Poll on Tournament Fishing on Lake Huron

[Fletch09]

Some Lake Huron tournaments have very low limits (zero or one) on the number of Lake Trout that can be weighed. Others allow more. Given the current status of the king and trout fisheries, which kind of limit do you prefer?

Further to this, would you like to see tournament limits become "legal limit" events? (e.g. a "3 man limit" means you can catch and weigh any salmon/trout at or under the legal limit for 3 fishermen where you are fishing)

Curious to see what everyone thinks.

[Getaway]

I think if the Lake Huron tourneys want to survive, they need to change with the times. The kings in Huron are in trouble for the next couple years. I predict, in 3 years we will know what the future of Huron will hold and if Lake Michigan will follow in its footsteps. Honestly, I doubt Lake Michigan will succumb to low bait fish levels.

A two or three person limit of any trout species would be the best way for a Lake Huron tourney to survive.

Making a lake trout a bastard fish is not doing anybody any good. That may be all we have left in 5 years.

[pikedevil]

I think the Lake Huron Tournys should be run similarly to the Lake MI tournaments. Weigh 1-3 DNR limits. That way in order to win they will still need to put silvers in the boat and get their lakers to complete their limits. Never understood why they discriminate against the lakers soo much over there. Here finding the big trout to complete our limits is the toughest aspect of a lot of tournaments and seperates the winners from the rest of the pack.

[Captain of the 4-C's]

The real reason is to protect the resource available. Good fisherman can find pockets of lakers early in the year and just slaugter the crap out of them. One day, 3 of us released over 60 lakers in 4.5 hours of fishing (ended up with 7 salmon too). In the early 80's, not nearly as many lakers were available as there are now. I personally wouldn't mind allowing one laker/fisherman in the tournaments. The ironic thing is - even if you do include lakers, the better fisherman will still win anyways by catching other specie. It would probably provide/peak greater interest in Lake Huron tournaments by the average fisherman by allowing say 3 lakers per day for example in the Blue Water Classic. However, it will result in a bigger bunching of weights in the middle of the pack. Middle of the pack is still the middle of the pack - with no payout.

[Tech Rally]

From my personal creel surveys of Lake Michigan Fish of 2004, the average weight per fish was down significantly this past season. This may be due to the extra competition caused by Lake Huron fish migrating to Lake Michigan. This coming season will really tell the story. I don't mean to sound like chicken little but it wouldn't surprize me if the Average 4 year old fish on Lake Michigan in 2005 may end up being 11-13 pounds with any fish greater than 18 pounds being a trophy.

Salmon were a solution to a problem, alewives. Alewives have not been a problem for many years and are now become scarce. Stocking efforts need to turn to species that are not as dependant on a single food source like Salmon are. Browns would help address the latest invader problem, Golbies.

As for the orignal question, I would propose no more than two fish of any one spieces. This would show who the best fisherman is, and take away advantages of those that have the proper equipment to run 40-60 miles to find "the pod" of Salmon that none of the other boats can feisibly get too. (can you tell I a mere 18ftr. ;) )

[EdB]

From my personal creel surveys of Lake Michigan Fish of 2004, the average weight per fish was down significantly this past season.

Yeap, scary because wasn't that the case on Huron for the past couple years prior to this years crash. Hope it is a fluke on the west side but if sizes decreases again this coming season on Lk Mich, it won't be a good sign.

I think weighing 2 or 3 man legal limits are the best format.

[pikedevil]

I don't mean to sound like chicken little but it wouldn't surprize me if the Average 4 year old fish on Lake Michigan in 2005 may end up being 11-13 pounds with any fish greater than 18 pounds being a trophy.)


While I agree size was down considerably this summer I saw enough immature fish in the 8-14 pound range at the end of last summer that I think size will remain about the same for next summer with fish in the mid-upper teens being common.

[CAPT HEAVY]

You know my position Fletch, I love Lakers!!! Only thing that was really plentiful in Harrisville this year. I also like the "kill em' all" tournaments. There are days when getting a box of Lakers can be tough. Maybe use a limit of Lakers format with the winner getting to the scales first. I dont know, but things dont look very bright for Lake Huron in the future.

