Finders Keepers

I have since learned quite a bit about polygraph tests, how they are administered, and what they can and cannot be used for. I have also at the same time invested years into research and testing tournament designs that have led me to this year's Summer Classic and GLSS event designs. Trial and error, observation of other event flaws, listening to both the supporters and participants as well as the nay sayers of all the various events (open and hard water), have all been taken into account.

It'll be interesting to see what the nay-sayers come up with for ways to cheat in this format. I have not disclosed all of the checks and balances that go on behind the scenes and within the App to verify fish entrees in an effort to catch those who wish to engage in foul play. Poly tests are not permissible in court and more of a deterrent. If there is a need for legal action we can take it, but in 9 years of running events, I have yet to have a need to issue any.

New website has been created: glssevents.com It's time for a new class of events where there is no room for foul play due to a solid tourney design, and no corruption. Just straight out fun, competitive fishing - by yourself, with a team, or with different clients every day, all fish caught on a registered boat is eligible no matter who catches it!! Let's turn these crazy times into crazy fun fishing! Any questions? Drop me a PM and I'll be more than happy to answer them. Registration for these events will close on August 1st.

Presented this year, a brand new concept for salmon fishing tournaments where fish do not have to be kept and aligns with charters to capitalize on every fish caught by every angler aboard your vessel. Introducing the Great Lakes Salmon Showdown that not only covers Canadian and USA open waters of Lake Ontario, but all of the Great Lakes in one robust tournament event. Here is the breakdown: When: May 1st through October 31st, 24 hours a day Where: All open waters of the Great Lakes Who: 2 Divisions of Entry: Pro Division ($250/boat) for charters/guides, any anglers with fishing related sponsors, and anyone else looking to compete on a higher level. Am Division ($125/boat) for weekend anglers looking to add some fun competition to their season this year. When you register the boat, anyone fishing on that vessel is automatically included whereby any fish caught during any trip by anyone on board can be entered - this includes all of your clients during charters (no longer do you have to get them all entered in order to compete), and anglers fishing solo. What: Your 5 longest salmon (any species) will go towards your team's/boat's total score. Fish are entered via the Fish Donkey App using a bump board for length measurement. 4 pictures are required per entry (app automatically uploads them, adds them to your score, and updates the leaderboard in real time). Fish can then be kept or released. Up-size all season long, only your top-5 longest salmon will automatically be included in your score and rank. Close-up pictures of both the head and tail of each fish are required to prevent multiple entries with the same fish. How: Regster via the Fish Donkey App or online at FishDonkey.com. Payout: 85% cash payout based on number of teams entered in each Division, may be higher based on sponsor backing (15% goes to cover admin and tourney costs). Additional sponsor-based awards (TBA). Sponsors: Already secured: Okuma, Plano, Frabill, Koyote Ugly Spoons. Full details, rules & regs, and registration can be found at: Pro Division: https://tourney.fishdonkey.com/#/tournament/2287/details Am Division: https://tourney.fishdonkey.com/#/tournament/2564/details The Fish Donkey platform is a solid, tested tourney platform that many events are moving onto. While we realize many areas have different regulations currently governing fishing, this event will have open registration through July 31st so that once the restrictions are lifted and anglers can fish to their capacity (charters in particular), you can get registered and compete (boat/team must be entered the day before your fish can be entered). If other team events are allowed to occur this year, there is a special "Other Tourney" protocol in place so that no-communication rules can be adhered to and fish caught during these events can be entered. No longer do you need to stop fishing to run a fish in before the weigh-in stations close, no longer do you need to keep fish that you otherwise would not, no longer do you need to ask and get everyone on board entered. Better for the anglers, better for the fishery. Follow the event on Facebook for updates and announcements. This year we'll see what lake can produce the best Top-5 salmon scores!

So awesome to see the youth anglers getting involved - always one of the highlights for the Classic events! Final checks will be hitting the mail in the next couple days. Congrats to all the winners in this year's event including the five $2,000 Grand Prize winners!! Next year's event will feature a few changes that are sure to spark some interest and we'll have more cash on the line - stay tuned later this winter for all the details!

