Watchin Aaron Martins WHINE at Guntersville.........

[DJD]

When a bass tourney is held on public waters which your and my taxes pay for I don't think anyone owns a spot. I used to back off when someone said they were fishing a tourney and they ask if I would let them fish the spot.

Now with a tournament being held about every day of the week on about every body of water I will not back off any longer. If I find a spot that is holding fish and someone from one of the thousands of tournaments ask to fish I tell them to follow me if they want but don't cut me off.

Tournaments have gotten far to frequent on our bodies of waters and it is hurting our fishery. We used to go to Kentucky and Barkley and get into several HUGE bass every spring, not anymore. If you are lucky you might catch a five or a six but this is about the limit. I personally took 1 bass over 10 pounds out of Barkley and 2 over 9 pounds in one spring season back in the early 90's. This was not a freak this was what happened about every spring back then before we were bombarded with tournaments.

I was down there a couple weeks ago and there was 2 large tournaments that had almost 500 boats in them combined and this was not counting the several dozen local and club tournaments being held all over both lakes which probably added another 400 to 500 more boats. The poor casual fisherman out for a day with his kids or grandkids is an annoyance to these "cash for cashers". I have also noticed that the more tournaments that are held the more obnoxious the "cast for cashers" get with the casual fisherman.

I know everyone is entitled to use our bodies of water but with the massive increase of tournaments and the unquestionable number of bass that die from these tournaments why don't the state put more control on these practices. With an over-abundance of small fish in the lakes now how many will never see the 15 inch size limit after being hooked many times?????????????

One other thing I have noticed is that a lot of out of staters are bringing their tournaments to Kentucky, wonder why?????????????

Welcome to the board but I'm not so sure I agree with what you said but I understand it's your opinion.

The tournaments are not that evil are they? Really? I find it hard to believe that small fish sizes are linked to tournament catches or pressure.
I hear of huge catches from Ky Lake each year and from other lakes as well.

[00SKEETER]

When a bass tourney is held on public waters which your and my taxes pay for I don't think anyone owns a spot. I used to back off when someone said they were fishing a tourney and they ask if I would let them fish the spot.

Now with a tournament being held about every day of the week on about every body of water I will not back off any longer. If I find a spot that is holding fish and someone from one of the thousands of tournaments ask to fish I tell them to follow me if they want but don't cut me off.

Tournaments have gotten far to frequent on our bodies of waters and it is hurting our fishery. We used to go to Kentucky and Barkley and get into several HUGE bass every spring, not anymore. If you are lucky you might catch a five or a six but this is about the limit. I personally took 1 bass over 10 pounds out of Barkley and 2 over 9 pounds in one spring season back in the early 90's. This was not a freak this was what happened about every spring back then before we were bombarded with tournaments.

I was down there a couple weeks ago and there was 2 large tournaments that had almost 500 boats in them combined and this was not counting the several dozen local and club tournaments being held all over both lakes which probably added another 400 to 500 more boats. The poor casual fisherman out for a day with his kids or grandkids is an annoyance to these "cash for cashers". I have also noticed that the more tournaments that are held the more obnoxious the "cast for cashers" get with the casual fisherman.

I know everyone is entitled to use our bodies of water but with the massive increase of tournaments and the unquestionable number of bass that die from these tournaments why don't the state put more control on these practices. With an over-abundance of small fish in the lakes now how many will never see the 15 inch size limit after being hooked many times?????????????

One other thing I have noticed is that a lot of out of staters are bringing their tournaments to Kentucky, wonder why?????????????

I don't think tournaments are hurting our fisheries. G-ville is one of the most pressured tournament lakes around and they were catching over 200 fish a day with over 100 of them being keeper sized fish. I would back off in a heart beat if a FLW or BASS angler fishing a tournament asked me to fish a spot. I mean this is what they do for a living and they are fishing for $100,000 +. Now I probably wouldn't do that for a weekend tournament fisherman because I wouldn't expect them to do it for me because I'm not doing it for a living. Big difference

[rdjbobber]

First time on board. I thought that Aaron was nice enough to ask if he could fish the spot. I fish some weekend club tournaments and i have had guys just pull right in front of me( be it a bass, catfish, crappie or what have ya fisherman) just because they think that is their spot. These same guys will be the ones who will whine when they don't catch any fish because someone was on their spot. Wasn't there another guy who got DQ and was whining or maybe it was the one he was whining about that was whining. I am not hearing much about those two guys.

[shemwelljr]

I don't think tournaments are hurting our fisheries. G-ville is one of the most pressured tournament lakes around and they were catching over 200 fish a day with over 100 of them being keeper sized fish. I would back off in a heart beat if a FLW or BASS angler fishing a tournament asked me to fish a spot. I mean this is what they do for a living and they are fishing for $100,000 +. Now I probably wouldn't do that for a weekend tournament fisherman because I wouldn't expect them to do it for me because I'm not doing it for a living. Big difference

I don't know about you, but the opportunity to make $100k for a weekend of fishing is much more than making a "living", as though you are killing their children with starvation while you maintain your fishing spot. The weekend tournament fisherman that you wouldn't move for may be the guy needing that extra money moreso to actually pay some ordinary bill or put a little extra food on the table than the guy that can make a six figure income, putting him well above most of us, in one tournament.

You're right, there is a big difference.

