Brian,

You have it all wrong. Tournaments need to pay a big fee to the state for the use of a public resource. When there is a big tournament going on noone else can enjoy the lake. I understand that there is an economic impact but fisherman buy gas & supplies regardless of tournament or not. I understand that other states charge a public use fee to tournaments. Tournament fisherman are a bunch of rude people and care nothing about anyone else on the water. I fished Fork during Mickey Ds and people actually had the nerve to say that I should have just stayed away. No one will ever convince me that tournaments are a good thing for the fishery. How many bass survive being banged around in a livewell all day, handled and shown off and then thrown in a plastic bag. I witnessed a weigh in at Ray Roberts one day and it was disgusting how the fish were treated and these fisherman claim "catch and release". I think it is catch and release dead and or with serious head injuries.