dreamsteelie

I like it simple and tally up scores from all three even tho it may not justly reward consistency but does allow a HOME RUN event to help.

Team VQ qould be in and I am sure Happy Tom Allen would sponsor us As long as we swore not to use any DW flies ...

Can call it Big Boys West Series, West End Challenge, Tri-Port Challenge West, West end Can-Am Cup, West End Can-Am Challenge.

or maybe: Vince vs. the rest

Captain Pete

Vision Quest

http://www.dreamsteelie.com

Kev,

It would be great to see a final roster posted shortly after the deadline. The event has a lot of people 'JACKED' !!

Glad to see all the participation from the event organizers, sponsors and "players". Woo Wee, it's gonna be some weekend in Wilson, NY..

Captain Pete

Todd, you are correct and I did not expand on my question when written. I am actually looking for the final roster for WHI. Which in essence will consist of the guys entered or "eventually" enter the KOTL. Doubtful anyone would enter KOTL without the required WHI.

The deadline for KOTL in essence, is April 1st (deadline for WHI) and the day of the Captains meeting for BJ Spring event. When guys can enter the overall (as log as in the WHI by 4/1/11)..... That's my understanding when discussing with Yvan and having V-Man clarify.

No one outside of WHI will be entering KOTL (assume not). Thats where I was headed with the Q. for Kevin.

Todd, u fishing our Spring Trout Challenge April 17th?

Pete

Hi Kevin,

Can you post the final roster for the KOTL on April 2nd ? Would like to see who made the deadline? Yvan said (3) more made entered as of today 3.29.11. I assume you will know final since all must go thru you to enter and assume no one would enter the KOTL without your event due to the MUST enter requirement?

Thanks in advance,

Pete

Anyone doubt if Tom Allen's excited over this event

"Thanks Kevin for putting together an awesome event! Finally an event that will test your angling skills and not your "texting" prowess.

Once these events became open comm I felt I had no way of truely knowing who I was fishing against.

These guys are tough enough to compete agianst alone and even tougher when you give them a unlimited source of information from a network of other fisherman. The pro am shifted away from testing my skills as an angler to rewarding my skills as a "network builder".

Looking foward to once again fishing against the very best the lake has to offer on a even playing field!

Let the game begin!!!"

Well put Primetime Pete. Altho I don't go back nearly as far back as you on Lake O. (thus the deletion of the copied post), I feel the exact same way regarding the comm. networking etc.. It's tough enough to roll in to dodge after leaving Lake Erie, practice fish a day or two, sift thru the B.S., find a program that works and then go head to head with some of the best of the best (you included). Combine that with major networking and open comm., one finds himself at a major disadvantage if "not connected" as well... Its tough enough to beat the fish in their element let alone 15 to 30 boats connected via the CELL PHONE...

I often said, the purest and most rewarding "W" is one that the captain and team did themselves without outside influence.

We are really looking forward to the one day "show down" and format that the WHI has put together.

See you in May.

Vision Quest

The Great Lakes Tackle Shop.com: would like to thank the LOTSA volunteers who helped get us unloaded and loaded at the event and for hosting a professional event. The help was great, people first class and it was great to see everyone.

We also were spell bound by the new 70's colors A-TOM-MIK Spin Doctors. They should be a big hit this season. Tom Allen did a great job coming out with those color combo's and Dreamweaver did a nice job with the finished product.

Good luck in the coming 2011 fishing season..

From The Great Lakes Tackle Team

http://www.greatlakestackleshop.com

Kevin,

Great to see all the positive feed back and constant updates...

Don't forget to hold me a spot for the 36 for the month of May.

keep me away from Cold Steel tho---Their a bad influence.

VQ

Last year was a good show for us at this event and thanks to all who stopped by or have ordered on line from us.

This year, we will be accepting orders prior to the event and they will be delivered to the show for pick up and freight savings. Orders must be received 3 days prior to the show but longer lead time will guarantee we have the product by then.

