Tournament interest Eastern Iowa/Des Moines

It seems there is interest on the Rathbun crappie club thread for tournaments. It may be late for 2012 other than a few small get together tournaments from people on this board, but what interest do you guys posting from the eastern iowa area have in putting together some tournaments in 2013? Also, is there anyone with experience doing this and maybe a few of us can get something going for Iowa anglers to take part in other than the Crappie Masters tournament. Thoughts or information would be appreciated.

I have some experience with what it takes to have and run successful tournys. I've drawn my experience by assisting several of my very good friends who run or have ran crappie associations/tournys. It requires alot of promoting, leg work, and getting the word out to the right ears. The bottom line is, it requires money! It's not easy to do considering gas prices and the other re-occurring expenses to put these events on. It requires quite a bit of investing your time and money to make it not turn belly up. We can talke about all of this before hand, and when that time comes around, I may be willing to assist, or to the very least advise and compete at the outings. Big bites, full baskets, and God's blessings to ya!

<,"}//>{ Rippa

I would appreciate any info or assistance on this subject. Foremost I would like this to be affordable 95-100 payback depending on if there is a trophy. Also family oriented where a father/grandpa would not be hesitant to enter with son/grandson. Mostly a get together of local crappie fisherman Once or twice a year to have some fun and throw in some food/entertainment post tournament if possible with the help of a local bar/sports store/ or VFW type club. Tournament prices in the 50-125 range and mid afternoon finish times.

Any input from members is greatly appreciated for not only tournament locations, but also possible places for weigh in location/sponsor, as well as ideas to involve kids and family during or after the events. Would really appreciate anyone from the coralville lake area who may have contacts for possible weigh in sponsors on the lake to chime in some has to be a member from that area.

Im interested, what can I do to help? In the area, you have Scheels, Fin and Feather, Walmart?, Kennedy Marine, Dicks Sporting Goods. The McBride DNR ramp on Coralville probably would be the best for an area to have it. It has a huge parking lot that shouldnt be full. The Corp ramps get really crazy!

I was thinking about contacting scheels/fin and feather. What are some of the boat shops/marinas on the lake. I would like to see if someone would be interested in taking tournament entries at the lake, as well as providing and area for weight in. They are free to keep the proceeds for their work, or donate it to a club (VFW or American legion, or a charity). If you can get me any contacts and good locations at the lake for a weigh in, and possibly a kid fishing derby that would be great.

At this point I cannot really run a club, but would like to start with a tournament yearly, possibly two one at coralville and one on the mississippi river. What i need help with is getting contacts with business that may be willing to help out with locations/ weigh ins/ and sell food beverages to people attending the event.

You may also pm me with info as well if preferred, or to better keep in touch.

John the owner at 5 Seasons Bait in Cedar Rapids would be a good person to talk to about details of having a fishing tourny on Coralville - 319-362-0544 the last I knew.

Ranger, Tim

Thanks for the help. I will try to contact John tomorrow just to get the ball rolling. I will keep you guys updated on any info.

Also looking for possible clubs in the coralville area such as Boy Scouts/Veteran clubs/Moose Lodge etc to contact as possible people to help host the event and keep 10-15% of the entry fee as proceeds and pay back 85-90 to participants. Depending on the event location, possibly sell food-beverages as well.


The views of this thread are adding up so any input/ideas are appreciated

Guys we have an acceptance of a coralville lake business to host the event with great amenities, date to be determined, as well as some other sponsor interest.

Looking like it will be a 90 per team with 10th big fish 80 percent payback with a late may date.

Coralville Lake Marina 319-351-8343, Coralville Lake Marina
Mid-River Marina 319-626-3625, Mid River Marine
Scales Point Camping and Boating, 319-665-3474*This would be my first choice as they have a bar and food with a campground*

Scott

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hammann_13

I was thinking about contacting scheels/fin and feather. What are some of the boat shops/marinas on the lake. I would like to see if someone would be interested in taking tournament entries at the lake, as well as providing and area for weight in. They are free to keep the proceeds for their work, or donate it to a club (VFW or American legion, or a charity). If you can get me any contacts and good locations at the lake for a weigh in, and possibly a kid fishing derby that would be great.

At this point I cannot really run a club, but would like to start with a tournament yearly, possibly two one at coralville and one on the mississippi river. What i need help with is getting contacts with business that may be willing to help out with locations/ weigh ins/ and sell food beverages to people attending the event.

You may also pm me with info as well if preferred, or to better keep in touch.

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Waiting on the DNR for approval of the tournament, so hopefully this goes through and will begin advertising by late february if everything works out. I will be counting on you guys on here to help get the word out as well.

Ranger519, I see that you must be a firefighter. Any possibility you could drum up some volunteers for the event? Im hoping to do some raffles on whatever donated items I can get my hands on, as well as any remaining tournament proceeds. Firefighters or veterans if anyone belongs to a club would be great. Mainly just looking for 3 people to fairly be rules judges, and a handful of people to partake during the weigh in.

