Catfish Tournaments

[CarpinMNRiver]

I was looking at the Belle Plaine catfish tournament page on facebook and it looks like they end up with a lot of dead fish and big ones at that.

I would think there would be a better way to run these tournaments. I feel like I work for P.E.T.A or something but kinda sad to see so many big fish taken out of river just to die in someone truck bed.

[CarpinMNRiver]

belle plaine kansas....oops

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Belle Plaine, Kansas haha nice.

The BP contest here in Minnesota has been notoriously bad in the past at keeping big Flatheads alive.

Many of us refer to it as the Belle Plaine Cat kill

[CarpinMNRiver]

I realized it was the wrong state after I saw a blue cat. Then I saw there was already a whole thread in the MN River forum. Then it wouldn't let me delete it. Are there any tournaments that do not have offsite weigh ins? Seems like with the new laws it would be really tough to haul a big catfish to weigh it in.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

They have special privileges for those contests to transport live fish.

The only catch and release contest that I know of is the New Ulm one which is smaller I think. The BP and the Franklin ones you have to keep the fish alive for a weigh in.

[hanson]

Are there any tournaments that do not have offsite weigh ins?

Cat's Incredible in Grand Forks, ND is the most well run catfish tournament I have ever seen. Get your registration in early, the 150 team max field fills up on the very first day! Your fish have to be alive when you weigh them. How you keep them alive is up to you but they have to be alive.

I have no comment on the BP Cat Kill Contest, I more than likely won't be able to continue posting here.

[ArnieB]

The Fishin' for Parkinson's tourney on Oct. 2nd on the croix will be a well run Cat related tournament. The "ugly" division will be fished by mostly cat guys/gals.

This "ugly" division alone should have 1K+ fist place cash prize. The fish has to be alive at the weigh-in and live released.

www.fishinforparkinsons.com

[Scott K]

The Fishin' for Parkinson's tourney on Oct. 2nd on the croix will be a well run Cat related tournament. The "ugly" division will be fished by mostly cat guys/gals.

This "ugly" division alone should have 1K+ fist place cash prize. The fish has to be alive at the weigh-in and live released.

www.fishinforparkinsons.com

Does this have an on water weigh in? Or do the fish need to be transported to get weighed?

[pureinsanity]

Weigh in stage will be at Bayport Lakeside Park near the Beach House. Contestants must check in with timekeeper by 2p.m.

office water weigh in

[ArnieB]

How would an on the water weigh in work for a big Cat? It may be something for us to exlpore in the future.

www.fishinforparkinsons.com

[pureinsanity]

How does the DNR measure and weigh fish in a boat? A floating weigh station would be idea in any contest.....

[JimBuck]

How would an on the water weigh in work for a big Cat? It may be something for us to exlpore in the future.

www.fishinforparkinsons.com

In the same way muskie tournaments are handled. Have a few boats cover some areas and anyone catching fish in the areas must report to the official weigh in boat(s) that would come to your location to weigh and verify the catch. Very easy and minimal stress on the fish.

[ArnieB]

There will be judge boats on the water and it could be handled the same way a muskie tourney is, no problem if that is something that participants would like to see. Flags, air horns and marine radios would be a good option.

This is the inaugural event and we are always looking for ideas to increase participation. Let me know what the thoughts are from the Cat anglers??? Would this cause more of you to sign up?

[Scott K]

Well, I will never enter an off site weigh in contest, and I am sure I am not alone with this!

[ArnieB]

We can absolutely change the format for this years event to reflect an on the water recording of the catch. We can determine that method in the days to come…..input appreciated.

Sign up today online! Who's interested?

www.fishinforparkinsons.com

[EBass]

What about a digi cam tourney? Get a pic of the length and girth and something that shows it was caught that day and let them go.

[ArnieB]

What about a digi cam tourney? Get a pic of the length and girth and something that shows it was caught that day and let them go.

Yes, no doubt that is a viable solution. Simialar to Muskie Tourneys again.....We can do this. Will you sign up?

[Scott K]

I would do this type of tournament, but being I live so for away, it wouldnt work. Maybe in next years tournament, if I had a little more warning, and could plan for it. I do think the picture, with a control item is the way to go though!

[ArnieB]

Feedback appreciated. We are learning with this event as this is the first year. The daily team entry is growing! Cash purse is rising....

Who else is interested?

[Scott K]

i am glad you are taking input from some of the die hards, you will end up with a much better tournament because of it.