There is a printable form located on the home page of our website. www.greatlakestackleshop.com

We have also asked Dreamweaver Lures to buy a table at this years show so they can hear feedback from you.

GLT continues to support the Lake Ontario fishery, LOTSA and tourney events.

Coming in 2011:

Look for a "tournament observer" based website in the future, where folks wanting to be assigned as observers can sign up.

Thanks and see you at the LOTSA show.

To add to Tom's post about Salmon Bound...

"And their eating white back DW Super Slim Frogs on a bright suny day..."

Captain Pete

LOL Vince.... Good reply.

Me help you in a tourney- (we might make sure you don't see a net get wet or fight a fish with a rod in the water as you troll by) LOL

I see Tom's trying to get you amped up early for the upcoming 2011 tourney season and you failed to take the bait. Nice....

Be sure to know that you are always on the radar screen tho and it's great to compete against you in each and every event.

Team VQ will be in for the Wilson Event and we are excited about the format (no comm.).

Winter Well V-Man

Captain Pete

Tom:

Here's a brief recap....

Thursday:

Same crew with high expectations.

Ended up going 13 for 22. Several would rip the divers for a while and let loose... Even dropped two hooked rigger fish. Took 2 Sharks at 29.5# and 30# mark again and several mid twenty Sharks.

Again DW Spin Doctors, DW Paddles and A-TOM-MIK flies did all of the damage except (1) new DW Captains Choice plug fish.

Fish were mostly suspended from 50-65 foot down because the ice water was high. Divers on #3 back 175 was "magic".

Unable to take quality kill shot picture as guys were not able to hold fish racks even with Ray helping. Had 25# avg. with the 10 big fish and the other 3 averaged about 10#.

Great day on Lake O.

Big Fish Friday (Game Day):

Mike (Hinks) and Tom Allen (A-TOM-MIK) joined Ray and I Friday.

Ran west again and set up about 1.3 miles from the River. Went 1 for 3 on the set up.......

Once we had all lines back in (7) of them, then it HAPPENED

First the diver, then rigger, then diver, then rigger, then copper, then diver, then rigger.. HOLY CRAP

It was only seconds after we reloaded and we all were fighting Sharks(4) and had (3) rods with line being stripped in the rod holders.... a legitimate and first ever=7 BANGER......

Never seen that one before !

We systematically landed all (7) fish. No tangles and break-offs (Thanks GAMMA). Wow, one cooler full and its early...

We had no rods in the water so we racked and ran back to the starting point and reset...

What a start. It gets better-kind of...

Fishing slowed down to a normal pace and we got our bites with subtle changes. At one point, our bite quit and we watched some other boats plow a few fish. hmmmmm. Something changed. Our cold water moved up in the water column and we determined they moved as well and maybe turned off our AM offerings. We made a dramatic color change and raised the program a little. Bingo-

We knew we needed a big guy for Dreamweaver Big Fish Friday and felt the 29.8 pounder in the box would not win it..... The storm front was fast approaching and we received a warning from Capt. Paul that she was coming.

We were getting close to quitting and we hit a double and landed both fish just as 40 knot winds hit us. Boys-rack em!

With Tom, Mike and Ray unhooking fish and bringing in lines, we were left with two rods fishing and me driving straight into a 40 knot wind... Then the inside wire set at 115' on 1.5# fires and starts screaming.....

Tom Yells, Oh &%$# not another one.... Captain Mike with cat like quickness pulls the rod out and its screaming to Olcott.. I yell, "fight it like it's "the FISH" we want" Ya never know, we need a big guy. Tom yells, "THE &%$# with that one let's get out of here"...

All the lines and weights get pulled in and Mike's fish is close. I see it and it's a big one. Tom says, NA, its just another small one (25#er' he states). (Tom wants to leave reallly bad at this point)

Ray is on the net and says, Its'a Biggy, nets it and hoisted it aboard amongst waves, white water and a mess on the deck. Wow, I say, that's the one we need.

