2016 Tournament Location Ideas

[ranger10]

It's that time of year to get started on next year's schedule. The tournament board would like to know what bodies of water members would like to fish next year. Additionally, if have any suggestions to rules or even ways to improve the tournament experience for everyone, this is your chance to speak up.

[HookedUp1]

Chase & Tournament Board,
fishing through the grass in the last tournament of the year is a pain in the B.
Could the tournament board consider changing the two day tournament to early September at Lansing. then the last tournament of the year in October at Clear Lake?
Another option would be a two day tournament at Big Spirit Lake.
We have not been to Rathbun for a while and there are nice walleye there - an April or May tournament would work there.

I think the Iowa river above Corallville dam was mentioned before.

[200lund]

I think there should be at least two lake tournaments next year maybe clear lake and mc bride. The best weekend in the spring at clear lake is the wkend before the classic or if ya did a fall tournament the first part of oct due to the fact they pull all the docks so early up there. it took 19lbs to win the fall classic at clear lake this yr. Mc bribe would be best the later in may you can go. Rathbun from what I've seen doesn't get going good til late may early june.

[ranger10]

These are some good ideas. It sounds like you guys are more interested in lake tournaments. Any river guys want to weigh in on this topic? What were peoples feelings on going to Pepin last year? Is is too far of a drive for some people? Would there be a better location on Pool 4 if we were to go back?

[ranger10]

Any additional thoughts? The tournament board will be meeting to make the schedule in about a week so if you have ideas please share them here.

[TaylorSteffens]

I would be fine with one or two lake tournaments. Storm was tough trying to catch fish in a 2" window. I'd like to fish Clear lake in May. Macbride or Coralville reservoir if we fish a second lake tournament. Hopefully no lake tournaments in September, usually is a tough bite. If we go back to pool 4 could we go to a different ramp with a little more room/ better ramps? I don't know what there is to choose from, maybe Lake City. For the two day tournament possibly move it to late September/ early October.

[TaylorSteffens]

Also Macbride is decent starting in April and usually peaks during the second week of May. It picks back up in October.

[ranger10]

From the suggestions above our tournament schedule would look something like this:

Lake Mcbride or Coralvile Rez- Late April or early May
Rathburn - Late April or early May
Lake Pepin - June or July
Pool 9 or Big Spirit Lake - September (2 day)
Clear Lake - May or October

I personally, think it looks like a pretty good schedule. Do a little date shuffling and we could start getting permits.

The tournament board is going to be meeting tomorrow. If you would like to share opinions on where you would like to fish, you are running out of time!!!

[tahrens]

I agree we should try to match the locations with the best bite going at that time of the year. There are always other factors that may affect the bite such as high water and foul weather. We should also have a good mix of lake and river locations. The early Spring fishing on the Mississippi is usually very good (March-April) The lakes usually start in May through June. The Fall fishing (late Sept.-October) is good on both Iowa Lakes and Rivers.

We should also give consideration of attendance/participation as not to conflict with our Club events and other tournaments scheduled on the same date.

Other than Storm Lake last year we had pretty good number of participants. I think we would all rather compete with 20+ boats verses 10.

I thought Lake Pepin was a good option to be able to fish in June.

The tournament board is meeting tomorrow. Now is your opportunity to voice your thoughts.
Thank you for the input.

Tim

[TaylorSteffens]

Did the tournament board come up with a schedule for next year? Just wondering what you guys came up with.