Battle of Chick/Southern Open could see 500 boats

[bjhugo]

It's also getting the kids out of the house and enjoying the outdoors. I have numerous kids coming to my house fishing in the lake and talking about the high school teams. Also there are many that go on to fish in college. Don't know where you have been smbass77 but I have seen several young in the bfl's and the ones in my boat were all excited to be there and learn our great sport. I think anyone (sponsors) that gives their time or money has made a great investment in our youth. This is the 3rd year I have captioned a high school team and have yet to see any not stand for the national anthem or have their pants down around their knees.

 

[derek81]

All you guys complaining about these kids having a tournament this scale need to look at how it impacts these kids and their future. It gives some kids a chance at a college education they never would have received without fishing, it gives others a chance to get out of the house and do something they love because of the awesome people who volunteer their time and boat to take them. Not all the kids involved have dads with bass boats who can take them to do something like this, I know personally some of these kids are underprivileged kids who dream at a chance to be involved in something this scale. This is huge for these kids, and I think it's awesome they are having a tournament this large. It's one freaking day, it's not going to kill our lake, hurt a species or any or any other far fetched crap some of you mentioned. Get over yourselves and go support these kids instead of sitting behind a keyboard pissing and moaning.

 

[Bought]

Totally agree....its already over crowded not to mention the rude people who slide in on your hole while you're there. I'm thinking with all this water this is the only place they could find to fish right at this moment. Oh and lets not forget when you're fishing and next thing you know 6 boats are fishing the same hole. 500 is too many!!

fishinvol - 11/24/2016 11:05 PM

That seems like overkill for one tournament .

 

[silvertalon]

Its just not sensible to unleash that many boats on a Saturday when the ramps are already full with other tournaments. Plus- during the peak spawn? I'm not begrudging the kids an opportunity to have fun and learn bass fishing. I love it! but, at what costs? Why not do this in November- When the bite is good and there's no spawn? The ramps are open and the fish will survive! So besides the highschool and college tournaments, hasn't anyone been reading the environmental impact reports on the decline of big bass on the TN river? especially Guntersville? And look at the size of that place! IMO, there is just no management in this arena. I'm especially surprised at the big organizations who are promoting this for monetary gain and fishing industry growth. Don't let anyone fool us, its all about the sponsors and manufactures and the race to grow the most popular bass org's to draw in the big advertisers! I hope TWRA will take a better look at ways to manage this "bass explosion" in our area so everyone (of course the kids), can all still enjoy our share of fun. The best way I see of conservation of the fish is the immediate "weigh and release". This would work well in High School events because an adult is present in the boat. Works well in 'co-angler' tournaments or when a marshal is in a boat as well. We also need to back off on 5 fish and go to 3- at least from the spawn through the summer. I think the big 'bass org's', should lead the conservation of the sport as they have the most to gain!

 

[Lx545]

I may be speaking out of line to some but I believe if you are having a tournament and charging entry fees and money changes hands you should have to have a permit to have it. Now I understand the friendly wagers between friends and that should be an exception. This is a recreational sport and should be free only if done in a purely recreational context. How many anglers would tournament fish for free? I bet the number would cut in half.

 

[Aries 181]

derek81 - 12/1/2016 5:19 PM

All you guys complaining about these kids having a tournament this scale need to look at how it impacts these kids and their future. It gives some kids a chance at a college education they never would have received without fishing, it gives others a chance to get out of the house and do something they love because of the awesome people who volunteer their time and boat to take them. Not all the kids involved have dads with bass boats who can take them to do something like this, I know personally some of these kids are underprivileged kids who dream at a chance to be involved in something this scale. This is huge for these kids, and I think it's awesome they are having a tournament this large. It's one freaking day, it's not going to kill our lake, hurt a species or any or any other far fetched crap some of you mentioned. Get over yourselves and go support these kids instead of sitting behind a keyboard pissing and moaning.

