Finders Keepers

After running a full year testing out the Fish Donkey online tournament platform with the NYS Classic events with great success and receiving 100% positive remarks from the anglers who participated, the 2021 Great Lakes Salmon Showdown will be opening up all of the Great Lakes to compete in one monumental event that runs from May 1st through Sept. 30th. Registration is by boat ($250/boat for the Pro Division, $125/boat for the Am Division) - once registered, any salmon caught on the boat (regardless of who caught it) is eligible for entry via the Fish Donkey App. This includes charter clients for a registered charter boat. Fish are entered at the time of the catch and place via length. Pictures and/or videos verify the catch and measurement with the date/time/GPS Coords all encoded into the pics/video. The leaderboards are updated in real time and all participants are notified when a new leader is entered. Full rules and regs and other tourney information can be found within the event at FishDonkey.com (Pro) or FishDonkey.com (Am). There are many benefits to this style of tournament: 1) All fish can be released after entry (angler's choice). 2) Anglers can fish solo. 3) No extra travel necessary to bring fish to a weigh-in station. 4) No set hours - anglers can fish 24/7 and take advantage of the evening bite. 5) Event is open to both US and Canadian anglers for larger prize pools. 6) The event is 100% transparent - the number of anglers, the resulting payouts, percentages paid, sponsored prizes, etc. are all laid out for all to see. 7) The protocols along with the checks in the App offer very little opportunity for foul play. 8 ) All anglers are treated equal with no favoritism. Denied fish are publicly seen in the app (as all fish are) along with the reason why, disputes are sent to the tourney committee (5 members) for review and a final decision made. 9) The fish entry process is very quick and easy (less than a minute), especially with two people for larger fish. 10) Leaderboards update automatically in real time. We will be working to secure sponsors for the event over the next couple months as new contracts are finalized and Covid restrictions are modified. Current sponsors include: Plano, Frabill, Okuma, Koyote Ugly Spoons, FishUSA, Reel Cool Lures, and Omnia Fishing. Tourney Details: When: May 1st - September 30th Registration: Pro Division - $250/boat Am Division - $125/boat Location: Any open waters on the Great Lakes, both US and Canadian. Fish Entry: Length via Fish Donkey App Fish Placement: Stringer Total of Best-5 Salmon (boats can upsize all season long) Cash Awards: 80-85% Payback + Sponsor Prizes (checks mailed at end of event, prizes shipped)(number of places & amounts paid determined by number of boats entered, in US funds) Website: GLSSEvents.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Great-Lakes-Salmon-Showdown-Tournaments-111757507172599 Boats can be registered at any time, even after the event starts, but cannot start entering fish until the day after registration. If you have any questions, please drop me a PM. Best of luck to all the teams this year and tight lines!!

Update for cash payouts in all 7 species divisions: 1st Place = $600 2nd Place = $330 3rd Place = $220 4th Place = $25 FishUSA GC + $25 Batavia Downs FPC PLUS $46/week for leading fish in all 7 divisions all 8 weeks. *NEW AWARD FOR FEBRUARY* Place in the Top-10 of any species any time in February and include a release video with the fish entry to be entered into a drawing for a Bow Fishing Excursion with Fish Hounds Outdoors and Capt. James Vladyka for up to 3 shooters!! Still over 4 weeks of tourney action to be had in this year's event - join in the fun with over 580 other anglers this winter!! If we can reach 615 anglers we will be adding Bass as a new species with a new Aqua-Vu HD 10i Pro Camera System valued at $999!! Register today for only $25 at: www.NYSwinterclassic.com

Update for cash payouts in all 7 species divisions: 1st Place = $540 2nd Place = $292 3rd Place = $195 4th Place = $25 FishUSA GC + $25 Batavia Downs FPC PLUS $41/week for leading fish in all 7 divisions all 8 weeks. Next set of prize drawings: January 31st at 7pm Live on the tourney Facebook page, anglers must be registered by noon on the 31st to be eligible. Only $25/angler to sign-up. NOTE: Anglers must register the day before they wish to start entering fish. www.NYSwinterclassic.com

Update for cash payouts in all 7 species divisions: 1st Place = $468 2nd Place = $250 3rd Place = $167 4th Place = $25 FishUSA GC + $25 Batavia Downs FPC PLUS $35/week for leading fish in all 7 divisions all 8 weeks. Next set of prize drawings: January 31st at 7pm Live on the tourney Facebook page, anglers must be registered by noon on the 31st to be eligible.