[Shack]

First off I would like to say welcome Arnie to HSO.

Second, I would like to say that I can not argue with any contest's weigh-in that is put together surrounding fishing for a cure. I DO put any fish before helping to fund any research to help fight a human disease.

If a contest is design around purley throwing money around and publicity of a person, place or thing, has a horrible weigh-in that promotes poor handling of fish, I have a had time with that. Even more so when big fish are dying.

This is your first year and IMO you are going about it the right way as 4WE said.

One tip I would say to get fisherman travel to this event, especially catfisherman, is to drop the ugliest fish category title. Fisherman ( & fishergals ) who are dedicated to the sport, deep down, species aside, respect all fish and especially trophy sized fish in some fashion. Realistically there are unique & rare individual fish, but we also find intrest in those even. Using the word "ugly" IMHO is just not the best term to use.

Plus in the same area there is a contest that has the same catigory name you are using. Unfortunetly it has been brought to light by fellow catfisherman because the winning entry for that catigory, from a couple years back, was indeed a flathead. Now that is not the reason why this category name or winning image was brought to light. The issue was because the image was taken (a rather large flathead) a good distance from the water in a parking lot of the place that hosted it. If I recall, some who hand first hand experience with the contest said one species was protected from leaving the water in the rules where obviously flatheads were not. If that flathead made it back & lived is not the point. IMO it was the image being portrayed (the whole contest and the way it was packaged) that did not sit well with many river rats in the area. Not sure if it is still going or if changes were made. The organizer of that contest came on HSO, much on the way you have and anglers voiced their issues and posted pictures.

Maybe changing the ugliest fish category to the most unique fish would be an option to gain more ground with anglers who will travel to your event?

Again, this is just my opinion, but if a contest promotes an ugliest fish category and even wraps way more money (don't get me wrong, a grand is huge) around the grand prize of this category, it classes that fishing contest in a diffrent category altogether.

Just some think while posting out load. Again welcome and I do hope your fishing contest is a great success. It's for a great cause.

[Shack]

How would an on the water weigh in work for a big Cat? It may be something for us to exlpore in the future.

www.fishinforparkinsons.com

Yes, the MN DNR just held earlier this year a catfish day down by Stillwater, that via VHF radio, they came to to your boat to weigh, document and maybe even tagged your catfish. I was not involved, so maybe someone who was could chime in. By the sounds of it, it is much easier to do than you think. Might even be an example of things to come?

[DTro]

I agree with what Shack said. I indeed like the idea of a contest that has money going to a charity, but with the "ugly" title you won't lure in a lot of the hardcore cat guys.

Also, I was looking at the contest HSOforum, and personally I found it confusing as to how the entry fee/donation thing worked. I think you would be better off just having a straigh forward entry fee, and then divide it up how you want on the backside.

Lastly, it is pretty late in the season to get most catfisherman excited about a contest. Of course they are still biting and we are still fishing, but if you want to optimize turnout (for catfish) would probably be pre-spawn.

Good Luck on your contest and I hope you raise a bunch of money!

[ArnieB]

Gents,

I sure do appreciate all of the feedback you have provided. Your input will help us make changes to this event in the future. As you can imagine, this is a learning process for all of us putting this event together the first time around.

I agree, the name “ugly” should be changed, and we will most definitely change that moving forward. It is too late now to change the collateral we have, but for next year that category will carry a different name. Of course, we had no intent of implying these fish were ugly, we were modeling the format after another tournament in place (maybe the one mentioned above….I am not sure).

Our intention is to not harm any fish and that is why we are appreciating the input you guys are providing. I spoke with some of the other tournament organizers yesterday and we will be changing the format to a on the water measurement/digital picture for catfish.

We fully understand we are late in the game recruiting the Cat guys/gals to sign up. As of recent we had some good feedback and interest from cat anglers and we saw an opportunity to spread the word to a specific group who we had overlooked previously.

We are excited about this event for this year and beyond! You’re input and feedback will only help us make it better your us and the participants.

Thanks again. Please let me know if you have additional questions or suggestions.

Hopefully some of you can make it to the tournament if you’re local or bring your family down to Lakeside Park in Bayport during the day for the festivities.

www.fishinforparkinsons.com

[flyfisher03]

In some areas where they have trout tournaments there is a judge that goes out with the contestants to measure and verify the length of the fish caught and released immediately after. It would take quite a few judges for a big tourney but the fish mortality decreases dramatically.