Tournament Fishing Pressure

[skipjack]

With the upcoming tournament season about to get into full swing I wanted to get some opinions on pressure and what it does to the fishery. You got this KVD Big Bass deal, BASS, FLW, CPA, and that just names the bigger ones. With the ones happening end of April beginning of May (spawn) how do you think it effects the lake? Also, forget the "spawn tourneys" just in general do you think tourneys redistribute the fish too much back to the weigh in sites like Ahoys, State Park, etc. Or is there so many fish in this lake that it doesn't matter. I'm not against tourneys, just wondering what you guys and gals thoughts were.

[techo]

Here we go again......Champ?

[Jason Essary]

I'm sticking my fingers and my ears and saying lalalalalaalala.

[Bill Babler]

Rock always has lots of early season fishing. It is usually the best game in town. Really think this year with the fuel prices and the economy that it will "NOT" be a huge year. Nothing like the derby years in the 80's and 90's.

Biologist will tell you tournament fishing prussure during this time of the year is not a factor, on populations both now or in the future. I don't know.

I will tell you it is an inconvience for us locals fishing everyday. But then again, we don't own this pond and have no right to tell anyone else what to do. As big as this lake is we can usually scrap out a spot or two to toss a bait.

The lake is not chalked full of bass, but since the flood years of a few years back, I believe we have a very nice population of breeding fish.

In the Winter derbys, we are seeing very nice size bass coming to the scales, lots of 4,5,6,7 pound gals are being caught.

I believe both derby fishermen and just flat anyone that wants to fish the Rock this year, will have a wonderful trip.

Plenty of room for everyone, and enough nice bass to get excited about, fishing for pay or for play.

Good Luck

[Trav]

I'm sticking my fingers and my ears and saying lalalalalaalala.

lalalalalalala

[Guest]

In my opinion,

Fishing pressure from tournaments, weekend anglers, guides, locals, etc is the biggest factor to consider when catching fish. They get sore lipped after catch and release, but will resume feeding soon after.

As for the spawn, they gotta do it somewhere. Its gonna happen no matter what.

Unless they wind up in a cooler.

I hate fishing pressure,

therefore I try to fish on weekday afternoons if possible, but this is the exception to the rule.

Like many of you, weekends are the only chance I get to fish.

[getfished]

Lots of pressure, lots of fish. Like Babs says, plenty to go around. It's just as good a wee bit south but there's not quite as good of a bent rod pattern there. It all evens out.

[Don House]

Room for everyone is very true, and yes it is a hassle for some of us locals, but no big deal.. Just a note, fishing around the DAM area and Up the white river really suck, need to just make sure you spend alot of time in the Aunts Creek Area and up the James..

Don

[denjac]

Room for everyone is very true, and yes it is a hassle for some of us locals, but no big deal.. Just a note, fishing around the DAM area and Up the white river really suck, need to just make sure you spend alot of time in the Aunts Creek Area and up the James..

Don

I agree Don! All we have around the Dam area is goggle eye and bluegill.

[Champ188]

IN MY OPINION, it would be nice to not have tournaments during the spawn. It just can't be good to pull fish off their nests and haul them miles away. But tournaments have been around 40 years or more and we still have lots of fish, so like Mr. Bill said, plenty for everyone. Let's just go fishin' and be happy we are blessed with the opportunity to do so and have such a heavenly place to practice our passion.