Angler of the Year dispute settled!

 Angler of the Year dispute settled! 

Like King Solomon pondering the fate of a Biblical newborn, Jim Roode has abruptly resolved the dispute between Bill Prater and Wayne Baranczyk over who caught an oversize grass carp by declaring it a draw:  Each will be credited with 14 inches worth of fish - or roughly 46.6666667 percent of the Colorado Master Angler criteria for the grass carp species.  

So, less than a week into the Angler of the Year contest, we now have two entries, but they're in a dead heat for last. Let’s have more reports!

We suppose half a fish
 is better than none!

Ok, Jim, Bill and Wayne admit to a bit of B.S.

So it turns out Bill really did foul-hook a handsome 28-inch grass carp on April 29, and Wayne really did get the fish into his tiny trout net long enough to flop it onto his float tube for a measurement. But the guys are kind of pulling the club’s collective leg about splitting the fish down the middle for Angler of the Year competition.

“That fish pulled Bill all over Bass Pond and back; I just pulled the fish onto my lap,” Wayne concedes. “Jim’s ruling stands, though: we are stuck with two Angler of the Year entries that add up to less than one Master Angler Award.

“So everyone just get out there and go fishing.”

The contest runs through year-end. Here are the rules again.

• Eligible Fish - Any Fish caught in the state of Colorado that is listed on the Colorado Master Anglers List, in water available to all club members.

• Winner is the fish which is the largest percentage of a Colorado Master Anglers fish. (Dan Barker was the club’s most recent winner, in 2019, with a 19 ¾-inch white bass, 116.2 percent of the Colorado Master Angler criteria for that species.) 

• All Colorado Fishing regulations apply. Snagging not allowed except if the fish was accidentally snagged in the course of normal angling using commonly accepted angling procedures and equipment.

• Entries must be submitted to the record keeper (currently Jim Roode) in writing within 30 days of the catch.      

• Entries require picture or witness verification.

• Fish caught on a Professional Guided trip do not qualify.

• Entries will be allotted time at the Monthly Meeting to discuss their catch. Prizes will be awarded at the January general meeting.