Saturday 29th Report

[leo24551]

Well my report is sad in comparison to Mward and Bentrods but here goes.
Over the past few years things have changed dramatically for me, I used to put in every Saturday morning at the small ramp in Indian, as a matter of fact, that's where I first met Yellowdog and Jack. Once the ramp in Indian became unavailable I had to start choosing between the public ramp at the bridge or put in at Hardy. My favorite stretch of water to fish is between the tennis courts and Indian this is a fair run from either ramp.
Saturday I made the decision to put in at the bridge. As I was pulling away from the ramp I started marking a few fish. There was no big school but enough to make me stop and give it a try. About my third cast with a Fluke and I was hooked up and thought the game was on, not, several boats including the game warden passed directly over the fish and everything went dead. We jigged, casted and nothing. From there we traveled up as far as Indian checking all the usual spots and never did find a decent school. I did catch a fair sized green carp jigging but never got on the stripers. I never did go any higher than Indian which in hind site was a mistake.
On a happier note, I used my new Structure Scan to locate JD's bridge, this took all of 4 minutes. I absolutely love the new unit.

[mwardncsu]

Leo - thanks for posting the report - moved you over here to the reports section You are on them or not this time of year it seems - and where they were yesterday may not be where they are today..... Always "fun".

[leo24551]

Sorry about that Mike, you'll be old and blind one day.

[Deleted]

glad you got out leo. ;D

[mwardncsu]

Ha - no issues Leo - I'm already half-blind and getting old - and I mid-post own all the time (just get to move them before most see )

[mytoyzfishing]

at least the warden dindt stop to bother you. I hate getting pulled over

[mwardncsu]

No, they stopped several of us up the lake later that morning.... Not a big deal when fishing artificial as long as the birds are not diving or the fish are not right there..... Timing worked out ok for us this time.

[BentRod]

I used to hate being stopped, but after seeing time and again illegal fish being kept, I encourage it. If you're legal, then it shouldnt take more than two minutes. I pull all of my stuff out and open my live wells when I see them approaching. I give them nothing to wonder about. If you don't have a valid fishing license, I've found that having a fairly good looking blonde (who is a great liar!) with a cute little dog on the bow will help distract them long enough to find a valid saltwater license, which I've found qualifies as a freshwater license if you again have the distracting blonde up front!

I wish they'd check more. I fish a lot and that's the first time I've seen a warden boat since September. No joke. I think they should be sitting at Hardy ramp every evening Oct-Dec if you want my honest opinion. There's no telling the amount of fish taken out of there illegally over those months.

[BentRod]

By the way, if they try to stop you while birds are diving or fish are busting, wave them off and say this phrase, "Ain't nobody got time for that!" It works!

[leo24551]

Tyler, I'm not bothered by seeing the game warden, A couple of years back I was fishing the Staunton River for stripers. I launched the boat at Brookneal and Bigjon went to park the truck. While I was waiting on John I noticed the Game Warden a couple hundred yards down stream checking boats as he made his way up river. I got out the throw cushion, the life jackets, fire extinguisher, licenses and registration. When John got in the boat I told him we were going to go ahead and get this over with; we pulled out in the middle of the river and dropped the anchor, I stood on the deck and waited. The warden made his way to the boat below me and then turned and proceeded down river. I really wanted him to check me before I anchored in a hole and him come along and pull me off anchor, so I pulled the anchor, cranked the boat and proceeded to chase him down (this wasn't hard as he was running a 40 jet). When I caught up to him in a straight stretch I blew past him like he was backing up. I proceeded down stream about 2 miles, pulled over, anchored, climbed up on the front deck with papers in hand and told Bigjon, "let's see him ignore me now". The officers came down stream, powered down to an idle, eased past me, grinned and waved. I've never been so ticked off about not getting checked.

[BentRod]

Hate to tell you Leo, but I know exactly what they said when they passed you....



"Ain't nobody got time for that!"

[leo24551]

Tyler, you're probably right. ;D

[mytoyzfishing]

Ive been checked more than I can count over the last couple years. I think its needed but when i get pulled over 3 days in a row by the same officer to do a safety check it gets kind of old. wasn't fishing just crusing along with my family and in-laws on board.

[Shadslinger]

One of my lasts trips out with my Dad was on Leesville and the game wardens followed us from the dam all the way up past tri county. I killed the motor so they would go ahead and check us and they went on by. We proceeded on up the lake behind them and as we got to pigg river they stopped to let us get back in front. When we got up behind the dam and started fishing here they came and sat for awhile watching with binoculars before finally coming to check us in the midst of all that current from the dam release.....now how dumb is that..... ;D