Finders Keepers

As noted, there are many factors at play when it comes to tournaments. The "draw" as we have found putting together the Ice Pro-Am's, is a guaranteed payout. The bigger that draw is, the more participation. The problem is getting that initial "carrot". Can the directors and those responsiible for putting on the tournaments put the time and effort into securring large cash sponsors? As a tournament director I can attest that it isn't easy to pull cash out from sponsors, let alone a large sum!! In the end it comes down to exposure and getting the sponsoring companies their bang for their buck. The trick is piecing it all together into an amazing event - no small task and very time consuming!! I'm sure we all want the mega tournaments that we see in the saltwater realm and BASS circuit with $100,000 payouts, but who's willing to put the time and effort in to get us there?? The WHI and Atommik Inv. are getting there - the others have a ways to go. Those of you who fished the Fair Haven Challenge saw what we can bring to the tournaments (and we are relatively new to the scene). It would be great if more "players" stepped up to the challenge, offered their help in securring larger sponsors, and making our events bigger and better then they ever have been...But it's gonna take work and unity amungst everyone...

An interesting point to ponder was brought to our attention this summer by a friend who used to fish the Lake O tourney circuit but no longer does due to this and other personal factors: Why are the observer swaps for the larger tournies (invitationals and pro-ams in particular) done prior to the captains meetings and not LIVE at the captains meetings? They are supposed to be "random" but over and over again the same boats are paired up. I know there was a discussion a while back about why smaller boats were paired with smaller boats and larger with larger and to some degree I can see the reasoning (although weak and if asked, I don't think there is a single observer from our boat that has had a negative experience), but this does bring doubt into the integrity of the tournament if the same boats are always paired up. If we were often paired up with Apple Boy (for example), it would be possible for us to introduce foul play while adherring to the tourney rules. Not that we would, but the point is it allows for foul play - and there shouldn't be any room for foul play. Keeping the boat size (if it's that important) and female observers in mind, why not have all the boats with female observers put into a hat and drawn first, then boats 24' and under put in a hat and drawn, then 24'-29' put in a hat and drawn, and finally 30' and up drawn (or other groupings) all live at the captains meeting? If there are two sides to the port, then split those groups into east and west sides for the draw. This would be random, and eliminate any questions of foul play. Now, we have not run a tourney with observers, so there may be logistics we (and the general population of anglers) don't know about that may require the swaps to be done ahead of time. If that is the case, then it would be great for the integrity of the tourneys (and piece of mind for those in doubt) to know those reasons for not doing a live draw. Just an interesting point to ponder and hear back from the tourney directors on...

I agree, yellow NBK's (Stingray size for us), mixed veggies UV mags, and meat rigs. Meat has produced the larger kings for us the last couple trips out of Sodus.

We have made the decision to make the Chaumont Bay/Black Lake IPA Event a 1-Day shootout to avoid all complications. Exact timing of the event is still being worked out, but it will occur on Jan. 31st only. All Weigh-in stations for the Winter Classic now have registration forms along with the rules/regs. Get in before Sept. 1st for your chance at the first round of giveaways!!

You may need to fill out a 1099 for us in the event your total winnings in all of our events total $600 or more, but unless the total value is over $600 it will not be sent in. I see us having well over 500 anglers in this event and the prize monies being fairly substantial - we're targeting over 350,000 anglers, even 1% would be substantial! Not to mention we will likely have product to supplement the prize checks and if you place 1st, you will have a 1 in 7 shot at a $1,000 bonus that we will be doing a blind drawing for from the seven 1st place finishers. Either way, it should be well worth it for the 1st through 3rd place finishers to be there. If for some reason (like you mentioned) it isn't worthwhile for an angler to attend, we will likely adjust that requirement.

Yeah, we have quite a few. We are in negotiations with several right now and holding off on posting them until things are set. All sponsorships this year will be dual sponsorships for both the IPA events and the Winter Classic. So if you want a taste for this year's sponsor list, go to the IPA website (www.NYSiceroam.com) and you can see most of them. Although we have at least 3 new ones for this year that are not listed yet (have to finalize contracts, acquire logos, acquire sponsored goods, etc.).

If foul play is suspected, lie detector tests can be issued. Same as the LOC - this year you could easily go over to Canada waters and have a better shot at larger kings. Again, it is worth it? You've got the border crossing (which we can request surveilance from) and if someone fails our lie detector test, that person will be on a blacklist for every tournament in the NE (ice and open water) and most across the US. Our network is HUGE. Is that worth the chance at a few thousand dollars? Plus no matter how tight a tournament is, there is always a way to cheat. Most people will not take that chance and hopefully if anyone does, they will get caught and be put out of the game for good. Everywhere. We have a clause built in to all of our tournament events that is simple - if you think there is foul play, put your money where your mouth is for the lie detector to be given. If they fail the test, you get your money back and they are banned for good. If they pass, you helped us verify their honesty.

Hmm... Works for me. Anyone else having issues?

This coming winter there will be a new tournament not only for ice anglers, but also for those fishing the open water, tributaries, rivers, etc. The NYS Winter Classic Tournament (www.NYSwinterclassic.com) will be the largest winter fishing tournament ever run in NYS! Using the current LOC tournaments and old ESLO style formats, anglers will be fishing for 7 different categories of fish (Trout (Browns, Lakers, Rainbows/Steelhead), Northern Pike, Walleye, Pickerel, Yellow Perch, Crappie, and Panfish (Sunfish & Bluegill)), from January 1st through February 22nd, on any waterway in NYS (ice, open water, rivers, etc.), with 14 weigh-in locations spread across the state (see map on website for locations), and a huge prize structure with cash payouts for 5 places in each category. Major sponsors are currently being negotiated and secured funds will be announced once finalized. Entry into the Classic is only $25/angler and $10 to enter the Lunker Pool, which will pay out 3 places per category. This winter every day fishing will be a tourney day!! Registration is now open!! Check it out and feel free to ask questions!!

Yeah, those fleas are unbelievable this year, and I too joined the "dipsy rig lost" club last Friday trying to clean the fleas! Man, if someone had a submersible they could load up!!

Websites are up and the IPA site is currently being updated for the 2015 events: www.NYSiceproam.com www.NYSwinterclassic.com Registration is now OPEN for both tournaments with registration forms able to be printed and downloaded from the sites. Feel free to ask questions and I'll be posting updates as new sponsors are confirmed. We will need 500 anglers statewide by December 16th in order to run the Winter Classic - a tournament based after the current LOC Derbies held on Lake Ontario with a prize structure more like the old ELSO Derbies. I don't foresee 500 as being an issue! Anyone fishing any tournaments this winter or planning on doing any fishing in NYS would be foolish not to get in this one for only $25!! Assuming all goes well this year, we will likely be adding several more weigh stations for future years.

Agreed!! A-TOM-MIK's are hands down the best flies and copper in the market! We like to run our meat rigs, but nothing puts more fish in our boat during the summer months than A-TOM-MIK's!! And as stated, the amount of exposure and work Tom & his crew put into this fishery is nothing short of amazing!! Keep up the great work Team A-TOM-MIK and you will forever have a HUGE following of dedicated anglers!!

How do we sign-up and pay for this Tom? Thanks!

Is there a number we can call to see what the largest fish weighed in is so we can release any smaller fish if we can?