Back from Barkley..

[elnutsmalljaws]

Fished all day Wednesday and most of the day Thursday on North Barkley. Fished the same areas that Chunknwind slayed them last week and pretty much had the same success but a little different pattern. Caught 45 on Wednesday with around 20 keepers. Biggest 5 were, 5-14, 4-8, 4-7, 4-2 and 4-1 and even caught a real niche 3-8 Smallie that would not have made the bag. Caught 35 on Thursday with the biggest being 3-8 and no where near the quality as prior day. I guess fishing 5 days pretty much within a 100 yard area and catching close to 150 fish will play a role on the catching ability. Last week we caught them a lot more shallow than what I caught the past couple of days. The shallow flower bite was non-existent and the flowers had mossed up a lot compared with a week ago. I could not swim the Brush Hound thru the flowers as before without coming back with moss. I moved out to a little deeper water for all of my success. This one particular spot had a ledge that ran right thru the middle where it was 2-3 feet on top with a good 30 square yards of flat then a distinctive fall off to 5-6 feet all the way across that stretched a good 40 yards or so. My fish this week came mostly off the drop plus the 2 points on both sides. When the wind and clouds picked up, the spinnerbait bite was on, when the wind died down the crankbait bite picked up (DT4 or DT6 Fire Tiger Tail) but the majority of my fish came dragging a Hook Some Bass Baby Brush Hound in Watermelon Seed with Chartreused Dipped Tail. Dragging very slow, keeping contact with the bottom like a miniature carolina rig even though I was texas rigging. 1/4 oz Tungsten sinker, 12lb Flouro for the deeper side of the ledge and same except for 1/8 oz sinker early when the fish were on top in shallow water. Black Buzzbait bite early on Wednesday produce a 4-8 on the second cast paralleling some Buck Brush in about 3 feet of water. Flipped the same buck brush from time to time with 3/8 oz sinker and same Brush Hound to produce fish as well. Better quality of fish came on the outside deeper edge of the Buck Brush or deeper parts of the ledge and point with Brush Hounds. The one Buzzbait bite was the only big fish caught on topwater. I pretty much stayed in the same area and did the same milkrun as last week with a couple of additions. Tried to fish some deeper ledges out on the main lake for a TROPHY but never got a bite plus I only did it for an hour due to not having the patience to fish instead of catch. There is no way I could fish a pattern than only produces 5-6 bites a day no matter how big they are for I don't have that much confidence, No bites means No fish present to me. The fish were still easy to catch the past couple of days but defineately a pattern of them starting to move to deeper water was established. Last week the water was starting out in the 68 range and this week it was starting out 72 even though it did not move up much due to the overcast and not so hot.

Now for some rants and side notes:

I used Braid line for the first time last week in flipping the Buck Brush. 30lb Excel Braid and I broke off a smaler fish that I don't think I should plus looked at my line one time and it had come "unravelled" about 5 inches above the hook another, so I re-tied. Then Wednesday I am flipping the Buck Brush with a spinnerbait and stick a PIG, I said a PIG. She comes out of the water and shakes her head twice and snap-crack-pop all I get back is braid line that is not curly like the knot came loose but like it broke. I use a Palomoar know on everything, wet the line and I don't understand why it broke. Dave Stewart told me that some times the braid will snap under the hookset and I do flat out set the hook to the point that it snaps the water. I stripped it off Wednesday night and put on 30lb Flourocarbon and it worked better but just did not like the feel as I did the braid. Any suggestions on the braid, a braid knot or what did I do wrong for I would have loved to land that fish. She was easily bigger than the 5-14 I had landed earlier in the day but don't have a clue how big she was for it is hard for me to tell with the egg weight and stuff.

Now I know all tournament anglers are not the same but I got flat out ran over, under and thru by boaters on Wednesday and Thursday from the Stren series (FLW, BFL, Renegade, Mom and Pop or whomever sponsors). Wrapped boat here, wrapped boat there. There was times I was hugging the right side of the channel in my boat doing the max 36 mph that she will run and boaters would come between me and the marker on the right with 50 yards of open water to my left.

