Lake Arthur 
Porktown
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RE: Lake Arthur Locals
2012/06/22 09:05:47
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Congrats on all three accounts Chris & crew. There are a ton of boats out there, just using their bow lights when fishing. I always assumed this was illegal. Not that I thought, putting a piece of tape on the interior portion of the light was legal, but doing about the same for visibility as sitting right in front of it... Per the handbook, it says that anchor lights are only needed in a channel or other often used routes. So, that said, what is the anchor light, in the eyes of the PFBC? I'm pretty sure, they do not consider the white all around light, an anchor light. Also per the link below, The Green Lantern of Lake Arthur is illegal too. http://fishandboat.com/boatcrs/03boathandbook/chap2_09_night.htm
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spoonchucker
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RE: Lake Arthur Locals
2012/06/22 15:51:47
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Anchored Any 7C -- This is an all-round white light visible for at least 2 miles and displayed where it can best be seen. An anchor light is not required, but highly recommended, when anchored in a special anchorage area. For most boats ( that you'll find on Arthur ), the stern light is what is used to meet this requirement. Technically if the stern light also serves as your "anchor" light, it is supposed to be swithced so that either both stern & bow lights are on, or stern only. When anchored, you should have the the switch on the latter, but most folks don't, and I doubt you'll ecver get written for having both on. Never saw, or heard of anyone who has. You can buy "anti-glare" stern lights ( and they work pretty well ), or one that extends above your line of sight.
post edited by spoonchucker - 2012/06/22 16:22:45
Get Informed, Get Involved, And Make A Difference. Step Up, or Step Aside The next time you say "Somebody should do something", remember that YOU are somebody. GL
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spoonchucker
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RE: Lake Arthur Locals
2012/06/22 16:28:40
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"did u get busted spoony?"
No, but a fishing partner did, for putting his hat over his stern/anchor light.
Get Informed, Get Involved, And Make A Difference. Step Up, or Step Aside The next time you say "Somebody should do something", remember that YOU are somebody. GL
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spoonchucker
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RE: Lake Arthur Locals
2012/06/22 16:37:42
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They might be more "light shy" with the increase in pressure. But back in the day, I've caught plenty that hit within a few feet off the stern, with the glow of the "anchor" light.
Get Informed, Get Involved, And Make A Difference. Step Up, or Step Aside The next time you say "Somebody should do something", remember that YOU are somebody. GL
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crappiefisher
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/22 17:00:32
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Porktown
BIGHEAD
I met a park ranger the other day. Was talking about the use of cast nets at the lake and the ups and downs. the ups were more fishermen catching fish with the live bait and just more fishermen using the lake. The down side a lot more floating fish deep hooked i guess,2nd major loss of bait fish and stocked fingerling's. The past couple times out the alwives munbers seamed to be down somewhat,But could have been the weather and moon??? P.S. only women and childern use live bait for STRIPERS LOL
When they approved the cast net permits, I thought that it was great. I had a jerry rigged 4' net prior, that you needed to land on a pod of fish, and maybe end up with 1-2. Cast a net for hours, to miss out on fishing, and end up with 1/2 doz. alewives. Sometimes it was worth it, other times it was a complete waste of time. It was a nice back up plan, if 2-3 hours of casting sticks, wasn't producing. I had no clue that it would lead to exponential growth of anglers... The past few times out, once on a Saturday and twice on weekdays, I was in amazement of how many people were out. I am also in amazement of how the average size fish has plummetted. To the point, where it doesn't seem worth being a zombie in the morning. Not sure if I am the only one, but seems like the majority of fish are in the 18" range, with just as many smaller as larger. Maybe it is me wasting time, tossing homemade sticks, instead of tried and trues. But even when I go with a group, there is maybe one trophy fish (above 25", which some years was average). Being a net permit holder, I would be all for signing a petition to ban them. I'd also be all for adjusting the creel, to one fish over 25" too. With talk of the wipers being pulled from the rivers, with limited budget and resources, I am wondering if this will be next for the lakes? There are some that would say that I am part of the problem, giving out advice on these boards. I learned much of what I know, from others on here, and thought that it would be nice to return the favor. I think that I am done with that though. For all of you that gave advice in the past, much thanks. Tight lines all. I think it is off to the off topic board only for me...
