Daddy Carp

Well J.E., I think we are getting closer to agreeing on the lake usage. I do believe the golf courses belonged to the birds and animals far longer than to you and I(unless it's an indoor course). Just because it was mowed, seeded, and reshaped, it was still their's.......we are the borrowers and maintainers. You are so right about the waverunners, skiboats & other inconsiderately operated craft. Some is "not knowing" most is "demanding their right to go wherever they want on public water" I agree I have had a very friendly & courtious time with the tournament fishermen. The problem, again, is a lack of regulating the number of organized activitieson the lakes at the same time. Even though it is public domain, would you like to have your tournaments for the next 5 years scheduled at the same time there are 4 or 5 boat races & regattas scheduled in the same area? Even though both have equal rights, it has to be regulated or it will not work for either party. Again, it is not the individual fishermen creating the problem but it will be up to us (you & me) to insist on a workable solution that will benifit all.

Just got back from Pomme de Terre. I fished the main lake around Decker's branch, Martin flats and down river about 3 mi. The bite was slow, no matter what I threw. The only plastic I got bit on, was a 5" red/green glittered lizard, Texas rigged, on steep solid-rock banks. I tried several cranks & the only thing they seemed interested in was my ole, Matzou "rumble shad" in firetiger or shad color. Baited the trotline with shad sides and "zeroed" out. While showing the lake to my brother-in-law from my dock, we saw a man & his family catch about a 17-20lb channel on a rod & reel (and they were tied up to the same tree as one end of my trotline). Cool for them, but what a "bummer" to have to watch! LOL. Couldn't get crawfish for bait. My guy, at Pomme de Terre Outfitters, tells me that the harvest, locally, was very slim and the usual supply from the north was infested with a fungus so the state would not let them come in. He said that crawfish are very hard to find in the area, if at all. Several tournament clubs were on the lake Sat. & Sun. They seemed to be a polite & friendly group. Shortly after 7am on Sat, there must have been about 15 or more boats (tournament boats), roar into Decker's branch. Most seemed to be fishing stumps and shallow shorelines. That is the same thought I had & tried Thur. & Fri. with no luck. On Sun. most of the tournament boats were fishing the points in deeper waters & deep structures. The coves were pretty vacant. Crazy as it seems; with normal lake level, water cooling down & shad spawn in the coves, --- I would recommend fishing the points in 15-30' water or along steep banks next to deep water. I like the, shad or firetiger colored, lipless or 8-12' divers. I would be more inclined to rig lizards & worms over jig/pig or jig & craw. They are not responding by the book so don't be afraid to expirement. May tomorrow's catch be your biggest & God bless. D.C.

I hear what your saying J.E. and if your club were to hold a tournament on Pomme, we probably would not even know one was going on unless we were told. Problem comes forth when 6 or 10 other clubs come, from all over the state or mid-west, to converge on the lake at the same time in order to "exercise their rights" at the same time. I blame the promoters & Agency who issues the permits much more than the club fishermen. If you go out to play golf at your local course, that you help to support and maintain, and find 3-6 Canadian geese on the fairways, you'll not mind too much & think they are just playing & eating......fun to watch and a natural happening. Now, when the rest of the flocks come in from all over the county to converge & eat & crap & do the natural thing "excercising their rights", on your maintained & supported golf course, every weekend......then your attitude changes. Hope you can see the problem and my point. There is plenty of water to be shared & enjoyed by all fishermen. The problems arise when an "organized convergence" causing over-crowding & over fishing of an area, by out of the area groups-in-mass. This also makes bad times for tourists & vacationers on those lakes. Why the tournaments don't stick to the larger lakes more & keep the preasure off the small ones is beyond me! Again, I like to see people enjoy fishing and the use of the waters. I don't like to see the convergence of the mutlitudes on the same area; or, fishing promoted as; "a ruthless competition" played on public facilities. If this is how some want the sport, then they should build their own private facilities, as do the other Pro Sports build stadiums and gyms. Have a good one, and may you always catch a bigger fish than your biggest! D.C.

YEPPER!!! ............ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20621511/ --- ACCORDING TO THIS SITE, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED EXPERTS ON HOW & WHAT WE AND MOTHER-NATURE SHOULD DO AND WHEN.............BOTCHED UP ANOTHER ONE. DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEIR "UNCHECKED" PROCEEDURES & PROGRAM COST US THIS TIME, IN WASTED FUNDS AND TIME, BUT I BET IT'S ENOUGH FOR YOU AND ME BOTH TO RETIRE ON!! ONCE AGAIN THE GOV. BUREAUCRATS PROVE TO BE "BUNGLING IDIOTS". WHEN WILL THEY STOP TRYING TO ALTER OR CIRCUMVENT MOTHER-NATURE??? LEAVE HER BE, SHE'S DONE QUITE WELL FOR 1,000's OF YEARS BEFORE THESE PEOPLE THIS GOVERNMENT AND AL GORE WERE EVEN THOUGHT OF. TOP O' THE DAY TO YA LADS & LASSIES!!!!

