Pondering Question....

[Danny]

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

[ranger r80]

I'll admit that I have been guilty of this also. You bring up an excellent point. I guess I always have it planned out where I want to start because I have that "hot spot" that I want to get to before everyone else. I guess thinking that the faster I get there the better chance that no one will see me and it will remain my "hot spot", when really everyone else already knows about it anyways.
I will also admit that I love the way my ranger rides with the motor trimmed up and hummin across the water.

Ranger R80

[lured away]

And you guys wonder why people don't like tourny fishermen........

Speaking as one of the few who doesn't fish tournaments. The rest of us really do not appreciate being run over as we are coming into a marina when a tourny releases . Now there are ways around this, we try to avoid tourny fishermen when we are on the lake, if we know there is a tournament, we use a totally different marina. I know this will ruffle some feathers,but, you guys have a bad name among people who fish for recreation only. I know that this would be putting some of you in a category that is unjustified, and I apologize for that, but, as a whole, tourny fishermen think that they own the whole lake while their tourny is active, they WILL run over you, they get very upset if someone in "their spot", they are the most unsafe people on the water, & are generally the most ungrateful people on the water. Just a thought from a Non-Tourny fisherman.

[glenmorebuckman1]

And you guys wonder why people don't like tourny fishermen........

Speaking as one of the few who doesn't fish tournaments. The rest of us really do not appreciate being run over as we are coming into a marina when a tourny releases . Now there are ways around this, we try to avoid tourny fishermen when we are on the lake, if we know there is a tournament, we use a totally different marina. I know this will ruffle some feathers,but, you guys have a bad name among people who fish for recreation only. I know that this would be putting some of you in a category that is unjustified, and I apologize for that, but, as a whole, tourny fishermen think that they own the whole lake while their tourny is active, they WILL run over you, they get very upset if someone in "their spot", they are the most unsafe people on the water, & are generally the most ungrateful people on the water. Just a thought from a Non-Tourny fisherman.

As a non-tournament fisherman I say Bravo to you. I agree with you 100%

[jigfan]

I will stay at some like Wax, Laurel Branch or Ky Dam. I will normally work my way away from the ramp and save the long run for the end of the day. I know a few people that will run from end end of the lake to the other no matter what ramp they put in at. I saw a guy one Saturday we put in at Brandenburg on the river. He ran all the way to Rocky Point (70 miles ). The next day he had a Redman out of Rocky Point and he Ran back up to Indian Creek. (60 miles ) some people just like to run. I like to fish, But i will run if I have to.

[Danny]

And you guys wonder why people don't like tourny fishermen........

Speaking as one of the few who doesn't fish tournaments. The rest of us really do not appreciate being run over as we are coming into a marina when a tourny releases . Now there are ways around this, we try to avoid tourny fishermen when we are on the lake, if we know there is a tournament, we use a totally different marina. I know this will ruffle some feathers,but, you guys have a bad name among people who fish for recreation only. I know that this would be putting some of you in a category that is unjustified, and I apologize for that, but, as a whole, tourny fishermen think that they own the whole lake while their tourny is active, they WILL run over you, they get very upset if someone in "their spot", they are the most unsafe people on the water, & are generally the most ungrateful people on the water. Just a thought from a Non-Tourny fisherman.

First, I want to thank everyone, and look forward to many more posts on the subject.

but luredaway, no need to apologize, at least to me. I fish mostly for recreation now, but used to fish mostly tournaments or practice for tournaments. Now I rarely fish a tournament. I agree with what you say. I've had the incident where a Midwestern was going out of one side of the bay, and we were going out of the other side... Mineral Mounds in the back of Kutawa harbor. First I was almost run over in the parking lot by some midwesterners who clearly did not want to sit in line to launch like the rest of us, and then if I had not hit my boat into reverse a guy from the midwest would have run over me and my partner at the main lake access.

I am guessing that many tournament fishermen think a lot like our great representative and example setter, Gerald Swindle... LOL.. just a joke guys.

But I have to admit, luredaway, that in the last two years, the most discourtesous (spelling??) fishermen were catfish or crappie or just family fishermen and kids. I was fishing one spot one afternoon when a pontoon came in and anchored right on the spot I was casting to, so they could fish. It didn't really upset me, just made me realize that I want to be the example, instead of following the example.

It seems rudeness and lack of courtesy is so plentiful that it is cornered by no niche of fisherpeople.

All that said, I would make a plea to all who have boats to give wide leeway to the people fishing on shore. Before I had a boat, nothing bothered me more than a boat fishing down the shore and into my lines. I figure they had way more mobility than I, and as a result, even in tournaments, I try to swing way out and around the shorebound fisherpeople and I beg every boater to do the same!!

and for Billy's sake (redneckshadrap) it just occurred to me we should also offer the same courtesy to tubers and waders.