Pork, I only replied back to this topic because didn't want u to just post 'bout beer, cookin', politics & the Pens  & hoped you would reply. Just think u have 560 more hits than the "Great One" I joined this form because I enjoyed your posts 'bout fishin' a few yrs. back. U R a Hall ov Famer ov Fish Erie Members & didn't want u to stop postin' your passion thinkin' u r doin' more harm than good. It's all good in my book even iv a very few extra fishers venture to Arthur from reading these boards. Keep up the good work with thoughts on fishin'. Wouldn't mind fishin' it with u again this Oct/Nov. Remember back 'bout 10 yrs. ago 2 ov my sons went out on a sm. runabout' at night while I waded a shoreline, they had them alcheapo clamp on D sz. battery bow & stern lights. Saw the Fish Fuzz boat go hide in the dark shadows to seek out law breakers. Bout 20 min. later they seemed to come from nowhere & zoomed right up to the boys boat with lights flashin' & sirens going off & spotlights shinin' on 'em while they were leaving a spot. Almost sunk the sm. boat they were in & the boys were scramblin' for their life jackets. They got a warnin' & were told to carry extra batteries next. crappy
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spoonchucker
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/22 17:49:06
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I'm not sure that those "floating fish" are all the result of being "deep hooked". I believe the majority of those fishing bait, are using lighter line, and or leader. Leading to overplay in very warm/low oxygen water. I use pretty heavy line, and a tight drag. Yet have caught lots of fish ( Stripers ) that took considerable effort to revive. I'm not sure that the average "weekend warrior" makes the effort. Sad thing is, that it affects the larger fish the most.
post edited by spoonchucker - 2012/06/22 17:52:22
Get Informed, Get Involved, And Make A Difference. Step Up, or Step Aside The next time you say "Somebody should do something", remember that YOU are somebody. GL
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outfishya
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/24 19:37:40
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what are you guys using to catch stripers? Been out several times with no luck.
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bigb76
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/24 20:53:03
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Lol theres a whole lake full of fish, that move around constant, just fish already.
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Bdugg
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/24 21:58:07
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anyone have info on the wednesday night open tourny at arthur?
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startinout
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/24 22:46:56
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Had a first this evening, at least in PA. Right when I was netting one of the walleyes, I noticed a giant muskie following about a foot behind it. I've seen that in Canada, but the first time I've seen it at Moraine.
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crappiefisher
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/25 00:38:39
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spoonchucker
I'm not sure that those "floating fish" are all the result of being "deep hooked". I believe the majority of those fishing bait, are using lighter line, and or leader. Leading to overplay in very warm/low oxygen water. I use pretty heavy line, and a tight drag. Yet have caught lots of fish ( Stripers ) that took considerable effort to revive. I'm not sure that the average "weekend warrior" makes the effort. Sad thing is, that it affects the larger fish the most.
Mike, I couldn't agree more this time of yr. This past week has been hard on the Byrds. I wade & have only used lures again this yr. with not heavy or light line & land the fish in about 8" ov water with a firm hand & unhook the hooks within 45 sec. without a net & good pliers. This past week it has taken' a considerable time to get the dazed, confused & tired fish back to it's senses. I take 'em out 'bout 8' from shore & spend some time for em' to get their balance & after they swim off "still confused they either swim back to shore or get stuck in some weeds or whatever & go belly up. Then the process starts over. Can only imagine how many fishers not using waders or on boats netting fish & just dropping 'em overboard or letting them go from shore has the most impact on survivor this time of yr. Not so much as live bait vs. artificial debate goes. Yrs. ago I used live Alewife & could unhook a fish (NO NET) in a few sec. but with top water lures it can take up to a min. to unhook for me. Prob. the best advice if catching 'em now is to take the EXTRA TIME & make sure they swim off ok or better off just put them to table fare (if legal sz./limit) than just go belly up. crappy
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crappiefisher
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RE: Lake Arthur Weds. Night
2012/06/25 01:01:20
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bigb76
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RE: Lake Arthur Weds. Night
2012/06/25 01:40:58
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Those sizes and numbers may make me hold off on ordering the Banjo minnow.
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Porktown
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/25 08:50:22
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crappiefisher
Keep up the good work with thoughts on fishin'. Wouldn't mind fishin' it with u again this Oct/Nov.
Thanks for the kind words Chris. I'll still bs on fishing, but done giving any tips and specific reports. I will definitely get in touch with you, when the Summer settles down. Work is picking up, and have a few projects at the house starting. Pretty sure any trip from now on, is just getting the kids out for some panfish / boat ride. That's been most of my fishing lately anyway. I did make a few night trips with my cousins, father in law, and a few buddies. Not as many as I would have liked, but enough to notice the increase in folks out and decrease in size of fish. I do need to get out with you and a serious fishing trip in.
