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I was only asking the question out of curiosity, no hidden agenda.
My Posse of Cowboys is 14 strong, we have had a long standing “guys fishing weekend” date on the family schedule for years! So last year we didn’t dare mess with that! We went anyhow, divided into our normal 4 boats, tossed a bunch of cash into the hat and hit the water for not only salmon but mixed in some bass fishing during the slow salmon hours! Several of our gang members went home with more cash than they brought! We bought 4 identical scales, 4 Rubber Nets and did our own catch and release game! We had more fun than any of the “Winni Derby’s” we have played in over the past 15 years!
We are planning on repeating “our game” this year, at the same time as the “new winni derby” So if you see us catching the big boys, taking a quick weight and photograph and letting them go at the same time! Yell hello to Sculpin and crew!
For those who fish the derby, good luck, and have fun! That’s what it is all about boys and girls, having fun away from the office!
Piece to all,
Sculpin
Food for thought here. Do you think this fishery would be better served if the 2 or 3 days that are going to be avoided this May by some of us be better served if they were taken in July or August??
What i am thinking is this, most of the people who participate in the derby go out maybe 2,3,4 times a year or so and are happy just to be involved and have some action, maybe catch 2 or 3 fish each day and they are probably happy and figured it was a great weekend and a lot of fun.
In the summer it is not unusual for the serious fisherman to dial them in and boat 10-20 fish on a summer day, bringing them up from the deep after a long battle into the 75-80 degree water...do you think that these fish are more at risk then or when a bunch of two or three a year outing type fishermen (along with the serious fisherman) at the beginning of the season when the fish are a little tougher to come by? 6 of 1...1/2 dozen of the other in my opinion.
I agree with Big John, it's all about the money, if they were really serious about it they would not have cancelled it for just 1 year and there would have been serious talk about making it a laker ice derby or cancelling that all together also. I think there is too much out there that is not known, if they thought that cancelling the derby was the trick why did they let it run this year then?
I think if you want to do the derby do it and have a ball!!!! If you want to avoid it because you think it's the cause of the problems then it's an admirable statement ...me, I think there are more hook wounds because the fishermen are just plain better and catching more fish derby or no derby. Whether you catch them at the derby or in the summer, have your fun....let's just try to handle them w/ care.
I have only been to 1 derby (09) and i loved it. I had fun talking to everyone on the radio and just being out there with everyone. I am disappointed that some of the people I was looking forward to seeing out there are not going, it will not be the same with out them but I plan on being out there with my friend nick on my boat (and my son Lucas hopefully) and Forrest and his son Doug on his. Good luck!
I may be wrong on this, but I am under the belief that State law will not issue any new derbies. and for any derbies that have been operational in the past, you can renew, you can take 1 year off, but have to renew for that 24th month, or you become fully expired and then can not renew. has anyone else heard this?
I personally am going to the derby and bringing my son along with me, this will be his first time. As far as people saying Hook wounds this hook wounds that, I personally want to know where the derby has anything to do with this? before I get a bunch of hate mail I want to know with the exception of the few who actually do just catch their limit and go home,who stops fishing after two? Most of the people that have posted above just keep right on a catching and releasing just as many as will take the Fly, live bait, or lure. I myself am guilty but no way am I ashamed to admit it nor should the others. I also would say I care as much for the salmon as anyone, but I like to catch salmon and trout and as long as they are biting I am going to keep catching,That is what the state puts them in the lake for, recreation (having Fun). We all try to take care of these fishRubber nets,single hooks? Barbless hooks? catch and release etc. but some get hooked wounded. it is a put and take after all, the state puts in more every year this is what our license money goes for. The season is open for six months roughly 180 days a year, out of those 180 days on a good year lets say maybe 50 I am able to go fishing, maybe 8 of those days which includes the derby are fished on Winni. If you want to stop hook wounds I think you better come up with a better excuse than blaming the derby. You know I have read a lot about how fish and game have not done a very good job and I have also seen alot of people defending the fish and Game the defenders say "they know what they are doing". Well Let me tell you I agree with the people who are in the fish and Game Dept's corner. So to all you who are in their corner ask yourselves this question, Do you think that the fish and game dept. would let this derby take place if it was as detrimental to the fishery as you want us to believe? come on you can't have it both ways. Good luck to all who go to that derby and Have fun.
I think the derby brings alot of fishermen to the lake that normally would not come here,which in turn stresses the resourse even more.How many people register for the derby(3000?)that's alot of hooking going on.If it wasn't about money for somebody, do you think anybody would have bought out the old derby organizer.MONEY TALKS AND YOU KNOW THE REST!!!What are the new organizers going to do for the resourse?
I will not be fishing the derby this year, mostly because of work though. I don't know whether or not the derby, or lack there of, contributes to or harms the fishery. I do know that the quality of salmon in Winni was much better last season. Was not having a derby a factor in that? I really don't know, but if we see the quality in the 2 and 3 year old classes really take a nosedive this season maybe we will have to take another look at it. Good luck to all who enter and grill up some of those hook wounded fish they are delicious with the right garlic and butter!
This is a touchy subject. I do not believe the lack of last years derby had much effect on the Salmon fishery. If not for one of the derby founders, we would not be fishing for Salmon in Winni. Just my opinion but the catching of Salmon in 65 + degrees water is the biggest issue and should be addressed. Us two, other friends and family will be supporting the derby. My .02 cents Roland
Lets not forget the fishing pressure was also down quite a bit. At least it seemed to me it was. The few times we fished on winni last year. Didn"t see near the amount of boats as in the past years. If so this has to have helped the salmon also.