I picked up a assorted bag of fish yesterday afternoon/evening. Managed to boat 13 with a walleye and big largemouth getting off of the boat. Got into a few nice crappie as well. Ed

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...

I fished arthur on thursday the 14 of june and had  very fun day. I caught 10 bass all between 13 and 17 inches. 4 came on a frog bite(4 for 4), 3 on a white fluke and 3 on a homemade earth worm. My fishing partner caught 5 all in the same size range. Water was warm 72ish and clear. Great time cant wait to get out again soon, i hope.

I hope I'm still able to crack at it when I'm 97 ...good for him that's awesome !

Yes

Yeah starting out I think It is far past spot burning Just as you stated that you had to wessel between so many boats. At night is no better either. You cant throw a good lure without it landing  in some SCHUMKS boat that had just creeped up on ya.

Not the internet, just to many after just trophies anymore, everything has to be big. Big fish eat many small fish.

late last year I hit a hot spot and picked up a few walleye trolling through this specific area, so i threw out a buoy marker so i could continue to hit the same spot. As i was going through the area an older gentleman raced over from across the lake parked his boat right ontop of my buoy and dropped a line and began to jig. I was furious, I don't pretend the whole lake is mine, but this was mid week and there were prob only 5 boats on the whole lake.  Really??? right on top of the buoy, the jerk actually snagged his jig on my buoy line, needless to say words were exchanged and the fishing was shot from there on out.  Anywhere you go you will find fisherman who do not practice lake etiquette it's not going to go away you just gotta do your best to avoid it and fish on!!

Exactly Essox.  I'm pretty sure the cast net permit has a lot to do with this.  I'd be fooling myself to imply the internet didn't, but it also burned all fishing spots to some degree.  This one maybe a bit more than others.  If the larger cast nets were taken out of the equation, I am rather confident the pressure wouldn't be nearly what it is now.  2-3 trips of casting lures in the middle of the night with no luck, will have many curious anglers, a bit less curious.  Also, those lures running $7+ per, keeps a few out of the mix too.  It also would likely have the average size fish much more in line of what it was too, if less people are catching, thus less being kept.  Hopefully the PFBC is noticing the changes too.  I am not sure if a bunch of 15"-18" hybrids are doing their job of controlling the alewive population, which I thought was their intended reason for stocking.  Although, I guess the cast nets are helping that out... 
 
Lake ediquette is another story altogether...  It just seems many of these bozos only got word of the night bite recently.  They are all over the place during the weekend days, especially many of those renting boats that think their rediculous amount to rent a pontoon means right of way over the lake...  There are a ton of sailboating bozos out there too, but no matter how bad or clueless they are, they have the right of way (if you are moving in a motorized boat - not if you are anchored, which I think some of them think...). 
 
 

In the past 30 yrs. the township I live in has probably tripled in population. A lot ov 'em have boats & their kids have grown & also have some boats. That being said caught 6 Byrds last night all 17" - 20" first ones caught under 24" this yr. from this area. Gonna  give this spot another try tonight & if the sz. ov fish doesn't get back to 24" - 30"s gonna move to another area to try & locate bigger fish even though no one has come near me once fishing this area all yr. Lucky to see 1 - 3 boats from a long distance off on any week night.
 
crappy

 One ov my kids is fishin' to nights Tournament with his buddy while another one ov my kids took my other kids boat out to fish with his friend to fish the tournament So if headin' out tonight might want to stay clear ov the 528 launch
 
One ov these days/nights Kevin.
 
crappy

H3Fisher
Wonder if that winner is on this board, had green lights on in the back of his boat on the inside.

Not sure if it is the same guy, but have seen a guy with a bright green light inside of his boat, the last few times out.  I didn't recall if he was bogarting any spots, but the light reminds me of one of those hoodrat cars with the neon light kits.  I find my navigation lights too bright.  I know some claim that bright lights don't spook the fish, I'm not convinced.  I find it impossible to judge depth, when I am am on a well lit boat, casting into the dark lake.  Not to mention, attracting every bug in the general area.  I'd much rather have all lights off, and let my eyes adjust to the dark.  I'll usually put something in front of the light, to at least block it from my eyes.  Crappy had mentioned not to do this, with possibility of melting.  My current light is LED, so no issues melting.  It is still shining outside of the boat, so people can see me, just not blinding me as much.  I'm pretty sure that I am calling it quits for the night bite this year anyway.  At least one less boat out there.

Is it legal to turn off your navigation lights (idiot attractors), on a boat?

^  That is correct.....

They WILL write you up for turning off, AND or covering your anchor lights. It was $70 5-6 years ago. Don't know what it is now.