Frustrating day (not sure else how to label it)

[Fluker]

Ok, so I've sat on it a couple days, but decided I'd post. I called Double D up and told him about it, but that's about it.

So let me run you through my day. Went up to Tonka on Friday to do a little pre-fishing for an upcoming clubber in a couple weeks. I made a point to try and fish all new water and find some more deep structure spots. I spent a week doing map study and ended up with 50 new waypoints to "try" and get to that day. A co worked went with me, and this was his first day "truly" fishing for bass.

The first 2 hours of the day were very slow fishing wise, but I found some really awesome deep rock. I'm really surprised I didn't catch any more / better fish than I did. So started off thinking it was just a tough day.

About 10 AM, incident #1 occurs. I lost my bait and was in my storage getting another worm out. When I stood back up and walked to the TM, a pleasure boat with a lone single lady driver comes by me at about 3/4 throttle. She was close enough that I got a little nervous. Maybe a half cast away. I stared her down all the way by, as I'm not one for yelling, but she never even acknowledged I was there. Comment #1 to the guy with me that "some people just don't have a clue."

10 - 1, more tough fishing. A couple over 3, but no more "good" fish that I'm looking for.

About 1 PM incident #2 occurs. I'm fishing a hump somewhat out in the middle of the lake. This larger rec boat is heading my way, to the point I'm once again wondering if they see me. Apparently they did, but didn't care. This time, a little further away (about a cast), but 1/2 throttle this time, and a bigger boat. Took 2 waves over the front and front deck is soaked (which is not a big deal, it's a fishing boat). PLENTY of lake all around where they "could" have drove. Again, lady driving, and husband (?) was relaxing with a cold one watching the stearing wheel for some reason.

Next hour an a half more tough fishing. One smallie about 2 1/2 and that was the only decent fish. More good rock, just no good fish.

At about 2:30/40 I decide to hit a spot that I have fished before just to see if I can atleast catch a good one there. I pull up to the left of the "spot on the spot" and head to the TM. Guy with me says "that boat is coming to fish here too". I said "no, he won't do that", and then he turns towards us and sets down. I made a cast and about the time I get that in he puts the TM down LESS than a cast away from us, pointed right to us. I made a short cast straigh at him to see if he would "get the hint". Apprantely not. After the day I had, I about went off. I decided, however, to take the high road out. I asked if he was fishign a T and he said yes. I said "Well we aren't, so I'll let you have this since it seems like you really want it." His reply was "Well you can fish over there, pointing around behind him. I'm thinking "I sure appreciate you telling me where I can fish when you pulled up on me!" He gave a half hearted, muffled, "Thanks" as I moved away from them. I asked what tournament they were fishing and he didn't say a word. The guy in the back looked at him as if he didn't understand why he was acting that way. He then turned to me, told me what T they were in, that they had a good bag, and that they had 20 mins before weigh in. Almost like he was apologizing for his partner. Long story short, they went up about 50 yards, caught a 3 or 3.5 it looked like, culled, and off they went.

I got bit off by a northern right after and decided to call it a day. On the way back, I ended up right behind another pleasure boater going through a channel. The Dad let the Son drive through and this kid was going as slow as he could weaving from side to side of the channel. I couldn't go by him, and had to take my boat out of gear 3 times to stay back from him.

Lastly, boat loading time. Buddy is holding my boat at the ramp as he doesn't know how to back a trailer. As I'm walkign up, the boat loadign pulls up just out of the water and STOPS, and starts putting away the pull tube, skis, etc right on the RAMP!

Maybe if I was catching fish, this wouldn't have been as big of a deal, so I'll blame that partly. But COME ON! As you can see, it's not JUST pleasure boaters, but people in our sport as well. Why do some of us have to have that ship on our shoulder? It just seems like the negative keeps feeding the negative.

Our club fishes Tonka each and every year because it's such a good fishery. When we fish in the summer, we do it on a week day to avoid the rush. There are some that are opposed to this, but enough for it that it still happens. I'm quickly leaning more towards the oposition. Even on a Friday I ran into this stuff. The cons of this lake are almost outweighing the good fishing it can provide in my book.

Very sorry for a negative post as I am NOT a negatvie person. But I just needed to get this off my chest.

And lastly to end on a postive note, congrats to "I hate" Ray Esbolt for another FM win. Good job buddy! Can't wait to fish again in 2008!

Fluker

[Fluker]

Too many negatives (sorry) so I needed to added some more +'s. Buddy with me caught his largest LM and SM that day, both at 2.5 lbs. He couldn't understand why I thought it was a bad day fishing. I went looking for 15 lbs and didn't come close. I guess the glass half full is that we did catch fish, I learned some new areas, and I eleimnated some stuff!

[SledNeck]

Sometimes I get down about living up north so far away from everything until i read a story like this. Man, thats depressing. Id have a heart attack before I was 40 if I had to put up with that kind of stuff.

