Angler disqualified from RRWT after eight years in it

By Ken Johnston
Editor

He has participated in the Rainy River Walleye Tournament (RRWT) since day one but now is left feeling like he has been punched in the gut. Lorne Jonassen received word last week that he was kicked out of the RRWT for a period of one year.
In a letter without anyone’s signature, from the RRWT, dated Oct. 21, 2006, Jonassen was informed that he would be disqualified for a period of five years for:
•Cursing volunteers assisting with boat launches
•Cursing spotters
•Throwing fish in the direction of spotters
•Failure to respect advice/warnings of spotters to discontinue to fish in US waters
•The throwing of markers and leaving an area to fish elsewhere and verbally abusing boats/contestants that entered the marked location he vacated
•Cutting in front of numerous contestants at the check out line instead of taking a spot at the end of the line as all other contestants
•Playing a lead role in the manipulation of the teams allowing your acquaintances to jump over other contestants on the waiting list that should have been entered into the 2006 event before the contestants in question.
Jonassen said that he is very disappointed that he was not invited to appear before the committee to defend himself. “I feel like the committee is lynching me by not giving me my day in kangaroo court.”
He did address all the charges in a letter dated Oct. 24, 2006. In that letter he did admit to cursing at a volunteer about five years ago. “I did get excited when the volunteers did not listen to me regarding the loading of the boat. I asked them not to help me, but they did. As a result the boat sustained considerable damage to the fiberglass, bow and pad eye and trailer roller,” said Jonassen. He said he reported the incident to a director and that since then volunteers have been told not to help load anglers’ boats. “I did get a little vocal during this incident, however, I felt it was warranted.”
In the RRWT letter Jonassen was not given any specific incidents to which the charges stemmed from so in his letter he guessed at what they were referring to. “I asked what the specifics were or who provided them with the information and they told me they could not tell me that,” said Jonassen last week.
In the RRWT letter they said they have “creditable evidence,” which Jonassen said he has not seen.
Jonassen said he does not know if any of the instances he recalls were the ones in question and wonders why after eight years he has had no warnings to this point. Basically he denies or refutes all the charges against him except the cursing incident aforementioned.
He said he did cut through a line of contestants to use the washroom but then went to the back of the line after he was done.
He also said he was fishing in a spot last year when a spotter approached and told them they were fishing in US water. Jonassen said his GPS said he was in Canadian waters and asked if the spotter’s GPS was working properly. “Colin Wood’s boat was fishing in the same spot and I understand they too received a letter on the subject but were not kicked out of the tournament.”
As for the charge of manipulation and allowing others to jump over other contestants to get into the tournament, Jonassen said he and his original partner, Roy Sigurdson had split up but both wanted to be in the tournament still. “I asked Norma Blight (a director) if what we were doing was okay and she said it was fine.”
In the RRWT letter it said, “All rules have ‘loopholes’. It is the intention of the organizers to provide an honest, sportsman-like tournament. In the interest of sportsmanship, contestants are reminded that ‘the spirit of the rule’ will prevail in all judgement cases and the decisions of the RRWT committee are final.
However, it does not seem that all decisions are final. After reviewing Jonassen’s letter the RRWT sent him another letter dated Jan. 16, 2007 reducing his suspension from five years to one year. “Upon careful consideration of your response and further review of our reasons at our January 15th meeting; the RRWT Committee has determined that our original decision may not have been appropriate...your term of disqualification will be significantly reduced from (5) five years to (1) one year. This is our final decision and it will not be reconsidered any further.”
Jonassen was then warned in the letter by the committee. “The RRWT suggests you accept this decision and strongly suggests you do not become involved in any future activities that may be perceived by the RRWT Committee as unsportsmanlike and detrimental to the event. We again state it should be considered a privilege to compete in this event not a right.”
Jonassen has finished in the top 10 at the tournament four times in eight years. He said he has also volunteered to help put up and take down the tent, hauled the raffle boat to Fort Frances and sold tickets there and last year he and his partner gave out expensive rod and reel combos during the parade. “I have really enjoyed the tournament but now I do not care. I just want people to know what has happened to me.”
Wes Blight, chair of the RRWT said he had “No comment” on the incident.