
Originally Posted by
arkcrappie
Russ and Greg , congrats to you guys on your lead in this years tournaments. You guys fish hard and do your homework and it pays off. Good luck to you guys on the July tournament.
As far as the lakes, I will speak up since I am the only regular from Blytheville that fishes. Yes I have been asked if there was a lake up here where we could hold a tournament that would have a place to hold a weigh in and yes I recommended a lake. I wasn't able to attend the meeting due to the ice and snow on the roads up here and it didn't get voted in. I am at the moment trying to secure not one but three sites for potential tournaments on the eastern side of the state so that I may present them at the next meeting for consideration on our tournament schedule. If they get voted in then so be it. I also have some other ideas that I hope will help the Central Arkansas Crappie Association.
This crappie club is what we need here in Arkansas. The club does promote family and fishing. The meetings, pre-tournament dinners, the tournaments and the weigh-ins have been rewarding in more ways than one for me. I have met some fine people and I have made some friends that will be life long friends just by driving to fish a tournament. I have traveled to waters that otherwise I would not have explored. I'm learning new techniques and I'm learning how far behind I am in the electronic world as I fish by trial/error and instinct as I don't even have side imaging, gps or some of the other equipment these guys have. I have not won a tournament. I did win 2nd big fish last year at Overcup and won a whopping $16. I am not in this to get rich with money. I am in it to fish with like minded people, to fish some new waters, to hopefully share some knowledge and to make some friends. With all of that accomplished, I am a winner and I have won!!
As far as driving distance, do some calculations from Blytheville to any one of the lakes we fish. 3 hours is the least time I drive, that's one way. Then add in any pre-fishing and I spend a lot of time on the road, and worth every minute of it. Will I continue to fish, yes I will. Dardanelle for me on average is 4 hours and 15 minutes. That's okay as I have found a lake I really like and I will continue to fish it when I can tournament or not. I understand that not everyone can fish every tournament. I hope all that can, will come out and fish or at least attend the weigh ins and enjoy the fellowship. You might be surprised what you might learn at the weigh-ins.
Why am I posting all of this? I think we all need to support what we have. Would I like to have a tournament at one of the lakes over here? I definetely would. Not because I think I can "spank" everyone, but I would like to show everyone else the waters I fish. I believe Russ said in an earlier post that anyone can win, well, that is true. I'll take luck any day and if you happen to do a little homework and it pays off, then you just might come out on top! A little bragging rights never hurt anyone. My day is coming. I will win one of the tournaments and I'll bet it's not on one of my favorite lakes on the east side of the state. The CACA is a rising club and it needs support!! If you choose not to support it, then that is your choice. I for one will stand for it and will be at as many tournaments as possible.
I know that many have put in many hours and resources to make this club and the tournaments a reality and I thank you for it. I'll say it here so all can see. I am willing to help in whatever manner I possibly can to help the club and the tournaments continue. If the club chooses to have a tournament in my "neck of the woods", I'll host it and will make whatever arrangements need to be made in order to make it happen. That's all I can do is offer. Barring bad weather again, I'll make the 3 hour trek to Little Rock to the meeting and put in my 2 cents about what I think. That's not a bad thing as it will most likely be on a Saturday and I'll bring the wife with me and we will have a nice day together and a great dinner. Who knows, we might even make a night of it in our state capital.
I'm trying my best to get where I can fish Nimrod in July with you guys, but no promises. I got a lot going on. I hope to see all of you there. I'd like to see one of our biggest tournaments in July!