Lake Talquin "Are the good times really over?"

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.
www.visitgadsden.com

I plan on donating to the cause this Thursday through the weekend By fishing and Staying with the good folks at LTL..........This website has nothing about the good things at Lake Talquin.......

lightwirehooker

Does this mean that the Dec. 4 tourney will not happen this year or does it mean no more after this year?

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.

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Originally Posted by Hammers

Does this mean that the Dec. 4 tourney will not happen this year or does it mean no more after this year?

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We will still be there December 4, 2010. As for future tournaments, I don't know right now. It is unfortunate that in an the current economic conditions that a county would want to turn its back on revenue. Tournaments create a vast amount of revenue for areas surrounding tournament lakes. Money spent by tournament anglers on lodging, travel, food, and other consumer products sold by merchants in those areas makes a huge impact in the local economy. This extends beyond the one weekend of the tournament. Anglers spend many days prior to and if they like the area and see fit, they return many times after the tournament with their families to enjoy the lakes and areas. :)

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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.....

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Originally Posted by Outlaw1&2

GCD tournaments have not been banned on any lake.

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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.

GCD, I am thinking that it means that if a tournament is held there, the Chamber of Commerce is not going to give any money to the organizations putting on the tournament to help sponsor the tournament. This puts more of a financial burden on those organizations......But there are still some good times and good fishing at Talquin just around the corner!!

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Originally Posted by Outlaw1&2

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.

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They used to, but can't now?... even when it means more money in their pockets?... or the loss of annual income?

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Originally Posted by TnT

GCD, I am thinking that it means that if a tournament is held there, the Chamber of Commerce is not going to give any money to the organizations putting on the tournament to help sponsor the tournament. This puts more of a financial burden on those organizations......But there are still some good times and good fishing at Talquin just around the corner!!

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HOMC only spoke of the larger/bigger tournaments that should have plenty of sponsors and shouldn't need moneies from the CoC.

It sounds to me like the CoC wants Lake Talquin to be more oriented to the individual fisherman and families, rather than the large tournaments for some reason.

What would that reason be?... especially if it means the loss of $$$ to the area!:confused:

The only ones that can answer those questions as to why would be the folks on this link: Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce

There has been some type of change internally to change the focus of tourism. Most likely a consulting group or individual is in charge of deciding from outside the area.

The large tournaments can not operate on just the anglers and a few ads. Chambers are to improve the local economy on a multi-level platform covering all aspects of income for their respective areas. Tourism is one of the larger portions.

Bottom line is if anyone is interested in keeping tournaments at any lake and improving the economy surrounding those lakes, they need to contact their chambers and voice their opinion.

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.

Shine Runner I totally agree with you. Tournaments are not the reason Talquin is suffering. It is my guess that tournament anglers keep very few fish on pre-fishing days and only keep just a few over the the weigh in limit on tournament day. Its very easy to understand. On a prefish trip why would you keep a fish that you could possibly weighin on tournament day. And on tournament day why would you risk filling the livewell up with a bunch of fish depriving the seven that you plan on weighing in of oxygen. I agree with Dan that people who go out in the morning and catch a limit and then return in the afternoon to catch another, and do this for days or for some weeks at a time - this is a contributing factor of the downfall that we see. I am sure that during the tournaments after the weighin some fish die after they are released. But I am 100 percent sure of one thing - if the fished isn't released he will never be caught again. It's sad that the chamber has chosen to deprive not only the tournament anglers but also Lake Talquin Lodge, Whooperwill, and Ingrams for the loss in revenue these places lose on things like jig heads, minnows, ice, drinks, and lodging. Hopefully, the chamber will reverse their opinion.

I don't think that the tournaments are putting any fishing pressure as far as taking fish out of the lake. And I am not referring to only crappie tournaments, but bass tournaments as well. Lake Talquin is a great fishing lake and can also be a dangerous lake to run a boat on. We have all seen the dangers on tournament days of those that don't know the lake that well...For example: Running a boat up on Goat Island at a speed too dangerous for pre-daylight hours, or hearing a boat running wide open on a foggy morning. There are many very courteous tournament anglers out there, but there are those who are only thinking of themselves and the money and have no respect for anyone. But Talquin is not suffering by any stretch of the imagination. There is no doubt in my mind that there are some people keeping 400+ fish a week and there is no sense in that. But for alot of us that use Lake Talquin Lodge as a base camp, we abide by the limit laws and many of us only keep those fish that are 12" or better despite the 10" legal limit. As for the first post of this thread, it all boils down to organizations not wanting to choose Talquin because the CoC does not want to give any monetary support. (Please correct me if I am wrong) Yes, these tournaments can bring in extra revenue to the community, but the economy is hitting everyone, even government agencies, wallets hard. Can anyone give a dollar figure to how much the CoC has given in the past to support these tournaments? For these organizations to not want to fish at Talquin anymore, it must have been a substantial amount.

