CITT Classic October 24

[Jay]

This Saturday the Coastal Invitational Team Trail (CITT) has its Classic on Lake Greenwood. For more information visit: http://tristatebassclub.com/CITT.html.

[senkoslinger]

Do any other of you recreational anglers get tired of all these tournaments or am I in the minority? It always seems there's a tourney scheduled for the same week I want to fish a lake:)

[bassmaster13]

Very true there, I always go to hartwell or keowee and there's a tourny going on. LOL...but Its crazy..the fish need break from all the finesse fishing....And after those big bass that are out there caught they are not going to hit again for a while..you know what I'm saying or I am I wrong? I havent fished greenwood in while Hows the bass doin there? and nice bass being caught near docks?

[senkoslinger]

Not a clue. I had planned a trip there for today but changed it when I saw a tournament scheduled. Haven't been on that lake since April:( And no, you're not wrong, basically whatever fish were hooked during the tourney are out of commission for awhile..... And from what I read, 10% or more of tournament fish die during the tourney or within a week of being released. Too bad there's not a fool proof way to conduct tournaments while being able to release the fish as soon as they're unhooked. The stress of riding in a live well all day (not to mention the weigh in) really shocks them. I don't want to insult our tournament anglers (I'm thinking of Jim T. who is a huge help to all on this board) but I'd just assume they got rid of tournaments in S.C. For the recreational angler, having a whole bunch of guys get together and flog our home lakes for 2-3 days trying to win money just doesn't have an upside.

[timmerberg]

Jason, I'm not insulted at all by your comments. You raise some very good points. Tournaments do have an impact on our lakes. I'm not smart enough to fully understand that impact, but it's reasonable to assume that fishing pressure makes it more difficult to catch them. I consider myself a recreational fisherman who enjoys also competing in tournaments. Tournaments aren't going to end. They pump way too much $$$ into local economies. They also encourage improvements to our lakes and facilities. I just try to fish around the increased pressure. Like you, I try to find other lakes or at least other ramps when I know a big tournament is taking place. Most tournaments involve local clubs and have fewer than a dozen boats. The exceptions are the BASS and FLW affiliated tournaments( Elite,Opens, FLW, BFL, etc.). I believe there's room for both the recreational and tournament fishermen. Both share the same goal; i.e., catch em. As far as fish kill from tournaments. I believe more bass end up in the frying pans of recreational anglers than die as a result of being caught in a tournament. There's nothing wrong with keeping a few bass to eat, and I don't see anything wrong with proper bass handling in tournaments. A lot of money tournament anglers spend to belong to the major bass organizations goes to funding improvements in the local fisheries. I see your argument and at times share your frustration, but I also think there's a place for tournaments and those who enjoy fishing them. We need to get together one day for some fun fishing and discussion. I believe that having fun however you choose to chase them is what matters. That's why I try to provide as many fishing reports as I can-- good days and bad days. See you on the water! Bank Pounder Jim.

[cpbcop]

I agree that it is a real pain to show up at the ramp and find a tournament launch preparing to take place. Competing for a fishing spot isn't fun nor is fighting the wakes of numerous boats going up and down the lake a treat or the formula for a pleasant day on the water. We just have to learn to accept the situation as we find it and adjust as best we can. I absolutely love fishing in a well run bass tournament. Don't fish tournaments much anymore. Don't trust the formats. The thrill of catching a fish is why we all do it (go fishing). Combine that thrill with another reward like "cash" makes it that much more exciting! Tournament fishing is addictive but I don't have any issues with tournament bass fishing. In fact, I encourage everyone who hasn't tried it to try it at least once. Tournament bass circuits are the leading factor that drives the development of our sport of bass fishing. All the innovations and new products coming out of the sport fishing industry are a direct result of the interest and participation in the tournament circuits. Just like in golf, if it weren't for the pro's we would probably still be swinging a "mashie niblick". And when it comes to fish mortality, our fish populations are mostly affected by changes to their habitat. Proper management is the real key to healthy populations of fish. Bass tournaments have very little impact on fish populations. I recognize that a fishery can be over fished but I feel that you cannot recreationaly overfish a healthy, in balance, body of water. Put a little grass in a lake and manage it properly and you will end up with a renewable resource that will get better in time. Heck, if they put some grass in Jocassee you would end up with "more than likely" the best bass lake in the country. But that would attract a lot of unwanted attention. So there is the trade off.

All you guys need to be commended for your idea's and interest in this topic. Keep up the dialog. Whether for or against something, get your viewpoint out there. Who else can we turn to when it comes to discussing our local fishing. Capt. Pat

[senkoslinger]

Good points guys. Jim, you're dead on about the recreational guys taking fish home. I took my brother in law out awhile back and we caught 2 small bass. They weren't even enough for a meal (not that that makes it alright), but my brother in law was dead set on taking them home anyway. Needless to say, he wasn't riding with me until the fish went back in the water:) However, I know he takes a lot of fish when he goes by himself, and if he's doing it, I'm sure many others are too. With all the panfish and catfish we have in s.c., I don't know why people want to eat bass so much?

And you're also right, the little tourneys aren't a big deal. It's the big 2 and 3 day national ones that are more bothersome to me. I say, if you live in S.C, fish away, but these national tournaments where these guys come in from all over the country and fish our lakes very hard for a week really bother me.

[senkoslinger]

Good point Pat! The habitat here at Murray has really changed (for the worse) in the last decade. We used to own a trailer on Turner's point that we'd use on the weekends. Right off the end of our dock in about 10' of water was a submerged weedbed that was probably half an acre or more. It was a pain for swimming, but I could catch fish all year round from that dock. In 2005, that weedbed disappeared and the spot is now just mushy bottom. I used to have about 8-9 spots just like that in the lower lake where I could always catch fish. Now those spots are completely bare accept for those mushy little weeds that cover everything. And they don't attract fish at all. I assume the dnr is to blame. What can we do about it?

[Jay]

I'd be interested to know what the "official" policy towards aquatic vegetation is, and who specifically is responsible for it. And how much discretion an agency like DNR has in enforcing it. I'm going to try and look into it this week and get back to you, Jason.

On a related note I heard about an interesting situation down on Santee this weekend. Apparently one of the Day 1 leaders in the Open tournament was fishing around some aquatic vegetation called "floating hearth" but while he was fishing it on Day 2 the power company came and sprayed. I'm going to try and confirm exactly what happened but it sounds pretty wild.

[Jay]

Results are in.
_____________________

Congratulations to Charles Curry and Frank Murphy who finished in first place with 5 fish weighing 11.11 pounds and the big fish weighing 4.25 pounds. (worth 2 Bass Angler Power Ranking Points each - read about the Power Rankings here).

Second place went to Dibb Wylie and James Buchanan with 5 fish weighing 10.94 lbs. (1 BAPR Point each)

For complete results visit: http://tristatebassclub.com/CittClassic.html.