2006 schedule

procrafty · August 06, 2005, 09:04:31 PM

:-*An idea for the summer months tournaments, instead of traveling hundreds for miles to stay at some lodge,motel etc. fish somewhere closer to home, save money on accommodations & gas (which is not going to get cheaper).
I call it The 3 river challenge. We would fish the Mississippi, Missouri, and the Illinois. one each month. Payout could be big bass at each meet, weights kept for the 3 meets and total weight of all 3 go to the 1st, 2ND,3rd places awarded at the last meet.
First, fish the Missouri River, take off out of either Alton Marina or Piasa ramp and everyone motors down to the locks and lock through at the same time, when the lock gates open that is when the clock starts, & hours later everyone meets back at the lock and all lock through together, wheighin would be at which ever ramp we used.
Second, we fish the Mississippi, take off from Alton or Piasa and fish from the locks to Grafton and up the Mississippi as far as you want to go.
Third, fish the Illinois River, take of from Pier Marquette and fish from Grafton on up the Illinois as far as you want.
Fishing is tough enough during the late summer months so why travel for hours, spend hundreds of dollars on gas and lodging. It is said that you only spend a few more dollars more this year for gas than you did last year. My cost for the Smithland meet was about $200.00 dollars once you figure in gas for truck, boat, lodging and food. Doing this would save about $100.00 at least.

Bumpboard · August 07, 2005, 03:19:48 PM

This is an interesting idea and I'm sure your intention is good. Personally I don't see a lot that is wrong with the schedule in 2005. During the summer months we travel to Smithland twice and more than half of the fishermen bring something to the scales. The other two events are pretty close to home with no lodging and few miles to drive. I'm not all that excited about fishing the rivers around St.Louis. I just returned from Smithland and gas cost me about $15 more than in 2004. I would rather spend the extra $$ to compete at a better fishery like Smithland.

bass1cpr · August 07, 2005, 04:51:54 PM

They built a new ramp on the Missouri side at Missouri river bottoms. That would be easier than locking thru but the fishing on the Missouri is difficult at best you may have to run all the way past the Hwy 40 bridge (Chesterfield) to find any decent fishing. While your there you might as well run on up a little further and hit the Gambling boats in Kansas City.

Heagster · August 07, 2005, 09:51:19 PM

We'll bring this idea to the attention of the board at our schedule-planning meeting.

Bumpboard · August 09, 2005, 09:36:27 AM

My boat burns more gas per mile than my truck. I hope the board considers whether the membership wants to fish any of these rivers first, before considering the heavy logistics involved in pulling this off.

Heagster · August 12, 2005, 09:25:36 PM

Here is a note sent to me by Bert Houston concerning ideas for the 2006 tournament schedule.

Food for thought.

Bert's proposed 2006 Schedule
I know this won't happen, but these are my ideas and some comments..Bert

March 18 - Pomme De Terre Low Boat traffic
Cheaper lodging
Fishing pre spawn
High fish/angler history

April 1 - Springfield, IL Local

April 15 - Carlyle Pre flood? Spawn, local

April 29 or May 6 - Lots of fish - a Must
Table Rock

May 13-14 - Smithland Lots of fish - a Must ... !!14th is Mothers Day!!
or May 20-21

June 3 - Crab Orchard Lots of fish - Local

June 17- (OPEN) Wappapello) Something new?

July 8 - (OPEN) Vandalia ? Local

Aug 5 - Smithland Good attendance
Lots of fish

Sept 9-10 - KY Lake A Must - History

Oct 21 - Table Rock A Must - Crawfish History!

Nov 4-5 - Pomme De Terre Lots of Fish

cable guy · August 13, 2005, 12:16:29 PM

some good idwas there burt

procrafty · August 14, 2005, 06:08:55 PM

PoPoThe idea was to have some more close to home meets, with gas prices to hit $3.00 dollars a gallon with in the next month I don't think that adding an 8th overnight long drive meet is going to improve attendance at the meets. The idea was to fish more locale impoundments and save $ in gas for both boat and towing vehicle.

Bumpboard · August 15, 2005, 09:17:17 AM

For Bert, every tournament but two involves a long drive. He's just giving his perspective. As far as gas prices go, I'd hate to allow OPEC to turn us into the "Boring Bassmasters". Let's put it into perspective.... We pay $8.00 per gallon for beer (package price....$30.00 per gallon in a drinking establishment) and at $1.00 per bottle, we pay $13.00 per gallon for bottled water. Our longest tournament drive takes a little more than one tank of gas to pull my boat there. I don't like the higher gas prices but I can live with them. I prefer to look at the value of the fishing experience. Smithland, Pomme de Terre, Kentucky Lake, and Table Rock are worth the extra gas money for the overall fishing experience.

