Big Fish from Charities and AuGres lead tourney.

[walleye express]

Just got back from the MWT weigh-in at Hoyles marina. The leaders in the 63 boat field had 32 pounds and some change. Their big fish helped with that total by weighing in at 8.99 pounds. My cousin Mike Manyen was actually in the lead for quit a while with 25.79, but has now been bumped to 5th. But still pretty impressive when you condsider the conditins they fished in today with 4 to 6 footers on the Bay.

All the nicer catches (as you would expect) were coming from Rifle Bar north, all the way to the charities. 2 ounce XPS keel weights and harnesses were the hot ticket for many of the top guys. Might head back over tomorrow and check out the finals. Might even take my camera and post some pictures.

[Tom22]

Dan, any idea where I can view all of day 1 standings?...Tom

[eyebuster]

Tom, they don't exactly run back and post the results LOL. You can find them here. http://www.michiganwalleyetour.com/2004/index.html

They may be up on the results page on Mon or Tues. Capt. Dan would probably shed more lite on the subject than anyone else for the time being. Maybe the local paper will run something about it.

[walleye express]

Tom.

"If" I do go back tomorrow and take my camera, I'll try and get a dedent picture with my digital camera (set on micro) that might show the leader board clear enough.

[soulfish86]

What time is the weigh in?

[walleye express]

soulfish.

The first flight will begin weigh in at 3:00pm.

[Tom22]

Thanks Dan, I seen you at the weigh -in I would of said HI, but you looked a little busy...My top 5 today was 27#..I probably should of gotten in the tourn....Tom

[walleye express]

Tom.

Just got back and I'll post some pictures now. My Cousin Mike Manyen caught 27.41 today to add to his 25.79 from yesterday. That placed him about 5th or 6th. A very respecful showing in a field of 116 both simi and professional fishermen, and on top his Labardie tourney win two weeks ago. My new buds (team 30) who chartered me on Thursday, also did better today. The winning team of Gilman and Gilman won it with a little over 60 pounds for the two days.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424IM000643-med.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424IM000644-med.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424IM000646-med.JPG

Cousin Mike.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424IM000650-med.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424IM000654-med.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424IM000655-med.JPG

Winners MWT. Gilman/Gilman.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424IM000658-med.JPG

[harsens hunter]

nice pics Walleye Express

[Tom22]

Thanks Dan, I heard that Gillman did'nt win, he took 2nd,,Guess we will have to check the board tommorrow......Tom

[walleye express]

Tom.

You might be right. I was pressing my luck with as late as I was running to be back home for supper. :lol:

They were the last ones standing on stage and who I think I took the pictures of. Maybe not. :confused: :help: :evil:

[The Whale]

Hoffman and Hoffman Team, 59.00 lbs for a ten fish total were the winners. ;) Dan, your brother's team, Mike, came in at 5th. Very nice. :fish:

[walleye express]

Whale.

Yupper, it was Hoffman and Hoffman and not Gilman and Gilmam, as they came in second. You can see how a man could have been confused by the double names being thrown around. :lol:

And Mike is my cousin. Way to young to be my brother. :rolleyes:

[No Mas]

I don't know if this is a stupid question, but do they release all the fish? :confused:

[walleye express]

NoMas.

If your fish are alive at weigh-in, your are given bonus ounces. Dead, ounces are taken away. Where hundreds of dollars between any two places can be by just ounces, they are very concious of keeping the fish in as good a shape as they can in their live wells. But in weather conditions like over the weekend, where everything in the boat takes a pounding including the fish in the well, it's tough to do. Hot weather and other variables will also add to this live or die equation.

I watched both days as they removed the walleyes they thought were not going to make it, out of the final revival tub. I'm guessing a full 50% or better were removed for cleaning and dispersal to whoever they donate them to after the tournamanet. Some tourneys give them to hospitals or adult care facilities and such. The fish that looked strong enough in the tub, were transported back out to the marina channel mouth and released back into the Bay.

This isn't to say that mortality does not continue even days after release. Nor is it my intention to start that (God awful) debate about the fishing tournament Pro's and Con's concerning the impact on local economies and fisheries. It's my personal opinion, that if our DNR saw a real ecosystem threat to our fisheries because of the many walleye tournaments on the Bay, they would step in and set special rules or laws for them.

[No Mas]

No debate here!! I was just curious what they did with the fish...