Finders Keepers

I think our biggest issue will be numbers, as with any event just starting. However, one thing on our favor is that we have many avenues to advertize, like speaking in front of close to 1000 anglers at the Northern Challenge last weekend.

Hey Scott, you have some valid points to ponder. Do you use a polygraph for your tourney? We have a few connections and will likely have a lie detector test given to the first place teams, and maybe even the 2nd and 3rd places as well as part of the winning process, to help deter those who might think about cheating. What is the K.I.S.S. principal you mentioned?

This will be set up somewhat similar to the current Pro-Am's (or at least what they were, pending the new rules): The Pro division will have a higher reg fee and higher payout and will require more fish to be caught. Anyone can fish either division, it just depends if you want to go for the BIG bucks/prizes, can pay the higher reg fee, and feel you can limit out with the higher fish requirement. If not, then go into the AM division where there will be less of a fish requirement to limit out and a lower registration fee. Also, in order to go for the Ice Triple Crown, you'll have to be registered in the Pro division. That's why we're trying to feel the vibes of everyone to see if we have enough interest to warrant a $10k/Dual Quad 1st prize in the Pro division or not. If the Pro division is $100 for reg, we'll need at least 200 teams to get that level of payout... Definitely possible, as we will be teaming up with at least one other large tournament in their advirtizing sending out over 1500 fliers to past participants. Tall Tails - Please explain what you mean by "Spread thin with that payout structure". We'll be paying out at least 10 places (maybe as many as 20) with the top prize being $10k or a pair of Quads.

What three waterways would you like to see this tournament include next year? Please feel free to suggest others as well!

Which of the following would you like to see?

What do you think the registration fees should be for each division? Keep in mind, the greater the entrance fee, the greater the pay-out! For example, if we can get 100 teams in the Pro division at $250 reg fee, 1st place would pay out $10,000, or include a pair of quads!

Ok, we were able to expose this idea at the Northern Challenge Tournament this past weekend and have gotten a lot of positive feedback on the idea. So we're moving forward and starting to plan its design. Therefore I will have a series of polls to gether information from those of you looking to fish these events. Our goal is to get 100 teams in both divisions, which could provide the funding for a 1st place prize of $10,000 for the pro division and $5,000 for the amatuer division.

Fished the Northern Challenge this past weekend on Simon Pond near Tupper Lake. Didn't get into any derby fish, but there was 16-18" of ice. Quite a sight:

Hey Gambler - How do they manage those rules? I don't want to make it too restrictive, nor to the point of needing an observer. Your combination of fish above is intrigueing and something we can think about.

Yeah, we're heading north to the Northern Challenge this weekend - gotts find ice where we can!! We have our fingers crossed for ice the rest of the month for the Bayside, Warren's, and Polar Tournaments!! We've already been talking about open water fishing too!

Nothing safe in the Sodus area...

Over the next 10 months we will be helping to organize a trio of these events. We have found a director for the tournaments and will start to put the tourney construct together over the next several months with them while starting to line-up the sponsors. All along the way we will be looking for feedback from anglers interested in fishing them, including registration fees for Pro and Am divisions (and resulting payouts) to start. From the feedback we have received, our initial line-up of waterways (if everything falls into place) will likely be Oneida Lake (or one of the Finger Lakes), Sacandaga Reservior (or Tupper Lake area), and Sodus Bay. Anglers will be able to fish individual events, or all three if going for the Triple Crown Title. If you would like to help run and organize the tournaments, we will be looking for volunteers to help serve on the tournament committee. Send me a PM if interested and I get you in contact with the director. Stay tuned as the tournaments come together and we look for suggestions and input from all of you looking to fish them!!