JUST GOT BACK FROM A 4 DAY STAY ON POMME de TERRE. AS FORCASTED, IT RAINED MOST OF THE TIME. I FOUND MY TROT-LINE & PUT IT BACK IN ACTION. I BAITED WITH SHRIMP AND WAS ABLE TO CATCH SOME PRETTY NICE CHANNEL CATS IN THE 3-7lb RANGE. FOR THE BASS, I WORKED THE MAIN LAKE POINTS ON THE POMME SIDE ABOUT 2mi. FROM THE DAM. FISHED SEVERAL COVE AREAS IN THE TIMBERS. MY BEST BITES WERE ON ROCKY SHORELINES/POINTS NEXT TO DEEP WATER. SOME BITE IN THE COVES BY STRUCTURES & DOCKS. FISH SEEMED TO BE A LITTLE MORE "PICKY" IN THE COVES. MOST FUN WAS ON THE MAIN LAKE POINTS WHEN I COULD FIND THE CHUNKS JUMPING SHAD. THEY HIT LIKE A FREIGHTTRAIN! USED SHAD PATTERN & COLOR LIPLESS ON ROCKY POINTS & 15-20ft WATER OFF ROCKY SHORELINES. I AM PARTIAL TO THE MATZUO LIPLESS (THE OLD STYLES) MORE THAN THE RATTLETRAPS OR BERKLEYS. BETTER RESULTS, FOR ME. I ALSO HAD GOOD RESPONSE TO 1/2oz JIG & CRAW (DARK BROWN OR PUMPKINSEED W/SIMILAR COLOR CRAWS)A LITTLE RED OR GOLD FLAKE DIDN'T HURT. WHEN IT STARTED SLOWING UP, I WENT TO MY OLD STAND-BY. A GULP, 5" SINKING MINNOW ON A CAROLINA RIG W/ A 4/0 OR 5/0 WIDEGAP HOOK AND A 3/8oz BULLET WEIGHT. AS USUAL, THEY TORE THEM UP! I WAS OUT THIS MORNING (IN THE FOG) BEFORE SUN-UP. I KNEW THAT THINGS WERE SLOW & SPOTTY FOR SOME TIME IN DECKERS COVE & CEDAR COVE. SATURDAY, THERE WERE PROBABLY 20-25 BOATS, THROUGHOUT THE DAY, ALL MAKING THE SAME PATH DOWN THE SAME SHORELINES. WHEN THE "TOURNAMENT BOYS" WERE TURNED OUT THIS MORNING, I COUNTED 5-6 BOATS ALL ROARING THROUGH THE FOG TO THE BACK OF DECKERS COVE FIRST OFF. WHEN I CAME BACK INTO THE DOCK AROUND 9:30am, THERE WAS ONLY 1 BOAT FISHING DECKERS EXCEPT FOR SEVERAL CRAPPIE FISHERMEN. WONDER WHY THEY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH LUCK UP THERE ????DAAAHHH !!!! THEY'VE FISHED IT OUT & WHAT'S LEFT RUNS FOR COVER FROM THE HAIL OF SPINNERS, ZARAS & BACKLASHED SHIMANOS. LOL LOOKED LIKE A DECENT CLUB & WELL MANNERED. HOPE THEY WERE ABLE TO DO WELL. IF YOUR LOOKING FOR FAST ACTION, BETTER STEER AROUND DECKERS, WINDMILL POINT & CEDAR COVE. THEY'VE HAD WAY TOO MUCH PREASURE & IT'S SHOWING, BIG-TIME. GOOD LUCK, MAY YOU HAVE A MORE FUN FISHING NEXT-TIME THAN YOU HAD LAST TIME!!