We proceed to pull the fish out of the spare cooler from the swim platform so they are not lost on the suck ride home and now we have rods, a net and a bunch of salmon laying all over the deck as we take the "white knuckle ride" back home with zero visibility, torrential rain and 5-7 foot waves with white caps as long as the Queen Mary.....

End up 22 for 35 or 36 on Friday. What a great day. Estimated 5 big fish at 142 to 144 pounds...

What an ending.... At the DW Big Fish weigh in there were not a lot of guys weighing in... However, Capt. Lake O. (Paul weighs in one just over 33# and were like wow, thats a good one and knew it was gonna be close).

We weigh ours and just nudge him out... However, the last box to weigh gets us by a few ounces. (Nice work Eddie)

Again, A-TOM-MIK Flies teamed with DW Spin Doctors and DW Paddles did the damage (all the damage).

Team VQ finished 2nd overall in the King of The Lake race against 18 other teams. We also took two second placements and a third place in the Dreamweaver Big Fish awards out of the 5 events overall with a 34#, 33# and 29#.

It was a pretty good year and a year where a few more landed bites would have took us to first.. But we did not get all the ones we needed and that's fishing! "Congrats Team Two Fish"

I had the pleasure of fishing with some really good guys in all of the events who were dedicated and really into it. Thanks to all you guys (Mike-Tom-Ray-Shawn-Mark-Kevin) for a good solid memorable year. I am already looking forward to 2011. Also, a big thanks to Dreamweaver and A-TOM-MIK for supplying us with whatever we needed to compete including some awesome shirts and hats .

Captain Pete

Vision Quest

« Last Edit: Today at 06:54:47 PM by visionquest »

Hi Paul:

I just read David's response. Thank you for sharing.

Item no. 1. I understand the reasoning-However, that decision to change the rules should have been sent out much earlier, explained to all and perhaps massaged to allow it to a "certain" extent. It went from all to nothing in a hurry and I don't agree with how it happened but understand the reasoning.

Item no. 2. Is weak at best. Give the team a number to hold up like the Scotty's and there will be NO confusion at the pier heads.

Item no. 3. Is weak again. We know all these teams DO NOT work together and we all KNOW MANY do anyway. Are people really going to think that that all these teams are going to help each other out. LOL Currently, most teams are mad at each other or mistrust one another and all have turned like the That just leads us to the old argument of no comm. and why it should be put back into the rules. No comm. would in fact attract more teams and take the large advantage away of local teams. We have faced this disadvantage from day one coming from Erie. So, if item no, 3 was truly a concern, let's go NO COMM Baby !!!

I understand the number one reason but the other two are stretching it.

To conclude:

I really like the events, and appreciate the efforts of everyone involved. Kudos to Dave, Bob, Billy, you and all of the committee members.

The folks involved have the right to do what they want, how they want and what is in the best interest of the big picture. That's business as they say... However, I just don't happen to agree this time and would like to voice my opinions this one last time.

Captain Pete

Vision Quest

Greetings:

I usually lay low on this forum and just look for info. and try to get a few laughs(LOL)..

I am copy/pasting a response I sent to Tom yesterday.... Some of you may agree or not agree. Ultimately, when we reach into our pockets and shell out hard earned coin to support an event, we want to support an event that listens and supports us in return.

For those who do not agree with pulling sponsorships, please understand that the "beef" should be with someone besides us. I, personally am not mad at anyone and will continue to fish the events because I love them But from a business perspective and a sponsors perspective, I cannot support an event that has rules or does things that I do not agree with.

However......

Hi Tom,

This is disappointing news to hear but I understand where and how you feel. I don't blame you for pulling out.

I do not "fully" understand why team names cannot have a sponsor's name attached. I understand it may be easier for the pro-am committees but who should determine "what" a team name should be or should not be (with exception of a profane or racy name). I guess Dave Sullivan would not be allowed to enter as TEAM BIG JON then? Because that's not his boat name? How will that newly instituted last minute policy favor or attract potential future sponsors??? Furthermore, the committee should have given notice a while ago, not within 2 weeks of the first Pro-AM.