Heagster · August 15, 2005, 11:04:51 AM

Once again, the board will take all perspectives into account for the 2006 schedule.

cable guy · August 15, 2005, 06:18:40 PM

with these gas prices we are not going to see the boat numbers, at the overnighters,i know the fishing is great at those bodys of water , but is not feesible to spend $300 dollors and maybe get a little of that back, dont get me wrong i love to fish anywhere, but we need to think about the asamny over nighters.

cable guy · August 15, 2005, 06:22:59 PM

an by the way vandallia club has 10 or 12 tounenments on vandalia lake, and there classic, cody was there a few weeks ago and caucht a 8 pounder on a buzzbait, thta great, plus the club puts i fingerlings every year and burys brush piles for the fish, that is why the lake has such results, i will try and get some of there results, that is a close lake to consider a couple of tounaments at,we have had good weigh ins there already. its just something to think about.

Bumpboard · August 15, 2005, 07:54:12 PM

Where do we go that costs $300 for a weekend? Table Rock - maybe..... if you don't have anyone to split the cost with. When we have the tournaments close to home, how many pre-fishing trips are our members taking to these lakes and how many tanks of gas are they buying in order to do that? Right now it is $.50 more per gallon than it was 1-year ago. It may go up some more, but it will likely go down again after labor day according to this evening's news. I agreee that Vandalia should be on the schedule at least twice, but let's replace Carlyle instead where it is often not worth the price of gas to attend. (sounds like the Vandalia club feels Carlyle isn't worth the 20-mile trip either) One of the things that separates us from the rest of the area bass clubs is the fact that our schedule is diverse and exciting and something to look forward to. Some guys are good at one location, while others are good at other places. Smithland offers an opportunity to weigh fish for members who have a real problem catching 15 or 16-inch keepers. Table Rock is just plain fun. If a person can't see the benefit of the T.R. events and the comaraderie that is built there then it is not worth the gas for them to attend. (Just don't expect the rest of the group to follow suit) It's a tough lake, especially in the fall but that adds to the appeal for many of us. Our members can enter a tournament on Lake of the Ozarks any weekend of the year. We could get rid of that one and eliminate an overnight stay as far as I'm concerned. The Ozarks trips seem to be the most expensive. (to me)

bass1cpr · August 15, 2005, 11:30:29 PM

It's easy to drop $300 for a weekend fishing especially Table Rock. And that is splitting the costs. Any over night tournaments will cost you close to $200 for the weekend. Beer, food, gas, lodging, entry fee, it's easy to drop two bills.
The local tournaments less than a tank of gas there and back, no lodging, sandwiches are cheap, Drive time is managable, and we weigh in some pretty good fish wright here close to home. Carlyle can be tough fishing and it's a challange I've heard that term used for some of the other lakes we have to drive four hours plus to get to. What's the difference ones clear and ones not. Fishing is fishing but expense has to be considered for the whole of the club and a factor a lot of new possible members look at. We have lots of good lakes close to home that we havent' even tapped yet. There are quite a few guys that like Carlyle. It's like any other lake it takes time to learn it. It also has some pretty good fish in it.

Bumpboard · August 16, 2005, 06:58:31 AM

Yes, I can do the math, and it costs a lot less to fish Carlyle. I hope you're not comparing Carlyle to Table Rock as a fishery though. There is no comparison. Three species of bass on a beautiful lake that forces you to actually THINK about your tactics instead of counting on the launch site to produce your sack of keepers. I'd also be willing to bet that the Table Rock events result in more new members than Carlyle. There are plenty of local clubs that just fish local tournaments. Please don't turn us into one of them. We are big enough now that we could have 2 tournaments on the same day if we really wanted to. We have 2 sclaes. Let's schedule a Carlyle tournament on the same day as Table Rock (Spring or Fall). Then the guys who don't want to spend the money can have an event to weigh fish. It's a pretty radical idea, but we have the resources to pull it off. I still say if you want to get rid of an overnight event then can Ozarks. We've only had 1 good weigh-in there for as long as I can remember. The accommodations are overpriced and crowded together, not to mention the trip to the Chiropractor after any lengthy boat ride during mid-day.

Heagster · August 16, 2005, 10:01:32 AM

Well, this discussion has certainly gotten lively!

Where do I start here........

I'm not sure this club is ready to conduct 2-tournaments on the same day at different locations, Bumpboard.

You all know how I feel about the Table Rock events. This club was actually founded 17-years ago based on the enthusiasm generated by 2-trips a year to Table Rock. It has become an event where many plan vacations with their wives and family and continues to be a place where we get a big turnout.

I'm certainly willing to look at reducing our travel, if that is the consensus. I will however, defend the Table Rock events to the very end. (CPR and I have had this discussion before) It is a unique tradition that many look forward to every year. It is actually one of the things that renews my enthusiasm for running this bass club and I won't get rid of it without a fight.

