Thread: Crappie camp

I've help build three deer camps. The same five or six of us did all the work. We never missed a work weekend. When we would have a meeting before the season opening, A small group would make the meeting twice as long as it should have been. Complaining about this and that. No one in that group had ever driven the first nail but they knew how everything needed to be done. Nothing changes, it's just the way it is.

hang in there pal--its life

Originally Posted by "G"

OK....JW....its all been said.....take a short break....be back on here day after tomorrow and get to posting....you have a crappie camp to get set up to so lets do it......you did a great job at the last one and this one will be even better.

WHAT HE SAID!
I'll do everything i can to help

JW, Hate to see you step down and I know you worked hard on last spring camp.Too hard. I think you are trying to out do yourself. What's wrong with us getting together, fishing, enjoying fellowship,and spending a few days camping, and not expecting someone to give us something. Most of our tackle boxes are full. Takes the pressure of some like you, Midsouth(Dennis), Russ, and the others that have sponsors. We need to be giving back instead of expecting to win something. Sometimes simple is better. Just don't forget the FOOD. Guaranteed to have just as much fun, and make more friends.I think I was first one to start Harping on you to head the spring one up. Take a vacation, and look at this again. Let's all just go fishing.

Steve is a smart man.

Here is the opinion of a ROOKIE that has been to one camp.........and doesn't know how to fish like you guys. OK? Temper what I say with that.

Why can't we just do the following?

1) Pick a place. Lake Chicot is fine.
2) Show up. SURELY someone on here can catch enough crappie between now and then for us to have a fish fry ONE night. We don't need two nights, not really.
3) No prizes. No tournament. Just fish on Saturday and show off your catch, or pics of it, and brag and go get together around 4:00 or whatever.
4) Then the only thing someone would have to do is rent a pavilion or whatever they have, a central gathering place, and choose the date.

I'd certainly come to such a gathering. My goal in coming is certainly not to outfish anyone, it's to meet more of you guys and get to know you better. Nothing else.

This way it doesn't have to be such a strain, and vendors/sponsors don't have to feel compelled to contribute.

Maybe this is not what some of you want. If so, that's fine, it can be done the other way....that was great too. Just offering thoughts.

Just my two cents.

I too am fairly new to this site and have read both positive and negative posts. At one point I felt that if I did not really know folks that are on here I was not welcomed. I just feel that there is always negativity and folks that do not really have the intelligence to keep an open mind and respect the sport we love so much. I have learned that the information and the folks that do initiate that respect are the ones that I respond too and enjoy. The great thing is it is my choice on who's posts I find interesting and who's conversations interest me. As far as camp, I have never been due to my hectic work schedule but the nature of man is always to be competitive. The key is to compete as much as you want in the products you use or the fishing you do but keep the right spirit and care for your fellow sportsman. Remember friendship should never be sacrificed due to the lack of integrity of some. Keep faith my friends and lets just all get along. Remember we are all blessed to have the opportunity to fish and enjoy the beauty of our creator so lets count our blessings, enjoy one another and appreciate what we have.

I am still around but have been taking a break. I still read and try help moderate.

What folks don't realize is that it takes a lot of time and effort to gather vendors and sponsors for the camps. When I have asked vendors to contribute to our camp I have tried to use there products and give a write up good or bad. This helps folks out there know first hand from someone who used them and give them some recognition which they deserve. Sometimes there are many products that are similar or made by different companies. Does this mean that we only use one brand of jigs, or transom saver, planer board, crappie critter etc??? With the negative comments made about there products could you or would you go back to them and ask for sponsorship again??? In the past vendors had just been asked for items and some have been missed with there recognition or thanks. I personally talk to every vendor or company that I obtain items for and also hand wrote a thank you letter after the camp this year.

I just want to clarify a few I things also. Some comments were last made when I tried to post about planer boards. What people don't remember is that I helped bring another planer board company Offshore Tackle to the state. I asked for boards and guppy weights for our camp a couple years back. They are now a site sponsor and have great products. When crappie reaper planer boards came out this year I contacted the owner/operator and asked him for support for our camp. Without hesitation he was glad to help. I bought and used his products for a week and found they worked great and definitely have a place in my tackle arsenal. Now the hard part came which was talking the pros and cons of one product when there are similar products that are being used and sponsoring the CAMP. Some folks don't want to see products talked about and see it as advertising from there postings on the threads.

I ask before you type away at your keyboard condoning the thread and products, think how would you react to it from a vendors point of view. Would you as a vendor want to support and donate to a CAMP where the folks bash your products??

Thanks to all that have participated in the spring camps. They have been getting better and better each year for sure. I tried along with crappie pro and his angels to make sure this past springs was the best yet. It was a pleasure to meet everyone and I plan to attend them if possible in the future also.

Hang in there JW.......Do what you feel is necessary, but please don't let a few get to you