Now for the real problem, Wednesday morning, I am fishing the same cut that I have fished for 6 days about 5 hours a day and I am on the South point as the Teal and White Bullet, KY tags with 250 Merc Optimax comes out of the cove next to me, gets on full plane and as I set the hook, he comes off plane and cuts in front of me by about 30 yards and drops the trolling motor. I land my fish and tell him that he is not fishing in front of me in this cut. He says he is a tournament and that the "Stren Series" is more important than my fishing. I again tell him he is not fishing here and put my trolling motor on 100% and go in front of him. He gets mad and starts up the big motor right next to me and leaves. A real JERK. Thursday morning, same exact spot and I am fishing the deeper flowers on the North side of the cut about 2 cast from the point and here comes Teal and White bullet on full plane around the corner and moves up to the point in front of me. I was really PI$$ed for he was about to get what he wished for. I told him that I did not leave my "SET" in the room and he better stop cutting in front of me and to move. He said he was not moving so I told him that I would be to his boat in a second and I am not sure which one, but one of us was getting an A$$ whipping when I get there. As I get closer he moves his boat to the right away from me and his co-angle tells me to go Crappie Fish in "That" boat. My pressure was high enough and after that there was now going to be a 3-way battle royal and my big A$$ was outnumbered. After a few more choice words as my boat is getting closer to them and the "Pro" decides it is not worth getting a whippin or giving a whippin for and leaves. I don't fish the tourney trail and never will fish the tourney trail. I have a Deep V aluminum boat with a 90 Mercury. Yes, everyone that sees me around Cumberland ask me how is the Striper fishing, Dale Hollow it is how is the Walleye fishing, Ky and Barkley it is how is the Crappie biting - I Bass Fish - Smallmouth first and Largemouth second. I know not all tourney fishermen are like this ABSOLUTE MORAN and I sure hope you are on this board and I hope you skunked both days. Tourney guys do not own the lake. I am not saying I own the lake but to cut in front of someone 2 days in a row in the same spot is a joke. My next boat is going to be a 26 footer with a 450hp motor and I dare anyone to give me some crap. It may be aluminum and it may only run 36mph on the top end but I would bet in the 3 years I had her, there has been just as many or more fish in my boat per fishing day on the water than MANY $40-50K rigs. I talked to another guy later in the afternoon that was fishing the Stren tourney. He happened to come around a point as I set the hook and landed a 3 pounder from the Buck Brush and immediately speeded up to move to the next point on the other side of the bay, about 40 yards to the other side for he was not flipping but cranking the lead in bank. I asked him about the tourney rules about this other idiot and he said there were no rules. Rules about distance between competitors but no rules about distance between other fishermen. If this is a sport then there MUST be some form of SPORTSMANSHIP. Rules should be stated that any tourney angler should stay away from other anglers, tourney or otherwise, the same distance. I don't own the lake but neither does a tourney angler either. Move behind me fine, move in front of me, fine as long as I can't make a long cast and put my bait in your boat. I don't own a gun and don't carry a gun for good reason. I heard a story once of an angler confronting another that cut him off and said what gives you the right to fish in front of me and the other guy pulled out a pistol and said "this does". Way too much water to fish to cut someone off by 20-30 yards. If you are a PRO and this is how you have to find your fish then I would suggest you go get a 9-5 job and battle for days off like the rest of us. This idiot in the Teal and White Bullet, 250 Mercury Optimax, Mustache, Frogg Togg Rainsuit, Smoker fishing Carmach Bay on North Barkley the first thing Wednesday and Thursday mornings that followed the BP wrapped boat in both mornings gives tourney fishermen a BAD name and I think less of them all for the actions of this one idiot.

[mhall]

Heck of alot of fish Elwood, good job man. Hey I feel your pain on what you described, and it makes me mad too. I have no clue how the idea of fishing a tournament makes your fishing more important than the guy just having fun, but that is how alot of guys think. I can't tell you how many times I've had guys say, ''Hey are you fishing that tourney today?'', which I reply no, then you get, ''Oh do you mind if we cut in front of you then? This is one of the many reasons I am beginning to actually HATE TOURNAMENTS. Hang in there man, wish I could have been with ya catching some of them goodens, I'd had your back to, somebodies arse might have gotten wet.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Heck of alot of fish Elwood, good job man. Hey I feel your pain on what you described, and it makes me mad too. I have no clue how the idea of fishing a tournament makes your fishing more important than the guy just having fun, but that is how alot of guys think. I can't tell you how many times I've had guys say, ''Hey are you fishing that tourney today?'', which I reply no, then you get, ''Oh do you mind if we cut in front of you then? This is one of the many reasons I am beginning to actually HATE TOURNAMENTS. Hang in there man, wish I could have been with ya catching some of them goodens, I'd had your back to, somebodies arse might have gotten wet.

What got under my skin the most was the total lack of respect given and the fact that he thought he was better than me in his fancy new ride versus my aluminum heap. Somebody would have gotten wet and it just may have been me but rest assured it would not have been without a fight. I bought my boat 4 years ago when I was much larger and it was so much more comfortable to sit in a regular seat to drive and the deeper sides make it safer for a fat boy to move around in. I am smaller by 180 pounds now and spent last week in my Buddys new Triton and got around in it pretty good. My next one will be a "Bass" boat but this one was paid for with cash money and with the price of gas I can't see going in debt for $40K to sit in the garage in between trips right now. I have a hard time going into the same cut when another boat is present no matter how far away from the other boat I will be much less, 20 yards on top of them. Rediculuous. If I had to put up with that every day, I guess I would sell it all and take up Basketweaving and dare anyone to cut in front of my recliner between the TV while I was making my favorite Basket.

