As this year's Tournament Director for the Southern CT Bass Anglers, I just want to open up for discussion about the new Tournament Packet that Bill Foreman sent out.

For starters, my first question is: Do you need to apply these "signature rules" for tournaments on Lilly or Zoar or Twin Lakes?
I am specifically meaning the signature forms for participants.

Next, when I visited the DEP website as instructed for the forms, I could not locate them at all. Also, when clicking on the links for the CGS (Connecticut General Statues), none of the links are working.

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2702&q=323494&depNav_GID=1641%20&pp=12&n=1

Next, I searched the internet for more information about the discovery of Zebra Mussels in Connecticut, and found a few articles about it. All Fisherman should read this and be aware of the plans and news about this issue.
http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Attack-of-the-zebra-mussel-campaign-planned-1311712.php
http://www.housatonictimes.com/articles/2011/04/01/news/doc4d95f1f0ac9e3156156568.txt?viewmode=2
http://www.newstimes.com/default/article/Don-t-be-fooled-by-the-size-of-spreading-zebra-1313246.php
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?Q=467116&A=3847

Lastly, I will be bringing this topic to the attention of our fishing club at our regular monthly meeting. I want to assure the DEP that we as a club want to do our part in keeping the Zebra Mussel out of Connecticut's waters, but the system you have placed on our club for compliance does seem to be quite harsh!
I do not think it justified to hold our registration for tournaments as threat to compliance, and feel that you have singled out the tournaments unjustifiably, when we are a very tiny portion of the users of Connecticut's fresh water lakes.
For example, at our smallest waters, with access as few as 5 boats on a permit to a maximum of 100 in larger waters of Candlewood Lake, you are singling out a very small portion of the users with our equal right to use those waters with the same privileges as any public user.

Also, in keeping with your new rules for tournament participants must sign off on in order to participate, you create an issue where the tournament permit holder is responsible for full compliance by participants. Many times, these tournaments are events for non-profit fund raising, and this signature would require the holder to turn away needed funds if a participant refuses to comply. This I find unfair and too strict a requirement, when compared to the general public users of the lake as a whole. You may find that the whole permit system avoided by organizations in the future, when organizations find that it is hurting their fund raising efforts to comply with getting a permit and risking losing a permit for turning away paying participants who choose not to comply with a signature.

I invite all fisherman and members of this message board to participate in this discussion. Give your two cents worth.