I was talking to Mitch at the Open and apparently some people have expressed safety concerns about holding a night tournament at Middle River. Since I am the TD please communicate these concerns to me and if appropriate I will post that we are changing the location and/or times. I you do not feel comfortable posting your reservations publicly then email them to me at clint@bestanswer.net and I will keep your identity confidential.

Thanks,

Buzzfish

x( x(

Even though I dont plan to fish this event I dont think its the safest place to hold a night event. There will be boat traffic on Victoria, not a lot but there will be. Also getting in and out isnt very safe either. Add the guys that want to jump the barrier doing that at night is very unsafe. I have jumped the barrier more then anyone and can only imagine if you made a mistake at night and rolled the boat. I always felt this wasnt a good location.

Thanks John, I really appreciate and respect your post and opinions.

Boat traffic I am going to consider a "wash" as there is plenty of boat traffic around Beacon Harbor/Franks Tract and we have fished more than one night tournament there. I planned to have us launch at the point which is across from Union Point. The launch there isn't too bad as far as getting down the levy and I had planned on multiple lanterns at launch and weigh in to light things up. Even with that this is more challenging than launching at Beacon Harbor. The concern about the barrier is a really good point; I guess it would depend on the tides that night.

I'm not against changing locations however I did want to hear peoples concerns before I made a change. Any others?

Buzzfish

Clint,
I also have had a concern about doing it at Middle River, we have had people get into boat trouble there during day time and not made it back to weigh-in, at night that cold even be worse with lack of lights and people to help if necessary. At beacon there are docks and houses that would be able to help if something does happen, not to mention there is a campground for us to stay in. Launch is also easier at beacon that hill at middle can be a bear at times.

Just my thoughts

FIT

Thanks Paul. I'm probably going to change it but the question is do I change location or times? Our permit is for MR; how hard is it to change this? We have done sundowners at MR so maybe that is an alternative.

change time is no problem since it is not on the permit and location would hopefully just be a phone call

Let me know

FIT

Mossback,

Why did you pull your comments? There may be others that agree with you and I have not made a decision to change. The post has only been up for a few hours and I had one positive (yours) and two negatives. Although John and Paul raise good points I have not made a decision yet and think your original comments were very good. Please put them back!

Buzzfish

Dont forget you can always get your truck,rods and stereo stolen at Beacon for all that "saftey" ;(

I don't remember how this conversation got started at Clear Lake but here is what I have to say now.

A night tourney any where has it's perils. Middle River may be a little more perilous than Rancho for sure. The only difference from a daytime tourney would be the absence of sunlight. I don't think that this would be a good tourney for a BnT newbie or a Middle River rookie to attend but for those of us who are familiar with MR that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Clint and Dave couldn't have picked a better night all year to hold a night tourney at MR.

Full moon, incoming tide switching to outgoing, it's a small swing (1.8 feet in 5 hours = light current) and a plus one foot low (easier to cross the barrier on the outgoing). The only unknown is the wind it could be blowin or it could be flat. Either way it's the same variable in the daylight.

Since we are within the six hour rule if you did it from 6 to midnight or 7 to 1 you would be able to take advantage of the tide and moon.

Tides for Borden Highway Bridge, Middle River starting with August 16, 2008.

Sat
16 Low 1:02 AM 1.2
16 High 6:31 AM 3.4
16 Low 2:04 PM -0.1
16 High 8:22 PM 2.8
Sun
17 Low 1:46 AM 1.0

Sunset: 7:57 PM
Moonrise: 7:57 PM
% Moon Visible: 99

There are ways to stay safe on the water at night. We alwayes used walkie talkies at Rancho, We all have cell phones, and there is always the buddy system. Many ways to be safe on the river at night.

My 0.02

MT

Thats a good tide for a night tourney indeed, the outgoing should be starting as the sun drops and the fish start chewing :9

cz