I am looking to see how many anglers would be interested in fishing a new style of ice tournament run similar to the Pro-Am trout and salmon tournaments on Lake Ontario. It would be run with two divisions to choose from (professional and amateur - depending upon your skill and ambition), and instead of hoping for that one big fish (which is mostly due to luck) would be based on the skill of catching numbers of big fish across multiple species. The entry fees and resulting pay-outs would also be bigger with either 100% payout or with a % going to a local charity to draw larger sponsors. The tournament structure would look something like this: Pro Division: 1) Teams consist of two anglers. Registration is $100/team/event location and $50 if going for the Triple Crown. Triple Crown Award will be awarded to the pro team from all three events with the highest combined points. Each Event: 2) Point system based on 20 fish: no more than 6 large fish species (northern pike and walleye) and up to 20 panfish (only perch, bluegill, sunfish, and crappie included), but no more than 20 fish total. Score each day consists of total weigh of fish plus 10 points per fish. Two day total will determine winner. Am Division: 1) Teams consist of one or two anglers. Registration is $20/team/location. Each Event: 2) Point system based on 12 fish: no more than 3 large fish species (northern pike and walleye) and up to 12 panfish (only perch, bluegill, sunfish, and crappie included), but no more than 12 fish total. Score each day consists of total weigh of fish plus 10 points per fish. Two day total will determine winner. With this style of tournament you need to be skilled at targeting various species. For example, someone with an 18 lb pike (18 points for weight plus 10 points for the fish = 28 points) will lose to someone with 3 sunfish (1 point for total weight plus 10 points per fish = 31 points). We (the Finders Keepers Ice Team) will not be running the tournament (just helping to organize it), but know several people who could if there is enough interest. We're looking at next year assuming the ice situation is better than this year! So let me know if this something you would like to participate in next year or not, and please feel free to drop me your comments - Thank You!!

NICE!!! One of these days I would like to venture over that way and give eyes a try. Is it safe to say that a flasher is a must? I have camera systems, but haven't needed a flasher as of yet since I have only targeted pike and perch. What depth were the eyes coming at and how much water were you over?

We had a great time fishing the derby today and meeting everyone! We had several flurries of action and went 4 for 10 on pike and iced a 5" perch just before noon. We missed 3 real good fish due to equipment issues, but managed to pull a 2nd place pike win (just 3 oz behind 1st) and also scored the Smallest Pike Award with a 0.6 lb scrapper! The shiner he was mouthing was almost as big as he was!! We were really surprised that no bass were caught, as we had heard that the pond holds a ton of bass and in past years many have been caught. Seemed like everyone had fun and iced some fish to boot! Nice job with the tourney and we'll look forward to fishing it again next year!! Next tournament for us will be the Bass Pro Ice Derby in two weeks if we canget some safe ice on Owasco Lake! Heading to the Sodus area tomorrow!

Short notice, but we're going to try to make it!! We gotta get on some ice before we go crazy!!! So just to double check: there is no registration prior to Sat morning at 7am? And you have to be back at weigh-in by 12 noon?

Awesome!! NK makes a great product that continues to produce BIG kings for us!! Unfortunately we will be fishing the Sodus Lodge Polar Ice Fishing Tournament the weekend of the LOTSA Expo, so we wont be able to make it (unless there's no ice, then we'll be there).

Just found out it's on Sat. Feb 11th. Let's hope winter sets in so we have some ice for the upcoming tournies!!

Ok, thanks Mortigan! Hey Bottom-Feeder, any size to the pike you caught? I'm jonesin' to get on some ice!!

Where is eel bay?

I have a few extra items to offer: (2) New HT Tip-Up/Ice rod caddy's with shoulder strap - $15 New Otter Pro 8" power auger shield - $25 New Maui Jim Lava Flow polarized sunglasses - $100 Drop me a PM if interested!

Mmmmm....Ice.....

Anyone know if the Irondequoit Bayside Pub Tourney has been scheduled and when it is? Thanks!

We'll be at Bass Pro in Auburn Monday Jan. 2nd from about 9am until around noon using the new line-up of Aqua Vu underwater cameras in the show tank to capture some video for the company. We'll have the new Micro unit and the new HD AV760cz color unit available for demonstrations while we're there. Feel free to stop by, ask questions, and say hi!

LOL!! Hey Hank! Yeah, a motor and trailer would be nice, but the box trailer and set of oars has allowed us to get on the fish! And we get a good work-out to boot!! Actually we're looking to get one of the new Jiffy propane augers to be fully rigged for the ice season (if it ever sets in this year!). Got into the perch good yesterday and we'll be in the tin can again today going at 'em!!