[RC5]

Well the way you all see it is that if I got to your place of employment and set at your desk before you get there; it's then my desk... Sorry bout your luck pal, get a new job. It's sad that some people are so unskilled that they have to stalk someone and jump on a spot to try to make a couple dollars and brag to their buddies about how they found their fish and the dumb Elite Series guys were catching the fish he rightfully stole.

[cra97]

Man this thread is thought provoking, not to mention PACKED with good arguments on both sides of the issue. Here is my take, considering ALL I have read do far: 1) Aaron should try and curve his whinning to gain more fans from his "skills" as a fisherman. 2) People who "hole sit" are just plain jerks (IF they followed him to find the spot and no themselves, that is BS). 3) Everyone has the right to continue fishing their spot, or move if politely asked to do so. 4) Pro's should be able to hit more than one place, if the first one is "taken", and not have to worry about relying on just one honey hole to win. 5) There are to many people who throw ALL "tourney anglers" into a sterotype that I think is just as wrong to do as what they are saying about other issues here. 6) Its nice that people on here can agree to disagree and it not get "personal". 7) Lastly, there are some REALLY opinionated people (many the same as in other threads) that feel stongly about everthing all the time.

The last is the most funny to me because if you are always right, how can you ever learn anything? Anyway, good thread and thanks for all the great debates that are on here that have been done with such class. Good read.

Rob Appleby
689-5528

[mhall]

Well the way you all see it is that if I got to your place of employment and set at your desk before you get there; it's then my desk... Sorry bout your luck pal, get a new job. It's sad that some people are so unskilled that they have to stalk someone and jump on a spot to try to make a couple dollars and brag to their buddies about how they found their fish and the dumb Elite Series guys were catching the fish he rightfully stole.

That's the most ridiculous comparison I've heard on here in a long time.....PAL.

[bassman_ky]

If you remenber Jeremy Starks had the same thing happen to him at Wheeler. Someone watched him fish all weekend and then come in on his spot. He didnt whine or complain. He sat their waited for them to leave and then fished. He was upset and who wouldnt be. Aaron needs to watch and learn how he dealt with it. My buddy and I were talkin yesterday. Would like to have had a jetski and really givin Martens an excuse to cry.

[know1]

Do you guys that disagree with his complaint even know the whole story? Aaron had fished that spot for 3 straight days and the guy that was watching him sat on that spot on day 4 so he could use it for a little tournament the following weekend. He was hole sitting. So you're darn right Aaron had a reason to complain. This joke of a fisherman is probably fishing for a$200 first place prize and Aaron is fishing for 100K. This is just my opinion. If it were me, I would have definetly moved off the spot and let him fish. For anyone to watch a pro fisherman and use his spots for their own tournament while it's still going on...that's very weak. I hope that guy was proud of himself to use someone else's fish to try and better himself. He must really feel like an accomplished fisherman. What a joke.

It's crap like that from both sides - Martens and the guy on the spot - that make me despise tournament fishing and wish it never existed.

[00SKEETER]

I don't know about you, but the opportunity to make $100k for a weekend of fishing is much more than making a "living", as though you are killing their children with starvation while you maintain your fishing spot. The weekend tournament fisherman that you wouldn't move for may be the guy needing that extra money moreso to actually pay some ordinary bill or put a little extra food on the table than the guy that can make a six figure income, putting him well above most of us, in one tournament.

You're right, there is a big difference.

Are you kidding me??? If the guy is needing that extra little bit of money than he should saved his entry fee money in the first place and used it for groceries.
And you're right it's an "opportunity" to make $100K it's not guaranteed. These guys are not guranteed a pay check at the end of the week like most of us. It would be the toughest job you have ever had, it's not just a fun weekend of fishing to them.

[Tim_T]

Are you kidding me??? If the guy is needing that extra little bit of money than he should saved his entry fee money in the first place and used it for groceries.

Exactly, that is like being $25 short of your rent and you spend the money you have to go to bingo or play the lottery. If you are needing tournament money to put food on the table, it is time to sell the boat and all of the expensive gear and do what is right. Of course in this day and age that is highly unlikely.

If you think these guys don't want to mess with the pro's then you are not paying attention. At Kentucky Lake last year guys were following KVD around and marking his spots and then going out to fish those spots before he could get there, same thing happened to Jeremy Starks. At Smith Mountain Lake there was a planned tournament on the four days of the BASS tourney there. Guess what it was called: Beat The Elites. Fortunately there were not enough idiots and fools to sign up and the tourney never happened.

[Jbyrd]

Do you guys that disagree with his complaint even know the whole story? Aaron had fished that spot for 3 straight days and the guy that was watching him sat on that spot on day 4 so he could use it for a little tournament the following weekend. He was hole sitting. So you're darn right Aaron had a reason to complain. This joke of a fisherman is probably fishing for a$200 first place prize and Aaron is fishing for 100K. This is just my opinion. If it were me, I would have definetly moved off the spot and let him fish. For anyone to watch a pro fisherman and use his spots for their own tournament while it's still going on...that's very weak. I hope that guy was proud of himself to use someone else's fish to try and better himself. He must really feel like an accomplished fisherman. What a joke.

I think that most of you missed the real story. First if the guy was sitting or fishing a spot I can speak from experience a boat sitting there wouldn't stop ANY of those guys from fishing. Heck they even bump into each other boats and throw actoss their lines. Remember Aaron and Byron Velvic at falcon? I think what was going on was Aaron had a spot real close that those guys hadn't found and he didn't want to let them see him fish it. He kept saying that other spot was virgin water and he was waiting to hit it ..He caught 2 5 lbers on back to back cast the day before