AOTY 2014 #25

So sturgeon are out of AOTY.  I think it's the right choice.  This poll isn't about debating that issue.

I'm not sure what the folks at NWKA have planned for AOTY 2014 but decided to throw this poll up purely out of curiosity and to have a little fun.

If you vote for "other" please post what species you would like to have included and why you feel it is deserving of this honor.  I'll share my reasons for the selections above.

The nominees

Carp- Long powerful runs.  Can be take with bait or flies.  Spooky.  Grow large. 

Dungeness Crab- Tasty, available to Alaskans and folks that like to get salty,  different than everything else in AOTY.

Brown trout- Grow large, can be caught with a variety of methods, wary, year round fisheries exist.

Northern Pike- Balances things out a little for the Alaskans and Inland Empire yakers.  Vicious hits.  Shows good environmental stewardship if removed from some bodies of water.

Pikeminnow- Catch 10 in the Columbia and pay for your AOTY entry fee with the bounty.

I voted for Brown trout.  Stripers would be cool also. I think they are only on the south coast, but that would make up for us not having Pinks, Chum, and Sockeye.

I second the Pike Minnow addition.  There are a bunch in Lake Washington that are often the bi-catch of fishing for trout, bass and perch.

Browns would be fun to target and I've always wanted to target carp at the Potholes or even Greenlake. 

I second the Pike Minnow addition.  There are a bunch in Lake Washington that are often the bi-catch of fishing for trout, bass and perch.

Browns would be fun to target and I've always wanted to target carp at the Potholes or even Greenlake.

The pike minnow are also in most of the mountain lakes that are connected to the yakima river and they are big. But there are also alot of carp in these lakes if you know how to find them, just my 2cents.

Maybe a "garbage" or "by-catch" or "non traditional" category that could include pike minnow, carp, sucker, etc?

Maybe a "garbage" or "by-catch" or "non traditional" category that could include pike minnow, carp, sucker, etc?

I like it.  I tend to use the term "rough fish".  "Non traditiona"l has a nice vibe to it also.... how about "alternative" or "hippster" fish.

I like Northern pike/muskie.  They are available in every state (tiger muskie were recently stocked in some Oregon lakes) and it would help out those in Montana and Idaho.  Also, they are a mean and fun fish to catch.  The freshwater lingcod.  But, I know where to catch watch others catch browns and they are available all year.  Hmmmmm...must think about it before voting.

Now when you say Dungeness Crab How would you Score? that and It's not really Angling? more like traping , Not that I care there are Alot of Good crab grounds Here I get More of those while fishing here than anything else.. I too would vote for the Pike Minnow as I got a really big one last year and was wishing it would have counted..Either way I'll sign up again soon as I can. I Didn't get much fishing time last year.

How about a "your choice" category. Make it less about the points but about the crazy stuff people catch. I would be interested in seeing some of the strange species turn up. 

How about we just leave it like it is.

How about we just leave it like it is.

We could, that was poll choice 1.  I get the feeling that's what will happen.  This was was only a hypothetical question to generate discussion.

I do think it's better with more fish.  I'd be suprised if anyone enjoyed the contest less in 2013 because of the additional 5 slots.  I'd guess a majority enjoyed it more.  I know I did.

More fish provide more options and creativity in playing the game making for a more competitive AOTY.

How about a category for all other fish....AOF, if you will.

Say you live in an area where it might be tough to go get 10 species.  You bag 8 or 9 nice ones, but you can't find #10.  Either due to work, or $$$, or other obligations.  Give it a low point value, but allow a person a chance to enter 10 fish.  Maybe even allow you to enter fish #2 of a particular species...but I say again, at a much lower point value.

Or you could just add pike, since they are available to all states

99% of the Alaskan contingency will not have access to Dungeness Crab.  That's a southeast thing.  The only species we have a crack at really is Northern Pike.  If you didn't indue the tiger muskies found in PNW, I think that's almost too large an advantage for Alaskans.  Especially since Pike do get longer unlike other fish that seem to max out at a certain length and get fatter.

Maybe "other trout" category.  Alaskans could go for char the rest can go for brown trout since Bull trout (similar to char) are untouchable in PNW...I think.

You can keep dolly in washington at least, but i wouldnt eat one on a bet.

I am from SE Washington; I don’t have the time to run over to the salt, so I like the Northern Pikeminnow.   A Northern Pike / Tiger Muskie is a close second though.