50 replies to this topic

[floss_boss]

The twins ended like BOSSES.

They sure deserve it.

Hope it's not the last contest.

[prime89]

Wow thanks for introducing this to me. I'm getting back into fishing after a long break and this is just what I needed! I've always thought of recording my fishing trips in the past haha

[MuskieBait]

After watching the entire series, I find it really boring...and the intent of the show was quickly lost.

They called it a multi-species challenge, yet limited all the legal entry to 1lb and bigger. That ruled out many species of panfish from the get go. Never mind many of the smaller species that can be caught on hook and line.

 

Then they competed by giving points to teams with the biggest catches of each species, rather than the total number of species encountered by each team. At the end, it forced teams to compete by trying to catch bigger species and less on unique species, because points were taken away. Why not give points based on each species encountered, so you can simply catch one, check it off, and go for another? Instead, teams spent too much time trying to catch that bigger walleye or trout to one up the other team. It became a typical tournament style fishing.

Next, there's only one category for "sucker"? Are we really promoting multi-species fishing when you lump all the Catostomidae family members into one? In Ontario alone, it is easy to encounter 5 species of "suckers" from spring to fall (White Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse, Golden Redhorse, Silver Redhorse and Greater Redhorse), all of which easily satisfy their 1lb minimum rule...yet none of the team bother to catch each individual species and get easy points. A day on any of the larger rivers in SW Ontario and you can easily catch at least 3 of these species in about 3 hours (if even that much time is required). At the same time, you can likely add another 5 species to the list...all of it not requiring a boat to tow and launch.

 

Even more ridiculous was the tie breaker shootout. 4 periods of walleye fishing? Are you kidding me? A multi-species contest and the tie breaker was a boring walleye tournament.

So much promise, yet fell to the usual "sportfish" fanboy hype. I was extremely disappointed by the end, and have no interest to watch similar shows again.

One year, I counted all the species I caught in Ontario by hook and line for a true multi-species contest on another forum. The only rules are that fish as to be caught when season is open, all species caught fairly hooked, and species must be recorded on the day of catch. I counted 52 by the end of it (from March 1st to Dec 31)...and wasn't even doing anything different from a typical fishing year for me. These guys catches a few popular sportfish species, hoot and holler and called it a multi-species tournament...SMH.

[Diana Danger]

After watching the entire series, I find it really boring...and the intent of the show was quickly lost.

They called it a multi-species challenge, yet limited all the legal entry to 1lb and bigger. That ruled out many species of panfish from the get go. Never mind many of the smaller species that can be caught on hook and line.

 

Then they competed by giving points to teams with the biggest catches of each species, rather than the total number of species encountered by each team. At the end, it forced teams to compete by trying to catch bigger species and less on unique species, because points were taken away. Why not give points based on each species encountered, so you can simply catch one, check it off, and go for another? Instead, teams spent too much time trying to catch that bigger walleye or trout to one up the other team. It became a typical tournament style fishing.

Next, there's only one category for "sucker"? Are we really promoting multi-species fishing when you lump all the Catostomidae family members into one? In Ontario alone, it is easy to encounter 5 species of "suckers" from spring to fall (White Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse, Golden Redhorse, Silver Redhorse and Greater Redhorse), all of which easily satisfy their 1lb minimum rule...yet none of the team bother to catch each individual species and get easy points. A day on any of the larger rivers in SW Ontario and you can easily catch at least 3 of these species in about 3 hours (if even that much time is required). At the same time, you can likely add another 5 species to the list...all of it not requiring a boat to tow and launch.

 

Even more ridiculous was the tie breaker shootout. 4 periods of walleye fishing? Are you kidding me? A multi-species contest and the tie breaker was a boring walleye tournament.

So much promise, yet fell to the usual "sportfish" fanboy hype. I was extremely disappointed by the end, and have no interest to watch similar shows again.

One year, I counted all the species I caught in Ontario by hook and line for a true multi-species contest on another forum. The only rules are that fish as to be caught when season is open, all species caught fairly hooked, and species must be recorded on the day of catch. I counted 52 by the end of it (from March 1st to Dec 31)...and wasn't even doing anything different from a typical fishing year for me. These guys catches a few popular sportfish species, hoot and holler and called it a multi-species tournament...SMH.

 

I agree with your point about the tie breaker, I thought it lacked creativity and was downright boring.