With regard to Carlyle, I'm not sure if you guys are aware of this, but the St. Genevieve crew will not fish there. The way I understand it, some friends of theirs (possibly club members) drown there when a storm kicked up and flipped their boat several years ago. From what I understand they (as a group) will never go back.

That doesn't mean that we must get rid of it. I'm just passing on information and those boys don't seem to mind excluding Carlyle from their calendar. They attend all of the other Illinois events and spend more on gas than any other group in our club.

It seems to me that much of our increase in membership over the last few years is based on our schedule, among other things. I could be wrong, but these are comments that I get pretty regularly. As I recall, the club as a whole was pretty excited about the schedule for 2005 when it was approved over the winter.

If there are people who don't join-up with us because we have too many travel tournaments, then there are several other club options for them in our area that will suit their needs.

As I've said before, the board will have a lot to discuss when creating the 2006 schedule and this discussion board has helped in airing out some ideas.

Heagster

bass1cpr · August 16, 2005, 11:53:03 AM

NO ones jumping on Table Rock. Beauty of the lake Table Rock winns Hands Down. Handling the group as a whole Table Rock winns hands down. The owners of Lazy Lee's great friends of the club. I should say Honored friends of the club. Duh!
I didn't know about the Saint Gens gangs reason for not fishing Carlyle. Loss of life is the greatest tragadey faced in fishing. Yes it can be extreamly dangerous when a storm blows in. Any body of waer can be dangerous when a storm or big winds kick up. I've seen Carlyle type conditions at Smithland, Crab Orchard, Shelbyville, Lake of the Ozarks, and Kentucky Lake just to name a few.
Smithland can be dangerous with wind, I've been fishing in creeks and not been aware of the wind on the river only to come out to five and six foot waves, it wasn't a fun ride back. Very spooky.
If fishing lakes in Illinois with the potential of catching a five, six, or seven pounder is boring then take up golf. Table Rock offers our best opportuinity of catching a big small mouth or your first Small Mouth. I know it was mine, or at least my first memorable one big enough to say I've finally caught a good smallie.
I like to fish a big name lake now and then, it's one of the reasons I joined this club and to get to a Missouri lake once in a while. It's a good way to see if you have the abilities to fish them (as we all Harbor Dreams of winning a big Tournament on one of the Big Lakes.) at a reasonable cost to experiment and test our abilities. Refining and becomming a better, and more consistant Tournament angler is a hugepart of what club fishing is about, keeping it affordable and easy to participate will help keep new members comming in and keep the club growing.

Heagster · August 16, 2005, 12:36:31 PM

I was just sensing an attack on Table Rock through the course of this thread and trying to address it.

procrafty · August 16, 2005, 01:44:07 PM

I was in no way attacking Table Rock or other lakes, I have enjoyed my trips there and all the festivities there. My only concern is cost as I and I'm sure some others will not be able to afford all the trips like we had this year. One of the main reasons I joined this club was because of Table Rock, the decision of going to Kentucky.... well I think it might be more appealing if the lodging didn't cost twice as much as any of the other lakes we go to, or kept it to one day. There may be some other locations there that would be cheaper but I would not like to traverse that lake in the dark to get to the launch site, that lake is bad enough in day light as the markings of channels is poor at best.
I did not know of the tragedy of the St. Gen. group but I can see how that could happen at that lake, even a light wind there makes that place bad. My condolences to them and their loss. In the end it is a loss to us all.
I apologize if anyone thought I was attacking the Table Rock event, I would much rather see us drop or reduce the Kentucky one. It's to bad we can't move the date for Table Rock back further in the year in hopes that the water would cool off and provide better conditions and catches but that is not really an option.

Heagster · August 16, 2005, 02:08:17 PM

I don't think you even mentioned Table Rock, but there were a few references in there by some of the other boys and I wanted to make my position very clear.

Yeah, I could live without Kentucky Lake.

The weigh-ins there have been better than any other place we have tried in the month of September.

That is why we kept it there.

If we can find an alternative location I have no problem with it.

cable guy · August 16, 2005, 06:58:51 PM

table rock is great i could go along with getting rid of kentuky, i fished crab this weekend and my partner had 14lbs grated we were aloud 3 16 or over fish and 3 on paper between 12-15.the fish were pretty healthy looking also for august i will get the results,kentucky is a big lake and if you dont know how to run it your in trouble.and the lodging is a bit steep.

procrafty · August 16, 2005, 08:06:25 PM

At the Collinvilles Lets Go Fishing show I picked up a flier from a booth for a place on Kentucky Lake that was just a little way from the Moors and they were cheaper but I didn't keep it or at least I can't find it, I guess I will have to wait till the show next year and get anotherone.
Larry, I have some photos of Smithland Pool but don't know how to post them here. Any help?

Heagster · August 16, 2005, 08:36:13 PM

In order to post photos you have to be a member of Ultimate Bass.

I am a member and will post them on the gallery.

Just e-mail them to me and I'll take care of it.