Yes the prizes have dropped. I would suspect the economy has more to do with it than greed. Also we have new people running the event...with the old crew, they still gave a really nice boat for first prize salmon, a step down boat for second prize salmon and a still nice boat for lake trout with a 12 footer for youth. It looks like the old first prize level of boat was removed and the old second place boat was moved to first place and second place given the $5K cash prize and a smaller boat for laker..youth unchanged.
Beyond those levels there are also 10 top prizes for each category as there have been in the past but I expect those prizes have dropped a level also and of couse the grab bags which I assume are still there (my son loves that part).
I imagine that given what happened last year, the price of gas and some folks backing out to save the fishery, the sponsors are expecting a lower turn out and have lowered the prizes so they don't take a bath. If turn out is good, I would hope the re-up the prizes next year.
Honestly I don't expect to win anything each year. It's the fun of the competition with the CHANCE of winning that makes it fun....it's a lottery ticket. If powerball only paid 50 million instead of 100 million, I would still play and still be excited if I won...lol