[Captain]

I'm with you Jeff, Maybe 8 LTs and one Silver should be the new format for a few years...... :SHOCKED:

[Captain of the 4-C's]

Maybe that should be the new Lake Huron tournament logo :lol: . Ya'll know I'm in for reducing the Laker population. You could almost walk across em in Harrisville at times this year. Another possible tournament format would be to weigh in 2 lakers, 2 kings, 2 steelies and 2 browns (i.e. only 2 of each specie) - that could make for an interesting weighin at the end of the day. Hey Jeff - If you went to a first to the scale with a limit wins the tournament would mean you would have to purchase a faster boat $$$$$$$$ :bash:.

[inthenet]

Fletch it sounds like you got your answer like it or not.I better stock up on the cow bells in the store.

Joel

[mrymar]

Hey Jeff - If you went to a first to the scale with a limit wins the tournament would mean you would have to purchase a faster boat $$$$$$$$ :bash:.
Order it today, and you get it in fall of 2006 or spring of 2007.

http://www.team-fishigan.com/temp/310_WA_Intrepid.jpg

[Captain]

Fletch it sounds like you got your answer like it or not.I better stock up on the cow bells in the store.

Joel

Come on Joel Cowbells? :lol: Not these days, any Mag streak 5-10' off the floor and you'll do as many as you want.....

But if your looking for weight for a tourney.. ;)

[inthenet]

your right captain just trying to give fletch some sh--------

[BITE_ME_TOO]

I guess I would have 2 ways to look at it:

1. Being that the general rules to date have been Salmon only (or as you put it Jason, sometimes allow 1 or more LT) in most of the Lower Lake Huron Tourneys, that is what we have done- targeted those specific species. Yes the "amount" and more importantly the "size" of these Kings, Coho's are on a serious downslide, but that is what makes the tournament fishing competitive. Anyone, can drop a line down to the bottom and pick up some LT (except us on the first day of the BWater this year), but does that mean that we change the rules of a "Classic Salmonoid Tourney"?

2. On the other hand, as Getaway put it "change with the times". I would agree to this, but for only one reason- to get a better turnout at the tournaments and not for the sake of competitivness. It is obvious from the comment from 4-C's, that there are alot of LT in lower Lake Huron. So to put more importance on that fishery could infact bring more boats to a tournament.

Whatever the outcome, we will line up at the imaginary boundery anticipating the flare for most of the tourneys- no matter what we are targeting. I guess I will have to add a new task to my "off-season" duties- new LT recipes :p

Hey Captain, does this mean that you are going to join in the fun this season? Don't forget though, Port Hope Spire is the northern boundary.

Jeff- BMT

[Captain]

Don't think so Jeff, Haven't fished it since 97 (year before HB was dropped) and Trippen was still fishing out of his flat bottom duck boat... :lol: Might run the Fish On this year though.....

[BITE_ME_TOO]

Captain, when you say "run the Fish-On this year"- do you mean fish it or Chair the Tourney? I heard it was defunct this year........

[Captain]

I meant Fish it, if its No-More then I guess we'll be running trips that weekend...

[mrymar]

Might run the Fish On this year though.....
I am not one for spreading rumors, But I heard it was dead??? No one has told me othewise.

Anyways, Sarnia Bay jumped on their date. First Saturday in May. I have a feeling more people would fish Sarnia for a chance at $10,000, if the fish-on was to go again. I always thought those two tournament should switch weekends anyways.

[The Dog House]

IMO, it will become necessary for the directors and or club BOD's that set-up/sponser these tounry's to implement new guidelines/Rules regarding LT to their weigh-in........ Unless they aren't interested in attracting boats that are relocating to the other side......Events we entered this year, had more than enough LT in the box's........
If it's a salmon Tourny than so be it...... The top Salmon fishermen would/should have top honors.....
If it's a "Sportfishing" tourny........ A varity of fishermen would have the same opportunity......
I wonder if we'll start to see Does on the Buckpoles........ :yikes:

my .02 cents

[Captain]

Thx Mike, Jeff had just said the same thing in his post. Thats good that Sarnia is moving up to the beginning of May for both boat #s and fish #s. Now only if the Classic and Salmon Stakes were combined and both run the last weekend of April...... :yikes:

[Fletch09]

Thanks for the responses guys, just back in from out of town. I personally don't like the idea of adding more Lake Trout to tournaments, but it may be the only way to keep the entries up. Hopefully the salmon will be back in force and no one will need to weigh em, but I doubt it. Anyone want to pitch in and transport a couple hundred thousand Herring from Lake Superior to Lake Huron?

[Stinky]

that will be winning the tourney's. Personally I was getting sick and tired of hearing people give those darn trout NO RESPECT! There is a nack to getting the big ones. Good Luck.