We'll just think.... If you caught a 7lb bass that day, you probably would have forgot about everything bad that happened up until that point.

[MNBassGuy]

I hear you on this one. I fish Tonka quite a bit and it never ceases to amaze me how rude the other boats are. I was out on Sunday and was just getting tossed around like I was in a canoe. In fact, I had one HUGE boat (at least 40-50 feet long) go past me full throttle as I was idling up to a spot. The waves it kicked up actually crashed over the side of the boat an onto my lap in the drivers seat. It actually hit me on the shoulder. That's not right.

The best advice I can give is to fish it early in the week (Mon-Wed) to avoid the pleasure boaters. They all seem to come out of the wood work starting Thursday, and Friday is not much different than a Sat or Sun.

What that other bass fisherman did to you is inexcusable. Whether or not he was fishing a tourney, you were on the spot. We all have a responsibility to each other as well as other boaters to set an example while we're on the water. While pleasure boaters can be remarkably annoying for a bass fisherman, I can cut them a bit of slack because they are clueless. In fact, most wave and ask how you're doing while they drive past. But for another angler to pull up like that and act entitled because he's fishing a tourney is just flat rude. For whatever reason, Tonka brings out the worst in a lot of bass fishermen who have some warped feeling of ownership over the lake.

On the ramp subject though...I challenge anyone to give me a worse ramp than Waconia on a weekend. Holy smokes that can be bad. You get 15-20 vehicles lined up to put in or take out a boat. Next you have to deal with those who come into the dock and tie their boat to the inside of the dock while they go get their car and wait in line while their boat takes up a slip. Then vice-versa you get the people who put in their boat and tie up while they go park. All the while there is a sandy beach right next to the landing that any educated boater pulls their boat up to.

Wow...that was very theraputic! Sorry for the rant. Best I can say, is that "it is what it is" and in both cases those bodies of water are so good that it's usually worth the trouble. Not always...but usually.

[Alan]

Well, that sure stinks. This makes me a little nervous. And after reading some posts here, I was planning on hitting Tonka for the first time on the 25th. But not so sure I want to deal with all that. I really want to catch some decent crappies and bass, but not sure it's worth it after reading this. I have a small 12' aluminum, and don't see the fun in getting bullied or treated like dump on the lake or the launch. I was thinking of Grey's Bay, is there a better launch at a different bay that is recommended? Smaller bays better for fishing that the big boats are not on? Tonka is a premier fishing lake, and I want to have a try at it, where should I launch and fish to try to avoid the inconsiderate boaters and launchers?

[MNBassGuy]

Wow...best of luck in a 12' aluminum! I'd stay out of the main lake with that for sure. I'm driving a 20' Ranger in my example!

[ikeslayer]

you are driving a ranger and wearing a triton shirt???

Chuck

I sympathize with you. It just sucks when people take something you love and make it crappy. It spoils it. Any way i hope you do well in the tourney Chuck. Wish i could have been there. How does the saying go Bad Prefish good tourney!!! OK So maybe there is no saying but i have heard it said before

ike

[Fluker]

Well Ike, EVERY time I've had a great pre-fish on Tonka, I've sucked it up tourney day. So maybe you're right! LOL

I'll be back out on Friday (with some fantastic company at that ). I believe the KFAN will be out there as well. We'll see how things go. If I run into trouble, I'll sick my fishing partner for the day on them. he he he

Chuck

[Deitz Dittrich]

LOL Yep, I'm one scarry dude!.. they better watch out...

Hey Chuck, dont forget to bring your Aqua-Vu.. or would you rather I bring mine?

[Fluker]

Mine is in the boat and I have a hook up to my power ports in the boat so I don't have to lug around the battery anymore.

[Trucker Jim]

Years ago, I was trolling and had a runabout purposely run over my line. It was some young punk who was probably out with his dad's boat. As the line ripped off my reel and around his dad's propeler, it cut my finger pretty deep.

I also remember one year when some drunk was trying to load his boat. He ran into another boat, fell out of his own at the ramp, hit a car backing his trailer, and took up both spaces on the double ramp.

I have fished Tonka since but do it from the hours of 2a.m. to about 9a.m. (I'm a third shifter for my job so this is easy for me) on week days. I feel a little nervous at 2a.m. because Fletcher's closes then, but.....

[Central Bassman]

I hate TONKA, just because I’m not a fan of city boys!!! They are all over on that lake!!

[bassNspear]

gets way to crazy out there.

[MNBassGuy]

Quote:

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you are driving a ranger and wearing a triton shirt???

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Hehe! Yeah, funny, huh? I just got my Ranger recently and I'm in the process of having Gemini Sportsmarketing make me a new dye-sublimated shirt. Takes a while, but it should be cool when it's done. I'll have to put a new avatar pic up then.