Don't want this to sound like a lecture but remember it is harder to be the example than follow the example, and the easiest way is not usually the right way!!!

Danny

[lured away]

Don't want this to sound like a lecture but remember it is harder to be the example than follow the example, and the easiest way is not usually the right way!!!

Danny

Couldn't have said it better myself. I agree 100%!!!!

[DJD]

And you guys wonder why people don't like tourny fishermen........

Speaking as one of the few who doesn't fish tournaments. The rest of us really do not appreciate being run over as we are coming into a marina when a tourny releases . Now there are ways around this, we try to avoid tourny fishermen when we are on the lake, if we know there is a tournament, we use a totally different marina. I know this will ruffle some feathers,but, you guys have a bad name among people who fish for recreation only. I know that this would be putting some of you in a category that is unjustified, and I apologize for that, but, as a whole, tourny fishermen think that they own the whole lake while their tourny is active, they WILL run over you, they get very upset if someone in "their spot", they are the most unsafe people on the water, & are generally the most ungrateful people on the water. Just a thought from a Non-Tourny fisherman.

The topic on tourny fisherman should have it's own thread....My thought is that i agree that some tourny guys cross the line (has happened to me many times) but many more pleasure boaters cross the line. I fish tournies, fish for fun and just get out with my daughter and out of all the outings i have in a boat i usually see that if there is a problem at the ramp or on the water it's not a tourny guy. There are some facts about tourny guys and gals that can't be dismissed. Most know how to load and unload their boats quickly, most know the rules and regulations of boating, creel limits and safety equipment for the boat. I could give example after example on how jet skiers, pontoon boats and other pleasure craft have done me wrong but i won't, i just wanted to say that it's never a one sided deal.

[RoadToad]

The topic on tourny fisherman should have it's own thread....My thought is that i agree that some tourny guys cross the line (has happened to me many times) but many more pleasure boaters cross the line. I fish tournies, fish for fun and just get out with my daughter and out of all the outings i have in a boat i usually see that if there is a problem at the ramp or on the water it's not a tourny guy. There are some facts about tourny guys and gals that can't be dismissed. Most know how to load and unload their boats quickly, most know the rules and regulations of boating, creel limits and safety equipment for the boat. I could give example after example on how jet skiers, pontoon boats and other pleasure craft have done me wrong but i won't, i just wanted to say that it's never a one sided deal.

True, this thread has drifted off-topic, and yes, rudeness happens on both sides. To reply to Danny's original posting, I think we all do the same thing sometimes, want to distance ourselves from the launch point, when that can sometimes be a great spot to fish. Again, I'm not a tourney fisherman, but I know that at Guist Creek, there isn't a bank around that hasn't yielded up a nice bass at some time or another, including those ones just to your left off the launch ramp, inside the No Wake zone. Funny, but I've never had to fight over those spots with anybody fishing a tourney!

Good Luck to all of you, no matter why you're out there fishing. Yes, we CAN all get along!

[Cobra190]

I probably do not run as far as most from the ramp, but I too start on a run away from the ramp. My usual routine is to start away and work back toward the ramp, allowing myself to fish in a tourney, up to the last 10 minutes. And I especially do this in a night tourney to keep from having to make a very long run in the dark.

[mhall]

Danny I have caught fish off of ramps so many times it's unreal. When I was a kid I fished Guist Creek as we had a camp there for 17 years. I started as a very young boy with a 10 foot jonboat and an ole shakespeare trolling motor on it. I sat in the front and had the trolling motor mounted on the front. I ran a long wire to the back where the battery was so the boat would weigh out therefore I wouldn't take water in the front as this little boat was very light, LOL. I fished the rock bank right across the lake in front of the marina as all the Shelby County Bassmasters would launch, point and laugh at me and fish everywhere but there. This was the early 70's, I can't tell you the fish I caught off of that bank, and I didn't even know what I was doing. Man that brings back memories, my Dad would sit on the point of our trailer camp site and watch me and I really thought that was cool when he would see me haul one in and yell to me way to go son. I sure miss him and those times, but I digress. Point is you don't have to run a tank of gas to catch fish that's for sure.

[vmky]

I'm also guilty of letting the big motor sing now but about 15 yrs. ago my brother and I went fishing out of a rental boat on Herrington. One battery, trolling motor and very limited distance from the dock. We had a ball catching bass and found out the next day we had more than enough weight to win the tournament that weighed in at that very dock. I still fish that area today because of the confidence level I have in that area....within a 1/4 mile of the dock!!!!