2014 Multi-Species Challenge Proposal

[MuskieBait]

This has been my position from the get-go.

(03-01-2014 11:56 PM)MuskieBait Wrote:  When Michael and I envisioned this challenge last year, the Ontario clause was included to achieve three objectives...

1) Make the playing field fair for participants by restricting it to "local" opportunities (ie, local being Ontario since majority of members here are from Ontario)

...and most importantly

2) To encourage members to explore new local (Ontario) fishing opportunities for new species

3) To encourage members to enjoy under-utilized fisheries

BUT...if a member from Alberta wish to participate, we can amend the rule (or make exception, whichever one is more reasonable) to allow members from other provinces (or even states) to enter species from their local locations. It would be required from the member to state their home province or state at the start of the challenge.

The rules you posted are based on the 2013 contest, and we have discussed whether we should amend or change the rules to welcome more participants.

Yes, if we have members from other provinces or state wishing to join us, why not?

The fact is this...depending on your resident location, you may be in a position of species abundance or species poor. For example, someone living in Moose Factory may well be species poor, yet, they may have additional advantage over us on species such as Lake Sturgeon and even Arctic Char which they may enter. However, they are at a disadvantage when it comes to southern species such as Longnose Gar or Bluegill Sunfish. It is never a completely fair playing field because of the geographical differences.

An Alberta member who wish to join may be able to enter Bull Trout and Cutthroat Trout. But this member would not be able to enter White Bass and Chinook Salmon. There will always be something that someone cannot catch without traveling.

Heck, Toronto members would not be able to enter Lake Sturgeon unless they travel to fish in Timmis...

However, we do want to make sure people don't travel huge distances to catch species that are completely out of reach of other competing members. If the member's home range (such as Eli's and ZippyFX for sample, who live in Ottawa across from Quebec) allows them to fish just minutes drive away from Quebec, then why can they not enter these catches?

The difference in Michael's catch is that it is 6 hours drive away from his home. That's why I state if members were to fish out of province, they must also state their home location such that we make it a bit more fair for all.