Headed To The Rock, Now

[troutgnat]

Gentlemen,

Headed to the Rock in like 5 minutes. Will be putting in at Indian Point and headed up the Indian past Big Cedar. Probably will be working the Big Cedar side for smallies from area 21 to 18. Anybody out there be sure to say HI. I'm in a white 06' Tundra with a 89' 374 Silver/Burgandy Ranger 150 HP OMC on back.

See ya on water and will post report upon my return.

[flipper]

word to the wise, watch your p&qs with Indian Point gestopo. one helluva jerk!!! Family spent last holiday week end down there ,rented condo,jet ski's ate @ resturants all week end. jerk ticketed me for tail lights on boat!! popped a fuse when hooked up tp leave. wife was following so no one could run into me even tho the tail lights on the car showed up around boat but still wrote me up. A#1 jerk. last dime we will be spending there I can assure everyone.

[Bill Babler]

Flipper, know what you mean. First day out with my New Champion, I had one system light, you notice I did not say tail or brake or turn signal light, I said a system light. There are 9 lights across the back and rear sides of my boat trailer.

Stone county deputy pulled me over and said he could and would if he ever seen me out with this light out again write me a ticket. He even said he could force me to unhook and let it sit on the road side until I had it fixed.

Did a little digging, and I guess this is one of the biggest points of contention, as far as law enforcement this year. It is geared mainly to all the lights the simi-tractor trailers are decorating their rigs with, but they have to enforce it the same for everyone.

Seems like a big deal about a little thing, but I can tell everyone traveling with a boat trailer, your lights better work weather they be decoritive or not, or you are going to get a fine. If that light is on the trailer, it better be lit.

I feel your pain.

[Quillback]

I don't see how you could be ticketed for a decorative lite out, I could see if it's tail lights or turn signals, but if a decorative lite is out, is there a law for that? I could undertand it if the decorative lites are too brite or numerous, but if they are out, so what? Seems to me theire are more important things for LE to look out for and spend their time on.

[flipper]

I used to be an over the road driver and yes they DO ENFORCE THAT !! ALL LIGHTS IF THEY ARE ON THERE THEY GOTTA WORK. I think it has very little to do with public safety and EVERYTHING to do with REVENUE. MOST will give a warning or maybe a fix it ticket . Indian Point officer's name is BARNEY!!! and as I stated A genuine BUTT HEAD. What chapped me up was the money my family [8 adults 3 kids] spent in that community over the week end was NOT chump change but they can kiss that and something else good bye.

[Bill Babler]

Quill, Flip is correct with a capital T. You gotem on there, they have to be lite and working or you are dogmeat. Spoke to one of my MSHP Buddy's and he said right now, any Law Enforcement is going to either write it, or go thru your rig. It is a way to get you stopped and once you are stopped they check everything they can. May be a revenue thing.

My clients yesterday were KCKS police officers. Shawn got a call during the trip to inform him that they had layed off 16 officers yesterday. He was shocked as he said they needed to hire 16 instead of lay them off. Money for these guys is nonexistant right now. It is a total shame when public safety is forced to create revenue, instead of protecting and serving, but it is a bitter fact.

This is still going to get worse before it gets better.

Have all your junk working and drive the speed limit.

Good Luck and Love you all. Flip, don't give up on us, one bad apple does not spoil the area pie. Most of us know where our bread is buttered and can't be without you guys.

[troutgnat]

Well gentlemen I survived the gastapo coming and going. My lucky day I guess. When I pulled out there were two of them in their vehicles right there waiting for those who were returning at dusk. I trailered up with no hassel. However, they left just a frog hair before I pulled out and one of them didn't even make it out of the parking lot; here came the lights and they got somebody. 1 minute after that as I was driving up the hill there was the other with a vehicle pulled over that quick. Like I said I got lucky and learned a lesson. Must mind P's and Q's at Indian Point that's for sure.

Now for the fishing! Fishing was decent. I boated about a dozen. Around 7 smallies and 5 kentuckys. I fished the Big Cedar side between 18 and 20(main lake point at Indian). Probably could have caught more fish but was hitting random spots looking for a pattern to come back Sunday to. Caught one big Kentucky right off the wake break in front of the ramp on a spinnerbait. I pulled a 3 1/2 lb off a dock with a Senko. Those were my big two. All my others were caught by dragging a Zoom fish doctor in green pumpkin around the fine pea gravel banks. Numerous fish were caught adjacent to docks. I tried to find some crankbait fish and managed to catch two on a Excalibur Fat Free Shad in Citrus Shad color.

I tried to keep the boat in around 20-25' of water and cast at a 45 degree to the bank for dragging the doctor. Most fish I caught were quite shallow 15' or less. Maybe I could have caught more and bigger fish out deeper but it was fun anyway.

I would like to sharpen my crankbait skills on some smallies can anyone give me a little more insight for crankin up some smallies this time of year???

Thanks!