Conference wahoo::fishing

    May I suggest - or repeat the suggestion - that the spring tourney
    not be restricted to a body of water on the Mass/NH border. Have
    it in either MA or NH, then alternate. Many people have fishing
    licenses from both states - although maybe the boat registration
    may present another problem... (I have a canoe!)
    
    Let's raise this question early (yeah, 5 months early!) I hope to
    participate in the next spring tourney.
    
    Ed

    I agree..
    
    Either NH,or MA...No skin off my chisel.
    But if it has to be at Monomonac again...Bassin' Bob better be there to
    show us how easy it is for him. 
    
    Come Spring I'll have both,boat,and canoe...so it doesn't matter to me.
    
    Seeing how it is so far in advance...
    Why not make plans for an overnighter/two day tourney? Say at Onata in
    western Mass.??? I've heard too much about this place to leave it
    un-fished before the move to Ocala State Forest!
    
    And with all that hoop-la about getting together an chatting it up
    between eachother...a little fireside story telling might be a good way
    to do it.
    
    Do a two day combined weight,with a hawg pool for each day.
    
    Anywhere would be fine with me...I just suggested the 2 dayer at Onata
    only because it would be a haul for both NH.and Cntrl/Eastern Mass
    people. 
    
    					jml

    Why don't ya come to Maine??? I would be glad to coordinate the
    event and set up camping etc. Plenty of fish , plenty of space ,plenty
    of water.think about it ...

    Why don't MA and NH have a tournament in each state then both sides
    can fish.  Have them on different weekends so the people who want
    to fish both can.  This was how it was done the first time back
    in 86.
    
    Bassin Bob  Who would like quinsig better than Monomonac!
    

    
    Al Vorhis has the best idea!!
    
    Believe me folks... According to a few Green Water Legends, if you
    Can't weigh in 10lbs+ at China Lake in Me. You might as well consider
    an alternate sport like Golf!!
    It's a good thing I golf so I'll have a good jump on it inthe event
    I don't weigh in 10lbs!!
    
    - Dave
    

    Where the hell have you been Sully?..Thought you done died or
    something...
    
    Maine sounds great...I'm up for it...Just will have to fish Onata on my
    own.
    
    Al,
    is China one of those lakes that closes?..if so when does it open?

    
    I'm up for Onota and a sleepover at Pittsfield State Forest.
    
    I'll even *organize* it since I'm closest.
    
    -SSS-

    China lake in ME. opens April1 , however the ice will just be out.
    There is an abundance of lakes here that would produce many lbs.
    The small tournament that i put together on China this past Sept
    was a team thing with 5 teams in it and there were 4 limits weighed
    in and the other boat had 6 fish (winning weight was 22+lbs)
    Distance wise I am 2 1/2 hrs from Chelmsford Ma. There are plenty
    of campgrounds at many locations. If the interest is there I will
    work up a proposal and get the info back to this note .
    I am sure that there would be several teams from ASO interested.
    We can easily pick a lake that the smaller as well as the larger
    boats would be able to fish. I can get maps of any of these lakes
    so that everyone wouldn't be blind.
    
    Even if there are only a few of you interested , we can still do
    it . Let me know .
    
    Al
    

    I'd also consider heading up to Maine, and I also have no problem
    heading back down to Mass.
    
    Don Mac

    That 22+ winning weight just sold me...
    
    It's in your'e court now Al.

    Now wate a petit minute!! Jes caws ole Coonass talk fonney don mean
    he domb!! Chew kin close a door an chew kin close de gate, but dere
    aint no wey chew kin close a lake!!! Dats an onnaturel act!!! People
    gotta fish, rite?? an lakes gotta be fished, rite?? So how chew
    gonna stop dem?? Dere aint enuf gang wardens aroun to keep peoples
    frum fishin mos any good size lake. Souns lak too much gummit to
    me.
    
    De gummit put op dem red lites bak home an later took dem down.
    All dey did wuz gib eberybody de "cher rouge". Dey jes drove rite
    tru dem lak dey always did before dey put dem op dere.
    
    Coonass

    Maybe it has something to do with the 'growing season'...most species
    of fish that live up in the northern parts take a long time to grow...
    Fish in the southern parts that get to be 8,and 10 lbsprobably takes 
    � the time to get that big as where it would take a bass,say in
    Maine,to grow about a pound a year(hypathetical of course).
    If everyone didn't do the catch,and realse method...species would die
    off in a heartbeat...
    
    Maybe the lakes don't close for boating,and recreation...but they
    certainly close on seasons for different species..
     
    Chew kin belieb dat!

    Fish up North grow slower, smaller, and live longer than their cousins
    in the South. A bass in Maine may never grow more than half the
    size of a bass in Florida, but will live twice as long. It stands
    to reason that if all the "lunkers" are pulled from a lake in Maine, 
    it will take twice as many years to replace them as it would down
    South.
    
    Ed
    
    P.S. How much for a non-resident license in Maine?

    Coonass, a little background:
    
    1. Tourism is a major part of Maine's revenue.  They are aware of
    this, and try to protect the things that bring people in (like
    fishing).
    
    2. Much of the closed season is TERRIBLE weather for fishing (summer
    fishing bias . . .)
    
    3. If Maine catches you fishing illegally (no license, over limit,
    etc.) they will take your tackle, boat, and perhaps your car! They
    don't have much of a sense of humor!
    
