Launching order?

[big_gorilla]

Who do you think has the best way to decide a launch order?

I myself think Ron C has the best way to do launch order. I like that he issues a number and then draws a chip to see who is first out. I would much rather have the launching order done in the presence of the fisherman and not by random computer draw.

What are your thoughts and what do you think works best?

[Guy Williams]

It don't matter. It's all the same. The best angler or team for the day win's every time. It's not like Nascar where gas mileage or a crew chief call wins the race sometimes. A good draw helps sometimes but let's be real and say the best wins.
Guy Williams

[big_gorilla]

I get what your saying Guy but if that is the case then why on lakes with speed limits are people blowing by you to get to their spot.

Here is an expample.

We fished the first J&T tackle tournament at Casitas and I was behind Gary Collins we were doing the speed limit and I was just off to his left and did not want to pass him so I stayed back a little to see where he wanted to go and as I looked over to my right I see someone who I knew (not personally) fly by us as if were idling.

So here's my question if it doesn't matter what's the rush?

[Guy Williams]

You had the right to DQ that boat for going over the speed limit and passing before getting to the first spot. At lakes like Havasu and Mead it's always been every boat for themselves, passing before first spot and speed wise. This is another rule that has not been played much.
Also, just so alot of you guy's know most org's will need two boats to DQ someone. One word against another most of the times will not work.
Guy Williams

[Rob Cummings]

What about this scenario....you're fishing a night tournament and launch at 8 pm. You have a spot at the back of the lake where you know you can get 3 good topwater fish in 15 minutes before the bite shuts off at dark. You're in the second flight out...the person two boats in front of you can only run their boat into the wind that day at 25-30 mph, the lake speed limit is 45 but they can't go any faster. You have a man boat and can make the run at 45 mph. Do you stay behind them or run past them giving them a wide berth??

[macinckirk]

Thats a Good ??? Rob I'd like to hear what TD say to this

[CharlieS.]

I would say go by them. The only rule you could break would be would be exceeding the speed limit,aslong as are under the 45 all should be ok. -Now if its a 5 mph only thing,another story..Charlie

[gt5bass]

Henry,

Thanks for the courtesy. I noticed you pacing us and that you would not pass us. I had my GPS nailed right on the speed limit. Your courtesy is appreciated

Rob,

If the other boat is doin' well below the speed limit, you pass them safely as is allowed by the rules. No big thought strain there

Guy,

I don't know about you, but catching somebody's CF numbers as the blow by you at prolly around 60+, while you are only doing 45, is a little difficult fer me. I must have gottin' old as the peepers just can't focus like that, I rather focus on my own driving to make sure I don't hit that boater that has no concept of the rules of the water or that reef up ahead. Then, of course, with most Org's requiring two boats to justify a protest, protesting a speeding boat is like pissin' into the wind messy business

[Rob Cummings]

Not a big thought strain to somebody who's been playing this game for many many years. However, it's a great question for someone who's still relatively new to tournaments and is interested in playing fair. I know mistakes are made out there, but I would rather ask first and look dumb then get into a pissin contest later.

[Guy Williams]

AFbass, most if not all team tourneys have a "can not pass" boat till either (1.) boat get's to their first spot or (2.) boat infront of you moves off line of the spot your going to. So say if your boat #2 you can not pass until the boat #1 turns off your line of pergression. Now, does this mean you have to watch the boat infront of you make 10 decisions as to where they want to fish, no. They get one move. If you see the boat infront of you make a left and your going right, you take the boat up to the lake speed limit and head to your first spot. Now, if you know that the boat infront of you is a slow boat, possibly a small aluminum boat, you always can have a conversation before your numbers are called off to arrange an agreement of passage or something like that. Also make sure you talk to your TD before the numbers are called off about the arragement you made to make sure it's O.K. with him. Just remember, in most if not all team tourneys you can not pass the boat infront of you till first spot or move offline of your first spot.
Guy Williams

[Guy Williams]