 

I understand what you are saying about the multi species aspect of the series, but you have to remember that they are producing this show to attract an audience. Criticizing them for not going after panfish or different strains of suckers just shows that you are not their target viewer. 

[floss_boss]

I think it was a great show, when you have 39hrs to fish you choose the bodies of water that have multiple species. On op of that, you need fish that earn points. 

You cannot afford to drive 2 hours for a sucker that might not even be there. It's hard to beat 14" crappie without driving 2 hrs outside of Toronto, so there were a lot of decisions made on the water what fish to target based on the check-in videos.

Hope they will do one in the fall, with most seasons open.

[MuskieBait]

I think it was a great show, when you have 39hrs to fish you choose the bodies of water that have multiple species. On op of that, you need fish that earn points. 

You cannot afford to drive 2 hours for a sucker that might not even be there. It's hard to beat 14" crappie without driving 2 hrs outside of Toronto, so there were a lot of decisions made on the water what fish to target based on the check-in videos.

Hope they will do one in the fall, with most seasons open.

I can drive one hour from Toronto to fish the G river where I can catch at least 2 of Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse and Greater Redhorse in a day and have never been skunked on any day of fishing. On top of suckers, at the same location, I have caught with regularity Mooneye, Freshwater Drum, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, Northern Pike, Common Carp, Black Crappie, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Bluegill Sunfish, and even the odd Steelhead (in June!!!). There was no day of fishing I left with less than 5 species caught...and I usually only stay in one spot for a few hours.

How is that for efficiency?

To me, that is the right decision to make.

The point system, in my opinion, was just a "my fish was bigger than your fish" contest. It does not encourage multi-species catches at all. As I said, they end up trying to one-up each other at the end, instead of checking off one species and move onto the next.

[MuskieBait]

I agree with your point about the tie breaker, I thought it lacked creativity and was downright boring.

 

I understand what you are saying about the multi species aspect of the series, but you have to remember that they are producing this show to attract an audience. Criticizing them for not going after panfish or different strains of suckers just shows that you are not their target viewer. 

 

You are right...they are, in the end, only interested in clicks and viewership. The populous can care less about the small species...or the truly ignored species. They say they are promoting multi-species fishing...but really, their intention was just to make a show for people to watch.

A true multi-species promotion would go out and catch species that people usually do not target (I don't consider Burbot as a species that people do not target, BTW. Lots of people target Burbot).

 

How about species like Quillback? Or maybe Smallmouth Buffalo? What about fair hooked Gizzard Shad? Make a contest for the number of Darter species caught within 8 hours on your home water?

 

Or maybe these pros themselves simply don't care enough for multi-species at all...and only targeted the species they know and calls it "multi-species contest" as a promotion?

[floss_boss]

Thats awesome that you have a spot like that. Maybe you could challenge them 

 

But not everyone is so fortunate to know the honey holes, those guys did their best and fished the water they knew.

It's easy to judge and criticize while watching the show. But at the end of the day let's be thankful for the effort they put in.

[MuskieBait]

Ha! It's actually their effort that I am most disappointed LOL. There are lots of water they fish that offered much more species. Especially the Ontario team. They were really focused on Lake Ontario shorelines...when it is not even remotely the best area for multi-species. Maybe they should have done some research and pre-fished new location for species...much like tournament anglers do when they fish in new locations in preparation to win money at the tournament. That...my friend...is true effort. What these hosts put up was just what they are familiar with, and what's convenient for them without putting in much effort.

As I said, these hosts did what they can with their comfort level. That comfort level was restricted by their own boundary and lack of willingness to expand and experiment. If they were truly trying to push the envelop, they would have pre-fished for little known species and really show what species diversity their areas have to offer...and really compete based on the number of species rather than size of these species.
 

[Diana Danger]

Ha! It's actually their effort that I am most disappointed LOL. There are lots of water they fish that offered much more species. Especially the Ontario team. They were really focused on Lake Ontario shorelines...when it is not even remotely the best area for multi-species. Maybe they should have done some research and pre-fished new location for species...much like tournament anglers do when they fish in new locations in preparation to win money at the tournament. That...my friend...is true effort. What these hosts put up was just what they are familiar with, and what's convenient for them without putting in much effort.

As I said, these hosts did what they can with their comfort level. That comfort level was restricted by their own boundary and lack of willingness to expand and experiment. If they were truly trying to push the envelop, they would have pre-fished for little known species and really show what species diversity their areas have to offer...and really compete based on the number of species rather than size of these species.
 

 

I agree completely.