Look at it this way, when he took you fishing and you were both in the boat, did your catching some fish prevent him from catching his own fish? You could be fishing in the same area and probably wouldn't effect his production at all. It's your only chance to fish it then I'd go for it. If you really are concerned then tell him and ask how he feels. I'd never want a friend not to fish on a lake because I was in a tournament. If you aren't in that spot fishing then another tournament angler might be.

Absolutely go......there are no known spots that dont get fished in a tourney and after tbe first cast all water is used water.

Dont fish his brush piles that he personally built.....or structure that he may have shown you....but always go.....tourney or not.... if dude doesnt get bit thats on him.....

Thanks for the advice gents. I did ask him and he said he didn't care. I just wasn't sure if he was being polite or not. I'll probably see how he does on Friday and if he's in contention for a win I probably won't go, if he's not I probably will.

I'm in the minority. I have never fished tournament waters during a big tourney I wasn't entered in. Not because I could affect the outcome, just because I want to give them all the room they want. And I know Sturgeon Bay is huge, just always been my personal policy to stay off the water so the "pros" can do their thing without my dumb arse getting in the way.

Would not go , best of friends are hard to come by , big tournament for him a fishing trip for you .

I personally would not go and go fish another lake, Would want to eliminate all mental possibilities and I think he would respect you more if he knew you stayed off the water just because of him. If you do choose to go ask him where he is going and go beat up other guys fish.

Fish for walleye, catch and eat or sell at $20.00 a pound. As long as you are in yankee land, make the best of it

This...!

if i was up there i couldn't pass up an opportunity to catch great lake smallies, if you can't find an out of the way spot to yourself in the 300,000 acres in the tournament waters, trailer further down south in green bay which is off-limits for this tournament. then you can sleep well at night knowing you didn't interfere with anyone. anything south of https://goo.gl/maps/fRovBs5ktHE2 on the east or west shore is off limits.

If I go it'll be sunday. There may be 300,000 acres of tournament water, but only a small fraction of that is holding catchable fish right now. The ice only came of two weeks ago up there so the water is super cold. That'll limit most anglers to the little bit of warm water in the bays within a few miles north or south of Sturgeon proper. Fish will be offshore and out of reach farther north.

On the plus side, I bet it'll take 58lbs+ over two days to win. There's been an upper 7 boated already this week. The occasional 8's appear up there as well. Guys shake 5's off boat side to avoid dealing with them. Just insane numbers for smallmouth.

post pics when you get back