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Author Topic: Claiming a Gravel Bar  (Read 4534 times)

Gone_Fishin_

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Claiming a Gravel Bar
« on: July 13, 2015, 08:05:08 AM »

Anyone else notice the bar across from island 22 already being claimed ? Wall tent frame erected, new tents popping up weekly... they must rotate between families/friends whos staying this week and who next because unless you know them there is no fishing on this bar year round... every year its claimed before season opens, darn near every 15' of shore has a rod holder pounded into the ground. 90% of the time only a 1/4 of these rod holders have rods in them.

Tried pulling into here a few times last year, got the same advice as previous years "not enough room" "keep moving" "someone is fishing that spot" "dont even think about pulling in here" so many times i wanted to go put my holder inbetween the other 20 that werent being used and fish but didnt want to deal with the conflict and arguing that was guranteed to come if i did.

I know its first come first serve, and theres kms of river bars to fish but it just bugs the heck outta me that i cant even fish a bar right across from the launch regardless of how early i get there beacuse one group has "claimed" the darn thing weeks before the season even opened.

I've camped on rivers before and woken up to people standing on the waters edge before first light waiting for legal fishing time. Ya im in a tent 20' from the water right at a prime fishing spot, but hey... he was ready to fish before i was, made the effort to get there at 4:00am and wait hours before it was legal so good on ya, your spot and tough luck for me. Move down or up is my choice now. I can't lay claim to the land/river so if i wanted that spot i should have been out there before them.

Even though it may apply in this situation, it isnt worth the conflict from this group as i could only imagine what would come if they woke up to me pounding my holder into the ground between theirs and sitting down waiting for legal light to fish. Just trying to pull my boat into shore was enough of an argument and rude remarks for me to not even try this.

Yes, yes... go fish another spot.. and thats what i do every year. I wont even bother and usually move down to grassy but sure would be nice to only burn 5$ in fuel and just dart out from the launch to fish. What if myself and 20 buddies went and claimed Grassy Bar ? set up our wall tents and staked 30 holders into the ground? i dont think it would turn out to well... lol

Isn;t there some law where your camp can only be set up for a certain amount of time then it must be moved like 1km or something? or was that only for Timothy Treadwell and the Alaska goverments solution in dealing with the Grizzly man.. lol.

Opening day ill likely swing by this bar pretending to look for a spot, just to see the 20 faces all turn my way, everyone stand up saying "you cant fish here" like every yeay. After that I make sure to cruze by at 6200rpms first light, just to make sure the motor is warmed up you know...

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TheFishingLad

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Re: Claiming a Gravel Bar
« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2015, 08:28:27 AM »

There's power in numbers. If you have more, that bar is yours.
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TNAngler

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Re: Claiming a Gravel Bar
« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2015, 10:23:48 AM »

I remember years where we would camp out.  We would get woken by someone in the tent hearing a boat coming.  We would all get down to the water in something resembling being dressed appropriately, claim our spot, wait for the person to either move on or choose a different spot on the bar.  If they moved on, back to bed for a little bit.  If not, back to the tent to get dressed fully and stand our butt out there and hope the mosquitoes didn't drink too much of our blood before sunrise that we still had the strength to fight a fish that showed up.

You want a spot bad enough, get your butt down to the water and fish it.  An empty pole holder is not sufficient.  If they want to camp out there a week before the season opens and be down at the river to claim their spot anytime someone else wants it, great.  But they should only claim the amount of spots for people currently at the water.

I don't know if you are aware though, people are greedy and rude.
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joska

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Re: Claiming a Gravel Bar
« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2015, 02:08:39 PM »

 i can say from personal experience the crowd at the bar across island 22 are a great bunch of people. last year was the first year i attempted to bar fish. they did not hesitate on showing me everything i needed to know.it was an experience i will never forget.
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If you don't like the fish you're catching... change the bait!!

Fish Assassin

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Re: Claiming a Gravel Bar
« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2015, 02:43:25 PM »

Anchor out of their casting range and cast to shore. See how they like them apples. ;)
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Gone_Fishin_

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Re: Claiming a Gravel Bar
« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2015, 03:00:16 PM »

Didnt say they were all bad apples, but my personal experience with a few have not been good.

Last year i headed out one day and my time was limited so i didnt want to go far. I started pulling in, from above of course to ensure i didnt mess with any lines or spook any fish coming up and asked if i could get inbetween some of the empty holders down low. I was met with a man i'll call Budweiser, as i'm sure without these he would have been a little more considerate and not so rude. But i was basically told "get that fiberglass pc of s**t outta here because if you need to ask then you clearly dont know anyone here" next time i tried to pull in it was a "dont even slow down, keep going"

I dont bother as it isnt worth the hassle or headache over a fishing spot when there is kms of bars to fish. I just dont think its right, that a large group of ppl can lay claim to an entire bar, which is perfectly fine if they are fishing/camping. But when they pound 30 holders into the ground and half the time i see them empty, they only do this to stake that area so no one else can come fish it besides friends/family.

I remember one time i tried to save a few spots for some buddies coming up to Jespersons in their boat. Laid out 3 camping chairs about 20' apart. A guy pulled up in his boat and anchored right in front of the chairs. I asked politely if he didnt mind moving as i had some friends that were coming up in about a half hour. Basically told me to "f" off and i cant lay claim to a part of the river not currently being fished. I agreed as yes thats fair, he was there before my friends were. My buddies showed up and we simply moved down to a less productive section, sucked but hey thats the way she goes. Now if i see this, and someone has some spots there saving for people that day then sure, no issues. But if you try and lock down Jespersons for over 2 months... well thats a different story.
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Gone_Fishin_

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Re: Claiming a Gravel Bar
« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2015, 03:06:39 PM »

Anchor out of their casting range and cast to shore. See how they like them apples. ;)

The one day i was so tempted to try this, but this section is near impossible to anchor (well my boat anyways) as the current is quite swift. Thought about it, and i've actually seen a few guys do it at the bottom where it shallows out and you need to be a little further in the current.

Made me remember a moment from last year... guys tried pulling inbetween a bunch of boats up Jespersons. Couldnt quite fit so they were about to leave, well buddy and i get a double header. They start pointing and im like great... here they come... they decided rather than try and anchor in an already tight area. They would "drift" bounce there way down the current while in neutral. Put it into gear, head to the top of the run, cast 15' and float down while bouncing. This went on for about 30 minutes before enough boats yelling at them made them move on. Was one of the funniest things i've ever seen... they did however, hook and lose 2 socks. so hey, it was working.
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Fish or cut bait.

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Re: Claiming a Gravel Bar
« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2015, 07:13:48 PM »

Two words:
Rocks and helmets.
I don't condone vigilantism or in any way control your word associations.  8)
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firstlight

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Re: Claiming a Gravel Bar
« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2015, 10:03:06 AM »

If there isn't a person fishing that rod holder then its open.
Happened to me once.
I politely asked where he wanted his rod holders.
Your going to take them out and fish there?
Yes,i didn't get out of bed at 3 am to get this spot so your buddys can roll in at noon.
End of discussion. :)
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Carich980

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Re: Claiming a Gravel Bar
« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2015, 10:37:21 AM »

Looks like they've set up 2 weeks too early now.
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bald_seagull

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Re: Claiming a Gravel Bar
« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2015, 05:26:48 PM »

Go fish furry if youwant space lol
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