Stoner creek gate

Thank you all for your quick responses. A 50.oo fee sounds fair to me if all of you agree, I am still working on when I will close down the open business and when it will re-open. The thing is I can't sit down at the dock throughout the winter only bringing in 5 or 10 dollars a day, I have to work another job half the year to keep the dock open, I hope you all can understand this. However, this may change next year and I may be able to keep the dock open year around. But if the fishing is limited in the winter it will garantee better fishing in the Spring, Summer, and Fall.

As for any tournaments you would like to start during the weekends, I am up for it and even during the off season we can schedule events that I will be able to run and get judges for. I will be at the dock all weekend from 8:00am to 6:00pm to discuss this in person (maybe later)

I will handle traffic as needed. I am not concentrating on heavy advertisement and I doubt it will become a problem. Most of the business will come to the bait shop, I don't think they will all stay and fish the creek. I bought out Duff's baitshop in Lexington so I will probably pick up their clientel. If traffic becomes a problem just tell me and we will get it taken care of even if that envolves limiting customers per day or pre scheduled events.

I will also make sure every tournament is posted in the new bait shop so the customers will be aware. So, don't worry there won't be any surprize pop up tournaments after you are already on the water.


I know this whole situation is aggrevating, however, once the troublemakers are weeded out after this year (which I garantee will happen) we will be able to come up with an easier system. Just the other day I had a family thank me because they felt safe to bring their children down to camp without worrying about drunks busting bottles, fights, or theft for the first in about five years. This is when I knew I was doing the right thing. Just hang in there and I promise I will turn Fryman's Boat Dock into not only a better family experience but a better fishing environment. I am not out to make a killing, I am just out to make a living and give you the best form of escape and entertainment that I can. Thankyou again for your comments and concern.

Ben,

It's not aggravating at all. It's good that you care. Many of us were worried about what would happen to Fryman's once your Granfather passed. Now that you're in the game, we know that you aim to clean things up and keep things going.

I know it's got to be tough to clean up the campground and keep the problems out, but you're doing the right thing. During camping season, that probably requires a lot of time and attention in itself.

I definitely think that some kind of pass would be a good idea if you're going to put a gate up for the offseason...maybe something inexpensive you hang on your rearview mirror. Otherwise, the keys are too easy to copy and give to friends. The passes won't stop it all, but might deter some of it and give you something to look for and enforce when you do swing by in the winter time.

I'm in for $50 to fish the offseason. Heck, make it $100, keep the gate there year round, and organize the "Stoner Creek Sportsman's Club" or something. Keep it open for public use - You don't have to be a member to camp, launch, or fish - but if you join, you get the key/pass to use when the gate's locked in the offseason and you pay no launch fees throughout the year. Then, your tournaments could be Stoner Creek Sportsman's Club Tournaments.

You can count me in Ben, and also on any volunteer work that you may need,... Happy huntin:7

I'm in on anything that will carry on the legacy of Mr Fryman. I spend most of my time down there in the winter. I would always pay on the way out, becuase I didn't want to wake up anyone. Mr Fryman was always cool with that. I hope we will still be greeted by the coon dogs.
I camp a lot at Stillwaters. It's laid back. They do patrol it regularly and it cuts down on the riff raff....

Let us know Ben if there's anything we can do. We have a lot of resources.

Billy Elkins
859-948-4928

maybe one tournament a month during spring and summer would be ok but if you have them every weekend you will ruin this nice body of water. alot of people use stoner to get away with family and to just relax and fish. if we turn this into a tournament body of water it will go down fast. as far as the boats ripping up and down the creek i remember several years ago an ordinance was passed and the creek was made idle speed only. do what you can to make money but try and keep it where people can still come and catch fish.

I've enjoyed going to Fryman's for thirty years,I remember the little wooden green boats Mr.Fryman used to rent for next to nothing.I think you've gotten some excellent feedback on what people really want.My two cents worth is that I second what so many have said in wanting a sharp reduction in tournament fishing.Stoner creek just can't handle that kind of pressure.I really appreciate your being open to suggestion and can't wait to see you all next spring.