 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
Dave Bailey
Member
|
Posted: Sun Jul 20th, 2008 03:30 am |
|
Well, it wasn’t completely without problems, but I’ll talk about that later. Right now it’s time to congratulate the winners and commiserate with those who simply had a day on the water and got a sore wrist for their trouble.
Fifth place went to Jen and Barry McCrackin with a total of 13.20lbs of fish flesh, all well earned. Fourth place – get ready for it; perennial winners Judy and Terry Ruttle (how does that couch feel Terry?), with 13.90lbs. Linda and Steve Hatton overcame some live-well problems by returning early to weigh some fish and then going out again to get their limit, finishing third with 14.85lbs. Judith Pugsley and husband Taylor made the drive from Oakville worthwhile by boating 15.20lbs (one of which was a very respectable 4.40lbs), good for second place. And the overall winners were Allison Butler and partner Dan McMullen, who not only stretched their landing nets with 16.75lbs of bass but also landed the lunker of the day, a 5.40lb monster that took the biggest fish category. I was so awe-inspired gazing at it that I forgot to record exactly what species it was, but I think it was a smallmouth.
First place among the non-winners (hey, everyone deserves some credit) were Brenda and Phil DeFosse with 13.10, close to a tie for fifth so let’s give ‘em a hand! As for the rest, well, you all worked hard I’m sure, and thanks for making the day special. The weather was good, a touch windy at times but it slowed enough to stop playing havoc with the scales when time came to weigh-in. Despite some early concerns a fish which appeared to have expired after being released was not on the bottom later, so either it recovered or the resident snapping turtle got a meal – no objection on that from me, we need those loveable uglies to keep our water clean from all sorts of detritus.[/treehugger]
Okay, things weren’t perfect. I’m still trying to get myself to slow down a bit during the weigh-in, and if it hadn’t been for the capable help of my wife Monica I have no doubt that I would have screwed up somewhere. But her assistance gave me time to do the things that mattered, like checking to see that all fish are still kicking, not undersize, and all bass (yes, I can tell them from a sturgeon).
Biggest problem was a drop in attendance from last year, 33 boats down to 15. High blackfly and mosquito numbers? Possibly, but anglers are a tough bunch and not easily dissuaded. Weather? Bah! The almost non-stop rain of June is long behind us. Soaring gas prices? More than likely in my not-so humble opinion, but I can sense a rant coming on so I’ll have a drink and calm down.
Okay, where was I? Oh yeah, numbers. As I have said repeatedly when thanking everyone, I would love to have at least 20 participants, that way the fourth and fifth place finishers at least get their entry fee back. You shouldn’t win less than you paid to get in, at least that’s the way I see it. This year we had enough of a cushion that I upped the fourth and fifth prize money from $45 to $60, and I have also instituted a new policy; from now on all prize money that doesn’t end in a 5.00 or 10.00 will be rounded UP to the nearest $5. This does three things; first, it means a little more cash for you (don’t splurge). Second, it means that I don’t have to fiddle around with coins. Third, it means that Judy Ruttle doesn’t break her nails rummaging around in the sofa cushions to provide me with those jingley things each year (thanks Judy, you’re a sweetie!).
And finally a big thanks to a couple of non-participants. Last year John Sedgwick of Sedge's Fish Guiding Service donated some prizes at the last minute, and the ones left over were doled out today. Outdoors Plus at 54 York St. in Haliburton also helped out by kicking in some lures at a bargain price, so if you’re in the area stop by and put some coin over their counter.
|
dokdok
Moderator
|
Posted: Sun Jul 20th, 2008 11:20 am |
|
Hey Dave, I thought maybe I was seein' double this mornin'! I was reading an earlier post with the same activities posted!! You don't have a twin too do ya!?! (hahaha) Glad ya had a great time and it sounds like the tourney was a lot of fun (lol). Can't wait to see your pics of the event! ~dokdok
|
Dave Bailey
Member
|
Posted: Sun Jul 20th, 2008 12:51 pm |
|
| Pics, pics, pics... I was so busy that I didn't even get the camera out of the bag, same for the videocam. I really wanted to get some stuff up on Youtube, maybe next time. But it means that I have to spend all season teaching Monica how to use a camera - and she's the smarter of us!
|
horseshoe
VIP Member
|
Posted: Sun Jul 20th, 2008 01:45 pm |
|
laffffin great report there Dave ,,,thanks for postin the results...sorry the turn out wasnt so great ...but i gotta think ur right ....Gas !! and the speculators are making lots of coin at our expense......sore spot for a lot of us i am sure...I notice in my area a lot less boating traffic and park users ...i am sure lots feel the reprecussions...
Horseshoe
|
Mike S
Administrator
|
Posted: Sun Jul 20th, 2008 03:19 pm |
|
| hey Dave, great report.. I was getting flashbacks to our ice fishng hardwater challenge as I read your post.. It's not easy!! Get us involved early next year and we can help out with advertizing it here etc etc... Yes the gas prices are affecting the boating...last week on the Ottawa river we sometimes had the whole river to ourselves it seemed.
|
Dave Bailey
Member
|
Posted: Sun Jul 20th, 2008 03:27 pm |
|
dokdok wrote: Hey Dave, I thought maybe I was seein' double this mornin'! I was reading an earlier post with the same activities posted!!
Actually there's a very good explanation as to why I made the double post...
...
...
...
I'm stupid.
Move along folks, nothing to see here.
|
Mike S
Administrator
|
Posted: Sun Jul 20th, 2008 03:31 pm |
|
I just saw it and removed it.. its happens when one clicks.. waits for the update to happen and it pauses somewhere in the process.. so human nature tells us to click it again haha! then the board proceses both. There's actually a nice feature in wowbb to minimize this.. you cant post two notes in under 15 seconds - it assumes its spam. but if the backend database takes a second to process your click you can sneak in a 2nd one. Not to worry. The duplicate is gone and no one has lost their sanity 
|
Current time is 04:32 am | |
|
|
|
|
