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Dive into the world of Competitive Fishing Events (CFEs) and the Saskatchewan Walleye Trail presented by Dave Deutscher at the March 2008 Saskatchewan Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting. Learn about the history, rules, benefits, and challenges of these fishing tournaments. Explore the economic impact, community involvement, and conservation efforts associated with CFEs.
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The following slides were presented at the March 2008 Saskatchewan Fisheries Advisory Committee (FAC) by Dave Deutscher the SWT designate on the FAC. • The presentation was intended provide an overview of Competitive Fishing Events (CFE’s) and the Saskatchewan Walleye Trail. • My narrative is missing but the text within the slides provide the highlights of the presentation.
My Background • Born and raised in Saskatchewan and have lived here for 50 of my 53 years. • An avid angler for 40+ years. • I enjoy fishing the southern zone. • Started fishing tournaments in 1987, have fished events in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Montana and North Dakota for a total of over 150 tournaments. • Board of Directors of SWT for most of the past 14 years.
Competitive Fishing Events (CFE’s) • CFE’s have probably been around as long as recreational sportfishing. • As a teenager in the late 60’s I recall derbies at Wakaw lake. • Derbies are typically considered as catch and kill (this is changing) and may target any species of fish and may be fished from shore or boat.
Tournaments typically are larger more structured events that involve 2 person teams fishing from a boat. • Events are catch and release. • Target a single species, usually walleye/sauger or bass. • The intent of this presentation is to provide an understanding of tournaments and how they are operated and steps taken by organizers and the SWT to reduce impact on fishery.
The Saskatchewan Walleye Trail (SWT) • In the early 1990’s CFE’s were becoming popular and there was a desire to start a circuit that would track an angler’s success through a series of events. • In 1993, Michael Snook organized a group of anglers that started the South Saskatchewan Walleye Trail (later renamed the SWT).
The SWT does not organize any tournaments but consists of 5 independently operated tournaments. • Elbow Wildlife Federation • Regina Beach Lions Club • Kyle & District Recreation Board • Fort Qu’Appelle Volunteer Fire Fighters • Regina Fish and Game League • These are 65 to 100 team events
The first year of the SWT (1994) we consisted of 69 members, last year we listed 208 paid members ($30/year). • Membership is voluntary and tournament teams are not required to join but the benefits of a membership are such that we are getting a high participation rate.
Basic Rules • Teams fish 2 days during specified hours. • Fish are weighed and released by tournament officials and weights recorded. • At an awards ceremony after the 2nd day, prizes are awarded based on total weight caught during the 2 day event. In addition to highest placing teams there are usually awards for several categories such as family teams, mixed teams, largest fish etc.
We don’t just descend an area fish hard and go home, there is often community involvement.
Kids in Kyle line the streets to watch the boat parade and collect candy from the participants.
Teams attending a rules meeting the evening before the tournament.
Fish are brought to a weigh in site. Most of the spectators you see here are from local communities and are not tournament participants
Weights are displayed, note that fishing is often tough and weights are sometimes quite low.
Fish are placed in an observation tank then released. Questionable fish are moved to the white (sick) tank that contains oxygenated water.
After the tournament. Walleye that were stressed and are being monitored prior to release.
Why do we do it? • Humans by nature are competitive. • Camaraderie. • We love to fish.
Advantages of Tournaments • There is a large group of users that want these events. • An economic benefit to the area and organization hosting the event. • Economic benefit to related industries, boat and truck sales, campers, tackle stores, etc. • Promotes tourism and use of the facilities in our province. • Provides an outstanding opportunity for MOE to gather information regarding the health of the walleye fishery, by tournament reports and gathering info during tournaments. Location of catches, samples, PIT tag information, etc.
Opportunity to gather demographics • In 1997 the SWT conducted a survey of 155 tournament anglers to gather economic impact and demographic data for our sponsors and communities. Example:
Disadvantages of Tournaments Additional pressure on a lake. • Most CFE’s are on large lakes that can accommodate the additional pressure. Conflict between CFE anglers and other users. • Rules are usually in place for unsportsmanlike conduct. Educating local users on methods and techniques resulting in higher harvest by these users. • Promotion of responsible harvest and C&R. Mortality and post mortality rates.
What is being done to reduce mortality? • Livewell technology. • Location, livewells have been moved to the back of the boat to reduce fish movement when traveling. • Size & number, primary livewells up to 60” long and 35 – 40 gallons, secondary wells 15 – 20 gallons. • Redundant circulation systems including fresh water pump and recirculating pumps utilizing venturi’s to entrain air and high speed pick-ups to keep well’s full at speed. • Insulated livewells to reduce temperature gain.
Rules & Regulations • We fish at half the legal limit, 5 fish per day for a 2 person team. • Penalties for unreleasable fish. • DQ’d if caught returning unreleasable fish to the lake. • Only live and releasable fish qualify for big fish awards.
What is the SWT doing? • Several years ago we instituted a $10.00 enhancement fee as part of the entry paid by each team at each of the 5 SWT tournaments. This fee is paid by all team regardless of SWT membership status. $600 to $1500 per tournament. • Funds are administered by the SWT and are used for projects to benefit the 3 lakes utilized by the SWT circuit. • An initial project involved construction and placing of signs promoting responsible use of our fishery and C&R at a cost of $8745.00.
These signs were developed with the co-operation of SE (MOE).
Funds were used to purchase water tanks and sick tanks for all SWT tournaments and specially designed weigh scales to expedite the weigh in procedure, $13,178.00. • Last year MOE hosted the annual Great Plains Fishery Workers Association convention. SWT donated $500.00 from this fund to the GPFWA scholarship fund.