Guy,

I don't know about you, but catching somebody's CF numbers as the blow by you at prolly around 60+, while you are only doing 45, is a little difficult fer me. I must have gottin' old as the peepers just can't focus like that, I rather focus on my own driving to make sure I don't hit that boater that has no concept of the rules of the water or that reef up ahead. Then, of course, with most Org's requiring two boats to justify a protest, protesting a speeding boat is like pissin' into the wind messy business

I don't see where I said to get CF numbers, but O.K.
Guy Williams

[gt5bass]

Good point Rob,

Better to get things clarified in advanced. If more guys actually read the rules instead of just using the pre-tourney meeting to get them, I believe we might have lot less infractions...but then again in the "cut throat" society we have created, why would it be any different fishin' tournies. Isn't it all about "me", not the other guy?

It seems it has become "Don't ask yer Country and yer fellow citizens what you can do fer them, but TELL them, 'GIVE ME THAT, IT IS MY RIGHT!' :X "

I just seem to forget that what was once "common sense" has become "uncommon sense" I guess I am just a plain OLD Fart

[Guy Williams]

I just did a quick glance at some org's rules and seen no rules on passing another boat so full speed ahead till lake speed limit I guess. Glad I see that now, off to the races in the hole shot!!!
Guy Williams

[Rob Cummings]

You're right Guy, I read through the rules I could find and no where did I see anything about passing another boat. I guess if you're too slow and can't keep up the speed limit, then oh well huh?

Except for NBW, they didn't have any published rules available.

[big_gorilla]

Rob,

I agree with the other guys if the guy in front of you is not doing the speed limit then go by him.

Gary I had my GPS right on the lake speed limit that's why I waited for your move. I did see you swirve slightly left and look over your shoulder before you made your left turn so I was well aware of what you were doing. Thanks for the warning. Most guys don't even look over their shoulder before they make the move.

I know who it was that went flying past us on the right but that's not important cuz he went to a different spot then we did. Now if he went were I wanted to go then I would have said something to him and not the org.

[gt5bass]

I guess if you're too slow and can't keep up the speed limit, then oh well huh?

Rob/guy,

Like I said, pretty much a no brain strain situation if you have read the rules. Athough I have seen times, like with excessive fog, where the TD will say no passing on initial run - period, that is the exception not the rule though...the problem is the guys that have no regard for the speed limit (or don't have a working/accurate speedo or GPS) and just go flat out all the time...In No. Cal. boat speed matters, as most of the impoundments do NOT have speed limits and it takes more than a couple of minutes to get from one end of the lake to the other In these events launch order can make a considerable difference if you don't have a quick boat.

[gt5bass]

Henry,

Just an example of two contestant being courteous to each other and practicing safe driving.

I also couldn't make out who wizzed by us. I wasn't too concerned as they weren't going where I was heading. If they were, there probably would have been a little discussion when I got there. I have done it before where somebody passed me by going way over the speed limit and then pulled to the spot I was heading...I just pulled up and asked them to leave since I was doing the speed limit and he had a higher number in the launch order that he couldn't have gotten here before I did. He could either leave or we could take up with the TD and he could explain how he beat me to where I was going when he was supposed to be 5 boats behind me...they left

[Rob Cummings]

Good discussion, I've learned something here today. Other than not surpassing the speed limit, it looks like it's a judgement call...who's judgement and how good it is will be where the issues are.

[big_gorilla]

Rob

next tourny I'm gonna follow you so I can check out some of the new swimbaits you guys are throwing. ha ha

That's how I will know if your doing the speed limit. lol

[Rob Cummings]

Henry,

I don't know what you're talking about, I don't even own any swimbaits

[big_gorilla]

Nice logo!

[Rob Cummings]

Dang, busted!!! Well, you can follow me then, just don't pass me!!

[JasperW]

chips at sign in

[M. Warner]

passing is fine from all of the tournies that i have fished, just dont pass them when your number is called, idle out in line pass the no wake buoys, let the number in front of you plane out and get going and full throttle to the speed limit. You should be able to pass after your on plane as long as your not speeding. Like i have heard before its not the fstest person thats going to win, but the best fisherman will win. Just my thoughts, correct me if i am wrong please.

