5bites

I'm seeing it a bit different but we can disagree to disagree.

^^^^^ Exactly. Control the things that can be controlled rather than regulate one method or the other because you just don't like it. Calling for regulated seasons and the stop of tournaments is over the top. So is suggesting sight fishing is bad if you yourself wet a line before July. That's just hypocritical.

I can say this with complete honesty. I believe jerkbaits do as much or more damage to fish than most any other lure or technique. Do I fish them? Yep. Do I think you should stop fishing them? Nope. See how simple and easy that is. Now by some others beliefs I would never throw one and think others shouldn't either for the sake of an imaginary future. This rather than improve the fishery itself with better water levels stability (ya ya a pipe dream) and better/more habit. You are the pot calling the kettle black here.

You took this way out of context. I didn't say not to strive for improvement. I did say regulations to appease some and hurt others will always lead to hurting everyone. I made good comparisons to show how hypocritical some sounded. You are comparing products to people's rights and regulations. Not even close bud. And the gun thing? That's really grasping. I don't mind healthy debate and ideas but make it comparable please.

I saw that! Congrats sir! Did my bad luck ruin the old boat so bad that you had to sell it? I reeeeeally hope we can make another cabin trip in the next few weeks to see if they move in better.

I say we all start fishing with hookless lure, ask permission to each fish before we fool it into biting, make sure it won't emotionally stress the creature, join peta, and give each fish a warm fuzzy hug every time it gets in the boat but not against its will and not before completely coating ourselves with slime to protect it. Good grief. Yea we should want to have the best fisheries we can but everything comes at a compromise. No bed fishing, no post spawn fishing as they'll be stressed, no fishing when it's hot, definitely no deep fishing, no fishing with anything that can gut or gill hook a fish, and absolutely no guides stressing these fragile creatures day in day out every day. Piss and moan all you want but you guys are going rule us all out of fishing if we want to only change what affects each one of us personally. If I give up something you don't like then you have to give up something I don't like. Then what's left?! Seriously some of you sound like peta.com is your home page. Hence I always say (and get frowned upon by some) if a guy wants to keep a few legally let him! Bed fish? Let him! Tournaments? Absolutely! Why? Because it's not freaking hurting anything and you can tell by the way when we go to the lake we catch fish, and again look at the tournament results. History tells what's working and what isn't. Want to make fishing better? Improve the habitat!!!!!!!!!!

To what Wrench said I'll go along with that. I'm not saying we should stop fishing tournaments as they are now until something is done but you are right. There is no reason technologically we have to haul fish around all day in fear of losing them in the live well then restocking them in the same location hundreds of other fish are dropped in every week. Small tournaments and jackpots this probably isn't feasible but the larger ones don't really have and excuse. I see no reason a small series couldn't start up that was MLF based. Maybe the top 30 guys around here fishing an invitation only series for real money. Something needs to change anyway to spark a little excitement to local derbies. Until the economy and absolute silly flood of buddy tournaments there were a few series' that if you were competitive in you were known. I speak mainly about the old CPA when it was known to be tough competition. This is drifting off the main topic but it ties into fish care and the sport.

No studies just tournament results and general quality of fishing. I know that's not concrete for everyone but it does seem the weights and numbers of heavy bags have actually increased year round in the last several years.

I will say one inevitable problem with fishing around the spawn and that is I believe fishing tournaments become snagging tournaments. I can't necessarily say I have proof but I'll say I'm convinced anyway.

I agree. I don't doubt that had I went to channel swings in the areas I was at and slowed down I could have found a better quality. I'm a sucker for sight fishing though. I came down with that on my mind and was gonna stick to it. Your post about the frog is why I had one on my deck all weekend. I only got to use it once though when I was curious how this one particular fish would react to it.

