To Go Or Not To Go- That Is The Question!
I am not a tournament fisherman. That being said, I don’t have a whole lot against tournaments, I am not a huge fan of kill tournaments and don’t agree with some tournament fishermen’s attitudes that when they are fishing, they take precedent over other fisherman. I don’t really see how that attitude jives with ethical fishing.
All in all though, as I don’t enter them, I tolerate them.
I am not against giving a helping hand to those that ask for it. I have a number of acquaintances and friends that will enlist my knowledge and assistance in finding fish and I usually graciously offer my input. I like to see my friends do well.
It serves no positive purpose for me to enter them though. If I do well, the opinion is voiced that:
He should do well, it’s his home water and he is out there all of the time.
If I do poorly the sentiment is:
What a loser, runs a website about CATCHING MORE FISH on Devils Lake but obviously doesn’t know the lake very well.
So, instead of going through that drama, we carry on with our mission of bringing the most information possible to the tourists and average fisherman that come to test their abilities against the Big Devil.
Cancellations
It seems every year, especially on the early ones, a day or even two days of a tournament will be cancelled. There will be a divide of opinions from the groups of tournament entrants. Name calling and bashing ensues and nobody really wins. Then the tourney will come down to a one day shoot out for all the marbles.
I am glad I am not Johnny Candle! Johnny has had pretty much the say in canceling a day of the Chamber Tournament due to inclement weather.
He took a lot of gruff last year and had to make the call again this year to cancel today.
I think in the end, canceling is the right thing to do. The safety of the fishermen in the tournament should always be paramount.
HOWEVER…
This tournament is voluntary. No one is putting a gun to any of these fishermen’s heads and saying that they HAVE to go.
As a non-entrant, we have the ability to see it from both ends of the spectrum.
To Go Or Not To Go?
That is the question.
Committee Decision
It is our understanding that last evening, a small, random committee of tournament entrants was asked to vote on going today. I think that is a good way of doing it. Leaving it to one person to make that big of a call is a tall task.
Agree or disagree on the decision?
Is there a better way?
Should they just hold the tourney and leave it up to every individual boat as to whether they go or not?
If a group enters, decides not to go due to weather, could they get a refund?
If they hold it, the weather is terrible, and an accident, injury, or even death occurs, is the tourney responsible?
This is far from a cut and dry question with a simple answer. We want to hear from you though and would like to see the opinion of at least one entrant?
Tell us what is on your mind.
Until Monday,
Good Luck out there.
We traveled a long way and spent plenty out here in the last 3 weeks, it’s unfortunate it got cancelled. Safety first, but then again, it’s a big body of water and the entrants should use some good judgement on pushing the limits for a possible W. Dont spend much time on Devils ( 3 trips in 15 yrs) we won’t be back to fish a tourney! Good luck to all, and be safe!