New Tournament Rules

[hhguide]

Is it true that next year after the 14th of june all tournaments are going to be catch only and NOT release? Thanks for any info just trying to understand why that law would be passed and if it is a law?

[TonkaBass]

After all the effort put forth in tournaments to have a low mortality rate I wouldn't expect them to want to kill all the fish caught. I haven't heard of this... sound like hear-say to me.

Although on the river there is a no cull rule. technically this would mean that all fish put in the livewell of a tournament angler there would have to stay there and not be released. Of course everybody releases their fish anyways.

[Team Otter]

 Originally Posted By: TonkaBass

After all the effort put forth in tournaments to have a low mortality rate I wouldn't expect them to want to kill all the fish caught. I haven't heard of this... sound like hear-say to me.

Its how it's handled in SD.

[TonkaBass]

So all the fish caught in tournaments in SD are killed after the tournament? Why dont they let these fish (which consist of nice spawners) to be released? Must be hard to get a permit in that state with that many boats all fighting for a limit which will be killed afterward. If there was a 100 boat tournament that lasted 2-3 days can you imagine the effect on the fishery. 1100 fish caught, all killed!?! Doesn't make much sense to me.

[Central Bassman]

HHGuide- Where did you hear this?? I haven't hear anything about this and really dont believe it.

[french_lake_kid]

I also heard this and it kinda sucked bcuz this year was guna be my first year fishing tourneys solo(w/out sumbody elses boat)

[DTro]

I think the new rule states that "offsite" weigh ins will not be allowed.

[Coach1310]

As far as walleye tournaments...if this is true they should set it up so after the walleyes are weighed give them to the tribes who have the rights to net the lake they were caught on. Whatever poundage would count against their quota. Therefore you wouldn't have much worry about the mortality rate of those released fish and you wouldn't be harvesting any extra.

[Team Otter]

Yes, it's your choice to attempt releasing on your own or the tournament organization donates them to a charity or food shelf organization.

[hhguide]

well Two tournaments ( walleye) in central Minnesota were moved up in front of the date (June 14) because they were told when they got there permit for the tournament that it would be this way. Catch and NOT release. So I was just wondering if this was the reason they moved the tournament up or not.

[Central Bassman]

I'm going to have to call my local dnr officer and see what he says!

[mr walleye]

Two years ago the MWT tournament in July or August? cant remember which one was a kill tournament. per DNR rules.

most of us still released our fish