[buzzking]

So my question is how was the crappie fishin elwood? LMAO
Dave was tellin me about that last night and I was rollin, what an @$$bag. This is why I keep a C-rig tied on at all times, I've only chucked it at somebody once but not afraid to do it again.

[dcbasser]

Elwood basketweaving HAHAHAHAHAHA that will be the day. LOL Man its good to see you enjoy yourself again and catching a few of them big ol largeheads. As far as the tournament fishermen go .............it seems they are getting worse every year. I fish tournys every week on laurel but I try to have respect for everyones space. It doesn't matter if they are crappie fishing, walleye fishing, bass fishing , tourny fishing , hell I don't care if they are carp fishing, I try to show them respect to the waters they are fishing. Matter of fact me and my partner were fishing a tourny just this last tuesday and we are making our way up the bank to are favorite point and less than fifty yards someone comes in wide open , stop on the point and I have to watch them catch a monster largemouth. I've also had the same experiences with non tourny fisherman and also pleasure boaters and jet skiers. I think the main problem these days is that folks just don't have respect for other individuals period. IMHO.

[dcbasser]

So my question is how was the crappie fishin elwood? LMAO
Dave was tellin me about that last night and I was rollin, what an @$$bag. This is why I keep a C-rig tied on at all times, I've only chucked it at somebody once but not afraid to do it again.

I like the alternative buzzking...................My tippman paintball gun. They will leave a mark LOL

[MsgMills]

Elwood, I know for a fact I would have went to the Boat Ramps and reported the A$$hole for threatening you, would have gotten him DQ'd from the Tournament for unsportsmanship. Just to have reported him to any Tournament Official at any ramp would have been all you would have had to do. The word would have been spread to each ramp until the Boater was found and DQ'd.... Even to report him to a KYDFW Official.

[redneckshadrap]

Elwood, I know for a fact I would have went to the Boat Ramps and reported the A$$hole for threatening you, would have gotten him DQ'd from the Tournament for unsportsmanship. Just to have reported him to any Tournament Official at any ramp would have been all you would have had to do. The word would have been spread to each ramp until the Boater was found and DQ'd.... Even to report him to a KYDFW Official.

Those series have message boards as well...I say, we, does some posting over there.

Dang Elwood I may have to hand over my avatar. Wish I could've been with you. A silver buddy leaves nice dings in Fiberglass.

[RiverRunt]

From my perspective, it is a general sympton that is increasing with the "me", wannabe" and "disposal aspect" of society - lack of respect, honesty, integrity and courtesy to name a few. I think you see it in the divorce rate, at work, rage expressed at various levels of athletic activity from Little League, on the highways,etc. It is one of the reasons that I no longer hunt - too many crazies afield.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Elwood, I know for a fact I would have went to the Boat Ramps and reported the A$$hole for threatening you, would have gotten him DQ'd from the Tournament for unsportsmanship. Just to have reported him to any Tournament Official at any ramp would have been all you would have had to do. The word would have been spread to each ramp until the Boater was found and DQ'd.... Even to report him to a KYDFW Official.

If the tourney was close I would have went to the ramp but it took out of the Moores on Kentucky and I was fishing North Barkley, way too far for my little boat to run. I did call the FLW office today and report the guy to a gentleman that was a tourney director. He said he would find out who it was and take appropriate action. There was a BP wrapped boat with a Yamaha that came in both mornings ahead of this jerk and the director knew who he is and would ask him if he knows this other idiot.

[elnutsmalljaws]

On a different note:

I have considered Greenfish as "Trash Fish" compared to my beloved Smallies for several years now. After catching so many fish last week and the past couple of days, I have now officially removed them from the "Trash Fish" list forever. Yes, I am spoiled in catching so many but I will be the first to admit it was fun. It still ranks behind my beloved FNF fishing at Dale Hollow the first week of December and is still behind my night fishing for Smallies in late May, June and July, but did close the gap somewhat. I will plan on spending at least a week (Mon thru Fri) at Ky and Barkley every year during this time from now on.

[Tim_T]

Try this e-mail Elwood, Dave Washburn is the head of Public Relations for FLW. They are based in Benton and if it was Stren Series event, that is one of their tourneys. Not saying it would work, but they probably don't want the bad publicity that comes from this kind of behavior.

[email protected]

Good luck