A good and bad day on Cumberland

[buddy]

I took my teenage daughter striper fishing for the first time this year. It was interesting trip. We launched out of Lily Creek at sunrise--waiting for some topwater bite. As we got to the mouth of Lily, I asked my daughter to turn-on the depth finder and we started to mark fish--all over the screen. As I set the lines out, I asked her what depth were the fish--she replied about 18 feet. I thought this seemed shallow, but maybe this time of the year, the fish might be up early in the mornings for the "jumps". Well, we moved all around the mouth of Lilly to Jamestown marking fish all over the place without any bites. Finally, I asked her how deep it was and she mentioned 34 feet. At the time, I didn't really think about the depth because I knew they have been lowering the lake level. Suddenly, it dawn on me that something was wrong. My daughter had turn-on the depthfinder and it was reading meters instead of feet. Laughing at our mistake, we adjusted the depth of our boards and about 150 yards in front of Lily Creek, suddenly two boards disappear. My daughter grab one pole and landed about a 29" striper. I grab the other pole and lost my fish close to the boat. As I re-baited the lines, suddenly 3 poles dropped to the water. This time we were lucky and landed all 3 stripers (all around 28-30"). We were excited that we had our limit and we were returning to our vehicle about 10:00 before the storm started on Wednesday.

Now the excitment of having one of the best times of fishing with my daughter turned bad. As I returned to my vehicle in the Lily Creek launch area, I noticed a loud noise when I started my car. I thought it was a muffler going bad or a exhaust pipe. With the rain, I decided to check on it later. To make a long story short--I discovered that my cataytic converter was removed from my car while we were fishing. On Friday, I reported this to the Russell County Sheriff Department and he mentioned that this was the second incident to be reported that day. Earlier, someone reported that at the dam, somebody had removed a cataytic converter from their vehicle. The officer mentioned that they are being re-sold and being sawed off from a vehicle with the portable saw.

I share this not only to report my fishing on Wednesday morning but to let everybody be aware of leaving their vehicles in Lily Creek ramp or the dam. I always enjoy using both areas, but now I guess I will have to find another place. By the way, my wife took the vehicle to the dealership and we got the bill--$1,700. An expensive 3 hour fishing fishing trip.

[DJD]

Sorry to hear about that. Would love to catch some loser with his hands on my property. x( }(

[CTFSHWHISKER]

Sounds like everything is on the list to be stolen for resale,sorry to hear about that.Will insurance not cover it since it was stolen i would think so?

[Fishwright]

Thanks for the fishing report. Sorry to hear about your vehicle, were you parked in the parking lot or right beside the ramp on the Island?

[HURRICANEBOB]

Appreciate the heads up. We all need take care of each other, all in this together. Man, didn't you turn that into the insurance company? With a police report to support it the comprehensive should have taken care of it (less deductible).

Safe places where I have not had problems, duty to security guard presence: Allegator 2 Dock and parking lot, and Jamestown when parked on the side of the road leading to the ramp.

[buddy]

I am planning on calling the insurance company Monday. I have a weekend house near Aligator 2 but with the low water level in the fall/winter I usually try to launch at a better site.

I was parked on the dirt next to the ramp at Lily Creek and not in the parking lot. I usually fish by myself every weekend, so I try to find launch sites that are easier for one person. Also, some of these small sites, I can park nearby; whereas, the larger marinas will not allow you to park a trailer in the parking lot near the ramp.

To make it more bearable was the joy and excitment of having my daughter along for this fishing trip--the first one this year. She came along just to please Dad, but this time, we actually caught some fish--and she had a great time.

[hogdaddy]

Congrats on the good day fishin with the daughter!!Sorry about the luck with your car.But I do have one question,whats the $1,700 for?Did they tear up more than the catalatic conveter.Just seems a little HIGH.

[mhall]

I posted about this not to long ago about that Lilly creek ramp. This is nothing new, that place is nothing but theives and vandals. You couldn't pay me to park there. You are very lucky, usually after they steal something they tear up a bunch of stuff too. People DON'T PARK AT TAHT RAMP, it's now worth it.

[Chubminnow]

Mhall - Thanks for the reminder. As I was reading through this thread I kept thinking I had read somewhere on here that someone had some problems at this same ramp before, then I got to your thread and sure enough IT WAS the Lilly Creek ramp that I had read about previously.

I sure hate to hear about them stealing your catalytic convertor...Theives are of a mindset that I can not even BEGIN to identify with...I truly wonder how these idiots/low-lifes/lazy-good-for-nothing-bums can sleep at night.

[buddy]

Where do you usually launch?

I guess I will start launching at Jamestown or Alligator I or II. I have been using this place for years on weekends; however, with my daughter's fall break from school, this was the first time I used it during the weekdays. I noticed that there were only one other vehicle/trailer parked there when I left.

[mhall]

>Where do you usually launch?
>
>I guess I will start launching at Jamestown or Alligator I or
>II. I have been using this place for years on weekends;
>however, with my daughter's fall break from school, this was
>the first time I used it during the weekdays. I noticed that
>there were only one other vehicle/trailer parked there when I
>left.


I fish Indian creek alot therefore I launch at the dam. However I also like to launch at the state ramp in Pumpkin creek if fishing the areas you have mentioned in your post. It's free now and there is usually enough traffic there to keep the thugs away. That windey five miles back the park gets me sea sick at times but it's better than having your stuff stolen or tore up. I will also say this, there is nowhere totally safe down there anymore as the crime in that area has skyrocketed over the last several years. It seems the druggies down there will steal anything that's not tied down to resale to buy their next fix. It's truely sad to say when a man can't take his daughter fishing and not have their property compromised. People like these need one thing, a good rope swing. x(

[KR]

Again thankss for the heads up! I had my in'laws Envoy spray painted and a window smashed with a rock down there 2 years ago. I always put in there since it is in close proximity to my house. A buddy of mine had his battery stolen out of his truck there. I told our magistrate we need a light down there, however electricity stops at the top of the hill. Pleasent Hill is a nice ramp, however there is limited parking but alot of traffic from the locals could keep vandals at bay! I wanna park down there one day and hide in the bushes with my trusty Benelli, no clip and 3.5 inch mags....Might cut down on the thieving problems!