Another Good West Boggs Tournament

[MikeAxsom]

I know, but I want people to know that we are not anti- tournament, when the tournament group is following the rules. All the folks I promote this way are what I consider to be "the good guys", and they are worth holding up as examples. At least I think so.

[Tackled]

>I know, but I want people
>to know that we are
>not anti- tournament, when the
>tournament group is following the
>rules. All the folks I
>promote this way are what
>I consider to be "the
>good guys", and they are
>worth holding up as examples.
>At least I think so.
>I stopped by Sunday for a bit. I noticed a few things. There is a dead deer carcass across the lake from the ramp, way in the back of a cove. The position of the carcass makes one think it was poached. There is a male swan up north in the lake (at the feeder creek) with a damaged right leg (he needs some help or he will die, but he still has an attitude - which is good). I also saw three bass fishermen disguised as either Men-In-Black, or Amish people, keeping everything they hooked - except the shad they snagged. Sacre Blu! A clue !
Myself, I caught a few on plastic lizards, but treated them gently and set them free. Had a T-bone for dinner

[MikeAxsom]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Apr-10-06 AT 10:11PM (EST)[/font][p]Hard telling what killed the deer, but poaching is not an unheard of thing in that area. Likewise with the local Brethren, who seem to have a taste for 13 inch Bass. I hear those reports often enough to know that small Bass must be a regular feature of the Amish diet. We do relay those complaints on to the Conservation Officers, who are the enforcement agency for the size and bag limits.

The swans are an interesting story all their own. Since last year there have been two males and one female mute swans on the lake. This spring, the older male and the female paired off and began acting like maybe they were going to set up housekeeping. First thing the larger male did was run the younger one off. From the reports I had from people on the lake, he might have actually tried to kill the young rival. Then he tried to run off several boaters by attempting to convince them he was ten feet tall and bullet proof. We got a rash of complaints from people who said they thought he was going to cause an accident. I think the female might be preparing a nest up in the north end somewhere, so if you go up there beware. The Kamikaze Swan Dad might sink your boat.

[Tackled]

Mr Axsom,
I truly think the big old swan is gonna be in trouble. I got to watch him pretty close while he did his best to eat the prop off my 200 hp Mercury. Any local animal rescues up in buggy country? If so, give them a call. If needed, I'll spring for the phone bill

[MikeAxsom]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Apr-12-06 AT 03:55PM (EST)[/font][p][font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Apr-12-06 AT 03:54*PM (EST)[/font]

Here are a few points to remember. As far as I know there is no protections for Mute Swans in the fish and game laws. So, he is essentially an exotic species. Next, I'd personally have no problem introducing him to an oar if he got within reach of my own boat. I'd sure not expect anyone to let themselves get hurt if they can prevent it. Plus, one of the people Mr. Swan chased off the water a couple of weeks ago WAS reported to be an animal control officer from another county. I don't think he came back either.

[raporter]

The DNR encourages getting rid of the swans. Have heard reports of COs killing them. Just another one of those pretty things we don't need.

[Topwater2004]

I think possibly Chigger and I could go down to Santee-Cooper and bring back some gators. That would clean out the swans and those nasty mud turtles.

Nothing I like more than to fan cast in a cove populated by the gators. Love it down on Toledo Bend when they see you they come barreling down the bank and slide in. Sends a chill down your back.

topwater

[idbefishing]

quote
__________________________________________________ ________-
"I think possibly Chigger and I could go down to Santee-Cooper and bring back some gators. That would clean out the swans and those nasty mud turtles.
Nothing I like more than to fan cast in a cove populated by the gators. Love it down on Toledo Bend when they see you they come barreling down the bank and slide in. Sends a chill down your back."
__________________________________________________ ___________

Here ya go Topwater!

http://media.rodnreel.com:8080/ramge...pineisland2.rm

[MikeAxsom]

I'll bet a few gators would have the jet skiers feeling those chills down their backs too.

[Topwater2004]

Mike,

We could let the gators fatten up on jet skiers all summer, then re-capture them and keep them in your garage with heat lamps on them all winter.

Sounds like a good wildlife management tool to me.

topwater

[MikeAxsom]

From a wildlife management perspective, I'm not sure it is OK to feed gators that sort of diet. It might be worth some field research though.

[Tackled]

Fascinating twist....the park manager snuggling between Chigger and Topwater at the one time here when I was being serious. Pret sure Swans of all species are protected, but it has been years since I grilled em, so who knows. Mike, if you sneak up there and snatch that 15 pound sissy swan into your boat, I'll send ya the recipe and the rub. You and Chigger and Topwater can feast all Easter Weekend.
Regards.