catfish derby

[catmaster1557]

Catfish Derby in New Ulm.

START TIME: Friday July 21st at 12:00 noon.

END TIME: Sunday July 23rd at 9:00 am.

PRIZES: Flathead catfish- 1st prize- $500 and trophy

2nd prize- $250 and trophy

3rd prize- $150 and trophy

Channel catfish- %80 payout and trophy.

CONTEST RULES: Boundaries are from the Highway 4 bridge to the county Road 20 Judson Bridge. Catch and Release. Weigh-in takes place at Riverside Park in New Ulm. All fish must be in good shape at weigh-in.

REGISTRATION: Register at Twin Rivers Outfitters. 509 20th Street North. New Ulm. Sign up before Friday July 21st at noon. Flathead catfish= $15, Channel catfish= $5, or $20 for both.

Rustic Camping at Riverside Park. $8 a day or $15 for two days. Sign up at Riverside Park.

For more information call Mike at 507-276-4787 after 4:00 pm or e-mail Mike at [email protected]

[nitefisher]

whats the water level like in that area, should we bring john boats, or fish from shore?.

[catmaster1557]

Around here people are having no problems with taking out boats. I have a 16ft and have had no any problems with the water yet.Thats just around New Ulm, I'm not sure about the Judson area. Maybe somebody else could help with that. I will be out fishing tonight and also will check out some other boat landings in town and report back on the water condtion. I know for sure that noone will get out on the landing in courtland. So to answer you question as of now you would be fine if you brought a jon boat. but if the drought continues that could easily change. I will do my best to keep you informed of the water levels

[rushing]

Kinda of dissapointed there is now 4 cat derbys on the river now. I know some people like them but its just my opinion, I dont think they are very good for the river or the flatheads.

[DTro]

I totally agree. Until these contests are ran like a serious tournament, I will have a hard time supporting them. I've heard too many horror stories.

It could be done right. Just need some judge boats, and or multiple check in sites.

To me, a flathead should be on the same level as a muskie. Just because they aren't as popular doesn't mean they aren't as vulnerable.

The muskie guys have done an outstanding job of protecting their fishery, and I think we need to do the same.

[MachineHead]

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I dont think they are very good for the river

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Bah! Try coming in early in the morning at any ramp where locals ply the waters and see mounds of garbage left behind and fires STILL burning during an excessive dry spell. Any better for the river? This is common up here where I fish and it [PoorWordUsage]es me off.

Tournaments are usually short in duration and no worse for the river, in fact less probably, than the heathen SOB's that show up on a daily basis just because they are closer than the tourney crowd.

Take your pick, a night of partying and maybe a fish or two kept, last I checked that was still legal. Or a summer long barrage of don't give a $#!+ locals* that just dump their dump wherever they want.

*Nothing against locals that have a sense of morality and do take their garbage with them when they leave. It's the pigs I have great issues with...

[rushing]

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To me, a flathead should be on the same level as a muskie. Just because they aren't as popular doesn't mean they aren't as vulnerable.

The muskie guys have done an outstanding job of protecting their fishery, and I think we need to do the same.

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I was just talking to Hanson while out fishing last night about how I wish flatheads were managed like muskies. Or like stream trout for that matter. Perhaps we need to start a Flathead Unlimited!

[honky kong]

i agree on the trash subject to an extent but remember that those piles come from people fishing for many species. that is a totally separate deal from the transport and subsequent injury that monster flatheads will endure during these loosely regulated tourneys. which i beleive is what the real concern should be. not to say the littering should go on. grown adults that enjoy the world of fishing should be grown enough to pick up their mess.

[rushing]

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Bah! Try coming in early in the morning at any ramp where locals ply the waters and see mounds of garbage left behind and fires STILL burning during an excessive dry spell. Any better for the river? This is common up here

where I fish and it [PoorWordUsage]es me off.

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You are preaching to the choir man! Its common everywhere and there is three things you can do about it. You can be the better sportsmen and try to pick up garbage when you are out. You can get a hold of you local Conservation Officer and report what you have been finding. Or you can just complain and be angry about it. I get just as [PoorWordUsage]ed about seeing garbage left behind and matter of fact just before I hopped on FM just now I was talking via email to a CO I contacted today about some issues I ran across while out fishing last night. Don't be afraid to contact a CO if you are having issues with garbage left behind or any other violations. It’s all of our responsibilities to help the COs protect our resources.

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Tournaments are usually short in duration and no worse for the river, in fact less probably, than the heathen SOB's that show up on a daily basis just because they are closer than the tourney crowd.

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Well this is where we disagree.

Bad for the fish.

The keeping/transportation of fish for an extended period of time is NOT good for ANY fish especially as something as old and precious as a trophy flathead. Not to mention all the yahoos these tournaments can bring out who don’t have the knowledge or respect to properly handle or transport a trophy flathead. It takes years to replace a large flathead! To lose even one means that is one less big flathead that can't pass on its genes and that’s a real shame.

Bad for the river.

I see more garbage left behind on one night of the Bobber Shop Tournament than most of the year combined! These tournaments bring out people who maybe fish once a year and they bring their gear and garbage out for a full night of fishing and alot of it gets left behind. I'm not talking about just a couple of spots. I am talking about any nook and cranny you can fit a fishermen along the entire tournament stretch of river! Maybe things are different in the stretch of river or tournament you fish but around here its not good for the river. Not to mention the fishing typically sucks for awhile in the aftermath of a tourney.

Remember this is just my opinion and I am not attacking you just trying to voice my point of view. I just feel strongly about flathead tournaments.

Why not a river carp tournament?