Well said. emoThumbsup

 

[Gone fishin]

The bass master southern open is the weekend before this and the flw Costa series is the weekend after. What a mess

 

[mighty minnow]

You are missing the whole picture Aries. Kids or no kids the tournament pressure on this lake is massive. I have a 11 yr old that I hope he can enjoy this lake when he gets older but we as humans find something that we love and we run it in the ground. The sad thing is when the fishing starts to get bad on our lake again the tournaments will come to a minimum.and then it will be to late. AND another thing is the people that advertise they saw the next state record or keep posting pictures of all these big bass are solely doing it as publicity for their business. I saw it happen in the late 80 s due to the grass kill and I will see it again with all the tournament pressure. Just had to put my 2 cents in. Concerned avid fisherman!

 

[SHane]

Maybe we need to consider becoming a catch and release lake like some of the ones in Texas where they catch, weigh, and release the fish without ever putting them in a live well, for the large tournaments. Does anyone think that would help?

 

[silvertalon]

I hope the bass get Lots of rest this winter! Its gonna be a rough year!

 

[Captain Hazmat]

With 500 boats, that means by the time they flight each group 15 mins per 25 boats there will be a 3 hour difference? So one team in first group would weigh in at 3 and someone in last group would weigh in at 6. That's going to be a long day for everyone.

 

[Bigrobm33]

smbass77 - 11/28/2016 8:13 AM

one thing I can't figure out, the leagues (BASS/FLW), and sponsors have been targeting the high school and college aged kids for a nearly 8-10 years now. What is happening to these kids after they age out of those ranges?

We aren't seeing an influx of young anglers in our adult clubs, or in local tournaments. It's almost like after they get out of college and reality kicks in, they give up fishing because of the expense. Seems like a bad investment for all the sponsors.

I completely disagree with this. Look at the CBA's. All the younger guys who are local sticks have been or are currently part of a college bass team. Seth Davis won AOY this year in the CBA's and he fished for TN Tech until he graduated a few years ago. Nathan Bell finished 5th in AOY, currently fishes for Bryan college. Haden Lamb and Nick Pratt both fished for UTC a few years ago. Cody Frazier and Taylor Bolton with Basswhacker Guide Service both fished for UTC. We don't see it around here as much because our college teams aren't big we at UTC only have 17 people with only maybe 5 boats, but we have been top 10 in the nation the past 2 years.

Elite Series, Jordan Lee graduated college maybe 2 years ago? He finished 6th in AOY in the elite series this year. Brandon Lester is an Elite Series pro and he also fished for UTC. College and high school fishing is growing every year more and more guys coming up will be known by everyone soon enough.

 

[kgg]

As far as these fish getting a break,......that's the funniest thing i,ve ever heard!

 

[silvertalon]

mighty minnow - 12/4/2016 10:40 PM

You are missing the whole picture Aries. Kids or no kids the tournament pressure on this lake is massive. I have a 11 yr old that I hope he can enjoy this lake when he gets older but we as humans find something that we love and we run it in the ground. The sad thing is when the fishing starts to get bad on our lake again the tournaments will come to a minimum.and then it will be to late. AND another thing is the people that advertise they saw the next state record or keep posting pictures of all these big bass are solely doing it as publicity for their business. I saw it happen in the late 80 s due to the grass kill and I will see it again with all the tournament pressure. Just had to put my 2 cents in. Concerned avid fisherman!

If you'll notice, the big orgs - BASS and FLW have also scheduled the open and the Costa in April during the spawn (so I've read that here in this thread), looking for giant stringers and photos etc. It not only creates bigger biz for them but, thousands will continue to flock in until the big bass are decimated. There are hundreds of big lakes and waterways around the country where the big orgs can conduct great tournaments but, there are no big money towns nearby able to 'bid up' to get the event in their town. Its all about local commerce and biz. That in itself is proof that money and business come before the conservation of the sport. It has has exploded beyond reasonable expectations and we need to find a way to manage it all. It will take a lot to kill this lake but right now there's more than 'a lot'.