Capt Vince Pierleoni

C'mon Shadster, of course there are exceptions. Be proud of your diligent service, and don't feel threatened. You will always find a boat to observe for. My opinion, and observations are based on 26yrs of having observers aboard my boats, and I stand by it. There are always people scrambling last minute, and I can't tell you how many of these observers have been enduring a tremendous hangover. I have never been considered a snob before! Keep in mind this thread started because apparently an observer did not do their job adequately on another lake. My observers have consisted of: Xerox worker, D.E.C. employee, Buffalo biology teacher, fork lift operator, and a salesman. Not what you would call elite by todays standards, and several of them had no Tourny experience prior. Since their involvement, they have desired greater roles, thus reinforcing the growth concept.

To answer the above question, most Pro-Am style events are no cull. This is done to not waste fish, considering how fragile Summer silvers are. Ripping and tearing through numbers and whipping them back into 75 degree water isn't sportsmanlike. If you don't like the size you are catching, you must change your strategy. This could involve moving to new water, or changing your presentation. It would be incredibly unfair to the rest of the field, if one team were not boxing the smaller legal fish, and all the other teams were complying. For example, if just one 3lber was traded out for a 20lber, that would result in a 17 point swing at weigh-in. With todays intense competition, that would be huge. The difference between 1st and 4th can be as little as a few points. In addition, ripping mortally wounded fish off is wanton waste. Not only is that illegal, it is unethical and super-bad "mojo" and "karma". Not too many of the competitors I know want to mess with that!

Just have to chime in on this. If it is true, no cheater should rob the rest of us,nor any future players of the pure exhilaration, camraderie, and sportsmanship that takes place around these events. No downcasting on Tournies overall is necessary. This fishery IS a CONTEST fishery. I spend MANY days all alone on the water with my charter. Come a Tournament or derby, and the ports come "ALIVE". Just the American way, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Striving for excellence is what originally made our country great, and it needs to get back to that. Mediocrity will get you "smoked" in life, and business. In my Profession, a Captain OWES it to his clients, to sharpen the pencil often. The clients pay good money for shortcuts to action, and fishing success on days when most would run for cover. There is absolutely no replacement for these tournaments for ongoing improvement and education. You learn more when you get thrashed by the competition. In addition, the economic "shot in the arm" these events give the communities they are held in, is critically important and helps justify the programs expense in these economic times. As Tommy Burke mentioned at one of the awards ceremonies, you will learn who your friends are during these events. As he has, I have made many lifelong friends through Tournament competition, and look forward to seeing everyone at all of the events. I too, have had competitors help me with repairs, and it will not be forgotten. Now, as for communication, this is a touchy subject. It is because of the friendship, respect, and spirit of competition, that I rarely communicate during events. If your communication hasn't caused a riff, just give it time, it will. I do not agree with "open comm", but I do understand how impossible it would be to enforce with todays technology. Imagine how hard it would be to get a observer if they couldn't look at their "dingleberry"(blackberry). It is up to the Capts to compete within the confines of of good sportsmanship and "the spirit of competition". So dbutts, and any others looking to get involved, do so. I have watched several teams climb the ladder to greatness. I so look forward to each Tournament, and so do the choice clients of mine who have been invited to be involved. We make irreplaceable memories at every event--win or lose, and learn more in one Tournament than all the other days put together. Salmon are the ultimate Tournament fish, and trout are no slouches either. We have never wasted one fillet, in fact, our observers are often the benefactors of any extra fillets. As for observers, they are the backbone of the Pro-Am format. Problem is, teams often take shortcuts and "buy" or "hire" one. Bad Play. They won't care the same, in fact, they will often end up pulling for the boat they are on! You need to find observers that are your friends or sometimes teammates. We often let observers fish with us during pre-fish in return for their loyalty. Any future growth in payouts will require impeccable observers. It is our responsibility. So, lets continue to improve the events, even if there is growing pains along the way. There is absolutely no reason why they can't reach the stature of Bass events, especially with the fishery we have. Although they aren't for everyone, many of us couldn't imagine a Summer without them!

I will be addressing the Niagara county legislature on wind power and the ramifications to the Sportfishing industry, 7pm at Niagara county courthouse in Lockport. People will be there speaking for both sides. Open to all, and anyone residing in Niagara county should come out to support the cause, preventing this horror from marring the greatlakes.

Congrats Glen, I told you this past winter on here, you would "get your share". Thats putting it lightly!

Vessel will be available for in-the-water inspection July 19th--- July 29th, and out of the water after that. Thx, Vince

Thank you, guys, for your warm condolences.

