Ice Duels

[DTro]

Basically it is a new contest format/tour in which people are matched up head to head in a 20x20 square of ice to see who can catch the most fish in a certain time.  If they succeed, they move on to the next round and fish a different 20x20 square against their next opponent who also was a winner.  This happens until you have a final 16, final 8, final 4, and eventually heads up for the championship. 

 

On the surface, I REALLY like the concept and honestly is something I think would be fun to try.   What I think it boils down to is that there will actually be some skill involved in moving on from bracket to bracket and not just a lucky random catch of a decent sized pike that wins an ice derby.

 

What I worry about though is what happens if nobody catches fish?   Sure ok, the first round you and your competitor don’t catch anything, so it goes to a 10 minute tie breaker, then what if nobody catches anything during the tie breaker?   Now multiply that scenario times 10 or 20, or more, add in double elimination and It could really become a real fluster cluck

[Alagnak]

I think you could draw a line in the snow, stand two guys next to eachother and see who could pee the furthest. This would probably prove just as accurately as who the 'best' fisherman is.

It would SO much depend on where the hole placement is. Is it 30' deep on a flat w no weeds? (a little more equal) Is it a 6' weedy flat where there is literally one pocket in the weeds, one hole that you can catch panfish in and everywhere else weeds up to the hole?

So in this format when that one pike swims by it's not luck it's skill? I'd say there's still a ton of luck involved.

It's another format of luck and competition but I don't see it any more accurate in determining the best fisherman than any other joke contest / circle jerk on ice format that's already out there.

[DTro]

Well its a numbers contest so I think skill is a bit of a factor here. Luck alone won't get you through several rounds.

[Alagnak]

Over the course of time I agree (days, months, a season). Could it be determined in a day accurately? IDK

[LakeDocktor]

It is 100% pure luck! How is it any different than a fishing derby? Take the Brainerd Jaycee's Fishing Extravaganza as an example. This is the same thing in a smaller format. Your holes are predrilled, your location is predetermined, and the outcome is simply based off of the luck of the draw. It may work on a smaller format, but to have a circuit including a championship is simply pointless! I could go on and on about the downfalls, but I really don't see there being a huge following to this format. So the guy next to you cranks up his gain on his flasher to shut yours down....Game over!

Bottomline, the best overall fisherman could be out the first round due to a bad "luck" draw on his hole placement. If you want to separate yourself from the pack, sign up for a singles formatted tournament. Go find your fish, drill your own holes, and compare your weights to others doing the same.

[leech~~]

Huum, I thought when I read the post heading it had to do with this! But, I am starting to think about sledding already!

[DTro]

Maybe I’m missing something, but I think you guys are not quite understanding the format.  Yes the holes are predrilled and you are assigned a square for each round.  But the goal is to catch more fish than the guy IN THE SAME SMALL 20’x20’ SQUARE.   If you succeed in doing that, then you move on to the next round.  For the next round you are paired with a different (winning) angler ON A DIFFERENT SQUARE THAN THE FIRST ONE and this continues until only 1 guy is left standing.   Are some holes going to produce better than others?  You better believe they will, but with the competitions moving to different squares throughout the entire contest, it won’t be a huge factor.

 

 

In other words you are not competing against the guy in the hot hole 100 yards away, you are competing against the guy right next to you in a timed event.   I guess in my eyes that is a whole lot different than a free for all extravaganza type contest. 

 

 

In order to win this thing out of pure luck you would have to draw the lucky hole out of each 20’x20’ square at least 7 rounds in a row.    You seriously don’t think jigging technique, bait selection and general fishing knowledge will not come into play in any of those rounds?  I guess I disagree.

[Esox_Magnum]

Sounds interesting...

[JuanArellano]

This does sound fun.. It is more like the European style of match fishing..

We will see how it goes might be a hit..

[leech~~]

Maybe I’m missing something, but I think you guys are not quite understanding the format.  Yes the holes are predrilled and you are assigned a square for each round.  But the goal is to catch more fish than the guy IN THE SAME SMALL 20’x20’ SQUARE.   If you succeed in doing that, then you move on to the next round.  For the next round you are paired with a different (winning) angler ON A DIFFERENT SQUARE THAN THE FIRST ONE and this continues until only 1 guy is left standing.   Are some holes going to produce better than others?  You better believe they will, but with the competitions moving to different squares throughout the entire contest, it won’t be a huge factor.

 

 

In other words you are not competing against the guy in the hot hole 100 yards away, you are competing against the guy right next to you in a timed event.   I guess in my eyes that is a whole lot different than a free for all extravaganza type contest. 

 

 

In order to win this thing out of pure luck you would have to draw the lucky hole out of each 20’x20’ square at least 7 rounds in a row.    You seriously don’t think jigging technique, bait selection and general fishing knowledge will not come into play in any of those rounds?  I guess I disagree.

Oh, well I do that every weekend with my buddy in the same porty!

[JeremyCampbell]

That sounds like fun.I didnt know there were games like that on the ice.Il have to print this out .

[Cyberfish]

Sounds fun, but it would have to be done over a spot where fish are plentiful and biting, or many of the "duels" would tie 0-0, making the elimination process last for days!

[DTro]

I see that as a big potential problem too.

[Valleye]

Sounds interesting! As ice anglers we do it all the time. We sit on a bucket maybe about 10-15 from your buddy and all we do is look at each others catch. Talk about getting those competitive juices flowing! The only difference is you can't get up and move. Interference from the different flashers out there may have an impact. but what it boils down to is catching some fish. The down view w/a camera maybe a benefit in this situation.

Think I'm going try it out when they come to Madison, WI.

[outdrzman78]

be fun with like a group of 20 guys and like 20 different squares marked out so theres extra so you actually have a choice in the square. could do it fairly easy with flags and you have a 15 ft radious around the flag you choose

[ice_medic]

I think it sounds like it could be blast. Part skill and luck doesnt get no better than that.

[pushbutton]

Quote:

Sounds fun, but it would have to be done over a spot where fish are plentiful and biting, or many of the "duels" would tie 0-0, making the elimination process last for days!

Quote:

see that as a big potential problem too.

Problem solved....there is a guide on here that is constantly putting at least 10 times the amount of fish on the ice that us ordinary folk are

[ski_otter]

or musical grids. Everyone gets the 20 ft square, 15 minutes in each and rotate, highest overall total wins

[Cyberfish]

or musical grids. Everyone gets the 20 ft square, 15 minutes in each and rotate, highest overall total wins

Ya lets get some good polka going

[gill man]

I think to really test the angling (jigging) skill, two competitors each get one hole, drilled 2 feet apart with (or without) a flasher in a hole between them. Then it would be harder to argue the one guy being on the breakline or in a weed pocket, etc.

The only unfair thing is if somebody gets eliminated right away due to bad luck with hole placement.

I dunno, I would much prefer and actual fishing tournament where each has to locate their own fish, AND figure out the presentation. I think most people can catch fish if they are set on top of them. Most days finding the concentration of fish is the hard part (well not for me because I ALWAYS know right where they are. .

Still an interesting idea...