George Wahl Tournament

[Cold Front Pooch]

So I just went to the Muskies inc. HSOforum and saw the payouts, $500 for first on a $50 tournament? I'm not trying to get too critical about this because I will still be fishing in the tournament, Seems a little low, I know theres resort packages and raffle prizes and what not but thats getting 10 to 1 on my money... thats not very high.

Can anybody elaborate on this?

Thanks

[JRedig]

I'm pretty sure the intended beneficiaries from this tournament are all of us/stocking efforts...would you rather have no chance at getting $500 from a local day of fishing? I know i'd take $500 if my local/patterned lake could produce it for me.

[Shawn Kellett]

You are correct with the payout. What you're missing is the $2000 for the grand prize. To qualify for the grand prize all you have to do is catch a 40" fish and your name goes in the hat. This format is similar to our Frank Schnieder tournament which typically has around 600 contestants. It makes the event more friendly to the folks who aren't the top sticks and gives them a chance to win. We want to draw all muskie anglers to this event and not just the elite.

JReding is also correct. ALL the profits from this event go straight to a dedicated stocking and rearing fund with the Twin Cities Chapter of MI. So every extra dollar that goes out as a prize gets taken out of the water. Dinner is also provided for this event. This doesn't even include any of the other prizes that will be awarded.

That's a heck of a lot of value for on $50 IMOP.

[brmuskie]

Maybe it would be simpler to look at it like going to a Ducks Unlimited Banquet except you get to fish at this one. IT IS A FUNDRAISER!

[Cold Front Pooch]

Yeah i guess ill take my guess that one of my local lakes that I think I have dialed in will produce for me and hopefully lead me to a 500 payday...

Maybe im blowing this rate of return a little out of proportion, and I get the fact that it is a fundraiser, and hopefully the money raised does help the lakes that I fish. How many people are expected for this event? Other than payouts what is different between this event and the Hartmann metro tournament? They are common causes correct?

[scsavre]

yep a donation, where you get to fish. I guess that is the best way to think about it.

I think is what you want (maybe want isnt the best word) or some people want... Is an opportunity to pay $50 and get the payout of a big tourny. A way to have the competition of a pro tournamnet but at a nice low price.

I had a bass tourny with 14 people and the winner won $500. So there must be a lot of money left over from this tourny/fundraiser going to a good cause.

[Cold Front Pooch]

Yeah thats the way i see it now that its been explained, talked to my partner this evening and told him about the payouts and he was ok with it so everythings a go with us, now its all about trying to dial in the fish, which is probably all going to change with the weather moving in next week... Good luck to all.

[Shawn Kellett]

As an example of what we do with our money, this year the Twin Cities Chapter has an order for over $20,000 worth of muskies to be stocked in WBL and Minnetonka. Last year we spent over $15,000 on fish for WBL, Eagle, and Minnetonka. We have also spent over $2000 in rearing equipment (aerators, nets/supplies, minnows for growing muskies, etc). All costs are documented in the Twin Cities financial statement.

Also, all of our payouts are guaranteed where as events like the MAC or PMTT are based on the size of the field. I think that the first place prize at one of the MAC events this year was a couple thousand. That's with a $700 entry fee.

Hopefully we'll see 200+ participants in our first year of doing this. I think our break even point is 100 people. I know that a lot of people don't want to join MI because of one reason or another but do support our fisheries work. This is a great opportunity to contribute without having to be "clubby". I encourage everyone to participate in the event as it's a win-win for anyone who fishes muskies in the metro.

[Mike_McGrath]

Let's talk about cash payout amounts.

Grand prize - $2500 cash and a trip to Whitefish Bay Camp.

1st-$500. 2nd-$400. 3rd-$300.

4th-$200 5th-$100

Mary Villnow Memorial Award for Top 3 Women Anglers.

$600 to be given away.

Top ten places also get a plaque, commerative Eagle Tail and commerative/custom Phantom Lure.

Well also have stuff with like a custom Thorn Bros rod and reel and at least 2 guide trips to give away!

Pork chop dinner included. And since it is at Thorns I believe they have dome good sales to clean house and prepare fir the move.

