BlueEye

Larry - Have you thought about approaching an already established club like the Niagara Musky Association and running the tournament through them? On top of utilizing their accounting resources, you would probably draw an even bigger crowd to the tournament. Not sure how many NMA members participated in the event last year but this would give them even more reason to. I don't see why you couldn't run the tournament through them and then have the proceeds go to the Chautauqua Bait Fish Fund - similar to how we supported the Ohio Baitfish Fund. Think about it and maybe bring it up at the next NMA meeting. The benefit to the NMA would be a nice increase in recognition and membership considering how established your tournament already is and the wide range of people it brings in from all over the area. Cheers, Chad

Hi John - We had an issue a while back with a spammer who using our PM system to send out spam messages so we put in a security feature that mandated the user must have either one or two posts (I can't remember) before being able to send out a PM. Try it now, and you should be able too. Thanks, Chad

I think you have a good point whistler. If it wasn't a stocked fishery, then I would be opposed to having it opened year round just to protect the spawn but the fact that is a stocked program combined with the fact that there are not a lot musky anglers relatively speaking to begin with and 90% of them practice catch and release - I see no real reason why NYS wouldn't open the season longer. I know I would have surely spent more money already by this time of year trying to keep up with Dan if the season was open. Instead I'm stuck spending it at a winery on the wife..... blahhhhhh.......

Troy - I updated your post to include the tournament rules in the first post of this topic. Thank you and congrats on the great turnout already!!

I guess it's official then huh Dan.... 2012 is officially the year of the musky Nice going bud

Welcome to the site Jeff - glad to have you! Make yourself at home

I loved his show.... he will be missed.

Dan.... I only own one 9" white pearl. How do I get my hands on some more before the PMTT this year? Do you make a 7.5" white pearl as well? Would like to start stocking up on some of those before I tell the wife how much money we get back from our tax return....

Very cool - thanks for sharing

Good deal Troy - I hope the tournament is a success. Please post some pictures of it after wards

Wow Dan - incredible!!! I'm living vicariously through you right now stuck in New York waiting for June to roll around........ keep up the good work!

hahaha

Count me in Larry - sounds great! Might want to consider lake temps at that time of year as well....

Welcome Steve - glad to have you aboard!!

Welcome to the site Kris - glad to have you

Hope you have a good sir Take the day off and relax - you deserve a break!

Happy Birthday sir!!!!!

*Posting message on behalf of Pro-Am Tournament committee request Please CLICK HERE to see article: http://www.lakeontarioproam.net/guarantied-2012-niagara-proam-new-combined-field-open-payouts/ Thank you.

Welcome Dave - glad to have you!!!