I'm not pointing to anyone specifically. The same as I assume you aren't saying I'm a die hard c&r guy. I do c&r on lakes but if others keep a few eh no biggie. As I've said many many times on the beaten to death topic HISTORY is proving its not a problem. Same with bed fishing. If it was hurting our lakes I'd be against both. Fish die. I saw two random dead bass this weekend. I don't think the sky is falling. But but you are correct. Pull a fish off the bed and no doubt nothing else is gonna step in to guard the nest. The fact is it doesn't have a detrimental effect on the population therefore I continue to practice it. The results speak for themselves just as they do for keeping fish. I imagine you understand what im trying to say. I don't think it hurts a thing but if someone doesn't want to do it then by all means don't. I personally think it's awesome being able to learn the attitude of a fish and try to figure him out. It's an element you only get to experience while sight fishing.

I personally thoroughly enjoy bed fishing. Putting a fish back immediately (unless the area is saturated with gills) can't hurt a thing because the fish returns to the bed and resumes their job. I hooked and lost a fish just this weekend and caught it again a few minutes later. Next day that fish was still there. If catching them hurts the spawn then stay off the lake every spring because you meandering down the bank spooks them off the bed too. I I sight fish in tournaments too. I do it knowing that when I catch it and weigh it, it stands no chance at a successful spawn. That doesn't bother me. The reason why is history. Look at the area lakes conditions and tell me they're suffering, especially Grand. It has way way more pressure than any lake around here and is a good sight fishing lake. It also keeps pumping out good bags all year every year. You ou don't have to like it and I respect that. In order to not be a hypocrite though you better stop fishing April 1st through July 1st. The bottom line is its just hard to argue with history and real results.

I don't have much of a report really. I forced the sight fishing thing and didn't vary much from it. I fished fro Roaring River to Devils Dive area. I honestly don't know if the area is is in the beginning or end of the spawn. I saw a few empty beds but not like they all moved up at once and are done. Their were quit a bit more beds in the RR area. It was strange how one cove would have several beds and others would have zero. Typically I usually see several beds wherever I go this time of year. This is what has me confused on what stage the area is in. They could just be more spread out this year. I will say last year the first weekend of May beds were everywhere and we hammered them off beds with jerkbaits. My report is in here from last year. This year it was jig or paca slim. We caught several keepers but no big fish. I saw some solid fish cruising though which again has me wondering if I wasn't ahead of the bigger wave to come??? That and it's a few weeks earlier than lasts years big wave. I'm hoping this is the case so maybe I can get another weekend of sight fishing in. I enjoy it about as much as any technique. I caught some fish cranking and jerkbaiting while looking for beds. One I lost would have easily been the biggest fish of the weekend on a super special risto rap (that later got donated to the cause darn it!). Also caught a nice walleye that's in the fridge right now. Also there are fish to be had that you can't see just pitching to the bushes. Some are solid keepers that are very aggressive that seem to appear out of nowhere. All in all it was a great weekend to finally get back down there with the family. The weather was gorgeous, boat ran great, cabin was still there, plus we caught a few fish to boot. God is good.

Last year I caught several solid keepers on a wart at the end of the day when they finally moved up in that dirty incoming water. Me thinking like several others that it would take a 4+ to do any good I threw them back lol. You gave the boys some baits that were donated so that more than made up for my ignorance . I'm hoping to be down there soon. The family needs a good lake trip weekend.

Sorry I couldn't contribute this year guys. I wanted to make it.

My boys and I watched Randy Howell Friday afternoon then we all went to the expo Saturday. It was a good time.

Sold. Thx oaf

$175

Yessir more is always more better. the 8 was very handy. More so than I imagined before I had it. The 12's are basically the same outside length as the 1st gen 8's too.

Might consider trade for hobby grade rc

I'm just throwing this up because it's been collecting dust. Great camera. It comes with a battery bacpac, suction cup mount, and a few misc mounts. The battery bacpac optional back door/kid has been modified to clear a charging cable just so the buyer is aware. If you want it to be 100% sealed I recommend buying a new door which isn't much obviously.$200obopics to come but if you are seriously interested I can try and get some text to me before I get off work.

Nothing at the moment. Will hopefully get a 12' when I buy though.

All sold

Just the tilt bracket remains

Handles are gone. Make offers on the rest.