crappie condo invaders

[slabbandit]

I have headed down the lake with thoughts of trying a particular bed of mine only to find that someone, usually just a weekender, had stumbled upon my structure. I always idle slowly up, just to within speaking distance, kill the motor, and without fishing ask if they are doing any good.

They usually reply something like this is there first trip here or something like that and that they were not having any luck until they stumbled onto this brushpile.

They usually will ask if it is a brushpile that I had put in. I always reply that I did put it in and that they were welcome to fish it. At this point I usually give them a description of the top,brush, bamboo, pvc, ect.

If I have done well on this particular top recently I am glad to pass this info on also such as depth and jig color used. They are very grateful and I hope they leave with a few more fish than they probably would have caught and a great experience to share with friends at home.

I've had my share of bad experiences with "slob" hunters in the deer woods but lets all do our part to keep this kind of thing off the water.

[gabowman]

As with anything there are bad sportsmen out there. You can either let it ruin your trip (weekend, or whatever) or just let it go. Personally I havent had anyone try throwing their lines over mine but I have had a few boats move in pretty dang close at times. I always drop my tops at night but there are still a few boats around and they'll see me in a cove or somewhere. Maybe there's a time I'll head into a particular cove and already see a boat in there. It's OK, there's more tops out they dont know about. Fishing is supposed to be fun and relaxing, or as hard as you want to work at it. But it is still supposed to be fun. I think that's the thing we, as sportsmen, should remember.

[Team Crappie]

I used to feel like if someone saw me put in some structure it was their luck. So I would go ahead finishing my hard work knowing that they would probably fish it too. But a few years ago while placing a brush condo, I noticed two men in a boat watching me from far across the cove. I finished the job and motored away. Something told me to go back.... so within 5 minutes I eased back into the cove just in time to see the thieves had puposely snagged my new lap and was moving it to a new location known only to them!!!! I few choice words later they knew they were caught but what recourse did I have. I don't mind sharing but this is stealing to me. From then on, I am more secretive and use enough weight that they had better bring a winch.

[unknown 5]

Here in Illinois, it is illegal to put out brushpiles. So the guys that do usually do it when everyone and their brother don't see them do it. I often catch fish when I am the only one on the lake. I fish some brushpiles I know about at those times. Other times, when there is a lot of people around, I fish well known areas and don't care who sees if I am catching fish. There is some b*******s out there.

[centerdriver]

When I had my pontoon boat, I sank my stacks 16'-20' away from anything to tie up to. Most will tie up to fish anyway when there is bridge supports or stumps around. BUT, you tie up a 8' wide boat and use 10' rods, your just about fishin out of range of a john boat using bass rods tied up at the same spot.

[fishdoc]

well' if any y'all come to my home lake, i'll be glad to show you where i been catchin them(if i have!) and hope you pass it on! that's what it's all about to me!