Thread: Lake Talquin "Are the good times really over?"

The only way I see that the good times would be over would be to stop going to Lake Talquin to fish.....Now that would be sad...Just because the tournament trails will not be fishing there, those of us who fish there regularly will still be spending our money in Gadsden and the surrounding counties and probably be more likely to fish a little more without worrying about all the boat traffic from tournament fishermen...Be seeing you soon Hooker!!:D

I totally agree with TNT Talquin is still GREAT and has been way over pressured by tournaments. Tournament fishing has put a strain on our resource. I hope to see it be as it once was. Maybe they will consider drawdowns again too. We used to catch much bigger fish the first 3 years after a drawdown.

Originally Posted by TnT

.....Just because the tournament trails will not be fishing there, those of us who fish there regularly will still be spending our money in Gadsden and the surrounding counties and probably be more likely to fish a little more without worrying about all the boat traffic from tournament fishermen.....

Tournaments only increased boat traffic on tournament weekend or immediately prior to the tournament. Most pre-fishing is done during the week or the weekends prior to. Yes there will still be folks traveling to Lake Talquin and spending money while there. There will also be many more that do not visit Gadsden County that spent more money in a couple weeks than most do by just traveling down on weekends or just for the day. There were folks from the North and West that would spend weeks and months there and using Talquin as a base for other lakes in FL and AL to fish also.

Originally Posted by crappielimits

......Talquin is still GREAT and has been way over pressured by tournaments. Tournament fishing has put a strain on our resource. I hope to see it be as it once was. Maybe they will consider drawdowns again too. We used to catch much bigger fish the first 3 years after a drawdown.

Tournament anglers do not over pressure any lake. Keep in mind, they are looking for the largest 7 crappie. The over pressure on Talquin has come from the folks that stay there for long periods of time and keep a limit in the morning and another in the afternoon. That trend goes on for days. The DNR was doing a study down at Talquin by picking up carcasses from cleaned crappie and they couldn't keep up with the amount being left daily in the coolers! That is pressure that will hurt any lake. I don't expect anyone to admit it happens, because they know who it is doing it. I have seen it, and voiced my disgust about it on the spot. Yes, draw downs would and have helped Talquin and other lakes recover quality fish of all species. Aquatic growth is improved from the draw downs as well.


I don't expect everyone to have a kind out look on tournament anglers. I just expect valid reasons for comments on why a lake is over pressured or has a declining crappie population.

The Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce must have a very good reason to deny themselves of the revenue you speak of.

Does anyone know exactly why these tournaments have been banned?

GCD tournaments have not been banned on any lake.

Originally Posted by HunterofMooreCrappie

Alright guys, as of today September 13, 2010, the Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce (Lake Talquin), has decided to put fishing as a tourist attraction, on the back burner. What that means for you as fishermen is that no tournaments such as Crappie Master or the GA SlabMasters will be held there. It's time for us to stand up and voice our concerns. This Lake and the surrounding businesses is a great asset that we cannot afford to see gone. Without help from the Chamber, other projects such as roads, parks and other recreational projects will also lack funding. We as the fishermen bring in out of state dollars that help pay for the projects (motels, lodging, food, fuel). We feel that this lake is one of the premium fisheries of the south. At this time I would like to encourage all anglers to contact the Gadsden County Chamber and let them know that you want fishing in Gadsden County kept at the forefront of their tourism focus.
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/georg...sitgadsden.com

Originally Posted by Outlaw1&2

GCD tournaments have not been banned on any lake.

What's HOMC talking about then?

Apparently the tourism dept in that area is no longer interested in or able to support crappie tournaments or crappie fishing tourism as a whole. Don't know the whole scoop but that's what it appears.

I meant no offense to anyone just wanted to say the good times aren`t over and maybe there are better times to come. I have enjoyed many tournaments around the southeast and respect those who still look forward to them. I also was one of many who pushed Darrell and Paul to start tournaments back on Talquin. Once a year is not bad but 3 to 4 a year. Anyone who has fished them has seen the fish floating around the point at the Whip during weigh ins. Not to mention the out of town tournament anglers with the coolers previously mentioned. These anglers using Talquin as a base camp are keeping 400 + fish a week.. I have seen it and you admit you have seen it.

Who cares? All I ever caught there was STUMPS!!

Originally Posted by mossyback

Who cares? All I ever caught there was STUMPS!!

well yeah I've caught a lot of stumps at Talquin.

It's easy to think it gets overfished when there are 46 boats parked in the cove at the Boy Scout camp but we ALWAYS seem to catch 'em when we go. I think it takes a lot more than most people think to fish a lake out.