**NEW PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT** Smallest Walleye = Aqua-Vu HD 10i Pro ($999 MSRP) or Aqua-Vu HD Quad System ($1799 MSRP)(Waiting for confirmation on exact unit). Protocol for entering fish will be posted in Rules & Regs soon.

Today the event topped 400 anglers!! This brings the current cash payouts for all 7 species divisions to: 1st Place = $445 2nd Place = $235 3rd Place = $158 4th Place = $25 FishUSA Gift Card + $25 Batavia Downs Free Play Card PLUS $33 for the leading fish every week in each species division! PLUS a ton of other prizes to go after including youth cash & prize packages! This week will be the drawing for the 3 Youth Package Giveaways only available to youth anglers (16 and under) entered by noon on Wednesday Dec. 16th and must include their birthdate in their Fish Donkey profile. Just a reminder that this year’s event will place all fish via length in the Fish Donkey App and using a manufactured bump board (no homemade boards, tape measures, etc. accepted). Order now while boards are available and to receive your board before the event starts on Jan. 1st. Frabill Benchmark boards are recommended (available up to 48”) and will likely remain in stock. There is also a protocol for entering a fish bigger than your board (see rules and regs). Make sure to register before Dec. 31st at noon to be eligible for the largest set of prizes being drawn for the Door Prize Drawings – Round 1 (over $4,500) LIVE at 7pm on Dec. 31st on the tournament Facebook page. A list of prizes to win can be found at: http://www.nyswinterclassic.com/2021/weeklyleaderboard.html under the weekly awards.

We now have (3) large prize packages specifically for the youth anglers (16 and under) entered by Dec. 16th at noon. These packages include: *Fish Donkey Bump Board *Fillet Away Fish Mat *Ice Well Live Well *(6) Packs of Makiplastic Baits *Addicted Fishing Hat *Lure Package And more being added daily! Drawing will be Dec. 16th at 7pm live on Facebook. Weekly cash awards are now $30/week for all 7 species division all 8 weeks for the leading fish, and the cash payouts continue to climb! New sponsors announced almost every night during our live show on Facebook at 7pm - join in the fun!

Tournament update: Now with over $26,000 in cash and prizes to be awarded in the 2021 event and 373 registered anglers, the 2021 NYS Winter Classic is now the top-performing tournament on the planet utilizing the Fish Donkey Platform! Just announced tonight was the addition of 3 youth prize packages to be given away on Dec. 16th! Check out all the prizes at: http://www.nyswinterclassic.com/2021/weeklyleaderboard.html Current cash payouts in all 7 species divisions (373 anglers): 1st Place = $355 2nd Place = $210 3rd Place = $140 4th Place = $25 FishUSA Gift Card + $25 Batavia Downs Free Play Card PLUS $29/week for all 8 weeks for the leading fish in all 7 species divisions! Register today at: www.NYSwinterclassic.com

The statewide 2021 NYS Winter Classic Tournament has over $20,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs this year! With a record number of early bird registrations, a new format featuring the Fish Donkey App that allows for C&R and fish placement by length, and minimized expenses allowing for larger payouts, it is drawing attention from all across the northeast US! Get in now and get entered into the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway that increments the prize package every day - tune in LIVE on Facebook at 7pm each night for the drawings and updates for the event (including new sponsor announcements). Drawings will be held Dec. 1-12, with additional Door Prize Drawings held on Dec. 31st and Jan. 31st. A full list of prizes and the winning anglers can be found on the website at: Weekly Leader Board & Awards Registration is only $25/angler and can be found off the tourney website at: NYS Winter Classic Homepage As of 12/3/20 the current cash payouts for all 7 species divisions are: 1st Place = $316 2nd Place = $190 3rd Place = $125 4th Place = $25 FishUSA Gift Card PLUS $26/week for the leading fish in each of the 7 species divisions. Additional cash awards will be announced during the LIVE Facebook shows as new sponsors are confirmed and announced. If you have any questions please free to reach out to me at any time. Let's hope for a great ice season ahead!!

