hard to do that with a lake. Multiple tournaments stacked together is irresponsible, cigarette boats doing 130 mph is irresponsible, and yachts made for the Gulf of Mexico plowing enormous wakes on a man made impoundment is irresponsible.

3. I used to fish tournaments and quickly realized what a money pit they are. I also question the integrity of tournaments b/c in just one season of BFL co angler the boater asked me to cheat twice. One invited me to fish on the front deck, which is strictly prohibited, and another wanted me to jump in the lake, dive down, and get his bass hung in a tree. I'm not kidding he was dead serious. I also spoke to the operator of a big bass tournament, asking how he knew if fish were not being bought into the tournaments since there are no livewell checks anywhere ever. I weighed a 6 pound plus with absolutely no questions asked. His only answer was they have never found any evidence of cheating, and anglers are subject to polygraph. Polygraph tests are simply a scare tactic and only a few top anglers even receive them. You're not going to find cheaters unless you're actually looking for them. That's like Walmart saying there's no shoplifting, but they don't have a loss prevention department. There have been many tournaments where cheating has happened, and some fishermen would sell their soul to the devil to cash a check. The recent walleye tournament scandal is proof.

4. I'm not an economists and I could be wrong, but I think tournament fishing is the reason we see bass boats as high as they are. I believe it's simply b/c these addicted tournament fishermen are willing to pay and finance whatever in order to compete and the recreational (good ol pastime) fishermen gets screwed.

5. I wish tournaments would simply go away. Any complaints of mine may fall on deaf ears but I don't care at least I said something. The LOZ is a special place to me and I think it's being exploited by tournament fishing.

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