09/26/2024
Big Bass Splash - Lake Fork, Sept. 22nd, 2024, Fishing Report:
I would like to send out a special "shout out to the poster's of herein question/ or should I say accusation?"
Your Promotional and Advertising Posts made a significant increase in on-line sales, well over the projected numbers! "My sincerer thank you!"
I noticed above average internet (On-Line Sales within just a few hours of your social media posts) and it struck me as odd, at first? But with many of the on-line purchases, extending notes, texts, emails, and personal phone calls which followed, it became very clear as to the up tick in sales. Some were close friends telling me that someone was trying to drag me out on Face-Book, and others, that simply wanted to hate, and made a consolidated effort to seek out the person behind the accusations! Several on-line orders came in, several with attached special noted, "that they had actually found out about Larry the Lizard Custom Baits, due to your post! So, again thank you very much for your promotional activities.
Some of the messages, expressed the fact, that when they saw your post, that they wanted to find out who this rude and nefarious angler was? Only to be lead to the On-Line Store Front, and discover what separates "Larry the Lizard Custom Baits" from the rest of the pack, and who Larry the Lizard actually is...?
I then received a contact from one of the better Bait & Tackle Shops here at Lake Fork, just a few hours Later!~
His Response: "Larry, your making quite a Splash here at Lake Fork, I saw this post, and remembered that I want to get hold of you, to place a Purchase Order to stock our shelves here in the tackle shop!"
For your wonderful promotional posts, I thank you again!~ You did an awesome job on that one!
And as far as your issues, Karen! I would like to start out by addressing a so-called issue, during the last weekends Big Bass Splash Tournament here at Lake Fork.
I was coming in from the main lake, into Alligator Cove. Just out side of the entry to Alligator Cove, I stopped, and evaluated the situation. I was trying to get to the very back of the cove, only there was an armada of boats anchored on each point, on either side of the cove. To my right, the northern side point, which is filled with tree stumps, and just about 35 boats (i.e. with just about 70 tournament anglers, all anchored down and fishing in the middle of the tree fields on the point.) Which offered no access what so ever.
On the left, the southern side point, again filled with tree stumps and another 25 boats, and another 50 tournament competitors, all again anchored down and fishing in that mine field as well. Basically I was looking at an armada of boats, on both sides entering into the cove, which no one was actually fishing in, I might add. Two boats were creating a blockade on either side of the true boat lane and entry to Alligator cove.
The only clear path into the back of the cove, came in the middle of the bottle neck entry to the cove, and superficially within the main boat lane, leading back into the cove, where the width was just about 50 feet wide, perhaps a little more, or less.
At this juncture, there were two boats sitting in the middle of the boat lane, one on either side, Intentionally blocking any and all boat traffic or safe passage through. Yes, they where both fishing in the middle of the boat lane, and co-anglers fishing in the back of each boat in question here, with the co-anglers fishing the tree line, on the edge of the boat lane, and front boaters/ anglers fishing directly at each other in the main boat lane, just about 20 yards apart. I had no other choice at that point, but to shut the big motor down and drift into the main boat lane. (That way I would not interfere with anyone fishing a particular spot or area.)
I was very polite and courteous. When I made my approach into the middle of the boat lane, I was at a super slow idol, (i.e. 1 mph) and when I came within ear shot of the two boats, that is to say about 50 yards away from either of the two boats, that now sat right in the middle of the boat lane, I killed the motor, and began to drift into the cove as the wind was coming in from directly behind me. The two boats blocking access and/or passage through the main boat lane acknowledged me as I was attempting to communicate with them, and I communicate that I had no intention of fishing in their area, but only need to pass through the boat lane. And like I said, I completely shut down the motor, and called out to them, expressing my need to transverse the waterway therein, and would like to slide pasted them to get back to the back of the cove, which was about another mile away, literally from where they were fishing.
They basically told me no, you can't do that, we are fishing here, and you can't pass through, even though they were right in the middle of the safe boat lane. I told them I would be happy to put down the trolling motor and just slide passed them real quick and easy, without disturbing the area. They again, refused to open a lane for me to pass through.