The Summer Classic is underway! Get entered today to get in on the action alongside the LOC and other Lake Ontario events! Lots of cash to be given away this year thanks to our many sponsors for this summer's event!! Follow the event on Facebook for all the latest information and updates: https://www.facebook.com/NYSSummerClassic/ To register simply visit: www.NYSsumemrclassic.com Anglers can also register at most weigh-in locations. Keep in mind, if the lake is rough you can always hit the bay for some of the other species!! You can also enter the C&R Event for double the fun! Stay tuned for more announcements and updates throughout the summer!!

New Cash Awards added (in addition to the general payout schedule) for the following: Main Event: $100 Cash Award - Largest Salmon Each Week (8 total)(Sponsored by Plano/Frabill) $500 Bonus Cash Award - 1st Place Salmon (Sponsored by Plano/Frabill) $400 Bonus Cash Award - 2nd Place Salmon (Sponsored by Plano/Frabill) $300 Bonus Cash Award - 3rd Place Salmon (Sponsored by Plano/Frabill) $100 Bonus Cash Award - 1st Place Walleye (Sponsored by Fillet Away) $100 Bonus Cash Award - 1st Place Yellow Perch (Sponsored by Fillet Away) $100 Bonus Cash Award - 1st Place Crappie (Sponsored by Fillet Away) $200 Bonus Cash Award - Largest fish caught on a Koyote Ugly Product (Sponsored by Koyote Ugly) Catch & Release Event: $250 Bonus Cash Award - 1st Place Largemouth Bass (Sponsored by Plano/Frabill) $250 Bonus Cash Award - 1st Place Smallmouth Bass (Sponsored by Plano/Frabill) $500 Cash Award - Overall Longest Muskey (w/ 250+ C&R anglers) PLUS Additional Prize Awards: (must be present at the awards ceremony Sept. 21st to win) (2) Frabill Power Catch Salmon Nets - Random draw from 4-10th place Salmon (2) Frabill Fish Weigh Bags w/ Mesh Inserts - 2nd Place Smallmouth & Largemouth Bass In an effort to boost payouts and make the event more attractive to current salmon and bass tournament anglers, we have packed the new sponsored funding into the prize structure as listed above. These along with the $10,000 Cash Grand Prize are all guaranteed to be awarded this year! Additional weigh-in stations are being added this year. More to come - stay tuned!!

Well done and great report! Congrats on the big fish - best we could do was 18's. Looking forward to seeing you guys doing the doubles and triples - what a great few days of fishing!! We'll see you down at the east end - good luck the rest of the season!!

As stated above, entrees in tourneys for the most part have seen a decline over the last few years, and not only trout and salmon either, it's across the board. To answer why that is for the Lake Ontario events I think involves many factors - many previous teams have broken up, cost of living has gone up, cost of this sport has gone up, the high water isn't helping matters this year, etc. - I know if I had a larger boat like a lot of the teams and had to travel across the lake to an event I would be very hesitant this year with the amount of large debris in the water. However, I think economics is the largest driving factor. While I agree with Rick that the amazing fishing we have seen the last few years may make anglers lazy (I wouldn't say dumb) you still have to pay attention to the details and adjust your strategy to target the larger fish or else end up in the middle of the pack. Plus there is always that element of luck whereby you happen upon a larger school of kings and get them to go. Consistency is what highlights skill in the tourney realm - those who consistently place in the Top-10 from season to season. The best way to become a better angler is to learn from your own and others mistakes, pay attention to details (no matter how small), and keep records to refer back to and to look over in preparation. Most of us have had a crushfest day while other struggled to get bit (or vice versa) even though your running the same stuff side by side - the difference is often in minute details like type or test of line, leader length, size of spoon, treble hooks versus single hooks, clip size, etc. etc. etc. Ask those that do well in an event what gave them the edge - most anglers realize that each day is different and will give you an honest answer. This past weekend we succeeded in waters where others struggled and it came down to several key details that we had dialed in the day before: spoon color and size (Carbon-14 & Defender, mags and Stingrays), rigger depth and separation (65 and 85), presentation (12 ft leads off the balls with fixed free sliders 12 ft above), down speed (2.4 early, 2.2 later), tracking of the bait/fish (progressed east), and most importantly the willingness to adjust these as the fish and water conditions changed based on previous experience (when the wind and waves picked up we lengthened the leads off the riggers to 25 ft).