2007 Musky Tournament

[dlt074]

time to sign up!
info

[bad esox]

This is a fun time everyone. There are 30 slots to be filled. 2 Anglers per team. We had a great time last year. Get signed-up for this Sept. and have some fun....Looking forward to seeing you on the water.

[Bill G]

Rosann and I are going to be a team this year:cheers: The check is in the mail. How many other couple teams are going to be there?
Bill

[KUP]

1st Place: $1,400.00
2nd place $900.00
3rd Place $500.00
per Terry, manager at Mayfield Lake resort.


Whooo -hoo

count 2 more in!!!

[Deadeyemark]

Lori and I are going to be a team also. She is so darn lucky that all I'm bringing is the net! LMAO

[muskyhunter]

My boy and I are in...the young man in the photo. Just gotta get my dough sent in..

[KUP]

So cool, muskyhunter! Can't wait to meet him.

[Don Wittenberger]

I don't do tournaments. I'm too much of a free spirit to feel comfortable with the confining regimen of a tournament. I'm like the wild horse that wants to roam free across the range without a care in the world ...

As a historical note, there used to be a store called C & J's in the building on Highway 12 after crossing the bridge over Mayfield lake and just before coming to the turnoff into the "county park." Back in the 90's, C & J's sponsored a series of annual tiger musky tournaments for 5 or 6 years, and I did participate in some of those, as they were very informal affairs. The entry fee was only $15, you got a hat and grab bag full of stuff donated by various sponsors (including more than $15 worth of lures), and there were no cash prizes. Nobody cared who "won." One year, absolutely no fish at all were caught. In most of these tourneys, the turnout was around 17 to 20 boats, and 1 or 2 fish were caught. I fished those tournaments alone in the small cartopper I used in those days, and no, I didn't catch anything. Those were the only fishing tournaments I've ever entered, anywhere, and I did it to get the hats ...

So, as a technicality, last year's tournament was not Washington's, or even Mayfield Lake's, first muskie tourney. More like its sixth or seventh. But it was the first one for which cash prizes were offered, so I guess you could count it as a "first" in that sense. I like the forget-about-money, do-it-for-a-hat format better. If someone structured a tournament that way again, I might show up. But fish for money? Naw, I can't bring myself to do that. But that's just me.

[bad esox]

Don,
I have to agree with you about "tournaments" in general. I too just like to be on the water as a form of relaxation and a chance to be with friends and family. I believe that the Lake Mayfield tourney is just that. Last year it was pretty casual and a good time was had by all. The emphasis was put on just having a "good-time" with your fellow anglers. I think it was also a chance to see who could tell the best fish story!!!
Lake Mayfield Resort sponsors this "tournament" to help fill their resort in a "slow" part of the vacationing season for them. It really becomes a "win, win" situation for the anglers who participate and the resort owners who help sponsor it. You spend your money there and they give you a chance at winning your expenses back. That's not such a bad deal. I think it is the level of "competition factor" that does not appeal to all anglers.
Remember, just because they are offering money in the form of prizes to "attract" some anglers the freedom still exists to do as you please competitively. One could fish hard all day, float around all day, help out at the resort with the tourney, or help the WDFW on the water etc... Heck, If one was to win the tournament they could donate the money to their favorite charity.
I understand what you are saying though and I too long for the "good old days". You'll find me floating around or trying an area where I probably have never seen a fish before!!!. Ahhh...but then again that's just me too:)