U get to fish. Could win some cash. He'll if your female you could win the grand prize, take 1st place and the Mary Villnow Memorial Award and go home with $3300 in cash and a trip.

[St_Croix_Banks]

Yep....I'm fishing it. How many times does your money actually go towards something YOU want it to?

Too bad this dedicated funding B.S. we're taxed on spends our dollars towards bird watchers, etc.

[JRedig]

Any idea on how many are signed up now?

[Shawn Kellett]

ONLY 63 as of this instant. Break even on this event is 150 people so get out there and sign up!

[brad coin]

if people went only by math there would be no Vegas

if people went only by math there would be no Big 6/8 or any 7,,or field bet on a craps table because those are no wheres near the payoffs the true odds are.

there would be no ten team parlys in sports books

and going in to any pull tab box you know there are more $1 tickets then total payouts-your guaranteed to lose long term if you play long enough.

But!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

its fun,,just like muskie fishing,,that is if we have enough muskies to catch which is what this whole thing will help provide.

[Troyz]

I am on the committee and people are signing up fast, remember this is not for profit, like most event are, we take $0 for running the chapter, pay people beside for feed and and prise, seem first year we held the money down some due to not knowing the participation. If we could get 4-500 people we could up the payouts. It is the same format as Paul's with Minnetonka, hariet and calhoun added. The money will be used for stocking in metro, possibly buying feed for waterville hatchery for feeding the fry that are stocked every year. Tell your friend and let get this thing of on good note.

Troyz

[PostFrontal]

Shawn-the new alternator went in tonight and is fire free Testing it out tomorrow. So hopefully we should be back in business for the tourney.

Got to support the muskies!

[Shawn Kellett]

Good to hear it Nate! I always wondered why someone needed a fire extinguisher on board and now i know why. I've got a merc too so I may carry 2 LOL!

[Shawn Kellett]

Tick, Tick, Tick. There's only about 100 people signed up right now and we're coming down to it. Remember the prizes we advertise are guaranteed unlike most other tournaments. We're giving that money away whether we get 50 people or 500. The grand prize is also given away to a contestant who catches a 40" fish or better so you don't have to be the best, just lucky which is what muskie fishing is about anyway.

The fishing should be AWESOME this weekend. This cool down should stabilize by this weekend and REALLY get the fish on the bite.

[dcmusky]

This is a good tourney and a great cause, I mean who wouldn't like to help put bigger fish in the lakes. This means better survival rates and hopfully better fishing in the metro. I would love to be able to fish it but I have my daughters birthday party and if I missed it my name would be mud. The TC chapter always puts on top notch events and this should be no exception!

[Muskiefool]

Shawn is there a way we can cut my odds to winning down to 50/50 lol, I could possibly convince the wife I need to fish it then, wish I could be there guys but she wants to head north to fish.

Good luck and thanks to all those that work on this.

[Shawn Kellett]

If you fish with me you've got a 50/50 chance since one of us will win LOL!

And if we don't just blame it on me.

Actually if you look at your odds they break down like this:

Most of these events have 13% of the anglers that actually catch a fish. If we have 150 people we're looking at around a 1:20 chance of walking home with $2500 if you can catch a fish! I like those odds!

[10,000 Casts]

WIFE > EGO

[Shawn Kellett]

BBBWWWWWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No truer statement has ever been made!

[kapp]

THanks to all that will be fishing this event tommorow. Hope you catch a 40 plus and get your name in the hat for a shot at the grand prize

Greg Kappes

[AnglerX]

Results??

It was very slow going for us today. Fished two different lakes and only saw two fish. Seemed to be a small window around 3:00 or so. Saw one boat net a little guy, saw both of our fish, and talked to someone else that had a nice fish up around the same time.

[Cold Front Pooch]

I dont remember exactly but heres the jist of it

1st 40, 44 white bear

2nd 53.5 Tonka

3rd 48? Tonka

4th 48? Tonka?

5th 45.5 Waconia

My day was awful moved the same fish twice, missed topwaters both times...

It was a great event... Hard day fishing, but it went to a good cause