Bust on Table Rock

[Danoinark]

I heard on Branson radio news today that MWP have arrested a 42 year old Springfield man for the thefts...Dano

[rainbow]

Hope they hang his you know what.

[vernon]

I must be the luckiest guy alive. As crazy as this might sound I have been leaving my stuff out in the open on my boat in resort boat stalls for nearly 30 years at LOZ, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Kentucky Lake, Dale Hollow, Greers Ferry, you name it and have never lost a thing. My stuff ain't junk and I'm always in a less than 5 year old Ranger (currently a 2004 520). There is always at least 5 baitcasters and 3 spinning outfits on the front deck and whatever my wife, brother or whoever I'm fishing with are using on the back. My tackle bag sits on the floor and I've never removed my trolling motor, GPS or depth finders. After reading what was said above about leaving your rod boxes standing open and empty, I'm kind of wonderin' if my good fortune is due to thieves thinking it's too good to be true and must be a setup! Regardless, I refuse to take the time and go thru the hassle of hauling all of that crap to and from the boat dock and room twice a day. I guess that's why I pay extra for total replacement insurance just in case. I'm very happy to hear that there are efforts being made to put a stop to this stuff nonetheless.

[Phil Lilley]

I've lost my tackle once... years ago off my dock. All my trout and bass tackle at one time. I had just got back from fishing the lower lake for bass so both trout and bass tackle and rods were in there. 've never trust my own dock since.

[Fishin' Freak]

My most recent incident happened yesterday (6/21) at the Joe Bald ramp. A friend of mine, my wife, and I went down to the lake around 4:30 and put our boat in. As we were unloading two drunk men in there 20's were swimming near the ramp and ask us for some beer. We said we didn't have any and they got a little angry--why we weren't sure. We took off and hit the lake until dark and when we returned my friends passenger window to his 2003 F-150 had been broke out with a big rock. Who ever did it--assuming it was the two drunk guys--took three different throws to hit the window, leaving two big dents on the side of the truck. Nothing was stolen--thank goodness since my wallet was under the seat but it is another lake incident to document. If it was the two guys we think it was they were driving an old Jeep wagon which was light tan with dark brown/fake wood trim. You guys might be aware if you see such a vehicle.

[Bill Babler]

This is something that is not only a fishermans problem, although, I have had my equipment stolen twice. They also took shirts and coats with my name on them. You have to wonder?

Almost every tournament bass fisherman in our area has had his equipment snitched in the last 10 years. None of them leave any rods in their boats anymore. They all go into the motel rooms at night, when on away trips.

This is also a problem with the hunters. A couple of years ago on the start of quail and pheasant season in Northern Missouri, staying at a motel with about 50 other rigs, over 40 of them lost all their gear from guns to anything the crooks could grab. Lucky we had ours in our room, but they still somehow got in my truck. Took all the change out of the ashtray. How in the world they got this done with barking dogs and all the people around is a huge mystry. I have not heard of any capture.

I know Colorado was having trouble with elk and deer camps being raided during the day when the hunters were out.

This is just a problem, that we as sportsman deal with and its a crying shame.

[Andrew Schaefer]

We had it happen on the rock prolly 8 years ago. They broke into our lockers and stole most of our rods, the guy in the next stall had his tackle box stolen. the stuff we fished with back then wasn't too expensive. I shudder when I think about what would it would cost if it happened again. I've never left anything of value in a boat overnight since. When we talked to the sherrif about it he said that they had had problems on tr with a group of guys using scuba gear to go up to boats at night and remove the lower units and or stainless steel props.

[rainbow]

Phil, I have stayed at your place for many years and we will leave our stuff on the boat when we go up for lunch and have not had a problem. A few time we left it over night but would think twice about it now. Anywhere else I take my stuff out of the boat every night. the crooks must know it because we have had boats next to us hit and they didn't even come in ours. I usually leave a beer in the rod box and it is always there in the morning. I guess if the crook didn't like beer he would leave it.

[Hersh]

Had the same thing happen to me on the Rock two years ago. Aunts Creek arm eleven boats were stolen from their slips and broken into. My Ranger was broken into causing 2 grand in damage to the boat. Sad part was the rod lockers and front compartments I had removed everything because of this problem. All the jerks had to do was open the lids instead they used a pry bar.

[Hunter91]

My partner had two batteries stolen out of his Champion in the Joe bald area in the last two years. Funny thing was that they stole only one battery out of three in the back of his boat. The second time they had to break his lock but again only stole one battery. Now he has some deterents on his dock but seldom leaves his boat down on it now.