2008 Metro Fishing League Schedule, Application, & Rules

[Steve Wood]

Schedule
The following dates and times are planned for the 4 MFL events in 2008. Please mark your calendars and save the dates. All are Saturdays from 6 AM to Noon.
1. May 31st - Pleasant Lake - Chgd 5/21(Wright)
2. June 21st - Marion (Dakota)
3. July 12th - Pelican (Wright)
4. August 23rd - Waconia (Carver)


Cash Payout & Prizes(based on # of teams - updated 7/15)


Entry Form (either pdf or Word format)
http://anglerinsider.com/MFL/2008_MFL_application.doc
http://anglerinsider.com/MFL/2008_MFL_application.pdf

Entry Fee
$250 per team (see details on form)
$125 deposit required to hold your team's spot
Full payment is due by 5/1/07
Returning members from last year are guaranteed a spot until March 15th after which it will be the first 15 teams to submit their check.
The maximum number of teams allowed is 15. Get your application in early because we expect to be full.

Rules (subject to modification by league officers)
• Bass/Walleye/Northern/Muskie are eligible species. Length requirements (except where DNR limits apply):
o 12" minimum for bass
o 14" minimum for walleye
o 20" minimum for northern pike
o Any northern 36.0" or longer and any legal muskie will count 10.0 lbs.
• Limits:
o Maximum number weighed in or in the live well at any time = the DNR limit for one angler for each species (6 bass, 6 walleye, 3 pike, 1 muskie)
o Culling is allowed, but must be done on the spot
• Score will be determined by the team’s total weight in pounds plus any bonus points and minus any penalty points
o 1 bonus pt. for each walleye/bass/pike combination (maximum of 3)
o Dead fish penalty = 1/2 the weight of the dead fish
o Short fish penalty = 1/2 the weight of the largest fish
o Life jacket penalty = 1/2 the weight of the largest fish
o Late to weigh-in = see below
• Tiebreakers:
o 1st = Weight of tied teams biggest fish
o 2nd = Number of fish weighed by tied teams
o 3rd = Stands as a tie
o For overall standings, the total points for all 4 events will be used
• Trophy Fish Release: Any team may have a fish verified during the tournament so that it can be immediately released unharmed.
o Any legal fish is eligible for verification (no minimum size requirement)
o The team requesting verification must find one of 5 league officers all of whom carry a calibrated portable scale
o The fish must be released immediately after verification and must swim away unharmed
o A length measurement and a photo is desired for posting tournament results
• Life jackets must be worn when main engine is over trolling speed. This will be enforced by penalizing an offending team by the loss of 1/2 the weight of its largest fish.
• All participants must sign a liability waiver before the start of the tournament (one time only). Substitutes will also be expected to sign the waiver.
• Random live well checks will be done before each event
• Late to start: No penalty, but team must check in with a league official before beginning fishing and present an empty live well.
• Late to weigh-in:
o 0-2 minutes = no penalty assessed
o >2-5 minutes = 0.5 lb
o >5-7 minutes = 1.0 lb
o >7-10 minutes = 2.0 lb
o >10 minutes = disqualification (zero weight and zero overall points)
• At least one of the registered team members must be present to participate.
• Only two persons allowed in each boat except in an emergency. (no spectators)
• Team members are not allowed to leave their boat during tournament hours without prior permission of a league officer.
• Please maintain 50' distance between boats unless you have permission from the other boat.
• The tournament will be started as a shotgun start at the director’s signal. Teams are expected to maintain a safe speed and separation.
• Any dead fish or fish that can't swim away are the responsibility of the angler. Make sure that it leaves with you.
• No live or dead bait allowed. Artificial baits only.

[mnfisherguy]

Sounds good Looking forward to it.. thanks

[c_rannow]

How many spots are still open?

[John Pearson]

Hard to say at this time. If your interested in fishing the league, I would say to mail in a reg. form with half of the entry to hold a spot. That way if it doesn't fill it is first come first serve. If it does fill and we don't get you in you would get your money back.

It will fill for sure so the sooner the better.

[Tom Herman]

I know for sure there will be one spot available for the Marion event. Lance has Fishers Of Men and I have a wedding in Wadena, so if it fills and you would like to get your feet wet so to speak, there's always that option.

[Itwasthisbig]

Lance and Tom if you need a sub for that event I could fish it for you with my partner If you would like.

[Brett Vegoe]

The Marion tourney probbably isn't going to work for Jeff W. or myself either. I have Fishers of Men and Jeff has a Boy Scout commitment. That means there might be 2 openings for that date if they allow teams to fish an individual event. I know the rules don't allow for 2 subs, 1 team member must be present.

[Tom Herman]

Itwas,
PM Sent. Our spot is yours for Marion if you want it.

[Steve Wood]

The way the rules read, one team member must participate in order to count towards the overall points. If neither team member can be present for an event and it sounds like this will happen a time or two, I don't see any reason why another team can't enter that event in their place.

In answer to the earlier question of how many spots are open, my best guess is that we will have about 9 or 10 teams back from last year and should have 5 or 6 openings for new teams. Anyone who wants to fish that doesn't have a partner should let me or the other officers know and we'll try to help match you up with someone.

[John Pearson]

We need to start getting apps in, You can send them to me as well as at least half the entry to hold your spot. March 15th will come fast. So get them in. I would rather not post my address on a public forum so if you need it send me a PM and I will get it to you.
Thanks and I am looking forward to another great year for the MFL!!!

[J Tintes]

This is a fun league and will be another great year. I wish we could swing it but due to conflicting schedules, team Two Guys From DLW will not be able to fish it this year so our spot will be open. I still have the Ranger Boat trophy we won last year on my desk at the office and dream about having a real one some day.

[John Pearson]

I will give this a bump.
10 more days and it will open up. I am excited to get out on the water again!!

[mnfisherguy]

10 more days and you think the ice will be gone JB?? wake up !! wake up !!! YOur dreaming .. I think more like a month.. Should we start a poll on this and some sort of wager

[wallipro]

I will be mailing a check on Monday.... Cant wait for open water.

[Brett Vegoe]

Jeff & I will be sending our money next week too. We also have a new team name this year, we aren't rookies anymore so now we are "The Flatbottom Boys".

[Tman]

10 more days and you think the ice will be gone JB?? wake up !! wake up !!! YOur dreaming .. I think more like a month.. Should we start a poll on this and some sort of wager

I think he meant the league will open up to new teams, giving last years teams first dibs at participating.

[John Pearson]

yeah what Tman said

[Scum Frog]

There will be a new champion crowned this year. Team "Call Me Cullen" will be opting out. While the choice of lakes is intriguing, it certainly did become the West Metro League this year. To compete, you really need to prefish at least once and at the price of gas, it's simply not feasible to drive from East St. Paul to all of these lakes. We will see what next years schedule and availability looks like. My partner and I had a great time last year and we were looking forward to this year, but it just ain't happenin’. Good luck to all!!!

[John Pearson]

Thats to bad to hear, I hope to see ya next year.

[mnfisherguy]

yeah I thought thats what it was after I posted it.. BUt still looked funny.. LOL JB did you decide on a team name yet for us??