Merritt Tourney

[swampdonkeyice]

Thinking about fishing the Merritt derby this year, and had some questions.  Is there a certain portion of the lake open only for the derby? As I have seen markers on the ice after the tournament.  Does everyone start from the same location on the lake?  The post on the tourney says big fish prizes for 5 species, does that mean the biggest of each game species gets money?  Also, it looks like 2 person teams, so do you just weigh all your panfish at the end of 2 days?
Heading to the Hattie derby in Wyoming this weekend for trout, as there is no ice here to fish.

[Fish-icer]

More than likely the tourney will be held in the boardman again this year.  They set the boundaries to make it easier to control the tourney.  Safety, no cheating, etc....  Everyone starts from the same position on a shotgun start.  Cash prizes on biggest species.  Bluegill, perch, crappie, bass, and walleye.  2 man teams where you weigh in 20 fish.  It is a one day tournament held on that sunday of the weekend.  Give you the chance to pre-fish saturday and attend the calcutta in Valentine sat night. 

If I am forgetting something feel free to add.

We would love to have you or any more teams enter.  Its a great time and there was a nice write up in the Nebraskaland magazine last month.

[swampdonkeyice]

Thanks for the information sir, so all teams walk out from the boardman, then how far out of beeds is the border

[Fish-icer]

Boundaries are usually set on friday or saturday of the weekend the tourney is.  Depends on ice conditions this year.  Walkers/Runners get a 5 minute head start and after the 5 minutes are up the 4 wheelers take off.

[Olpapa]

ICE? We were 70 degrees yesterday and got all the way down to 38 degrees last night. I'm thinking the only ice will be in the drinks.

I tell you this is one of the warmest January's I've seen in a very long time. Once back in the early 1980's, it got very warm and with high winds the water on top of Lake Ogallala was nearly 4" deep. What a nightmare that was, wife and kids with me and no cleats. Although it takes a while for clear ice to melt, even in shaded areas like the boardman, it will honeycomb making what you think is stable ice very dangerous. Might need to use boats if the weather doesn't change shortly 

[Fish-icer]

17, 19, 22, 25, 18, 10, 15, 21, 20, 15

Those are the night time lows for the next 10 days.  With most of the boardman in the shade and the short days this time of the year I think we will be good. 

Not to mention that I spoke to Nostradamus and he told me cold weather is coming.

[crappie15]

They also give some awesome prizes away at the calcutta and the calcutta usually pays out pretty good. It's a very professionally run tournament but fun. A lot of good guys volunteer there time to put it on.

[Eastwesterner]

The ice on the Boardman was the best ice i've seen this year.  Although I haven't been there in nearly a week.  I would wager it is the safest ice up there right now.  I would say that tourney will be a definite go.  Four wheelers may not be allowed if the ice doesn't grow any.