Tournament Defence
Following a tournament on Lake Simcoe, a local paper published a complaint accusing an angler of knowingly harming fish by holding them up for the crowd to see. This complaint extended to tournaments and the negative impact they have on the fishery. However, many positive things have and continue to come from their existence. Economic and social impacts are the most obvious. Families enjoy the sport and millions of dollars are brought into towns in Canada through these events each year but the resource is the most important consideration. Regardless of the target species, tournament anglers and organizers in Canada are on the forefront of fish handling techniques.
More than 30 years ago the “Bass Boss” Ray Scott implemented the very first catch and release tournaments. This practice was unheard in that era. The live release message was endorsed by successful competitive anglers from Scott’s Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS). Thanks to Scott, BASS and the tournament competitors live release is now widely practiced by anglers worldwide on virtually every game fish species.
Today professional tournaments utilize sophisticated technology and equipment to ensure that the fish brought to the scales for weigh-in are returned to their watery homes in as good, or dare I say, better condition than when they were caught. In the 80’s, Shimano and Queen’s University collaborated to mastermind the live release boat to address the anglers and organizers concerns. These vessels allow officials to release tournament caught fish in different areas of the lake. The boat effectively redistributes them throughout the body of water effectively ending the practice of releasing fish off the shore into warm, oxygen depleted, chemically loaded water.
Organizers and anglers realized that the weigh-in system still needed improvement. As a result, water troughs are now utilized to hold fish before going on stage. The fish are transferred in large, roomy baskets and the troughs are continually monitored for oxygen content and water temperature. Rather than weighing fish on a dry scale, large tournaments are now weighing them in water. This cuts the weighing process down from an average 30 seconds to a mere 4 seconds as the fish relax in fully oxygenated water.
It’s evident that concerned organizers and tournament anglers share a deep respect for the resource. This is clear in their active pursuit and acceptance of the previously mentioned technologies, fish handling techniques and resource management tools such as slot, length and catch limits. These people have founded organizations like the Canadian Professional Anglers Association (CPAA) and the Ontario Competitive Fishing Council (OCFC). The CPAA is comprised of the best tournament anglers in the country. Their Code of Conduct outlines their high standards and ultimate respect for the resource. The OCFC oversees reputable tournament series’ and has produced a number of guidelines, based on research, continually improving their organization, operation and fish handling techniques.
Ironically, this research would not have been possible without tournaments. Competitive fishing events have provided government agencies and academia with research and sampling opportunities that provide valuable information to resource managers and stakeholders alike. Literally thousands of fish have been brought to the scales in tournaments and then conveniently and economically into the hands of scientists. The collection of so many samples with the limited Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) budgets would have made this impossible otherwise. It’s been estimated that over one million tax dollars have been saved in collection for research over the years at the Kenora Bass Invitational (KBI) alone. This one million dollars was saved for wildlife and fisheries management.
Scales samples, tagging, radio transmitters and various tests are performed on these fish before their release. Critical knowledge is drawn from this data including resource management information, trends over time data, fish movement and spawning information. Some tournaments such as the successful KBI have directly funded radio transmitter research. As a result, fisheries managers are able to discover year class strengths, resource sizes and that programs such as catch and release are working.
Tournament research offers many other benefits to anglers beyond resource concerns. Fishing tackle and boat manufacturers work closely with top tournament pros to produce and perfect the tackle, equipment and boats that we all use when on the water. Boat livewells, graphite rods and of course, that secret crankbait are all a result of tournament proven products. These products have resulted in more techniques and fishing strategies available to anglers. The dropshot, planer boards and back trolling are but a few examples that have increased our success and our enjoyment on the water.
Tournament fishing is not for every angler. However, improved conservation methods benefit anglers and evidently running tournaments, as a business, doesn’t mean damaged resources. It’s obvious that one can be a good businessman and be resource responsible at the same time. Operating a profitable business is probably the best way to ensure the future of the fishery. Profitable tournaments have money to reinvest. Reinvested properly the fishery will ideally be better than it was to begin with. An altruistic goal that Canada has proven obtainable.
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Bass Wishes,
Chris Hockley
Copyright © 2008 Chris Hockley
It is illegal to reproduce or distribute this work in any manner or medium without written permission of the author, Chris Hockley c/o Blitzcreek Pro Fishing 47 Lorne St., Sunderland, Ontario, chris@blitzcreek.com