that tournament has always been like that.this is the first year i've missed in 8 yearss.haven't caught a fish in it in years.we were always in line by 2 or 3am with a fire pit to drink around.they have 2 have the area in a poor fishing area on the lake ever since the enviormentalist groups raised a stink about it at pigeon when the derby first got going 10 or 12 years ago.always meet interesting people in the line up so we've always had fun.just not alot of luck with the fish.