WalleyePalooza – Walleye Fishing Derby
I’ve been toying with this goofy idea for a while. And when the lakes are frozen the brain of the walleye fisherman does some very strange things. I write this blog for fun and wanted to add something fun that could include readers and other bloggers. So why not have a little contest? The Minnesota bass guys do it, so why not walleye guys?
The Pitch
Starting on the Minnesota walleye opener, May 14, 2011 the great WalleyePalooza will commence (not terribly original, but “Walleye Fishing Contest” sounded worse). The ultimate online bragging board for the average Joe Schmoe walleye angler. We love to post pictures, techniques and tips, so why not put it all together in one place and keep a running tab on the antics of the walleye fishing community?
Just comment on this post or shoot me an email at walleyeguy@walleyeguyblog.com. Give me your name, nickname or blog name and I’ll register you as a participant. Anglers can join any time before or during the season. The contest will close on November 5 (the sacred Minnesota Firearms Deer Hunting Opener), and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. The prize? Why, perpetual internet fame, an honored corner in the pages of the WalleyeGuy Blog, the adoration of the walleye fishing masses, bragging rights. In other words… not a damn thing.
The Rules
Now that I have you whipped into a competitive frenzy… You can register with me any time… starting today. But starting on May 14 (Minnesota’s walleye opener) I will begin accepting your fish (must be caught on or after May 14). Send me an email with details on the fish you caught. Include the following:
- Length of Fish
- When you caught it
- Where you caught it
- (optional) A picture of the fish… or you… or you and the fish… or a police sketch of the fish
The fish must be at least 20 inches long.
If you had the fish weighed on a quality scale, then send me the weight, otherwise I will use the Walleye Central Fish Weight Calculator as our official weight calculator.
Everyone is on the honor system. (Contrary to popular myth, fishermen are a very honest lot).
Everyone is welcome. You don’t have to be from Minnesota. You don’t have to catch the fish in Minnesota.
I will keep track of each competitor’s weight total. The final total will be based upon a six fish limit. You can cull. If you’ve sent me six fish and catch a seventh fish better than all of them, I will throw out the low and add the big one. Pretty simple.
I’m throwing this idea out there now because I know that there are going to be some little things that I didn’t think of. It’s cold up here in Northern Minnesota and brain cells don’t work properly at sub-zero. If you want to keep up with progress or changes to the contest, just subscribe to this blog over there in the upper-left corner.
So what do you say? Add a comment or give me a shout. This thing is going to be on top of us in four short months. There’s no time to waste!
[...] Our good friend, resident walleye guru, and contributor Tony Andrews (aka WalleyeGuy) is throwing an online walleye fishing derby this year, and he’s calling it WalleyePalooza! [...]
I’m in. While I don’t go after walleye all that often, I do go on a few outings a year where they are my target. The 20″ limit will test me, but it will be a good goal to try to fill my bag.
The challenge is exactly why I’m doing it. Sometimes stuff like this gives a person that little extra nudge to head out to the lake. Glad to have you on-board! Spread the word!
[...] Tony Andrews (aka WalleyeGuy) is throwing an online walleye fishing derby this year, and he’s calling it WalleyePalooza! [...]
Do you need to be a MN angler? I’d be in but we are in good old NE. Sounds like good fun. Our local baitshop has something similar but it is biggest fish for different species and runs April 1 – End of August.
Hi Bill…
Any and all walleye anglers are welcome! I look forward to seeing some great entries.
Bill, I would expect that you wouldn’t just have to be me to enter!
I am definitely in! This sounds like a good idea and I’m excited to get this thing going!
You know some people fish big stone prior to inland opener! I couldn’t find an email address – but I also started a blog and was wondering if you wanted to link to each other.
http://thewalleyejournal.com
blog specific:
http://thewalleyejournal.com/wordpress/
I don’t think I’m as committed as you – but I’ll leave it up to you if you want your viewership to have another resource.
Will you accept zander?????? Gonna be a bit expensive on the travelling if not
Hmmmm… Might have to put it in its own category… but what the heck. Let’s see what you can scrounge up over there!
[...] WalleyePalooza Derby [...]
[...] WalleyePalooza Derby [...]
Im in!!! is it fine if we caught the fish prior to subscribing?
Absolutely… as long as you caught it this season. Email me some pictures and details to walleyeguy “at” walleyeguyblog.com. Welcome aboard!
[...] WalleyePalooza Derby [...]
[...] WalleyePalooza Derby [...]