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BIGHEAD
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/26 05:57:42
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was out fri and Sat night for some night Stripers.Friday was sad only one. Sat night was pretty good landing 8 biggest 2 were in the 12-13 pound range. Was quite surprized after landing couple the D-Bags didnt come a running. A couple boats were in hearing range of me landing fish but they stayed put. Now taking the boat out of the water was a total cluster frack. every truck JUST had to have thier headlights on when they were loading the boat !!!! Now onto some river flats Dave
KEEP"EM SCREAM"EM DAVE ONLY CHILDERN and WOMAN use ALWIVES FOR STRIPER BAIT
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bronzeback2
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/26 08:06:45
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Another thought about the amount of wipers is stocking numbers if I remember right back in the late 90's they used to stock close to 30,000 fingerlings , don't think they come close to that number anymore and think there was one year awhile back where they only stocked like 2000 (think it was the year they had problems cause of ban on interstate transport of fish), my personal thoughts are less money for pelletheads (trout) and more money for warmwater species like wipers which IMO warmwater provides way more year round angling opportunitys, and I still can't see why we can't raise our own wiper fingerlings have white bass and stripers, can't tell me our biologists can't do it, if its done in other states lastly I'd be all right with an extra 5 dollars on a cast net permit if it went into that.
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Porktown
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/26 09:11:41
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I think the stockings have been pretty consistent, from memory of looking at the PFBC warm water stocking list (on their site). With the occasional down year, ect. It's really not the amount of fish, it's the amount of fishermen. Just like Erie, stock more fish, more people will be there. Not only more people, but more lazy people that don't want to work for the fish.
I can't argue with your points on raising them, or even cutting the pellets for these and other warm water fish. It just comes down to, what is most profitable to the PFBC. I would imagine they have data out the ying yang, supporting the Troutmas money machine. I also don't think doubling the amount of fish stocked would do much (maybe even add more pressure). Stocking them in other lakes might help, but Arthur is special, with the alewife spawn, which I am not sure is the case at many other lakes. I am pretty sure if the PFBC could eliminate the alewifes from Arthur, they would, since they compete for the same food as the fingerling/fry of gamefish stocked and naturally reproducing. So, adding alewives to other waters, probably isn't on their want list, although could be wrong. I am pretty sure, the wipers are primarily added to waterways to control baitfish populations. Even if they had the hatcheries for them, it is unlikely they would add them to many other waters that don't have the baitfish populations to sustain them.
I think revoking the cast net permit system for Arthur, would have a positive impact on the overcrowding, but unlikely to happen. If you go back to the 4' nets, that would work, but there are always those throwing 8' nets and claiming they thought they were legal (kind of gray area to begin with). If it is no nets, then it would be much more easily enforced by the WCOs. Again, this is coming from someone that always has a cast net and permit with him night fishing these fish. I use as a backup plan, and if legal, why not use it? Me not using, isn't going to reduce the pressure.
This all said, the PFBC & DCNR likely is in favor of the gowing number of anglers, and very likely not going to do anything to slow it down.
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bigb76
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/26 21:33:19
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Keep stocking cat fish. Fun to catch and edible. Seems Arthur is popular with 22k views.
