Posted by Edward D. Bohn from 152.163.204.214 on June 27, 2001 at 13:11:19:
As Tournament Director of the CRBT it is my job to make sure that ALL RULES of BOTH State regulations are followed and that they are strictly enforced. Three years ago when the Illinois DNR placed the catch & release regulations on Lake Michigan largemouth / smallmouth Indiana was asked to do the same. The only thing that Indiana did was reduced the catch limit to three (3) and increased the size limit of those three to fourteen inches (14") pre angler. Now if Indiana should change there regulations we would have to change with them, NO QUESTION. But until then we will keep within the state regulation as it stands now and keep allowing CRBT anglers to fish Indiana waters of Lake Michigan.
The CRBT is open to any state B. A. S. S. National Federation Member and we have many Indiana anglers that have participated as well as some from Michigan, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Missouri. It is NOT an Illinois ONLY tournament.
In years past I remember tournaments being run out of Hammond and those anglers running into Little Lake Calumet and the Calumet River for their tournament supply of bass. Transporting them back to Hammond for the weigh-in and then RELEASED right there in the harbor. "This is true, I was there to see it." No effort was made to take those fish caught in Illinois back to Illinois. Like I said in previous post we make a special effort to release these fish back to the water they came from. Lake Michigan largemouth and smallmouth are RELEASED IN Indiana / Illinois RECIPROCAL WATERS. of Calumet Harbor.
OPEN INVITATION
I invite ANYONE that has questions with the CRBT release methods to come and see for themselves how it is performed. I'll even allow one person to accompany the release boat to witness for themselves where these fish are released. I also extend this invitation to the Indiana DNR or any agency that wishes to witness our commitment to keeping this fishy as a fertile recreational resource.
NEXT TOURNAMENTS
When: July 8th, July 29th, Aug.19th, Sept. 16th, & Sept. 29th & 30th 2001.
Where: Marty.s Waterfront Pub
14042 Corossant Drive (3 blocks west of Torrence Ave). Brunham,IL
Weigh-In Time: 3:00 PM CDT.
WORKING TOGETHER
The Bassin' Bandits the sponsors of the CRBT work hard with the Illinois DNR and would like to do the same with the Indiana DNR. We are open to any questions of issues that may arise from our events and would gladly discuss them to resolve any conflicts or concerns that arise from these events. We try to set the standers that we hope others will follow when it comes CATCH / WEIGH / RELEASE TOURNAMENT.
At this point I will contact the president of the Indiana Bass Federations to see what there concerns are on Lake Michigan and hopefully work together and get this issues resolved.
SUBMITTED BY:
CRBT Tournament Director
Bassin' Bandits / A National B.A.S.S. Federation & Illinois Bass Federation Chapter
President
Edward D. Bohn
5240 W. 120th St.
Alsip, IL 60803
edbbass@AOL.com
708-597-8698