Monroe this week-end was a zoo, anyone catch any fish?

[junior]

Thank GOD for to C.O.'s at Monroe, I wouldn't have their job for all the chatter baits in the store. I know they were "catching people" right and left but I want to know if "any people caught any fish"

I was in the boy scout area at dawn Saturday, the pleasure boaters started early also, hundreds of them zooming around the lake. You could see the mud line forming all around the shore line because of the wake action. Bass fishing aint fun when you have to worry about whip-lash from the wakes crashing into your boat,I worked my way back under the bridge into the slow zone, the sun was too high in the sky,to do any good in Saddle Creek. anyone else do any better?

[Fishhead]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-30-06 AT 01:01PM (EST)[/font][p]I was at B-ville Sat & Monday and it was a zoo too! The boat chop was about 4ft by noon.

What got my goat was the CO's at B-ville. They went about their job checking out fishing boats, (mainly bass boats) but did not do anything about the crazy pleasure boaters. I was in the neutral zone, where its suppose to be idle only, they checked my boat, I had all the required equipment and licenses. Told them they should have been there 5 minutes earlier to see the boat run the idle zone at WOT. He told us that another fisherman told them the same thing.

OK, so whats the big deal you may ask!

I stayed in the same spot for the next 1/2 hour. They continued to check bass boats, in that same time another 4-5 pleasure boats ran WOT through the idle zone, NO WAY for the CO's not to have seen them. One was even pulling a tube. Did they stop checking bass boats and give chase, nope! I even saw one of the CO's turn and look at one of the boats running the idle zone. THEY DID NOTHING! I even blew my horn and shouted at the the CO's pointing out the boat running WOT and they still did nothing.

I am putting in a complaint this AM to the Brookville DNR and anyone else that will listen. That was just plain wrong.

[Danny]

Even though I don't fish up there, thankyou for pointing out the inconsistancies. It takes us all to do our part to get it right.

I was on Barkley on Sat, and didn't see a single law enforcement person. Of course I realize it is a huge lake, and I was trying to stay south where there are fewer marinas, but still had trouble with "irresponsible" pleasure boaters.

Just think of the COs this way, maybe it will help. They were like fishermen, and they were targeting the active fish, yet unable to catch many doing the sight fishing technique. LOL

Danny

[Topwater2004]

You guys went out on the biggest public lakes in Indiana on Memorial Day weekend, so you should have known it was going to be that way.

topwater

[in2deep]

so do i understand you right on holiday week-ends you can break the no wake law. now can you tell me what day you can keep short fish or over you limit

[Fishhead]

Topwater, I dont know if you've been to B-ville or not before, but the boat chop is not only on Memorial day weekend, its every weekend, thats why I usually fish this lake at night. But thats not the point of my post, since you have obviously missed it. The point is the inconsistency in law enforcement and the fact the idle zone means IDLE for everyone.

What bothers me more is the irresponsible parents pulling kids on tubes in the idle zone and in the main lake with a 4ft chop and a thousand other boats, most not looking where they are going, going as fast as they can and in all different directions. I understand they have as much a right to be on the lake as anyone else, but most of these morons don't even know the basics in boating protocol. They drive the boat WOT, looking behind them at the skiers/tubers and the cigarette boats go in speeds of 90+ mph, the lake is not that wide and boats going that fast do not slow down very fast. If they have to turn it will most likely be into another boats path.

I am surprised no one has been killed or seriously injured on that lake. People get thrown from tubes, skis, whatever and the cigarette boats going 120 mph cannot see a person floating in the middle of the lake. Sooner or later someone will get hurt on this lake.

Topwater, I wonder why you even post what you did to this thread? My take is that you just like to throw bombs out there and get people worked up, probably cant catch fish so its the only way you get your jollys. Very sad indeed.

[Fishhead]

I called the DNR in Indy and they are sending me a "packet" to fill out. I asked if there were any other ways to report to higher ups but they told me the complaint "will get to the proper authorities", yeah right!

If anyone else was at B-ville Monday and was checked in the idle zone who also saw this, please register a complaint. Its been this way for years on this lake. I get pulled over at least 2x a year there and on many occasions seen them pass by 20+ pleasure boaters and go right to the bass boats. Do they really think a someone with a $30K bass boat and equipment will go out there without a license and/or proper equipment? My bet is most of the pleasure boaters don't have the first clue what the required equipment is suppose to be. Or maybe its a money thing, the CO's must make more on tickets for fishing without a license.

[Topwater2004]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-30-06 AT 08:53PM (EST)[/font][p]I am not going to go to a major lake like that on Memorial Day weekend, that was my point. If I did, it would be as a pleasure boater to have fun with the family.

To even be more precise, I wouldn't go to Monroe on any weekend at all.

By the way, I was fishing Sunday, and it was very peaceful and we caught a lot of bass. It was a great weekend to be fishing, in the right places.

Stop crying about the DNR CO's. They are doing a great job.

[Fishhead]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-30-06 AT 08:57PM (EST)[/font][p]But you still missed the point of the post, do you just not get it?

Personally I had a great weekend fishing B-ville both Sat and Monday, even with the pleasure boaters. For me B-ville was the right place to be both days. You can catch fish on lakes with heavy traffic if you know how.

How would you know what kind of job they were doing, you were not there!

[Topwater2004]

I don't criticize police, military, DNR CO's, park rangers, the people on the front line. Their job is too tough already and the pay not even close to acceptable for the risk.

If you had a great time then whats the gripe, move on.

Stop the cryin about the DNR CO's.

If you visit any major reservoir on a weekend, be prepared to see every infraction in the book. Its just like being on the road, there are too many bad drivers to stop them all.

topwater

[hardestyeric]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-31-06 AT 07:40AM (EST)[/font][p]Why on earth would you expect him not to complain? If I was getting my liscence checked and someone pulled past me on plane in an idle zone I would be mad as h*ll too. That is a pretty serious violation. Topwater, you have made mention several times that you don't fish much public water. If that really is the case, how do you know so much about what our DNR does? I also didn't notice anyone bringing anyone other than the DNR in to this so why are you? Nobody said anything about the military or the police. Why are you always running your mouth for no reason? This guy has the right to file his complaint and I for one think he should be able to do so without judgement from you.
Eric H.

[Classic11]

I've lived in Indiana for six years now and have come to the conclusion that the majority of boaters here lack the general knoweldge of safe, smart and courteous boating.... pleasure or bass boats. How many times have you come in to the ramp and there are boats tied up right at the end of the loading dock? How many times do you have a boat just floating right in front of the ramp when you are trying to load or unload? How many time has some dumb@#$ pulled up to the ramp and then proceed to take his cover and tiedowns off while people are waiting to back their boats in the water? I fished the top 8 a fwe weeks ago at B-ville and saw two tournament boats blow through the south causeway running at least 65 MPH. I see whining about pleasure boaters doing 90 + MPH... bass boats are doing this as well!!! None of them stop or turn on a dime!! I'm a bass fisherman and I'm the first to say I see bass rigs bending the laws as much if not more than the pleasure boaters!!! It seams the majority of fisherman here are upset by the pleasure boaters and how they "dirty up the banks". Did anyone ever think that boat traffic can help the fishing?

I grew up in southeastern Michigan... a required class growing up was boater awareness and safety.

Let the CO's inspect whoever they want. If your boat is up to par... what is your worry? plenty out there are not.