It would help if I knew where out of those three locations you have gotten approval to have it. There are two fire departments involved, two different legions also. Unwritten rule not to fund raise in anothers territory.

hammann, I like the way your thinkin' on tourneys, BUT.... The professional tourney trails thing is suffering because working folks like us aren't supporting them because of cash flow to the typical angler. I'm not sure the average fisherman (I.E. person fronting the bill) can do alot of tournament spending right now. I guess my question is are you talking tourneys or a club atmosphere. They are two different animals and approached differently. If cash prizes are in the mix that brings a whole different breed of cat to the table. I've fished pro and am since the 80's. Let me know if this is tourney driven or club driven. Lookinforward to hearing from you.

Grumpy,

As of now this would be classified as a tournament, open to anyone who wants to join. It will be a one day event, hopefully getting together anglers from eastern iowa corridor for competetive angling in the area, no associated with a bass tournament. To start a club right now, and have enough yearly support out of muscatine would be very difficult, and require many to spend as more money on gas to hit the club events 5-10 times a year as they would to enter one tournament. It will definately be paying back the top finishing anglers, but that will come at the expense of the anglers who dont do so well. Working on providing some raffles for prizes, and 50/50 type to help and donate to some local causes in the Coralville Lake area and promote the fishing as it faces many obstacles with the beach crowds, recent floods of eastern iowa.

Through this event we may be able to get a good feel to provide a "club" type atmosphere in the future at coralville, the Mississippi river, and other lakes in eastern iowa. "Clubs" can also nickel and dime a man especially if it is not right in there local community, where instead of a few friends taking a weekend to go on a fishing trip, it becomes many weekends and other events in between in which you lose out on family time.

Although I wish the rathbun club the best of luck and success, it is not what I will be shooting for with this event.

Thanks for the feedback. Lookin forward to the tourney if you get it put together. Let us know whats happening and I'll talk to some folks here in Muscatine and see what there interest is. Later, Grumpy....

Any penciled in dates as of yet for any of these tournys?

Folks I just recieved authorization today to put on a tournament at Coralville Lake on Saturday 5/19/2012 fishing time from 7am to 3pm, the event host will be at Scales Point Campground/Bobbers Grille on Coralville Lake. I have to meet with the owners and some vendors now that it is approved to work out some details, and hope to have some flyers and signups ready sometime in early March.

We will probably be holding some type of event the Friday night before the tournament to go over any rules questions, and hopefully have a few raffles, and to have anglers get together for some fun, but it wont be mandatory. May also give a few anglers an edge over the guys that have a few extra beverages.

Way to go! I'm looking forward to it. I may even wrap something for the raffle..........:dono

Sounds great! Barring any disaster, we will be there. I may donate something from my sponsors for door prizes if there is a meet on friday night as well. Who are my sponsors? Hee Hee! You'll have to show up to find out!

<,"}//>{

Keep me posted My son and I would like to fish the tournament:fish

Sounds like fun, I want to join the tournament!!!!

Ive got a website up where you can view the partial flyer and rules/entry form. We arent taking entries yet hopefully soon this will be the only place to view these currently and will be the first notified to take entries. Still adding some information and hope to have an interesting information site for Iowa anglers soon. Take a look and for anyone wishing to have webpages linked with photos let me know as I wont be charging to advertise.

www.iowameatseekers.com

Very cool. I like it so far.

Ok, so I made an ass out of myself on the main forum putting down G Loomis rods in error. To make up for this, I am going to build a rod to be given away if Hammann_13 pulls off this tourney in May. It will be GLoomis ultralight blank, BUT with American Tackle components.

like to see this make it at Coralville Lake. need something on this side of the state. planning on fishing this.

hey guys I see you got some interest in your area was just wondering if you might like to chat about joining up to our club it is getting real exspensive fast getting all the paperwork in for the 501(c) and the insurance but was thinking if you guys wanted to join our club we could sponser your touraments there under our club which would cover your touraments as a club event anyway if you might like to chat about it give me a call Frank Lake Rathbun Crappie Club President Frank Ball 641-895-4911

LAKE RATHBUN CRAPPIE CLUB
Membership Drive and Fund Raiser
LOCATION:
DOGG’S RV PARK BANQUET ROOM
16999 Hwy J18 Moravia, Iowa 52571
MARCH
31, 2012 7:00 pm
Free give-a-ways from Slider, Lake Fork,
Lowry jigs, Grandpa jigs, Kingfisher,
TTI Blakemore, and others
There will be a Raffle Held at 8:30 for
a complete Rod Trolling setup
If you have any questions please contact one of the club members
Frank Ball 641-895-4911 * Gregg Ocker
641-895-9581 * Tami Mcgrann 641-895-8402
Attachment 84602

Guys I will be getting some advertising out here in the next week. I will begin taking tournament entries on April 1st, so make sure to include your Lake Ratbhun Crappie Club membership as well, which will be available with the entry forms and at www.iowameatseeker.com

Try and make it down for the membership drive being held on March 31st, but if you cant there will be a section to check off for already a member of the club, and we will be double checking, participants not paid wont fish.

Thanks to everyone for helping out, and to Frank and company for doing alot of club legwork which is a large reason this will be possible. Dont forget to tell your friends.