    4.  Most of the Maine lakes have few boat launching locations and
    relatively little cover -- it is hard to hide when you are out on
    the lake.
    
    5. Many of the lakes are too large for small boats like canoes
    (although, of course, you can put a canoe in near a good spot...)
    
    So, the conditions are a little different than out on the bayou.
    
    This isn't to run down Maine -- I love fishing and camping up there,
    and really like the approach that they are taking to preserving
    their fishing.

    Regards,
    Russ

    hmmmmm... I was just informed that there is no such thing as "Catch n'
    Release" in Maine...as well as a few other brow raising rules...
    
    As long as no rules are broken,I'm still up for it...
    
    

    Feel as though I have to reply to the last entry here , seems as
    though this fellow hasen't spent a lot of time in maine or on the
    lakes up here. We have an infinite variety of lakes with any type
    of cover you could want . 
    
    The laws are strict and they do enforce them , however they don't
    confiscate equipment for minor violations such as mentioned , if
    this happened there was much more  to it than being over the limit
    etc. 
    
    I come from Fla and have been fishing bass for too many years, maine
    has what I beleive to be one of the best and most underfished warmwater
    fisheries in the country. The laws concerning tournaments require
    a permit be obtained and the # of permits available on each lake
    is limited to 4, the permits are cheap 10$ .
    
    I really don't care if you elect to come here for a little fishing
    in the spring or not, the less publicity the better it will remain
    for those of us here . I just wanted to offer any help that I could
    so that you might catch some fish in one of these dec tournies .
    
    Again there are many areas in which the small boater can fish and
    do well( the 22+ mentioned was taken in a 14' with a 25 on it ,
    the rest of us were in bassboats).
    
    The size of the lake could be depedent on how many people were
    interested and what boats were coming .
    
    AL Vorhis
    

    there is catch n release in Maine , the 10$ permit is required ..
    

    Re: .17:
    
    You're absolutely right -- I haven't spent ENOUGH time fishing in
    Maine!
    
    My reply was to contrast conditions in Maine to Louisiana -- many
    of the lakes that Coonass fishes are full of trees, so that small
    boats, like the piroux are needed.  Also, there is plenty of access
    to the lake with small boats.  Between dense cover and essentially
    unlimited access, plus "decent" weather all year round, it would
    be impossible to effectively close the lakes to fishing. (In this
    case, "cover" means above the water -- in the bayou, you might not
    be able to see a boat 40'-50' away.)  In Maine,  they do have closed 
    seasons.
    
    No, I haven't had any trouble in Maine -- just several GREAT (and
    fishy) weekends.
    
    Regards,
    Russ Doty

    	Several replies back someone asked about license fees. I am
    not up on the latest non resident fees but if memory serves me right
    its in the neighborhood of $30 for the season. One, three and seven
    day licenses are also available for significantly reduced fees. 
    	As far as the season goes, it not much of an inconvenience since
    the ice fishing season goes right through March.
    
    (AL - correct me if I'm wrong on any of this info)
    
    Regards,
    Paul

    Dats rite! Mos all ob de lake is covered wit trees, mosly cypress.
    Besides dat mos ob my cousins lib in houses rite above de lake or
    swamp. Sounds lak chew got some ob dem lakes like WAY op north,
    lak Oklimoma or Arkansas were dey got no trees. Chew kin see all
    de wey across dem lakes.
    
    Dem bass take twice as long to git halb as big, huh? Do dey hab
    de same problem wit deer? Or possum, or any oder aminals?
    
    An its piroque, no "X", lak in GEAUX TIGERS...
    
    Coonass

    Re .21>
    
    Coonass,
    	
    	No problem with deer. Maine deer are a lot larger than their
    Southern brethren. We even have a Moose season and those boys get
    over 1000#.
    
    Paul

    I think the reason for the smaller, slower-growing bass is that
    they spend so much time each year in such cold water, which means
    lower metabolism, less activity, etc.
    
    Ed

    Den de walleygators mus look lak lizzards, huh? An de cottonmoufs
    lak wurms??(nitecrawlers, ob course)...;-)
    
    Coonass

    No, actually the alligators are full size.  Since the northern
    alligators have fur, they simply grow a winter coat to stay warm.
    Thus, they are able to grow all year long, and reach the same size
    as their southern cousins.
    
    Of course, when trapping northern 'gators for their fur, it is
    important to make sure that you get prime winter pelts -- when they
    start shedding in the spring, the pelts are rather ratty and of
    little value -- about all you can do with them is shave all of the
    fur off and use the leather for briefcases, belts, and fancy western
    boots.
    
    Regards,
    Russ

    Dats a tankless job.....Shavin wallegators.....
    
    Coonass

    Before we know it, Ice Out will be upon us....
    
    I don't know about anyone else, but I've got cabinfever sumtin'
    fierce...all the reading about fishing techniques just isn't cutting
    it anymore...
    
    
    So where's it going to be?...
    Anyone have any idea when it should be?
    
    those of us who belong to clubs,and already have tourney
    schedules,could post the dates we won't be available,and take it from
    there.
    
    
    O yeah....whats a N.H. Boat Tag going for this year?