Pondering Question....

[Moose1am]

The grass is always greener on the other side!

Human nature to seek new territory?

People want to get away from the crowd.

Fish around the ramp may be spooked if there is a lot of activity. Boat's launching and recovering. There may be more oil in the water near the ramp.

And the need for speed is always present. Doesn't matter if you are on a bike or a boat people will want to push the throttle to the floor.

Not all the best spots are next to the ramp. Now there may be some exceptions.

And we want to keep our fishing spots a secret. If we are fishing by the launch ramp anyone can see where we are fishing and catching fish. Soon everyone would be fishing there too.

Interesting thread.

As I was reading the thread about the water level at Nolin and the danger of which ramps one could use and run pretty easily and safely, something I have always wondered about resurfaced.

We all blast off in a tournament and run up or down the lake, looking for our favorite spot. As we are leaving, it is not unusual to see folks coming into the same area to fish. This is the area we are all leaving.

So my question is, and it applies to me too, why do we feel the need to always make a run? Is it just to run our big motors wide open?

I know it is because we are going to fish somewhere we have more confidence in, but why don't we practice fishing area where we are going to launch, and build our confidence there? This would definitely give us all more fishing time, and less running time.

I'd love to read everyone's opinion, and I know that many of us make that run because we may be looking for grass or certain deep water spots we already know, but I still question why we don't just practice and build that confidence in the launch area?

BTW, as I said, I'm just as guilty of this as anyone, maybe even more so.

Danny

[djh480]

Guilty. I usually have a hot spot that is a good run so I go there first and fish my way back to the start point. However, I have fished in the no wake zone of a tourney and won. We won a fish off once not even a mile from the dock, it happens. But we had been on those fish for like 2 weeks and had no doubts.

[jigfan]

[QUOTE=Moose1am;290546]The grass is always greener on the other side!

Human nature to seek new territory?

People want to get away from the crowd.

Fish around the ramp may be spooked if there is a lot of activity. Boat's launching and recovering. There may be more oil in the water near the ramp.

And the need for speed is always present. Doesn't matter if you are on a bike or a boat people will want to push the throttle to the floor.

Not all the best spots are next to the ramp. Now there may be some exceptions.

And we want to keep our fishing spots a secret. If we are fishing by the launch ramp anyone can see where we are fishing and catching fish. Soon everyone would be fishing there too.

Interesting thread.[/QUOT



I don't mind for boats to stir the water up. I think it dislodges alot of bait( crawfish and shiners) and the bass go on a feeding binge. I have caught some good fish right after a boat or a barge went by.

[gobbler]

I have never fished a tournament either. I think mainly because it seems to be stressful. When I go fishing, I try to relax. Although I get a little stressed early in the morning when the top water bite is going good and try to catch as many as possible before it quits. I have enough stress as it is, I just want to go out and catch some fish and shoot the bull with my brother or one of my friends. I've got no problem with you guys that fish tournaments. I was taught to respect someone else's water by my dad years ago when I was a kid. But just for update purposes... what is the appropriate distance you can move in front of someone (like on a stretch of riprap). I'm guessing it is about 250-300 yards unless they are coming up on a point on similar structure. The last thing I want to do is be a ******* on the water and tick someone off. I can't stand wave runners or someone who runs up to a point 100 yards up the bank from me. Am I in the ballpark of being right or am I way off?

[buzzking]

When I rec. fish or practice, I like to run around a lot, looking for the best bite, plus the 'rude REALLY likes to eat LOL. when it comes tourney time I'll either fish close to the ramp if I can catch re-treads or make one run to my best location, drop TM and camp out all day. I have met rude fishermen in Z21s and 12 ft john boats chasing crappie, doesn't matter, a-holes are a-holes. The only difference is people usually in a tourney are generally in a hurry, its a rush, thats why people do it, and Im sure at times they make bad decision, we all make bad decisions, thats not going to change

[MLTSPCS]

Some of the tournaments also have off limits areas around the no-wake zones and the general area around the launch ramp. I don't know why I ever make any runs, tournament or not. Zero is Zero whether it's @ the ramp or 20 miles away.lol

[RoadToad]

I've never fished a tournament, but I don't think that tournament or non-tourney fisherman have a monopoly on rudeness. And a lot of it comes down to education. It wasn't that long ago that I might have passed a little too close to somebody with my gas motor running, thinking it was okay because I was at idle speed. Now I know better, and stay back further with only a trolling motor going. I haven't developed more respect for others, just a better understanding of fishing etiquette. That said, I have noticed some tourney fisherman getting a little over-possessive of "their" spots. I guess that's natural; after all, there's money involved!

[kc]

I don't agree completely with any group not having a monopoly on rudeness. While there are bad apples in any barrell and while pleasure boats with skiers and jet skis can be as rude as it gets I have fished all my days and it is so easy to see fishermen who are fishing a tournament and they are usually (as a group) the rudest of the bunch. This time of year when the fish are back in the creeks here they come wide open flying by everyone washing them on the banks in the "quiet waters" racing to their spots. Same thing when they leave. I usually idle past boats and out of the quiet waters before I take off. These are also the same guys who will pull 100 feet up the bank in front of you because their mission is more important than yours. I know some non-tourney fishermen are rude also but when tournament time is going on the rudeness factor goes up 10 fold so it is not rocket science to understand which group is bringing it on.

That is one of the things that has made fishing in general much worst over the last 10 to 20 years is the unprecendented growth in tournament fishing. I guess everybody's got to be a pro.

kc

[crazyfishinnut]

danny I grew up fishing Big Bone lick on the mighty Ohio out of a coleman crawdad. John from then dixie sprting goods put on a thurs evening 4 hour deal. Me and my partner bought and paid for our next boat (small jon with 10hp ) after winning 18 in 2 years. When my current club now fish Barkley I can drop my troller after a 2 minute run and fish all day with out running. just all depends on what and how you fish.