I agree that tournament anglers dont put pressure on the lake, but the attention it draws from the publications of tournament results and all the positive comments about the fishery from the tourney anglers draws HUGH crowds to the lake that ordinarily wouldnt travel and fish your lakes had they not heard or read about it from the publications of the tournament. And like already stated, when those crowds do flock to the lake most everything that bites a hook gets tossed in a cooler. Already seen it here on my home lake after two B.A.S.S. tournaments many years ago...and the crowds are STILL COMING!

Gabowman, i agree but so do websites such as crapie.com and others. I go to lakes in florida and alabama that i would have never even heard of until i joined crappie.com anytime pictues and weights are posted it gets all of our attentions. Just my two cents that aint worth squat. Good fishing to all.

I've got to say that I agree 100% with Earl and Bowman....I've fished Talquin for close to 10 years and in the beginning it would occasionally be crowded but it was only on the holidays or an occasional weekend when the weather was just perfect....the last couple of years if the fish are biting it doesn't matter what time of the week you go down there was always a crowd...while it's just my opinion I think it's got a lot to with publicity from the web...you keep seeing pictures of limits of 12+ inch fish and if you are a crappie fisherman you are gonna try your best to get to that lake and try it out....As for tournaments I know I would have never even given the alabama river a second thought until those boys weighed in all those big fish from over there....and now I'm trying to figure when I'm gonna get back over there....

So are you agreeing it's a good thing or a bad thing? From what I'm seeing the tournaments, publications, web sites have done a great job in getting areas recognized that would otherwise overlooked by the masses and bringing much needed income to those areas, that makes a great economic impact in our supressed economy.If the DNR and locals would do their part in supporting the effort, it is a win win situation for everyone. Over crowding of lakes can be a good thing to some or viewed as a bad thing to others, but once again if everyone did their job, there should not be any problems.

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

Tony I think the whether or not it's a good thing or not is totally dependent on what you are looking at...the internet and tournaments are a good thing if you are talking about the economy most of the time....I'm sure when Rusty posted that the crappie fishing was picking up on Blackshear that some folks on the fence about going fishing decided to go give it a try....on the other hand, I made about 1/4 of the trips to Lake Talquin last year than I normally do because the internet kept me well informed that the fish weren't biting.....pros and cons to everything.....as for the fishing, I personally wish everyone and their brother didn't know when the fish were biting.....crappie are a pretty prolific fish and can stand a lot of pressure but I personally believe they can be overfished....how many fish you reckon the 25 boats in the mouth of Cedar Creek caught last year in those couple of weeks....in years past before the internet that boat number would have probably been 1/3 of that at the most....may take a while but it'll show up if it continues......I think Lake Talquin is a fine example that they can be overfished.....In the "hayday" 25 years ago it's my understanding that triple limits were easy....now days a limit is work....just my thoughts.

I blame it on the taste, they just taste so dang good!!!! LOL If they tasted like them junk fish we'd have a heap more wall hangers and limits.

I think your on the right track Outlaw!!!! I'm hankering for some fresh ones out of some cool water!!!

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Originally Posted by mossyback

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

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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.

I have mixed feelings on this deal. I just know it only takes a small group of people to ruin a good day of fishing. If I had to base my worst experiences on Lake Talquin (other than when the fish aren’t biting) is during these tournaments. There’s always one or two that throw-out all consideration for the other fisherman on the lake. Driving too fast up in the creeks, swamping other boats with their wakes and have no fear at all in going right in to where your fishing and attempting to crowd you out. It hurts the other 90 percent that are having consideration for the other fisherman on the lake. I stopped fishing tournaments years ago because of the other 10 percent of idiots! Also, learned to just stay off the lakes when these tournaments are going on. If the tournament participates would learn to “weed-out” these type of people, they wouldn’t be getting the bad rap on the lakes that they’ve had over the years. I hate it for the majority of you that show consideration to others on the lake, but the few that don’t-----you want be missed!

Hey Sorrydog, it must be middle of the day when you posted. Hope everything is going well. Bet you are counting the days till you get to come home. Looking forward to fishing with you this winter.

I agree, I do not go out on the lake during a crappie tournament. Not worth the hassle from the 10%. The 90-10 rule works with anything. Dissenters, gripes, etc..

I am the second trailer towards the lake from you.

Be safe.

Chuck

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Originally Posted by chuckauten

Hey Sorrydog, it must be middle of the day when you posted. Hope everything is going well. Bet you are counting the days till you get to come home. Looking forward to fishing with you this winter.


Chuck

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Was morning time Chuck. Good catch on the time zone difference. Got till Jan 15 and out of here. i was suppose to leave 3 Dec but having some people issues at the moment (no one wants to replace us--go figure?). so being the nice guy I am (my wife might say different at the moment) I'm staying over for 30 days to get the change-over complete.

Hey, if all of you want to know where some of your hard earn tax money is going at the moment, here's a little information of what our group is doing over here.

Iraq adds 3 training planes to inventory | United States Forces - Iraq

Sorry you will miss December crappie. We'll update you when you arrive back. I am sure litewirehooker will add to the update.

See you when you get back, I'm sure we will schedule a big fish fry.

Chuck