FLW Red River Cancelled

[Dan]

Red River canceled 2/9/2010
FLW Outdoors today canceled the FLW Tour Opener at Louisiana's Red River due to unsafe conditions. It will not be rescheduled and the 2010 season has been shortened to five events.

"My hat's off to FLW for making the call and ruling on the side of safety," said veteran Illinois angler Chad Morgenthaler. "We all know it was a difficult decision, but now everybody has a chance to make it home safely."

Due to recent rainstorms in the region, water in the Red is running extremely high and exceptionally cold. There was great concern among anglers that if outboard-engine power were lost, there would be no way to control the boat in the raging current. Also, any pro or co-angler who happened to go overboard would be in serious jeopardy from both the current and the threat of hypothermia.

[Durand Dan]

I guess that means we should never hold a spring or fall tournament in Michigan. Right?

[Dan]

I spent about three hours today researching my team. That was some wasted time. Oh well.

[djkimmel]

Oh man!!! I know I had the winning team!! Finally!!

[REEL_MAN]

I guess that means we should never hold a spring or fall tournament in Michigan. Right?

I take it from this comment that you have never been on or around a river that is above flood stage. The time of year had nothing to do with canceling the tx. It was a safety issue;the channel markers were underwater, all the ramps were underwater, excessive debris and the current is very dangerous. If a compeditor would loose an engine they would be able to control the boat and get off the water safely.
I applaud FLW for their actions.
It's better to wish you went fishing, than wish you hadn't.

Reelman
<))))>{

[McCarter]

ok hot shots, who did you have for the red?

here is my list.  mostly gut shots and favorites but i did use the pundits for additional info:

1      SEAN HOERNKE

2     ANDY MORGAN

3     DAVID WALKER

4     DARREL ROBERTSON

5     JAMES STRICKLIN JR    

6     RANDALL THARP

7     SCOTT CANTERBURY

8     GREG PUGH    

9     JIM DILLARD

10     OTT DEFOE

McCarter himself

[mikesmiph]

I had:
1. Dan Morehead. 2. Ray Scheide. 3. Mark Hardin. 4. David Walker. 5. David Fritts. 6. Sean Hoernke. 7. Andy Morgan. 8. Brent Ehrler. 9. Dave Lefebre. 10. Mike Hawkes. Had to have a Mike in the somewhere lol. Had Hoernke as the winner.

[t-bone]

Besides safety, I was hearing that the guys were no getting any bites during their prefish. The weigh-ins would have been embarrassing.

[Durand Dan]

Facebook Posting from Jimmy Houston:
To succeed, it takes a lot of hard work and and unusual amount of tou...ghness Im 65 years old, I chose to play this game when we had no sponsors, no fancy trucks and boats provided and had to pay every penny out of our own pocket! We also played for prize money thar was a fraction of whatnis available today. No one ever forced us to fish and ... See More everyone had the option to quit if it got to tough or scary for them. A group of fishermen that were too afraid of the river, after spending three days practicing on it, should not penalize the rest who were willing to compete. I've heard the rumor that some fishermen did not want to compete because they were not catching fish. I hope this was not true. As a group, the FLW fishermen are exceptionally talented and extremely good fishermen. Every angler has the right to pull out and go home if they fear the water or weather but it's not right to force their opinion on the field. Yes I. am disappointed I continue to fish a few tournaments each year to try to make this sport better for future tournament fishermen. I would challenge everyone out there, both FLW and BASS anglers alike, to always put this game above your personal agenda. In the long run, everyone will benefit from that approach To really be a Pro fishermen, it takes a lot more than just catching bass. I pray that everyone has a safe trip home and everyone catches a bunch at Table Rock. God is Good Today. Jimmy

[Dan]

"Discretion is the better part of valor..." The anglers sign up to fish a tournament put on by an organization or tournament director.  As such, the organizers need to be accountable and are the ones to make the decision to go or not based on the safety of those involved. Whether or not a group of anglers approached them has some weight, but shouldn't enter in to a decision. The right decision, is one determined by current conditions.
Saying someone can just decide not to fish is not the answer.  There are too many of us hanging on by our fingernails in this economy. There would have been those that would have felt they had to go. Furthermore, the FLW Tour point system would have compelled them to fish.
With that many entrants, odds are  someone would have had big motor difficulty. With the force of that current, the loss of channel markers, floating debris, local ramps unavailable,  a river known for its many stumps and dead heads, 42 degree water, plus the possibility that someone could loose power and have their boat go over a dam.... No brainer.  

[bassmandan]

evers
hoernke
morgan
pugh
wendlandt
kilby
tharp
hibdon
lefebre
dillard

[thedude]

yep - i have to disagree with the honorable jimmy houston. Its one thing to be a tough a guy, its another to be a dead tough guy. I'm sure the poor fishing didn't help the matter - but the guys running the show are ultimately responsible. Jimmy mentions the payouts as compared to yesteryear - well - how much do you think a wrongful death suit would cost now compared to then?? We've all seen tournaments canceled on the great lakes due to 10' waves..... well a flooded, cold river is no less dangerous. I would never risk my life or my equipment for something i thought was not safe - in the same vein the organizing entity is also required to look out for those too stupid to do that for themselves.  FLW is already teetering in the wind - an angler going in the drink on that river could mean the end of them.

Smart move.

[Redbone]

I agree with flw also.  Look at the Grand River next time its at or above flood stage. Not only are you not going to catch fish.  One mistake or problem and.... you get the picture.