[nitefisher]

catfish derby in new ulm.

www.bavarianblast.com/bobber.htm

[DARK30]

I don't think most people are equipped to transport large fish in hot weather. You see too many people who can't even keep their bait alive. Trash is one thing I hate, but dead mudeyes because someone wants to pocket some $pinga$ at the fishes expense is another thing.

If you want to have a contest, Take a picture and take a measurement and return the fish to the river. A witness shouldn't be a problem....(THEN) go back to HQ and have your beer and brats. Cheaters have already lost!

C&R The Mudeyes (right away) Lets raise a new state record!

[hanson]

Dark- I agree 100%!

I do think we are going to have to unite as flathead anglers and push hard for what we believe in, and that is protection of the fish, habitat, and resource.

I know you've advocated for awhile about C&R only on MN River flatheads but we are going to need more men behind that push. Not quite sure of the best way to do that either other than to start with the guys we know, and who frequent the forums here.

This catfishing is becoming more popular which may be both good and bad, depends on the attitudes of the anglers.

I honestly don't respect what any of these 'contests' are about, and the proliferation and popularity of them will do nothing other than hurt the resource.

[fiskyknut]

I am by no means anti tournament, but I do see the large fish/warm water release tourneys as a potential problemo no matter the species of fish, Catfish or otherwise.

Chris reading your last line there I gots to ask you iffin your thoughts/opinions hold true to other species of Catfish and the major tourneys we see take place, ie. our large Channel Catfish here on the Red. Do all of the tourneys or 'contests' both large and small here on this watershed create a potential for harming the fishery?

A toughy I know! but I love a good Catfish contraversy eh!

Your friend.....Norm

[hanson]

Fisky-

Well... considering that I am fishing the Catfish League Tournament next weekend & the Cat's Incredible in August... Ummmmm...No.

Tough question? You bet. How can I criticize 'contests' yet be a willing participant in these 'tournaments'?

I think the distinction may be in how they are run. These 'contests' that we see on the Minnesota River for flatheads are really festivals for the cities that host them. Is it really OK to be able to catch a flathead catfish 30 some miles away from the weigh in station and transport them to the weigh-in station via vehicle to have them placed in a tank for public view for the rest of the day, while the air temperature is in the upper 90s?

The part that will really leave a bad taste in your mouth is the winning fish that is caught the night before story, and all the trash that is left on the riverbanks from partiers. I've heard too many stories about the winning fish being caught earlier and tied to a tree with a rope or in a gunny sack or whatever only to be brought to the weigh station within hours of the contest starting.

My understanding about the 2 tournaments I mentioned on the Red are they are run the right way. Contestants are all in boats, launching from the same place, and returning to that place to weigh fish, and then they are returned to the water. They are run like any other tournament, with careful handling of the fish being a priority. (I hope I didn't judge these the wrong way but they seem to be run the right way IMO.)

Ok... Let me have it.

[fiskyknut]

Sorry buddy I had to eh! So hot I can't get to sleep so I'm having some Newtons and milk. I've fished the cats incredible a few times, a festival atmosphere in the city of EGF for sure complete with bands and BBQ cooking contests. 300 anglers of varying abilities and ethical standards running boats with different fish holding capabilities. This 'contest' or tournament if you will has anglers running up and down the river for many miles in boats. Also some of the large fish brought in early are indeed 'tanked' for public display. The majority of fish are weighed for the most part at the end of each day, a large lineup of anglers, 300 anglers, 150 teams with Catfish in waterfilled coolers waiting their turn at the scale. Then they are dropped into a piece of irrigation pipe and they then slide on down back into the river. Being it is held in August the air temps here could range anywhere from 60 to a 100 I reckon, August also see's water temps up here that will be into the upper 70's to low 80's range. All tournaments have the potential for cheats to cheat, and this one has had some controversy as well as folks actually being caught and banned for life, though that was some time back.

Is it run 'right'? Depends who you ask I suppose. Just gets me thinking of the old 'concern' thread and all the anti fish keepers that are so pro tourney. To the point of actually discussing how to bend potential reg change of which they are proponents in order to make their league derbies and such to their likeing.

That cake and eat it too syndrome is alive and well even amungst those with the best of intentions. I am not anti tourney at all, but will agree that large fish release tourneys do hold potential for unwaranted fish mortality during the heat of summer for sure.

I could go on to other tourneys held up here on the Red but I'll wait on that.

Chris not bashin you or saying what you're doing is wrong, I will say good luck to ya though.

Regards.....fiskyknut

[nitefisher]

i agree with what you all are saying, specailly about the heat and release of the fish. i have'nt fished the franklin derby for about 15 years so i don't really know how it is run now, but 15 years ago the fish were in a swimming pole for display i beleive it was about 3' deep and in the shade, the transporting is the sucky part is how people get them there. my self i transport mine with a big cattle tank that i use a pump on to change the water constantly and to keep them well with air. the last one i was to there was a dnr officail there that keeped an eye on the fish and it was released if there were any problems. this year i don't think there will be close to the number of boats on the river as most years because the water is real low down this way even for a john boat. i don't know what they have done down by the cities as far as places to get to the river and fish, but around here the goverment pays people not to plant there crops because of flooding, so all the old feild roads that use to go down to a fishing hole is all trees now, and not able to get to any more unless you have a boat. now with the garbage thing the last time i was there when i brought my fish in to wheigh in i also brought my bags of garbage in that i picked up and left them at the wheigh in site with the dnr, needless to say i almost got a littering ticket till they found out were it came about. i think there should be regs on when these derby's should be held as far as weather, this being in the 90's to 100's for temps it should be held later on in the year when it is cooler. garbage from what i have seen in the past 30 years of my catfishing life is the worst thing that can happen to a river for some of the fish i have kept for eating i have found pop and beer cans in there stomachs cheese burger rappers you name it, how many fish can live in this conditions. o.k. like you said before let me have it.