By Timothy Mason
MC GREGOR, Iowa
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n the last decade we folks here in the Upper Mississippi River Valley have witnessed an explosion of bass tournaments.
The nonsense of it all.
I’m old enough to remember a different human culture on the river. In the 1950s and ’60s of my youth, a summer morning may have seen a typical river user as an old bib-overalled man rowing a wooden flat-bottomed boat out through an evaporating foggy mist to his favorite fishing hole, with cane poles and a can of worms. I can still see his back bending with each stroke and hear the creak of the oars.
In 2013, a typical river weekend morning will see a swarm of sparkly sequined and gaily colored obnoxiously loud boats with outboard motors the size of large refrigerators on their sterns. Huge corporate logos pasted to their hulls, these boats are towed to the river landings from far away by full-size, shiny pick-up trucks. These are more reminiscent of NASCAR.
These bass fishing tournaments are a frenzied activity to catch the five largest bass and return to the appointed area by a predetermined time. This industry is fueled by one thing and one thing only! The grand prize money.
The tournaments are sponsored by multi-national corporate giants. The vast majority of tournament participants are from distant metropolitan areas. Their urban mind set and competitive personalities do not recognize the local river traditions, safety, ethics or courtesy to other river users.
When you are operating your boat through a backwater slough and you come upon a couple quietly fishing with their boat tied to a snag, you slow your craft to a crawl, give a small wave and perhaps are rewarded with a simple nod.
The bass tournament crowd on the other hand practices what they freely call “running and gunning.” I have witnessed every type of violation of the federal rules of navigation, common sense and simple courtesy as they roar down the main channel and thru backwaters traveling 70 or 80 mph. They show no regard for other river users or the river’s natural and cultural resources.
Our family has spent generations growing up on the river, I like many local folks have no memory that does not include the river. I can honestly say the hatred of the bass tournament industry comes up in nearly every conversation, while out on the river.
Kayakers and canoeists tell me they have been scared to death with the behavior of the bass boats’ operators. Over the years I have personally witnessed constant violations by these characters. I’ve have seen them throw handfuls of monofilament fishing line to the wind as well as cigar wrappers and other garbage.
They cast their lures into, over, and through where you’re fishing. However I have never once seen one of the blue light boys from the DNR chase down one of the bass tournament boats.
If you want to witness total out-of-control behavior on a public body of water, be in position near the start of a Saturday morning tournament.
As far as the federal government goes their involvement is hilariously total non-involvement. Although Fish and Wildlife Service Public Use Regulations” state clearly: “Unreasonably disturbing other visitors by the inconsiderate operation or … interfering with, disturbing, or molesting other visitors engaged in authorized activities on the refuge, is prohibited.”
I suggest river users contact your appropriate federal and state elected official and push them to treat fishing tournaments for what they are – For profit, group events on our public waters that are out of control.
Timothy Mason, of McGregor, Iowa is a lifetime boater and fisherman on the upper Mississippi River.