THE MDC IS NOT ALONE!!! THE DAY WHEN KIDS COULDN'T WAIT FOR A WEEKEND TO GO FISHING WITH DAD, GRAMPS OR THEIR BUDDY IS ALMOST GONE. THERE IS STILL A FEW LEFT. IT IS UP TO US TO ONCE AGAIN TAKE ON THE SYSTEM & CORP. AMERICA AS WE DID IN THE 40'S & 50'S. KIDS ARE & HAVE BEEN TOLD FOR ABOUT 25 YRS. THAT THEY HAVE TO BE THE BEST, HAVE THE MOST OF THE BEST AND PUT DOWN ANYONE WHO TRIES TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE "LOCK-STEP" ADVOCATED "NORMAL OR BEST". AS TERRY BEESON SAID, THEY THINK IT HAS TO BE A COMPETIVE SPORT OR THEIR NOT INTERESTED. OUR GOOD CORPORATE SPONSORS AND TOURNAMENT FISHERMEN ARE MUCH RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LACK OF INTEREST IN FISHING TREND. WHEN YOUR TOLD & SHOWN THAT TO BE A GOOD BASS FISHERMAN: YOU HAVE TO..... HAVE A SPONSOR-RIDDEN UNIFORM, 20 OR SO $200 REELS ON $150 RODS, EVERY LURE ON THE MARKET IN EA. COLOR @ $4-$20 APIECE, A $40,000 BASS BOAT WITH ABOUT $3,000 OF ELECTRONICS ON BOARD AND THE MONEY TO PULL THEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PRE-FISH & FISH IN A TOURNAMENT 3-4 DAYS EVERY WEEK, WHAT ELSE CAN KIDS & NEW-COMERS FEEL. THEY KNOW THEY WILL NOT EVER ACHIEVE OR AQUIRE THIS SO WHY BE AN INFERIOR OR LOOSER IF THEY JUST WANT TO FISH. I AM TOTALY FOR BOYCOTING THE MFGS., SPONSORS AND PROMOTERS OF THIS "HIPE" FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH MONITARY MOTIVES. WE NEED TO PROMOTE THE KIDS & BEGINNERS DERBYS, FORUMS AND OUTINGS. I HAVE, DO AND WILL MOVE OVER TO LET A KID OR NEWCOMER HAVE MY SPOT. GLADLY SHARE & SHOW WHAT I CAN TO THEM SO THEIR TRIP WILL BE A FOND MEMORY THAT THEY WILL WANT TO REPEAT FOR YEARS. WHERE DO WE START? IN THIS AREA, THE MDC IS A GOOD PLACE ALONG WITH BASS PRO, PRO BASS, INC. AND THE OTHER "HIGH-DOLLAR" NBA'S OF FISHING. NOT AN EASY THING TO TURN AROUND BUT WITH A LITTLE TIME AND EFFORT WE MAY BE ABLE TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS A LITTLE. BEST PLACE TO START IS AT HOME. LESS DEMANDING FOR COLLEGATE SPORTS PERFECTION, STOP THROWING MONEY & GIFTS TO WIN OUR KIDS FAVOR BUT SPEND MORE QUALITY TIME TEACHING, SHARING & JUST LETTING THEM KNOW WE CARE. MAYBE THEN INSTEAD OF SMOKING GRASS, THEY'LL BE SITTING ON IT WITH A CANE POLE & STRINGER OF FISH.

WELL, I'M GOING BACK TO POMME de TERRE FOR A FEW DAYS. THE LAKE IS BACK TO NORMAL LEVEL NOW SO I SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH MY TROTLINE. I PULL THE HOOKS & STAGING BUT LEAVE THE MAIN-LINE IN ALL SUMMER. IT'S WELL MARKED & WON'T ROT. HOPEFULLY THE CATS ARE STILL HITTING. LAST TIME UP (END OF AUG.) THE BASS WERE FAIR ON DARK JIGS/CRAWS, DEEP DIVERS (MODEL A & FAT A), WHITE BUZZ BAITS EARLY & LATE. CATS WERE GOOD AND THE WALLYS SLOW USING SHAD COLOR LIPLESS. SURE WISH SOME OF YOU "GOOD" FISHERMEN WHO FISH THAT LAKE WOULD START POSTING SOME REPORTS. I CAN'T FIND A SITE ANYMORE THAT POSTS CURRENT REPORTS ON POMME. GUESS THE FISH ARE HITTING SO FAST THAT THERE'S NOT TIME TO TYPE. LOL I WILL TRY TO POST INFO EACH TIME I GO, BUT THAT'S ABOUT EVERY 3 WEEKS. SOME TIMES YOU MIGHT DO BETTER TO KNOW WHAT I TRIED SO YOU CAN DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!! LET US HEAR FROM YOU. THIS NICE SITE IS AVAILABLE, WHY NOT USE IT AND KEEP SOME CURRENT INFO GOING ON THE POMME? I'LL TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE MUSKIES ARE DOING. WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THAT TIME. USUALLY STARTS BACK GOOD IN MID TO LATE OCT. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY SHOULD BE UP TO ABOUT 50-52" NOW. LET US HEAR FROM YOU, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A GOOD CATCH. EVEN IF YOUR LIKE ME AND HAVE TROUBLE EVEN CATCHING FISH AT COUNTRY MART'S MEAT DEPT. POST ANYWAY, THEN THEY'LL KNOW WHAT NOT TO DO OR USE!!! LOL LOL HAVE A GREAT DAY FISHING OR A RESTFUL DAY THINKING ABOUT IT.

IF YOU WANT A LITTLE VARIETY IN LOCATIONS, YOU WOULD BE MOST WELCOME AT THE ROCKAWAY BEACH FISHING DOCK & ISLAND PARK. IT IS VERY CONVIENT & RECEPTIVE TO WHEELCHAIRS & HANDICAPED FISHERMEN & LADIES. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. WE EVEN CATCH A FEW BROWNIES THERE FROM TIME TO TIME.

