Finders Keepers

Yes, to supplement, as in "add to" the prize checks if we have excess products to work with. The Checks are the main prize structure. In the IPA Series, the main prize structure is product based, supplemented with prize checks if we have excess funds to work with. Both prize structures are clearly indicated on our websites. Just like the Team-Only IPA events have all cash prizes. It's pretty simple really: If you want a chance at just cash, fish the Winter Classic and IPA Team-Only events. If you would like a chance to upgrade your gear to latest, best equipment with the possibility of cash too, fish the Full IPA events. If you just like fishing tournaments and don't care what's in the prize structure, fish them all!

Sure does! Read the prize structure of the tournaments you're going to fish, they are usually listed like ours...

The IPA Series is packed with product, this event is all cash, except for the door prizes. We were going to start with 5 places, but decided to drop to 3 to keep the values as high as possible. We'll drop it back to 5 when we get to 500 anglers. By the way, we aren't going anywhere any time soon. All the expense for this event is in the front end - there will be little cost to run this event next year (and the years following) and the network will remain in place.

To answer a few of the recent posts (I've been busy making sure the tournament kicked-off ok), we do have an updated leader board online, that is managed throughout the day to help reduce the number of fish being brought in to the stations across all species. Our made mode of advertising (to keep costs down) has been via word of mouth, online, and tackle shops. Since the ice season is just getting going, not too many anglers have been in the shops, so a majority of anglers haven't heard about the event yet. With a bunch of anglers (not mentioning any names) who won't enter until there are a ton of anglers, also prevents the tourney from becoming bigger, but whatever. Now that the ice season is going to set in, we should see a surge of registrations over the next couple weeks, followed by continued growth as more anglers fishing the events across the state visit the shops. The initial costs will hold the payouts lower up to 500 anglers, after which it ramps up. I don't think it will be an issue to get over 500 in the tourney. Even if not, you can look at it this way: those in the event will have a much better shot at the $2200+ in door prizes we have with an average value of $80 each, and we'll just be in the red for this year's event. As for my responsibility running the tournament, I am doing a lot more with our event than most other tournament directors I know, or have spoken with, across the country. Again, this event is 5 years in the making, it's not just an idea our committee woke up with one morning and threw it together. Believe me when I say we will take concerns and comments into consideration, but I will not jeopardize my family, main profession, or way of life by adjusting the tournament in an unrealistic way.

We have caught and released fish in pretty brutal conditions with no problems. Obviously the trick is not having them exposed to the cold for very long. Pike are a very hardy species (unlike musky from what I've heard). The idea of allotted days would be a logistical and tracking nightmare on our end. Promo videos showing the proper way(s) to C&R the fish is a good idea, but there are already a ton and from what we've seen, anglers who are concerned will do it properly, others will not regardless what we do to promote it.