Hey GLB,
Nice to be back on the site! Was a very busy fall semester... Now that I'm at MSU, I plan on doing a few open club tournament fundraisers like I did at CMU. The three I did at CMU were $65 per boat with 75% payback. What are your thoughts about fees, place, and dates? We had 15 boats turn out before, but I'd like to shoot for more! Thanks for the input.
Ross Parsons
To me
It seems the state is divided. There's west siders and east siders
So which side of the state are you thinking about?
Thanks for the reply! Not set on which side of the state... really depends on the interest.
Well if your going for more then 15 boats
You need to have a decent ramp
Kent is a good lake, Big SM and LM with a decent ramp for the east side
ok thanks! When I get more replies I'll put together a poll
got any connections on Canadian lakes. That lake is full of real nice bass.
No I don't... fished there before though! Cool lake!
I think that holding an open on Lake St. Clair would be a good option. Its obviously an good lake to fish, plenty of big ramps with ample parking, a good number of MSU fans in the area, and not to bad of a drive from various locations in the state.
Also, if you decide to consider LSC for a tournament, let me know and I will gladly help you with planning, advertising it locally, etc.
Tim
I think LSC would be a great venue! What are people willing to pay for entry fee?
I have fished in numerous opens, including a few on Lake St. Clair and I have paid anywhere from $50 up to $150. I would imagine that a $100 entry fee would be a good amount. In my expereince, most people are willing to pay a little bit more for a fundraising tournament, but then you will always have some people that don't care about that aspect of it.
I think LSC is the place to have it! Tricky part wiill be finding out a date that doesn't conflict too much.
LSC would be a great place to have it! Having it on that lake I would think will draw the most interest. Look around and see what other tournaments are going on and try to plan it on a day that isnt packed with other events
gmetime,
Thanks for the post! I agree we need to find a date when other circuits aren't hosting events. Does anyone know if there there is a LSC tournament website or if the schedules are even out yet?
I think Dan will know more about LSC events. Last year he did a nice video series of updates and tournaments on LSC
There are tournys almost every weekend on SC. The major circuits BFL, Cass For Bass and others. They should be posting there dates soon. There are a group of locals that will show up if the payout is decent.
Good luck with it. I will be watching for some inland lake events on the east side.
I see there is a BFL 6/28 when is opening weekend on LSC
Season opens June 14th. So we are now thinking the following weekend of the 21st.
That might be a busy weekend for tournaments on LSC. I dont think you need to worry about it too much there a plenty of smallies in that lake for everyone
Quote from: MSURoss on January 14, 2014, 06:30:01 PM
Season opens June 14th. So we are now thinking the following weekend of the 21st.
Might want to check the 2014 dates. St Clair is usually the 3rd Saturday for Michigan waters and the 4th Saturday for Canada. The BFL is on the 28th this year so US waters may be the 21st. Still lots of water to fish.
Hope it works out for you.
you can fish a tournament practically 7 days a week on LSC, just about every ramp is hosting an outing every weekend, you'll have a difficult time competing with circuits that have been going on for the past few years. You need to crunch numbers, how many participants will I need to make payouts based on what I'm going to charge and whether you plan to make money as a fund raiser.
Just scheduled the tournament at Metro park for June 21! I'll post the flyer and details soon.
Which metro park?
Harrison township
Lake St. Clair Metropark.
June 21st is opening day for Michigan waters only of Lake St. Clair. That is usually a busy weekend, sometimes with 2 tournaments the same day on Saturday. Last year BOTH Cash for Bass and NBAA had their opens on opening day. I expect 1 or both to do the same again this year because opening day is always a big deal there. They split the draw last year, but most tournament anglers fished one of those events. Not saying you need to switch but you should be aware of this information in making your decision.
There were the least amount of opens and events in 2013 I can remember in a long time on Lake St. Clair. There were a few weekend days without anything bigger than a club tournament, which normally doesn't happen on the big lake. Plenty of bass anglers fished, just not as many in tournaments.
I would suggest for now you avoid any BFL dates over there, any Cash for Bass / Monsterquest, any NBAA opens (not necessarily local divisions which may or may not be there in 2014), the Wonderland Marine Open - probably August 3rd, I believe, the TBF of Michigan State Championship (if it ends up on St. Clair) and the Bassmaster Northern Open and TBF regional in September. I'm not aware of any other real big events on St. Clair yet for 2014.
There's one new circuit I've heard mentioned but no idea what they'll draw at this point. Can't even remember if they're fishing St. Clair or just inland.