The undisputed champ of the Sandy Creek Shootout!! Happy Birthday buddy

*Posting message on behalf of Pro-Am Tournament committee request New Format Changes Offer Exciting Options for 2012 Pro-Am Tournaments The Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament Series is taking a huge leap forward as the counties of Niagara, Orleans, Oswego and Wayne embark on taking tournament fishing to a new level in 2012. As we concluded the events in 2011, it was evident that we needed to make some changes…and it was always about what was the best for the teams – bigger and better. There was a serious question as to whether or not Oswego and Wayne counties would continue in the series, primarily due to time constraints of tournament directors. Both Dave Turner and Chris Kenyon were serious about tendering resignations and ALL of the events needed more volunteer support. From a competitive level, the numbers of amateur teams were dropping off, with more taking the competitive leap into the Professional Division. The poster child/team was Dave Antenori and Screamer, winning the Lake Ontario Challenge Cup – a former Amateur Division competitor. By mid-summer, a group of tournament participants – already volunteers in 2011 – formed committees in Niagara and Oswego to address many of these problems. They knew what the teams in general were looking for and what the directors needed for the tournament series to continue and grow. They worked together to make that happen. They were willing to volunteer their time to support the tournaments and develop a plausible plan of attack going into 2012. Changes needed to be made if the four tournament series was going to continue another year. At the request of the tournament directors, this committee was asked to consider improvements to the event structure itself, from the entry fee level to the logistics of running a tournament. We needed something that was a benefit to ALL of the teams, creating more opportunity for recognition and reward, while at the same time facilitating more boats in general entering the event. One of the big bones of contention was enhancing the tournament payouts, making it appealing for someone who has one good day of fishing. We requested that we do this in a professional manner. You didn’t see any of these discussions on the web boards. It took the committee six months of effort to reach a consensus. They took all of the issues one by one and discussed them individually. Committee members involved amateur teams into the discussion to get a feel for something that would be acceptable to them. At that time, the committee formally presented to the directors the suggested format changes. From the beginning of January to now, the discussion revolved around entry fee and prize structure. They also fine-tuned the rules and other format change discussions. A survey form is now being circulated to determine the final four ingredients to complete the puzzle, such as entry fee costs, fish totals, rod limits and the like. We are almost there. We are excited to roll out these new format changes as adopted by the directors and endorsed by the committee. Here’s a few of those changes: The tournaments will all offer a two-tiered competition. The first tier is the Recreational Open Division, offering two single days of fishing which can be entered separately. It will be your best three fish, no observer, low entry fee and minimum rules. The second tier is the combined Pro-Am structure, offering teams the opportunity to cash in daily for short boxes (five or six fish) and long boxes (12 fish maximum). This would make it truly a Pro-Am by uniting the Divisions and creating a level playing field – two one-day twin division events with an added overall payout. The intent would be to pay out cash prizes daily for the top 10 in each category each day, as well as the combined overall payout for the top 10 in both divisions together over the two days of fishing. Not counting big fish prizes, teams will have the opportunity to cash in on some 60 prize-winning checks! Teams can cash in day one or day two, as well as overall. Once you earn a ranking, it cannot be taken away. Scoring system will still be ten points a fish and a point per pound. One single entry fee will cover it all, including anything involving cup prizes (West or East cups or the Overall Challenge Cup). The short and long box concept will be carried throughout all four events along the lake, giving teams the opportunity to earn “Team of the Year†honors for each category. And team points will be earned for both short box and long box each day, as well as for the tournament overall. In other words, all teams will be allotted cup points based on where you rank in the entire field both Day One and Day Two, as well as overall in both Short and Long box divisions. The points will be added together to determine a combined total. Each event will have a total point’s leader in the short box, long box and overall standings. These cup totals will continue to expand through every day of every event. Recognition and reward will be given after the two West end events, the two East end events and for the overall totals of all four events. Some of the details are still being worked on. We realize that we are under some serious time constraints right now. Once this information is finalized, it will be added to the tournament website at www.lakeontarioproam.net first. We are ready to start putting our magazine together after that. Thank you for your patience and we hope that you will agree – this truly is a better fishing tournament concept. We can’t wait to share this with the angling world! Important Note: The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association will be holding their Lake Ontario Expo and Flea Market on Sunday, Feb. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara, 4487 Lake Avenue (Route 78), Lockport. A special Q&A session on the Pro-Am Circuit will be conducted by committee members from noon to 1 p.m. In addition, there will be a special session on Being a Tournament Observer from 3 to 4 p.m. If you have any questions about the new tournament format, contact Bob Cinelli or Vince Pierleoni in the Western Basin of the lake; Tom Burke or Rob Ripka in the Eastern Basin of the lake.

Hi Bob - I would have loved to do that the lure swap there - it was my second favorite part of the show last year behind the live lure demonstration in the pool! I don't think they are doing that this year either. Anyways, its still a great show and I hope a bunch of us can make it up there. Cheers, Chad

Glad to have you aboard Jeff - Sorry to hear of your loss. It is very admirable to see how you are handling this tough time. God bless.

Hi Gregg - First off, welcome to LOU - we are glad to have you! Lots of great musky guys here from the upstate NY area and PA. I attended the Road Rules seminar last year and had a blast. I look forward to attending the event again this year! Cheers, Chad

This is a great thread! Thanks for sharing everyone