I know if I was sponsoring a tournament team, I would certainly want my name attached to the scoreboard and score sheets. It has been this way for years and now it has been changed with little or no notice???

I have been a "cash" sponsor for the last several years and in 2009, even kicked in $500 in gift certificates over and above from my on-line tackle store. I am also bailing as a 2010 sponsor. I put a lot of time effort and money in to the events just from a competitors standpoint but will not extend that beyond my entry fees. I will still participate as a competitor but not as a sponsor.

I am with you on this one.

Pete Alex

Vision Quest

Great Lakes Tackle Shop.com

Rich and Craig:

Thanks for the honest report...

Fishing is very inconsistent at times but one thing I really like about you guys and is "consistent" is the FACT that you guys pull no punches on your reports. Even when it's tough=no B.S. from you !

Kudos brothers !

Capt. Pete

Vision Quest

Vision Quest put one on the board (12th place).

Friday May 7th, we were in fish cleaning mode in back of the boat with just a 6 rod spread out. Bite had died after NE wind and cold temp. kicked in. Wanted to end the day with "just one more". We were just about to start clearing when....

Dropped rigger deep for the final slide home and it fired. Jim Kocsis, reeled and was into a good one. It sounded deep like a big SHARK will do sometimes. During the battle, I cleared the other 5 rods, Tom kept dicing the fish and Jim was TIED into a good one. Angler and fish at stalemate as we bumbed the boat in-out of gear.

Eventually Tom slid the net over it and "thumped" it on the deck. Good One he says !!

Spin Doctor and A-TOM-MIK Fly (again)

Awesome combination !

Capt. Pete

Shade,

Hope all is well. Heard you bought a new boat?

The custom spoons are not seperated currently. (gonna make u look)

In the spoon selections, there are a variety of "non standard" colors that many or most of the dealers do not have.

The orange backs have Fluorescent Orange and are very good steelhead baits !

Examples:

SS gold back 42nd spoons.

SS NBK/orange backs

SSLime Ice/orange backs

SS VQ alewife/Orange back

SS yellow Gobie /silver back

Magnum and SS Dirty White Boys with silver backs. (stock DW blades have white backs)

These are some examples.

Hope to have them categorized on the 'custom' area soon to make it easier.

Pete

Great Lakes Tackle Shop would also like to thank the L.O.T.S.A. team for a nice event and the helping hand at the beginning and end. This was our first time there and we enjoyed the atmosphere and it was good to see a lot of "the guys", guys we do not normally see til the fishing season begins...

Also, thanks for the folks who spent their hard earned coin at our tables. Rest assured that some of it goes right back to support your fishery, tournaments and projects.

Thanks,

Great Lakes Tackle Team

Hi Guys,

At the Great Lakes Tackle Booth we will have the following items and more: Many items are going to be sold at special prices. We will honor those until March 10 if you order on line...

DW snap swivels sizes 2 thru 4

DW flasher fly quick release pig tail swivels (free with certain buys)

6"-8"-10" Spinny's

8" and 11" paddle flashers (some in new UV colors which are HOT looking

Action-Coho and Strong Fly's (discounted prices)

(30) patterns of SS blades

(30) patterns of DW blades

Magnums

DW Orange Back spoons (steelhead population reducers)

DWGobie Spoons

DW Snubbers (Rip Cords)

Hats-T-Shirts

30# 7 strand wire

20#-30#-50# pound Super Line Braid-Spectra (comparable to Power pro- but better priced

Lead Core 18 and 27

Lead Core (bulk spool) (Special price)

GAMMA co-pol line in bulk spools (3000 yd) 12#, 14#, 20#, 30# for BLOW OUT special

GAMMA fluoro at discounted prices

Big Jon sider liner in-line boards

And more...... Credit Cards will be accepted

You will not find copper at the booth. We admit.. No Mas' when trying to compete against Tom with copper (he's the copper man for sure !)

Thanks

Pete