No Live Bait Rule in upcoming Walleye Tournament - Devils Lake

[bbfenatic]

Interesting....I wonder how that will go? I like that move!

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – The Masters Walleye Circuit will be making a return visit to Devils Lake on Friday and through Sunday. But the professional anglers will be tossed a curveball with a change in the rules.

In a departure from walleye tournament norms, no natural, live or prepared baits – including minnows, leeches or night crawlers – will be allowed for the tournament. Only man-made baits will be allowed – including soft plastics, Berkley Gulp-type products, crank baits, spinners and other artificial presentations.

[MattL]

Should be interesting, although on a lake as productive as Devil's it may not make much of a difference. I'm sure there will be alot of solid bags put together pulling cranks as well as spinners with Gulp crawlers.

[Stick in Mud]

That is interesting. How many guys will be pulling spinnerbaits with leadcore this year?!?

[JohnMickish]

This is not the first artificial only tournament. I believe the last time the MWC was there is was an artificial only event as well.

[Paul]

No big deal on Devils Lake. Currently the Bite on Devils Lake has been on Berkly gulp behind spinner rigs. If you cant find a fish on Devils Lake right now, your line is not in the water.

[JohnMickish]

The people I talked to out there said it was a pretty tough bite for tournament. Lots of under 15" fish, but big fish where tough to find. Three in the top 10 did not weigh a limit each day.

[MattL]

Looks like a few boats found some good fish. I was out there on Saturday and didn't boat anything bigger than 18". The lack of wind didn't help much either. I did manage to catch plenty of "eater size" fish. I'm curious if the guys that didn't weigh full limits were throwing back smaller keepers knowing they would have to do much better to place? Seems the lake is full of 15-17" fish...

[JohnMickish]

It is a distinct possibility. I know I have been guilty of throwing back small keeper fish only to regret it later in the day and weigh less than a limit, but then again it's hard to win a tournament weighing small fish.

[Gordie]

1st place was deep water jigging spoons and 2nd place fish were caught in 6 fow or less

what difference.