Night Tournament

[Dinkster]

      I would like to mention that last night’s “Night Tournament” had the worst weather I have seen in this Club’s history and I have almost 30 years in this Club.  The rain itself was in huge drops and the lightning lid up the sky for hours.  I know for a fact while fishing near the restaurant a bolt must have hit no more than 4 hundred yards away, I could feel the energy in the air when it hit.  I truly believe the Club did the right thing in cancelling the Tournament and getting our fellow member’s off the water and somewhere safe.  At this point we can now decide on what we want to do regarding this event, but the good thing is that we will all have a say because we all did get home safe to fish another day.  
   As long as we are talking about last night let us not forget Kevin and his family again welcomed us into their home not to mention fed us as well.  So a Great Big Thanks to Kevin and his family.  Again since we are talking about the Moore family did you see the damage the rain did to Kevin’s retaining wall?  Kevin if I were you I’d get the insurance company out there and offer a settlement and I’m sure the Club will assist you in putting a new wall together so as you purchase that new Bass Boat you have been looking at.  Anyway thanks again Kevin and see all of you Tuesday night.

                  The Dinkster

[Mark B]

That was definitely some weather that none of us will ever forget.  I've never seen a lake rise 8 inches in only 2 hours it was unbelievable.  The road by the public launch quickly became a rapid flowing river, just pouring over the rock wall, and forming a waterfall about 150 feet wide.  I really wish I had a camera with me to show you guys.  During the middle of the storm Jamal and I went to check on his boat and our fish, and the water was well over my ankles, and my stuff was floating all around his boat.  This was the craziest storm I've ever seen.  I'm very glad to know that everyone made out ok, even though more than a few of us had close calls.  I also agree with Mr. Decker that canceling this tournament was the absolute right thing to do.  Nothing is more important than the safety of the club, and we all lived to fish another day.  This was probably quite the experience for those of you who fished the night tournament for the first time.  The last few years we've had perfect weather for it, but this year we didn't get so lucky. 

I would also like to thank Kevin for grilling dinner for all of us before the tournament.  It was not necessary, but I really enjoyed it, and it helps pull the club together.  Regardless of the weather I had fun and hope you all did too.  See you guys on Tuesday.

[bassmandan]

me and ryan were underneath the boat club we had our one little water fall to ourselves it was pretty neat i must admit

[mike s]

I would like to thank Kevin and his family for their hospitality before and during the tournament!  That was a crazy storm and I am glad no one got zapped.  Staying alive is more important than catching fish!
Mike

[nitroderrek]

i cannot attend the meeting tuesday night, as i have a previous engagement.
my vote is to reschedule the tournament for August 30th.  it should be a day tournament, 6:30am to 2:30pm, my opinion.  we do not need a permit to use the launch if we weigh in at kevin's house, so we should be ok there.  you only need a permit to use the launch for a weigh-in.  that is the only weekend available from now until october.  we cannot fish august 16th, as michigan bass busters will be there, and they have a permit to use the launch.  also, that would be really short notice for some guys.   september 6th is labor day weekend, so that won't be good for most people.  sept 13, 20, 27 are all taken up.   
so, we should fish again august 30th, with the same partner pairings and blastoffs.
that is my vote.  i wouldn't be opposed it being a night tournament, aug 29-30, but i think with last minute notice, a day tournament would be easier for most people.
derrek

[Mark B]

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with Derek.  We're given a tournament schedule as early as possible so we can plan our personal events around our tournaments.  I for one am busy the weekend of the 30th and I would imagine there are other people in the club with plans as well.  I would hate to see my tournament season, or those of someone else ruined because we already had plans and couldn't make .  I really don't think it's fair to make myself, or anyone else, have to choose between their tournament success or breaking promises to other people.  Therefore I propose we just scrap the tournament altogether and go with 6 points tournaments for the year.

[Jeff R]

I agree with Mark, and that is what I was going to suggest at the meeting tomorrow.. we could just write this tourney off as if we werent ever going to have it.

[rbur]

I agree it would be real hard to make things happen for everyone. This club only had 6 tournaments before and things were good.

[jchirri]

I wont be there tomorrow, but my vote goes to scrap this tournament as well.

[Procraft 1]

I know I wont be able personaly to make that date but its whats best for all of us.i agree with dropping the tournament and just staying with 6 this year.Not only qould it be difficutl to alot of member to make that date but the distance for alot of member would also play a factor in making it up.So,I suggest dropping it as well...............Darryl

[nitroderrek]

if we are not going to make up the tournament, why did we not weigh in the fish we caught that night?  how can you catch fish in a tournament, a points tournament, and they not count for anything?  all the money spent prefishing, driving to the tournament, for nothing?  the only way that should happen is if we were re-doing the tournament over again, then that one didn't count.  why penalize the guys that caught fish, and benefit the guys that did not catch fish, how is that fair?  derrek

[ADAM]

i wont be able to make it tomarrow i have to work all day. i agree to drop this tournament because rescheduling would cause a big headake... derrek has a point we should of weigh in the fish we had the scale set up ready to go and we all went and grabed are fish  personaly i want to redo this tourny. we should look back at this night and take notes from it so we know what to do in the future.....

[nitroderrek]

ok, if this tournament didn't count at all, like we didn't fish it, since we threw back legal keeper fish, then we only fished 6 tournaments this year, and you still have to throw out your lowest tournament.  Since we only fished 6 this year, then your top 5 count for points, and that is in the bylaws.   derrek

[mike s]

I doubt that there is any way to rectify this situation to everyone's satisfaction, given what has already been done.  I agree with Adam that we need to add some bylaws covering what to do when weather forces us to end a tournament early.  I can't make it to the meeting either, due to work, but I have some suggestions:

When the tournament director decides the conditions are unsafe, he will call or text all boaters to stop fishing.  All boaters will be responsible for receiving this call, by checking their phones when the weather gets bad.
When conditions allow for all of the boats to return and get out of the water, every attempt will be made to weigh any fish in, as with any other tournament.  Only if the conditions continue to be so unsafe that it is impossible to weigh the fish in, will the tournament be cancelled.

Another idea is to schedule a make-up tournament after the last points tournament, to be used in the event a tournament got cancelled because of weather.  If we don't need it, we could still use it as a fun tournament.
Mike

[Dyer]

I agree to cancel this one as well since I am not avail on the 30th.  I do agree that we should have measured our fish but we can not do anything about that now but learn from this for the future.  I second that the bi-laws need something added for this.