[Kelly Ripa]

and can only now respond. It was I Kelly Ripa who passed Gary on the right and If Gary remembers correctly ( he's packing for his week at Clearlake so I'll forgive him for forgeting ) I went to him right after we got back to shore and flat out asked him what happened to his engine? He will tell you it stalled on him and then did some other interesting things for a bit.... I was so embarressed because I didn't realise I was gaining on him until his boat engine faulted the second time and I swung wide and jumped on the throttle to flatten the ride through the funky wake he'd left behind.. .I looked back to see him turning away from his original line so never thought about the passing him part.....I thought it was his kill switch at first when on the water but but that night before the awards at all those little chit chats prior to the event we had a conversation and he told me about all his engine issues and elaborated even more on his engine through the years and powerheads...All I can say is for those who are scared of Optimax engines or think they are always in the shop nothing could be further from the truth. On a side note I believe it was Arron Marten's that was Dq'd at the Delta for having more horses under the hood than advertised which was verbotten in that circuit and if you know me you'll notice I don't much go over 4000 rpm since I don't use or own gps to measure my speed and my pick up is always clogged on any outing so I wasn't leaving a rooster tail going to anyones spot I just went around and to my destination as it's not like I could fly by Gary if his rig is running right

Any doubting Thomas'z will just have to live with it and actually where is Lance on this???? and also.... I am frequently passed after take off in tournaments and never gave it a second thought....I never care where anyone is going as my plans have factored in other anglers and I have contengency upon contengency plans within. It was how I was taught to fish. Am I wrong? Did I do a bad thing? Please elaborate your opinion as this is a good thing to both know about and talk about. It's true that anything that launchs after 8:00 in Socal means no passing and if there is a boat infront of you with less than a stellar performance going 30 just go around in my opinion.

What do you guys think did I do it right or wrong? If wrong I appologize and you can D'Q me after the fact but I just didn't view it through the same eye's as big_gorilla so maybe I'm was in the wrong???

Have a great week
Rip

[gt5bass]

Rip,

The passing event that is being talked about happened after I finally got the boat to rollup on pad and was running at the lake speed limit southwards between the Sunken Island and the Island. Henry was following me at a safe distance back on the port side. Somebody blew by us on the starboard side WOT. I kept watching Henry so I knew where he was because I knew I was going to go to port at the South end of the Sunken Island and head over towards Dead Horse.

[Kelly Ripa]

and spank some for us all....Just don't let our little buddy earn any awards he wouldn't want to admit to at the nutcase event...He's very nervous and we've talked a few times about backseat stratagies and all manner of tournament do's and don'ts !!! I'm so relieved I wasn't the speeding boat.... I had thought my judgement had been sound and that's why I went to Gary first off as I wouldn't want that hanging over my head. If your going to be a stand up guy sometimes ya gotta stand up. Two weekends ago I came around a corner at Casitas only to find a rental boat anchored in an unwise but perfectly fine place on the lake because I was coming down off pad I really rocked them and I kept telling my partner I had screwed the pooch and should do something for ammends. they pulled anchor and I fished until they got where they were going and then went over to them and apologised and set them up with drop shot and what not and then went back to what I was doing. I messed up but in a small way I made ammends at what really floored me was they had'nt even been aware of my transgression. When your wrong try to do the right thing...I know I appriciate it when I get the unexpected apology as it tends to restore my faith in mankind a bit if only briefly.

Rip

[gt5bass]

Rip,

Your judgement was sound and I am glad you were the boat behind me when my boat acted up. A boat stalling in an outbound tourney launch is a dangerous thing. Thank you for not driving over and on top us

I pick up the boat on Friday from the shop so she'll be ready for runnin' around Clear Lake.

I'll give Nick a ring when I get up there on Saturday so we can schedule a couple of trips out before the Rally.

[Kevin]

Saw a pretty star spangled boat up at Inland Marine yesterday. Gee, I wonder who owns that boat...............

[gt5bass]

Dat Star Spangled Hub Spinner shure gitz around