indiana is awful! where do you rate it?

[cgable]

Awww Common............20 keepers in a few hours from the bank on a public lake???? That a wee bit far fetch IMO. Anyhow, our fishes are still there it just the pressure have gone way up so fishing is not easy. If you're not KVD, don't expect to catch fish like KVD.

Not far fetched at Boggs I think I had 20 fish with my Dad last year in the 4lb range in a day. ( that was in a boat so I think you COULD catch 20 keepers from the bank but Boggs has lots of fishable bank line with great water for bank fishing.

[MikeAxsom]

Cgable, I am not down on tournament fishing or tournament anglers. We host some 40 tournaments per year and the guys and gals that participate, follow the rules and behave ethically are some very important clients for our facility. We mostly get along great with them and they get along with us. The ones that seem to be a problem are mostly the ones who don’t participate for a variety of reasons, but feel obligated to keep trying to change the system, or make some point about why everything is so screwed up. The ones that are clients are treated as VIP’s. The ones that are not are, well, not. If they are not willing to pay the fees, support the resource and follow the rules, their opinion really don’t mean much anyway in the big scheme of things.

By the way, I totally agree with the comment on the ramp restrooms, and that project is on the table right now. When it gets done it will be a year round capable restroom that will even be usable by ice fishermen. It will also be accessible in all respects. Look for that by next spring. And for those who wonder, yes, that project is fully funded by those obnoxious user fees everyone loves to hate. We applied for state funding from the Land & Water Conservation Fund a couple of years back for upgrading the ramp restrooms, but we were told by the IDNR folks it was not a high enough priority for grant money. They tend to favor land acquisition and “green” projects with that money. We disagree and we are directing in-house money to the project.

If you and your daughter plan to do any more clean up work here, let me know. I’ll make sure your efforts are recognized with something like an annual pass or some free camping. We love it when folks do those things.

[stratosjoe]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....Schafer smallmouth are great 5 smallmouth won a tourney 23-24lbs. Brookville in the early spring smallmouth / stripers are fun...Raccoon Lake fishing period is fun for stripers /smallmouth... maybe not the quality of ky or tn which I love both but still other than the tax on a tax Indiana fishing is better than Illinois. Illinois has some good spots too though..

[YAZ]

I wasn't going to reply to this, as it seems it has turned into another "we are paying too much for what we get thread". But............

What everybody has to realize is Indiana is a agricultural state (corn is king). Our location on the globe, our topography, and our soils allows us to be an agricultural state. Therefore the state government has to focus on that because that is a large chunk of our income. That is the way it has always been, and the way its always going to be. Because of that, agriculture is the biggest culprit on our poor water quality here in the state. I know we have several programs to help combat this, including LARE, but its all about spending money that the Indiana gov. won't spend. Silt, pesticides, herbicides, nitrates, organics, etc. are going to be a continual problem here.

We do not have a strong IDNR compared to most of the states that this thread is comparing Indiana to. I'm not saying the individuals here are not qualified, because I believe they are. We just don't have the resource to manage to justify a bigger DNR. What I am saying is the big wigs in Indianapolis will not support or fund any more programs to IMPROVE what we currently have. The southern states depend on the wildlife and fisheries, and quality of the water to derive income for that state, much like Indiana does corn. So their programs, funding, and staffing have to be better.

We are very limited on space (woods and water) for recreation here in Indiana. Without actually looking, I'm sure we have more people wanting outdoor recreation per square mile than Ky and Tn. That puts a lot more people competing for the same space on the lakes and woods in Indiana. Which in turn, puts a lot more pressure on our fisheries, and also puts a lot more wear and tear on the public properties. That costs more money to keep things presentable to the public.

Do I think there are some things that can be improved....yes. Do I think there will be any big changes or improvements....no. Do I think the cost of recreation is too high at state owned facilities...no. Do I think it will get higher.....most certainly.

It may seem like a gloom and doom prediction for us outdoorsmen and women here in Indiana, but, it is all we have. We have to make the best of it, and all do our part to help take care of it.

Yaz

[GeoFisher]

TR.........

I wasn't belittling you.......I was simply stating a FACT. The amount of money you spend to launch your boat, is a very, VERY small piece of the pie.

Do you BITCH about the insurance payment you make........YOU have probably NEVER USED it........

Do you BITCH about the interest you pay the bank on the F-150 and BOAT......probably not.......

Do you BITCH about the tackle that is lost pursueing your hobby........probably not........

I'm just saying this...........say you visit Boggs 10 times a year. At the Max, you're paying something like 160.00. NOT much for your recreational dollar, if you ask me. AND if you think it is too much, buy a yearly pass, and forego the expenses.

The cost we pay Boggs for things like RAMPS, facilities, campgrounds, decent HONEST, and RELIABLE camp rangers, are WORTH the 16 bucks or whatever it is.

Sorry if you were offended.......

This minimal amount of money pales in comparison where your "other" expenditures come during a fishing trip.

Later,

Geo

[cgable]

Cgable, I am not down on tournament fishing or tournament anglers. We host some 40 tournaments per year and the guys and gals that participate, follow the rules and behave ethically are some very important clients for our facility. We mostly get along great with them and they get along with us. The ones that seem to be a problem are mostly the ones who don’t participate for a variety of reasons, but feel obligated to keep trying to change the system, or make some point about why everything is so screwed up. The ones that are clients are treated as VIP’s. The ones that are not are, well, not. If they are not willing to pay the fees, support the resource and follow the rules, their opinion really don’t mean much anyway in the big scheme of things.