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catchnfish
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/30 18:28:40
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for me the number of fish has been good this year but the size just isn't there. cast net i use 1 my kid loves to striper fish and i dont allow him to cast plugs at night from the boat. although cast net not needed to get bait i was gettin bait with a fine mesh trout net on a shovel handle back in the day. i can fill the bait bucket up alot faster now. the pressure i think has been on a steady increase for several years now probably due to many variables. i believe the number of people out there wouldn't be affecting the fishing quite as bad if half the guys out there had a little respect for other people and half a clue as to what they were doing out there. bottom line is the guy who cruised 20 ft from my anchored boat and told me i was casting to close to his boat LMAO paid just as much for his license as i did. for you aged anglers who have done this for years you have figured out how to catch fish in many diff. circumstances so now the pressure is just another factor to work into the equation, figure it out and post it on the net. you will have to figure it out all over again. (just the way i see things not sayin im right about anything)
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spoonchucker
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/30 19:22:20
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The use of cast nets, has opened it up to many who might not otherwise be out there. That said, the pressure has beebn increasing steadily since before the nets, both cast & inter. It took a major jump in the late 90's, and again with the advent of the cast net permit. Actually many of the areas I fish have generally less pressure of late. Especially on weeknights. Certain areas have gained popularity over the past years, and draw most of the "traffic". Yes they are ( or used to be ) good spots. But seriously. any point, or shoreline ( particularlly those next 12-15 FOW, or deeper ) will attract fish at this time of year. Keep in mind these fish cruise the shoreline, and or move in & out. If the boat 50 yds away has action around it, no need to move over to them. The fish will to you. One issue I've found with the cast nets, is the "thinking?" behind other anglers. The growing number bait anglers appear to assume that every other angler is doing the same thing ( casting an alewife 10-12 feet from their boat ). Thus they feel "comfortable" moving in much too close to others. I cast lures, BIG lures at times. I cast a good distance, and YES off BOTH sides of my boat, as well as fore & aft. This is a big lake, with many large areas of fish holding water. There is no reason, none, zero, zilch, nada, not ANY to come withing 100-150 yds of another boat, or shore angler. If someone is in "your" spot when you get there. Guess what? It's not "your" spot that particular night, it's his. Move on to your second. or third option, or find a new spot. I've been fishing the "night bite" as long as, or longer than anyone out there. Starting at a time when there wasn't a dozen boats on the entire lake after 10pm. If anyone might feel that a spot is "his", it would be me. Many of the boats that might now be in one of those spots were probly first drawn to that location by the presence of my boat, or Bighead's, or someone I or he introduced to that spot. If they were on the ball & arrived before me, then it's THEIR spot for the night. I'll find another ( always do ). The only place that is MY spot, is the one I get to first, and yes, it IS MY spot until I choose to move elsewhre. I'll keep casting where I was, and if you put your boat there, then you're going to be hearing the ding of my lure off your hull
Get Informed, Get Involved, And Make A Difference. Step Up, or Step Aside The next time you say "Somebody should do something", remember that YOU are somebody. GL
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spoonchucker
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/06/30 19:24:02
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By the way. Some of my best locations, are ones I found because someone was in "my" spot.
Get Informed, Get Involved, And Make A Difference. Step Up, or Step Aside The next time you say "Somebody should do something", remember that YOU are somebody. GL
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BIGHEAD
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/07/01 20:42:30
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((( By the way. Some of my best locations, are ones I found because someone was in "my" spot.)))))) Yeah or to get out of the wind !!!
KEEP"EM SCREAM"EM DAVE ONLY CHILDERN and WOMAN use ALWIVES FOR STRIPER BAIT
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woodnickle
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/07/02 07:39:26
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Just crank the banjo music up loud.... 
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Porktown
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/07/02 10:12:48
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spoonchucker
This is a big lake, with many large areas of fish holding water. There is no reason, none, zero, zilch, nada, not ANY to come withing 100-150 yds of another boat, or shore angler. If someone is in "your" spot when you get there. Guess what? It's not "your" spot that particular night, it's his. Move on to your second. or third option, or find a new spot.
This right here, is probably my #1 issue. If this were solved, then I doubt that I'd have any issues with the crowds. That said, Spoon is completely wrong on certain things. Those 4-5 spots around the lake with the crowds, are the ONLY spots that hold fish. Those that only fish those spots, please keep doing so, and don't listen to Spoon. You know he is a Liberal, and can't believe a word that he and the mass media says... Those other fish splashing, outside of the honey holes are carp. TrUst M<e///
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spoonchucker
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/07/02 16:10:54
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"Just crank the banjo music up loud.... " Working under the assumption that they somehow just can't see my boat lights, or my lure landing 5ft from their boat. I find that a 3 million candlepower beam directly into their face, makes my presence more easily seen.
Get Informed, Get Involved, And Make A Difference. Step Up, or Step Aside The next time you say "Somebody should do something", remember that YOU are somebody. GL
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catchnfish
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/07/02 18:35:45
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like i said before when you figure out how to deal with the crowds its best not to post it on the net. or the crowd will be dealing with it the same way and place that you are...
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catchnfish
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/07/02 18:38:24
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but seriously if you want to catch alot of big stripers go where all the boats are because they are there for a reason
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spoonchucker
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/07/02 20:40:25
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Yup, Because they saw other boats there 
Get Informed, Get Involved, And Make A Difference. Step Up, or Step Aside The next time you say "Somebody should do something", remember that YOU are somebody. GL
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Dan0348
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/07/03 08:16:44
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Trolled from midnight till 630 this morning and 1 bite all night we had 6 rods out tried everything
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bigb76
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RE: Lake Arthur Stocking
2012/07/03 18:49:49
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Whats $25 dollars in fuel when you are having fun?
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