mjc1761, Guntersville Lake, Bass, 5-28-17

[mjc1761]

I've had several emails, phone calls, text and facebook messages since my post about people coming in on me this past Thursday. The responses have been mainly about their concern, not complaining, on what is going on with hunting and fishing during this day and time. The main reason I'm making this post is I had a call from a gentleman last night that really opened my eyes to one part of our sport that we all love doing but sometimes forget about, including myself, and that's the anglers that fish from the bank. These are the ones that just want to enjoy fishing from a more relaxing view than taking an expensive boat running all over the lake to catch a fish to have your picture taken with or have your friend "video" the catch. This gentleman whom is retired and disabled told me of an experience that he had fishing with his children from the bank, that 2 anglers in a boat came by and were throwing an "A-Rig" right at the spot where he had his children fishing, within a few feet of them. It goes to show that these problems not only occur around other anglers in their boats but also with the ones that fish from the bank. The sporting world is more competitive than ever before, and the need to win and be on top has completely gotten out of hand. The words that we were raised upon like respect, courtesy, and being humble have gotten slack because of the attention from "social media". I use the internet and social media for my guide business and have for 13 years, and I'm as guilty as anyone with wanting those pictures and videos for advertising my guide business, but I've never forgotten the way my parents and my Uncle Lavern Steele, the one that got me started with hunting and fishing, raised and taught me about showing respect and courtesy to other hunters and fishermen. My Uncle Lavern would take me "fishing from the bank" when I was growing up until I turned 16 and got my drivers license and started driving myself to these banks that we fished. I feel that this "brainchild" of Mr. Kennamer creating this Facebook page is going to help with this problem in a big way, and this will be done through "social media". When the word gets out of this page, and people start expressing what's going on, and others start hearing of these problems, not only on Guntersville Lake but all lakes from all over, I think we all will see some other true hunters and anglers alike open their eyes and actually try and do the right thing. Maybe, just maybe there will be a few out there that will let this thought enter their mind and think twice before cutting someone off, fishing to close to another boat, or even throwing to close to young future anglers fishing from the bank, and decide to do the right thing by showing a little more respect and courtesy before causing a problem or starting trouble. A long process thats long overdue, but we've got to start somewhere. Get out and just have some fun. Mike Carter

 

[Hook1]

I'm kind of weary about bank fishermen. I was a bank fisherman until I bought my boat. I can't tell you how many times a boat came between me and where I was casting. I never understood because I had what banks were accessible and they had an entire lake that was accessible. Some times I d see them coming and just stop fishing until they went past. One guy even sat on top of the fish I was catching and said he couldn't buy a bite lol.