This topic has probably been covered before, but i didn't see it, so here goes...

The tournament series I've fished for the last 3 years has just decided to do away with the off-limits period altogether. It used to be the week before, Mon-Thurs off limits, w/ Friday as official practice day.

Do most people like or dislike off limits periods? I already have a strong opinion, but want to see what others think.

I don't like them if they are a week or so then some guys have home field advantage and can rely on the spots that always produce and during the spawn someone can get lucky and stumble upon a big female.

I like them when they are a day or two before because it levels the playing field and if you do your homework the extra few days can help you figure out some overlooked things.

For the weekend angler, the guys who have regular jobs during the week and can't be on the water all week, off limits keeps the playing field level in my opinion.   

   That rule also keeps a guide who makes his living on said body of water from jackpotting.   Again, weekend trails are were designed for the working angler.

Most our local weekend warrior trails, are off limits M-F for all 

I always liked the off-limits period myself. Getting harder and harder to find local circuits that have them though.

-T9

In Virginia we have tidal rivers.

So when fishing a tidal river you need to fish it two weeks before the tournament as the tides will be the same.

So an off-limits period on tidal rivers is useless the week before a tournament.

Lake fishing can be the same other than for the water conditions and if there is a dam and water is being pulled in addition to the other factors that have to be thrown into the equation.

You need to locate the fish and leave them alone in that area then return on tournament day and try to find out what they want in baits and presentations.

Off-Limits, IMHO, is over rated as when conditions change so do the baits, techniques and locations. And we know conditions change daily. 

Sam,   I don't fall into any of those catergories.   No tidal waters  or rivers generators pulling current.

   I worked m-f, how is it fair for guys who have retired or own their own businesses to pre fish 5 days straight or even guides on that lake and is out during the week when others can't due to work, is that fair to the guys who can't be on the water 5 days prior.

     You said your self, the bite changes all the time, so being their to pattern their movements IS BIG ADVANTAGE over those that can't prefish all week due to being a real weekend warrior.

   That 5 day rule evens the playing field for most.

I personally agree with Matt Fly. To me, the off limits evened the playing field against locals who can go out every day and those who can hammer the place b/c they don't work "regular" schedules. In my job it is very hard to take off more than the Friday before a tournament (usually for the meeting) so I liked the off limits period. I felt like it kept us all on the same page as far as up-to-date knowledge. I agree there are other considerations, but I dread that at some of my events I am going to be fishing spots that have been getting hammered for at least 5 days straight.

I think a week of off limits is a little much... but definately the last three days or so leading up to the event would suffice.  Three days will also allow for a weather change, which I feel makes it more interesting.

Having an open practice day on friday, before a saturday tourney?  Are you kidding me?  That is just begging for someone to cheat.  I know its not mentioned much but we all know it happens (I've seen it).  That makes it too easy for someone to just go out, catch a few fish friday and put them out for easy grabbins saturday morning.

i thought off limits was out off bounds .. and practice was prefishing..i dont mind the out of bounds because sometimes it can be for safty reasons, such as low water level..as for practice and prefishing  i think it should not be allowed three days before

I prefer the Sunday night at midnight to friday morning off limits. Give everyone one day to go check out everything. Evens the field.

Several anglers I know could benefit from the off limits. They come in and talk about all the fish they catch on the prefish days and then become a non issue during the tournament. They never did learn to not stick all their fish before the tournament starts. So in this instance it hurts them. I would love to name names, but I won't. If they read this they will now know why I refuse to partner up with them.

Jack

We used to have off-limits for our state federation and did away with them for a couple of reasons. One was trying to get towns and businesses to sponsor our trail was getting tougher. Because people could only come to town to pre-fish Saturday, tournament Sunday, they felt they were not getting enough out of their sponsorship dollars.

The second reason was gas prices went to $4 a gallon here, and our membership could not afford to travel two weekends in a row to practice for a tournament.

So our membership voted to do away with the off-limits.

Here is the funny part, only one tournament has been won by a "home towner" over the last few years we've done this.

There really is no way for us to enforce an off-limits policy anyways. And people who are going to cheat, are going to cheat no matter what rules you have in place.

I do know of clubs who still have off-limits. I also belong to a club that had off limits for 25 years and just did away with them. Your club or organization really needs to do what is best for your it's membership. Your never going to please everyone in this business. But they are all capable of making their own decisions of what trail they want to fish.

Good Luck,