Will be at Oswego and Sodus soon, have 47H Daiwa reels, $35 each. (5) 7' light action rods (LUHR JENSEN) $15 each, (3) 7' UGLY STIKS $30 takes 'em all. Thumper rod with 400 Shimano triton loaded with wire on an Eagle claw roller rod, $60. White large boat fenders-- (4) $15 each. Order now, or I will leave it in Olcott. THX.

If they work andy-- SOLD.

Thank you, guys. Yes Ray, I did smile. She supported my decision to go fulltime fishing in 1985, even though I didn't ask for any opinions. She didn't fish much, but once was a part of a quintuple on Browns in 1984 out of Fair Haven. She liked to go from rod to rod and touch them for luck. She was the most positive person I ever met, and will be missed by our entire family.

Thanks guys.

Happy Birthday Jeremy. If you keep sliding east, gonna have to change your home port to Olcott, aka: "Gods Country".

Deadline 5pm Friday, 7/2/10 lopacup.net

Just a reminder that the deadline for this Grand Finale event, is Friday July 2nd 5pm for online registration. (lopacup.net) Last couple of years this has coincided with some significant early staging, and huge catches. Don't miss it!

Just want to say it was a priviledge to experience that kind of Salmon fishing again. I had seen it in the 80's, but the others were seeing the mind-boggling action for the first time. There is nothing in the fishing world like a bunch of Kings with an agenda. I think they fell victim to their migratory habits, as I didn't see as much bait there as other years. Enough to hold them, but not the type where you have to clean off your hooks like it can be there. We have that kind of bait on the southshore right now. I want to congratulate the winners, the Striker team for snaking out a few more big ones on day two. The bite was tougher, and they pulled it out. Nice work! Day one was simply incredible. We had three sets of five that would have been in contention. Look out down east, they are coming your way!

Just want to say it was a priviledge to experience that kind of Salmon fishing again. I had seen it in the 80's, but the others were seeing the mind-boggling action for the first time. There is nothing in the fishing world like a bunch of Kings with an agenda. I think they fell victim to their migratory habits, as I didn't see as much bait there as other years. Enough to hold them, but not the type where you have to clean off your hooks like it can be there. We have that kind of bait on the southshore right now. I want to congratulate the winners, the Striker team for snaking out a few more big ones on day two. The bite was tougher, and they pulled it out. Nice work! Day one was simply incredible. We had three sets of five that would have been in contention. Look out down east, they are coming your way!

The boat will be in the water through July. Come take a look.

I'm just too busy this time of year, but I can't resist. The REAL reason we need all those outboards is because the "hamster wheel" continues. This would otherwise be known as "the war on drugs". Its a joke. I am as conservative and Republican as they come, but we continue to spend billions and risk good mens lives, continuing a black market industry. They get to "arm up" with drug profits, while our agencies fleece us trying to keep up. They will always have one more outboard. As for needing other countries oil, WE DO NOT. But of course, those loyal to the middle east and bleeding heart liberals wont let us access OUR OWN out west. This despite the fact that the pipeline up north helped wildlife prosper, because of all the clear-cutting that ws done. I'm going back the the Chinnies, we can do this all night and day.

NEW PRICE!!!! $24,000. or BO. Also has planer board retrieval system not previously mentioned. $14,000 worth of new engines in 2007!!!

I've had the priviledge of having several dads, grampas, and kids out on my charters lately. Awesome to watch the dynamics and love between each other while sharing and experiencing the fishery and the outdoors. Even had a group where the kids called the model citizen "dad" and "grampa", even though they were not related by blood. Kudos to all the Fathers out there who share the outdoors with their kids, and especially with kids who don't have special people in their family to mentor and teach them. I thank you, and know although you don't do it for accolades, but what you give and share will come back to you ten times over.

At least 4 high quality large white mooring fenders. $20 each.

Also has wash down pump and includes spare set of props, as well as full mooring lines and fenders.

Very well explained, Paul. The explanation I got was officers are not looking to write tickets for "collisions" between a trolled lure and a pursuing gamefish. This became much more common with the average troller using dodgers, and rotating flashers more often. On top of this, it is very common for a Salmon to "size up" a trolled bait (line up in its crosshairs) by darting alongside the presentation with its lateral line prior to circling back and inhaling it. Salmon, like other pelagic species often "crash" through a bait school, and come back and eat the wounded ones. All of this adds up to sometimes hooking them outside the mouth. The bottom line is, they take the lure, not the lure takes them like with intentional snagging. The relaxation of that rule here, made us in line with Tournys in Lake Michigan, where they never cared about that in the lake trolling fishery. It is widely accepted that body hooking a Salmon is a bad stroke of luck, which will most definitely result in lost time, and possibly lost tackle. It stands to reason that after enduring such misfortune that the mortally wounded fish be harvested.

Quality one piece chrome color. $20 Perfect for trout, bass, walleye trolling.

Reduced, 1st $20 takes 'em.