By the way, I totally agree with the comment on the ramp restrooms, and that project is on the table right now. When it gets done it will be a year round capable restroom that will even be usable by ice fishermen. It will also be accessible in all respects. Look for that by next spring. And for those who wonder, yes, that project is fully funded by those obnoxious user fees everyone loves to hate. We applied for state funding from the Land & Water Conservation Fund a couple of years back for upgrading the ramp restrooms, but we were told by the IDNR folks it was not a high enough priority for grant money. They tend to favor land acquisition and “green” projects with that money. We disagree and we are directing in-house money to the project.

If you and your daughter plan to do any more clean up work here, let me know. I’ll make sure your efforts are recognized with something like an annual pass or some free camping. We love it when folks do those things.

I think I would like to get more kids involved in a clean up and combine it with some fishing to help plant the seeds for conservation. I really love teaching our youth to appreciated what we have as resources. You know I love these discussions because they make you think. I will take that responsibility and "carry out my trash" and anyone elses I can find from now on. Even if Indiana is last on my list, maybe a little appreciation for the things I have can make it move up the list with some personal conservation and volunteer time.

[MikeAxsom]

cgable, as you carry out that trash, remember that at West Boggs we still provide disposal facilities. If you plan any sort of clean up here you don't even have to carry it all the way out. That is one of those extras that I think most people would be surprised at the cost of.

If you enjoy working with young people in a conservation education setting, I'd like to invite you to join one of the best organizations I have ever been a part of. Talk to your local Indiana Conservation Officer about becoming a volunteer hunter’s education instructor. It is a great way to put something back. If anyone want to know more about that you can find info online at www.inhea.com, or feel free to email me and I'll steer you to the IHEA members in your area.

At West Boggs we also cater to scout groups, boys and girls. Each year we provide free group camping for them, and in return they do some sort of project; often clean-up of trash. I'm sure they could use some responsible adult leadership too. There never seem to be enough adults willing to make the effort to invest in the kids who will someday be the ones to protect our outdoor heritage.

[wkerber]

Organizing youths for clean up projects is a little more difficult now days so make sure you check it out thoroughly with regards to liability in the event that one gets hurt. If you're talking paper and cans you're probably ok.
Years ago my father was a CO and use to organize cleanups through high schools and the such and they had to end it due to the liabilty issue. But, they were cleaning up tires, empty drums, old washing machines, etc...
No one every got hurt beyond scratches, but the schools just couldn't risk it.

[ukkid]

Indiana is one of the worst in the eastern U.S. It is really kind of dumb to own a fishing boat in Indiana other than a small jon boat. There are some good farm ponds here but the bigger water lakes completely !##% compared to KY, TN, AL.

[MikeAxsom]

Organizing youths for clean up projects is a little more difficult now days so make sure you check it out thoroughly with regards to liability in the event that one gets hurt. If you're talking paper and cans you're probably ok.
Years ago my father was a CO and use to organize cleanups through high schools and the such and they had to end it due to the liabilty issue. But, they were cleaning up tires, empty drums, old washing machines, etc...
No one every got hurt beyond scratches, but the schools just couldn't risk it.

I didn;'t know your Dad so decided to google his name. Found a refrence from 51 years ago regarding an April snow that killed pheasants at J-P FWA. I was 5 then. http://www.pharostribune.com/localcolumnists/local_story_096202929.html?keyword=secondarystory

[wkerber]

I didn;'t know your Dad so decided to google his name. Found a refrence from 51 years ago regarding an April snow that killed pheasants at J-P FWA. I was 5 then. http://www.pharostribune.com/localcolumnists/local_story_096202929.html?keyword=secondarystory

Mike,
He was North Regional Commander until 1985 when he passed. He organized a lot of clean up efforts around the Cass County area in the mid-70s. He'd dig through trash and find mail and haul them into court. Then the judge he worked with retired and the new one wouldn't prosecute on the evidence. He was dejected by that as they were really making a difference. Friends of mine once dumped a bag of trash from one of the guys house to hide beer cans from a get together. Only problem was it had mail in the bag for the guys father. He arranged with the judge to let them off, but they had to clean up 5 miles of country road, both sides. I still hear about that one when I see those guys and they laugh about.

[MikeAxsom]

If he was at North Region as the honcho in the early 80's I'm sure we met at some point. I left Monroe and the Div of Reservoirs in 78 and moved over to Forestry in wildland fire control, working out of State Fire Headquarters at Martinsville. We shared work and equipment with both regions a lot then, so we would have crossed paths. I'm getting old enough that the gray matter has trouble with al the names of all the people I've worked with over the last 35 years. But I do recall some stories from those days about a CO that was making a name for him self digging through litter and busting dumpers. Must have been him.

There have been some really good men, and women, go through those ranks, and I'm happy to say that our Indiana ICO's remain one place that I see the same honor and integrity now that I saw then. The culture of that team is of phenomenally high character. And from that knowledge I know your Dad was indeed one of the best our state has produced. One does not get to be Regional Commander for nothing. That slot, in that culture, is all about Primus Inter Pares, First Among Equals.

Mike,
He was North Regional Commander until 1985 when he passed. He organized a lot of clean up efforts around the Cass County area in the mid-70s. He'd dig through trash and find mail and haul them into court. Then the judge he worked with retired and the new one wouldn't prosecute on the evidence. He was dejected by that as they were really making a difference. Friends of mine once dumped a bag of trash from one of the guys house to hide beer cans from a get together. Only problem was it had mail in the bag for the guys father. He arranged with the judge to let them off, but they had to clean up 5 miles of country road, both sides. I still hear about that one when I see those guys and they laugh about.