I have since learned quite a bit about polygraph tests, how they are administered, and what they can and cannot be used for. I have also at the same time invested years into research and testing tournament designs that have led me to this year's Summer Classic and GLSS event designs. Trial and error, observation of other event flaws, listening to both the supporters and participants as well as the nay sayers of all the various events (open and hard water), have all been taken into account.

It'll be interesting to see what the nay-sayers come up with for ways to cheat in this format. I have not disclosed all of the checks and balances that go on behind the scenes and within the App to verify fish entrees in an effort to catch those who wish to engage in foul play. Poly tests are not permissible in court and more of a deterrent. If there is a need for legal action we can take it, but in 9 years of running events, I have yet to have a need to issue any.

New website has been created: glssevents.com It's time for a new class of events where there is no room for foul play due to a solid tourney design, and no corruption. Just straight out fun, competitive fishing - by yourself, with a team, or with different clients every day, all fish caught on a registered boat is eligible no matter who catches it!! Let's turn these crazy times into crazy fun fishing! Any questions? Drop me a PM and I'll be more than happy to answer them. Registration for these events will close on August 1st.

Presented this year, a brand new concept for salmon fishing tournaments where fish do not have to be kept and aligns with charters to capitalize on every fish caught by every angler aboard your vessel. Introducing the Great Lakes Salmon Showdown that not only covers Canadian and USA open waters of Lake Ontario, but all of the Great Lakes in one robust tournament event. Here is the breakdown: When: May 1st through October 31st, 24 hours a day Where: All open waters of the Great Lakes Who: 2 Divisions of Entry: Pro Division ($250/boat) for charters/guides, any anglers with fishing related sponsors, and anyone else looking to compete on a higher level. Am Division ($125/boat) for weekend anglers looking to add some fun competition to their season this year. When you register the boat, anyone fishing on that vessel is automatically included whereby any fish caught during any trip by anyone on board can be entered - this includes all of your clients during charters (no longer do you have to get them all entered in order to compete), and anglers fishing solo. What: Your 5 longest salmon (any species) will go towards your team's/boat's total score. Fish are entered via the Fish Donkey App using a bump board for length measurement. 4 pictures are required per entry (app automatically uploads them, adds them to your score, and updates the leaderboard in real time). Fish can then be kept or released. Up-size all season long, only your top-5 longest salmon will automatically be included in your score and rank. Close-up pictures of both the head and tail of each fish are required to prevent multiple entries with the same fish. How: Regster via the Fish Donkey App or online at FishDonkey.com. Payout: 85% cash payout based on number of teams entered in each Division, may be higher based on sponsor backing (15% goes to cover admin and tourney costs). Additional sponsor-based awards (TBA). Sponsors: Already secured: Okuma, Plano, Frabill, Koyote Ugly Spoons. Full details, rules & regs, and registration can be found at: Pro Division: https://tourney.fishdonkey.com/#/tournament/2287/details Am Division: https://tourney.fishdonkey.com/#/tournament/2564/details The Fish Donkey platform is a solid, tested tourney platform that many events are moving onto. While we realize many areas have different regulations currently governing fishing, this event will have open registration through July 31st so that once the restrictions are lifted and anglers can fish to their capacity (charters in particular), you can get registered and compete (boat/team must be entered the day before your fish can be entered). If other team events are allowed to occur this year, there is a special "Other Tourney" protocol in place so that no-communication rules can be adhered to and fish caught during these events can be entered. No longer do you need to stop fishing to run a fish in before the weigh-in stations close, no longer do you need to keep fish that you otherwise would not, no longer do you need to ask and get everyone on board entered. Better for the anglers, better for the fishery. Follow the event on Facebook for updates and announcements. This year we'll see what lake can produce the best Top-5 salmon scores!