Northwest Fishing Reports

A great day for all that participated. 15 anglers in 8 boats measured 3 muskies. A couple shakers and follows were also had by some. The post frontal conditions made for a tougher day than expected but fish were caught despite the weather.
Mike F won the event with a nice 44"er, I managed a skinny 40"er in a figure 8 and last but not least was a fiesty 31"er released by KUP. This was KUP's first musky and there was some serious excitement there. I think I heard the hollering all the way across the lake. Pics will be posted on the NW Tiger Pac website soon.
A big thank you goes out to Denny(Co Park Manager)for opening up a little early and for allowing us to use their equipment garage and adjacent parking for the awards ceremony and raffle afterwards. I'd also like to thank you for opening up the gate early for us fishermen all summer.
Mark

Im assuming you guys release all the muskies caught in the tourney. So I was wondering how do you get them to the weigh in booth? Do muskie boats have much bigger live wells? Or do you guys just through them in the boat and zip over to the weigh station?

Hi gpc. Yes, you are correct, muskie tournaments are always catch and release. They do not weigh them in the conventional manner but with a formula: Girth x Girth x Length divided by 800 = approximate weight. But for most purposes, they usually just measure the length and girth and start bragging! LOL
They don't use live wells. They use cell phones. They keep the fish in the net, then call over another contestant to verify the measurement, usually done in the water, with tape or a special stick, then take a quick picture, then back he goes into the water. Then they BS each other and hoot 'n holler and congratulate the angler! It really is amazing to see the FUN this produces.

Deadeye,

Good job! Great report....Thanks.

Gpc,

As Kup has stated all Muskies Inc. Tourneys are "C-P-R". Today, Muskies, Inc. members have released 189,150 and more than 2,585 have been 50" or larger. This is a significant increase attributed to the "catch & release" philosophy.
It is one of many Muskies Inc. goals to always try to improve fishing.
Thanks for asking.

ohh OK. Thats a pretty cool system to weigh your fish. I never thought about something like that. I really like that formula. A few weeks ago on the sound I forgot my scale, but had my tape measure. We made the measurements on the salmon, typed it in on the calculator on a cell phone and got some pretty accurate weights. When we got home we threw the fish on the scale and, the weight was .5 lb off on a 7lb fish and 1lb off on a 24lb fish. So its a good way of weighing fish w/o putting too much stress on the fish.(even though we kept our salmon, c'mon you cant throw a salmon back lol) That is also a good way to get everyone in the tournament involved when a fish is landed. Especially in a muskie tourney when only a certain number of fish are caught. Good system guys

I should have clarified the procedure. My fault.
As stated, all fish are released. Most never even come out of the water except for a quick picture.
When you sign up for the tourney, you're issued a Chapter 57 measuring stick and a fish registration form, a lake map with areas numbered for easy reference and a phone list of the participants. The WDFW also requires all boats in a contest to have a "Contest Banner" around the outboard motor. We also require a water ski flag for signalling another contestants boat.
If ya get lucky, call someone on your list that you think is close by, wave your flag and jump up and down. The jumping up and down is usually done by KUP but anyone can do it.
The biggest requirement I have for these tourneys is a quality net that will hold the fish safely untill a witness boat arrives.
Measurements can be taken in the net and very easily if two people do it. I usually get a girth first with a sewing tape and a length with the stick. This way ALL fish are measured the same way with the same rulers.
A quick pic and off she swims.
P.S. The length measurement is what decides 1st, 2nd and 3rd. A girth can break a tie. Weight has nothing to do with it.
You guys/gals gotta join us. We're having to much fun for ya not to.

Deadeye, after putting some thought into the procedure through out the day I had a few more questions for you. But w/ that last post you answered them both, its like you read my mind LOL. But that is definitely a accurate fool proof and safe (as far a hurting or applying stress to the fish) way to run a tournament. Good job

Thanx GPC.
It's all about fun. The more people that play, the more fun it is. We just need more and bigger fish.
A testiment to the CPR theory is that we'll get to play this game again and those same fish could be a part of the fun again and again.
Hope to see you join us sometime.

Sorry, I double clicked.

To awnser fishnislife's question, the tourney was a winner take all format. I got lucky and got into a nice fish! Thanks to my partner for an excellent net job! Mike.

Hey Jigman,
Fill in for me any time I miss something. LOL
Thanx Mike.

Fishnislife,
Yes, Jigman won the whole kit-n-kabootle.
We had a great turn out. Had I known, I would have planned on a 1st and a 2nd. In the future, if we have this good of a turn out or better I'll even set up for 1st - 3rd place.
Also, these are WDFW permitted contests. The Chapter took the permit cost off the top prior to any pay out.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Gonna run the film up tommorrow and get it developed, still using an old style camera. Got a 45 incher from today on that film also! look for the pic on the NW Tiger Pac website. Mike

jigman wrote:Gonna run the film up tommorrow and get it developed, still using an old style camera. Got a 45 incher from today on that film also! Mike

What's up??? You know how we "NEED THAT INSTANT FIX!!" It's 2007 Mike, I gotta see it, let's go! hahahaha!!!!!!!!

That is a very cool way to run a tourney! I am very interested in catching a TM but it sounds like a boat only kind of fishing. Any of you guys willing to take out a po guy with no boat to catch a TM for the first time? You can be sure I will jump up and down with a whole bunch of hooting and hollering!!!! LOL

Ed;mondsBassMan,
Come to the next NW Tiger Pac meeting. Third Thursday of each month at the Federal Way Sportsmans Warehouse. Upstairs.
First off, ya gotta be a member of Muskies Inc to participate. You can join at our Chapter meetings.
Lots of good info gets shared by some pretty good guys at the meetings.
Hope to see ya there.

And the winner is:
jigman won the Lake Tapps Tournament.
Maybe if he wins the Lake Mayfield Tourney, too, he can take the winnings and BUY A DIGITAL camera, eh, Mike?

Seriously, Congratulations on a beautiful fish!
44 inches of pure adrenaline...WTG!

Unfortunately I can't make the Mayfield tournament this year, but I'll be there next year! Digital camera is picked out and I will get it in the next few months for next season. This season it's the old standby. Mike.