Foundations of Pure Michigan Tournament Anglers

[Mojo]

Hey everyone, just a reminder, as we kick off our first CIR 2016 Bass Season, that Tournament Bass Fishermen ARE awesome !!!

Lets also remember our set of unwritten rules, as a foundation of Pure Michigan Tournament Anglers, and we are amBASSadors of our sport all year round.   So just a reminder, here they are:

1. Be courteous and 'good people', without arrogance, to all people on the water, and at the boat ramps. Help more than you should.
2. Encourage your Tournament Director to collect any dead bass and put them on ice. Show good will by offering to the locals. Have ready the percent bass ( bass returned to the water / total fish caught that tournament ) in case you are asked.
3. Avoid verbal confrontations with lake home owners. Don't respond! Instead, have a printed copy of MCL 324 and be willing to share a copy if needed. Do not  apologize unless your wave or your lure caused an issue, best to never raise your voice. Just smile and move on.
4. Be mindful of your wake. Keep 150 feet away from any other boat or shoreline when at speed. If coming near shore or if in a restricted area, consider coming off plane early to pass the boat or enter a canal. When blasting off, consider motoring away from other boaters as well. You'll be appreciated.
5. Prepare your dock casting rod and practice by first throwing at a target 10 feet away from dock, raft or boat. Once you hit it, move on to the man made cover. A prepared dock rod may include: Being shorter for accuracy, a Texas rigged hook versus exposed, a bait with internal weights versus a jig head.
6. Keep 100 -150 feet away from non tournament (or tournament) anglers when possible. If you must come within 50 feet of non tournament anglers, consider throwing them some soft plastic baits or another reason to become friendly. Otherwise, with an entire lake, a non tournament angler doesn't understand spots, or spot within a spot, and it looks rude. Good rule of thumb for tournaments is stay well clear of their casting distance.
7. Do EVERYTHING in your life giving power to keep your fish alive including: keep ice and rejuvenate, a fizzer and know how to use it, have hardened pliers to snap off the barb end of a hook for gullet or gill hooked fish, and return your fish under the dock, that way you can grab and fizz or nurse your struggling fish. Don't cull dead or dying fish. Remember, you did this to the fish, not them. The respect of your quarry should show in all phases of being a sportsman.

[dartag]

Good points Mike.  Never knew there was a foundation like this.  I am going to be a new director this summer.   I do have a couple comments.

In reference to point 2   Why is the director responsible for dead fish??   I will check with the heads of my organization on this one.

In reference to point 3.   I would request my anglers " Smile and move on "

Anything we can do to make our experience on the lakes positive is a good thing. 

Steve Smith

Director  CFB   Tuesday Morning Solo Series.

[TimH]

Very good points and reminders!  Thank you for posting this Mike. I truly hope every bass angler follows what you wrote.  The majority of bass anglers I have encountered are really good people, but those select few who aren't are the ones who make the rest of us look bad.  Lets all make it a point to prove to everyone we encounter, just what a good group of respectful and courteous anglers bass fisherman are.

[Mojo]

In reference to point 2   Why is the director responsible for dead fish??   I will check with the heads of my organization on this one.

In reference to point 3.   I would request my anglers " Smile and move on "

Last year we all compiled and polled a list of "Best practices", hence how the list came to life.

For you point on item 2: It is kinda well known that the Tournament Director is the overall Leader for those anglers, on that lake, on that day. These best practices recommend to have anglers request that the Director manage any dead fish. It does not send a good message to the lake owners if, on a hot summer day, after the boats clear out, that the dock has 6 or 7 dead floating bass... Directors can handle this in several ways. Maybe the Director has a cooler ready, or maybe the Director requests that all dead fish are kept by the angler, or ask if anyone wants the dead fish for themselves or to donate. The options are many. I saw this at our last FLW where a local Detroit organization had a cooler ready and they prepared a fish feast for the Detroit homeless.

This action 'would' put Michigan bass anglers ABOVE any other state as we become known as mild mannered, helpful anglers. Saying we are nice guys, but not modifying our behavior, could perpetuate negatives that people say about Michigan Tournament Bass Anglers.

For your point on item 3: I worded it "If needed". Have the printed MCL copy in your boat, pull out 'only if needed'. Yes of course, smile and move on, however, even if you do this, there are times when the home owner continues to make things uncomfortable. If you did NOTHING to cause their angst, AND they insist to impede your ability to fish, then pull it out and hand it to them. That way its in black and white, AND you gave them a chance before you inform them you are calling the sheriff.

Just a few small changes to think about. Remember - wiping the negatives and pushing efforts to the positive WILL make our reputation impeccable. And there should be no other goal.

[dartag]

  Agree something needs to be done with deceased fish.  As a property owner close to a launch I have seen my share of floaters after events.

Going to be a lot for me to learn this summer as a tournament director.