HAVING CLEANED SEVERAL PONDS, FROM OVER-GROWTH, BY PULLING AN OLD BED SPRING THROUGH THE POND, I GOT AN IDEA AS I SAT WATCHING MOSS, STYROFOAM, BRANCHES AND OTHER TRASH GRAB MY LINE & CARRY IT DOWNSTREAM. IF SEVERAL BOATS COULD MANUEVER FLOATING LINES, NETS, ETC. TO CORAL THE SURFACE TRASH IT COULD THEN BE COLLECTED & REMOVED EASILY. LAKE TANEYCOMO IS A BEAUTIFUL LAKE BUT BECOMMING HARD TO SEE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS & TRASH FLOATING ON TOP. THE FURTHER YOU GO DOWNSTREAM, THE WORSE IT GETS. MOST I THINK COMES FROM "TOURIST-VILLE". THIS IS A PROBLEM WE MUST ENDURE FOR THE REVENUE THEY BRING. WE CAN, HOWEVER, KEEP OUR AREA IN CHECK WITH A LITTLE ORGANIZED TEAMWORK FROM WE THAT ARE CONCERNED WITH OUR LAKE & AREAS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A "ROUND-UP", FROM TIME TO TIME, OF THE FLOATERS & DEBRIS ON LAKE TANEYCOMO. USING METHODS AND CONCEPTS SIMILAR TO THOSE USED TO CORAL AND CONTAIN OIL SPILLS. IF THE DEPT. OF CONSERVATION OR ANY OTHER MAJOR GROUP WOULD LIKE TO ASSIST, SPONSOR OR DIRECT SUCH AN EFFORT I WOULD BE MOST WILLING TO PROMOTE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT. MY BOAT WILL ONLY HOLD SO MUCH DEBRIS BUT 30 - 40 BOATS UP & DOWN THE LAKE WORKING TOGETHER FOR A WEEKEND EACH SPRING & FALL WOULD KEEP OUR LAKE IN TOP SHAPE. I'M SURE THAT THE POWER COMPANY DOSEN'T WANT THE TRASH THROUGH THEIR TURBANS & WOULD BE WILLING TO ASSIST. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SHOULD ALSO BE MOST WILLING TO PARTICIPATE, CONTRIBUTE MONEYS, SUPPLIES OR WHATEVER SUPPORT THEY CAN AS THEIR INCOMES DEPEND ON THE TOURIST "RETURN VISITS". ANYONE WILLING TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN OR ANY ORGANIZATION OR AUTHORITY WILLING TO TAKE ON ALL OR PART OF ORGANIZING & SPONSORING THIS PLOY; PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT: ks_irishpower@yahoo.com I WILL RESPOND VIA EMAIL OR BY PHONE IF YOU INCLUDE A CONTACT NUMBER. I AM NOT A CRUSADER, JUST TIRED OF RESETTING MY LINES & WATCHING LITTLE CUPS,BOTTLES & DEBRIS FLOAT BY. LOL HAVE A VERY NICE AND TROUT FILLED DAY & MAKE BETTER MEMORY THAN YOU HAD YESTERDAY. ADDRESS RESPONSE & INQUIRY TO: DADDY CARP

I have never fished in a "Bass tournament" but have had many contests won & lost with friends, family & total strangers. Some based on fish: size, number caught, kind, etc. Win or loose, I enjoyed them all. The original concept of "tournament" fishing was to have contests for a certain group of participants & award the winner a token prize as a memento of the event. This has since been taken over by business & marketing mogels who care nothing about you, me or the preservation of fishing or fisheries. Promotions of BASS, clubs, tournaments, and the media "hype" of such is not done or conducted by average fishermen. It is pushed & promoted by boat,tackle and equipment manufactures for the sole purpose of wealth & power. Not for yours or my "best enterest" or preservation of our fish species and lakes. The marketing ploy is further enhanced & carried by a society who thinks everything has to be a competition as to biggest, most or best. They try to put fishing into the same competitive sports catagory as football & socker......so much for a relaxing day fishing! It has gotten too far out of hand! The smaller lakes are being overrun with way too many 250hp bass contestants with an attitude of "win or else". There is plenty of water for all if the attitudes are for the enjoyment not the win. The problem occurs when organizied groups converge on the same area in numbers that the area will not adaquatly accomodate. It's like putting 4 people in a phoneboth. Tight, but not a problem till 2 of them want to run or jump. Regulation & limitations as to the number of clubs, tournaments & contestants for each lake. Permits & permission needs to be handled by each state for tournament activities. Hate to see more regs, but the promoters, corporate giants and greedy concerns are forcing it on us.