moonshine wrote:Well Ganman, in some respects i can relate to some of what you say. But Bass fishing has always been a tournament sport. This is something that we all should remember. My only gripe is that while tournaments pump money into local economies, they do little for the local fisheries that they are raping. Someday, Bass fishing will be a thing of the past and they will concentrate on another species. I hope that day never comes
Moonshine just to correct one of your points. Bass fishing has not always been a tournament sport. There have always been fishing derbies but tournament fishing in the US didn't start until the late 60's with the formation of BASS. I know for some that may be forever but not forr me.
In Canada it was well over a decade later. I believe it was the OV (Old Vienna Beer) Series. These were the tournaments I fished in the late 80's. They were very well organized and many of the same people involved then are involved now.
How much does this put into the local economy? Certainly the major tournaments over multiple days do inject a fair amount of cash and for the most part these aren't the ones I have issue with (although it may seem that way). Normally they stick to large water bodies, use places that have the proper facilities to handle that event, obtain permission to use those facilities, advertise well in advance and lastly have true ambassadors of the sport representing them. And while they may not agree with everything or anything I say at least I'm certain they would respect my right to voice that opinion.
My biggest issues are for the other lesser tournaments who conduct events on smaller bodies and the way they move into a public space, usually without any local government sanctioning and basically hog the facility without authority.
Last season I contacted the local conservation authority - Cataraqui Conservation Authority to ask if they gave permission to any tournament groups to use there facilties or if any tournament group had contacted them. The answer was No and No.
On whether these groups contribute anything into the local economy....very little.