At this point I would suggest that you Refer back to the rules, and what I would consider professionalism and courtesy. A). I did not attempt to fish in there area at all, and in fact I acknowledge the fact I was heading into the very back of the cove, which is just right at a mile, past where they where fishing. ( I didn't not impede their fishing opportunity) and I did stop, and I did killed my motor almost 50 yards away from their fishing location, in order not to disturb their fishing location and to communicate with them, and convey my intention of navigating waterways they now controlled. They intentionally blocked, the navigable waterway. And refused to open a clear lane for me to make a quick, quite, and safe passage to the back of the cove.
They pointed out to either side, where the armada of boats, and tree fields were, and told me to go around in there! I told them that I was not going to do that, as there where just too many boats and trees to do that!
I would also refer you to," the right, of every angler, and boater, in this tournament to have navigable water ways, whereas: no one contestant or anglers have the authority and or power to block another contestants movements, from location to location with regards to actively and intentionally blocking access to legally accessible and fishable waters. No angler can or has the right of way to intentionally block fishable waters. In other words, you can't block anglers from accessing coves, by intentionally blocking known boat lanes, claiming that some one has intruded on you 50 yard radios, unless, that angler specifically attempts to fishing within the prohibited 50 yard boundary of said contestant. No angler has the right or privilege to close off and or intentionally block an area that they are now currently fishing, in an attempt to prevent another competitor from the competition, in waters outside the 50 yard, no fishing perimeter, without exception.
"Every angler has the right to navigate through the waterways, regardless of whether or not, another angler is fishing in that specific area, without exception."
In other words, you can not as a competitor block navigate-able water, regardless of the fact that you claim that 50 yard radios around your boat, as claimed fishing water. Navigating through an area, is not the same as fishing within a claimed fishing boundary, in proximity to another tournament competitors boat.
In summary, I pulled in very slow, evaluated a safe and navigate-able passage way, and with professionalism, and the intent to have a low impact approach to navigate through the area without impeding any others (i.e. tournament fisherman) as much as humanly possible. I attempted, and on multiple attempts to receive an acknowledgement of my safe, quite, and quick passage through the boat lane, and that I had no intention of fishing the immediate area, but only wanted to navigate to the far back cove, which was almost one mile passed this particular location, respectively. They rejected me, saying that I needed to go around them, and pointed to either side of the cove! (i.e. Both Boat Armadas on either the Northern and Southern Points, respectively. I explained that there where at least 35 boats in on the Northern Side Point, and anther 25 boats on the Southern Side, and that, that was not a viable option. And repeatedly, I was told to simply take a hike, and make my way into either point, into the tree mine fields, that actually and literally had an armada and straight out boat blockade in effect even though I have the express right to navigate through the main boat lane, even if some other angler chooses to fish in an obvious location, that will and does hold a steady stream of boat traffic, which they do not have the right to simply impede at their own discretion. They have neither the power, and or authority to do so! I repeated the fact, that I was not intentionally trying to intrude on their fishing spot, but, just needed to pass by safely, with as little disruption to anyone as possible. They continued to refuse my humble request to have permission to pass through the area.
I did make it very clear upfront, that I had no intention to fish the area they now occupied. I never reach for a rod & real. I cut my motor at least 50 yards way from their location, and drifted close enough to open verbal communications as to my intent. They rejected the easy way, and just plain out said, "G*Y!"
The problem is they don't have the power or authority to keep anyone form safely navigating the waters that are Lake Fork. Yes, it would be Rude if I did something like pull out back in the main lake, and then blasting a trail through an occupied boat lane at let's say 60 mph. But, I didn't do that!
Again, I was polite and respectful, and attempted to resolve, what should have been a non issue for anyone with half a lick of common sense. That being said, I will pray for those that posted this non-sense, and ask that the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, bless you in all your comings, and goings....
And as an added bonus, I will be happy to forward, free, and on-the-house some of those very special baits I make. Just forward me the address, and name you would like me to send them to. That way next time those guys try fishing at Lake Fork, they can at least be using the right bait to catch something!
Sincerely,
Larry the Lizard
P.S. : "No Weapon formed against me shall prosper!"
