Reel foot Don't go !!!!!!!

I live just across the river in Arkansas. I've bought my Tennessee license every year for 30 or so years. I'm going to Reelfoot every year because I like the lake. The past 2 years, I have not caught as many fish and I'm putting more back now than I ever have. I will still keep 4 or 5 to bring home for supper, but I'm releasing what I don't need for that night.
I'm gonna fish the Foot when the fishing is good and I'll be there when it's not so good. I'm an east Arkansas bottom land boy and that lake is one of the most beautiful lakes I fish. You never know what you might see on a day of fishing there.

If you are coming to Reelfoot to take home enough fish to feed your town, that's your choice, but you should be coming to take home a wonderful experience from one of North America's most unique and beautiful lakes.

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Originally Posted by Minus 1

Seven of us spent last week ( 18th thru 25th on Reelfoot Lake ) .We brought home 1000 crappie and gill fillets , plus 6 bags of catfish fillets , largest crappie was 1lb. 14 oz. . I have fished Reelfoot for over 50 yrs. and I think it's just as good now as it was fifty yrs. ago .

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^^this is what I'm talking about

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Originally Posted by nwtncrappiefisherman

Where exactly was you fishing because I haven't brought home one crappie this year that weighed under 1 1/4 pounds. I have even been throwing back 11 and 12 inchers. I don't think the over all fishing has been just as good but I would rather catch 10 crappie of the size I've been keeping then 60 crappie of what reelfoot used to have 4 years ago.

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We stayed at Grays camp on the north end . We did venture as far south as Kirby pocket and Big Starve . We worked hard for what we caught .We caught more blacks than whites . if I was there now , I'd be fishing the trees on both sides of the channel going into big starve and the deeper trees in the open water .

Amen to that sir...and go redhawks?!

Okay, I'm going to say this then shut up. I get so freakin sick of hearing about out of staters ruining (take your pick) Lake!!!
Everywhere I go, there is a common theme. Locals blaming their lack of fishing ability on someone else. Out of state fishermen ( or hunters) are an easy target and get animosity stirred. Even at some of the lakes I fish in my home state, the locals have the same attitude. You may be a Missouri resident, but you don't live near the lake so you don't belong here. BS!!!!! Most lakes I fish are funded by federal taxes. I pay MORE than my fair share of said taxes and have the RIGHT to fish!! I am an American, I purchase fishing licenses in 5-6 different states every year. If you don't like out of state fishermen, that is your problem

I forgot to mention we got the boat motor tangled up in a hoop net that was jam packed full of rotting crappies...I doubt very much that was an out of staters net.. Reelfoot will never ever be fished out ....They may die off from chemical pollution but not at the hands of fishermen ...

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Originally Posted by tcounty

Probably the same thing that happened to Sardis. Everyone wants to get on here and brag about what and where. Next thing you know the parking lot is full of out of state plates. I've fished RF a few times over the last 20 years. Usually for bream though.

If you catch them keep it to yourself, don't get on here or Facebook bragging and showing pictures. There are 10 times as many people that just get on here and read reports and never join than participate.

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Seems funny that you mentioned out of state plates. If not from the out of state pates there would not be any buisnesses down there. I was there 2 weeks ago and stayed at reelfoot outdoors for three nights. while I was there I went past the national guard armory and they were doing a food pantry. There were more cars in the parking lot than I could count. I spent a thousand dollars while down there buyin stuff and staying there. Guess I should have kept my money here in indiana. I have been coming down there for 40 years.

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Originally Posted by tcounty

^^this is what I'm talking about

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Ok again what is your complaint. 7 people for 7 days tha tis 71.4 fish per person for 7 days or 7 fish per day. Now ask the what it cost each person for the trip. Again with out the out of staters where would the money come from to operate on.

Same here. Sick of hearing this. Spent thousands of $$$ fishing Reelfoot. I live in Arkansas but the Foot will always be my home lake. Fished here for 30 years and nobody ever complained when when I was handing them money. It makes the locals upset when we catch more than they do. I have encountered only a few bad seeds. Overall most locals are glad we are here or the Foot would revert back to what it was in the early 80's. That was bad.

Never had a problem with people out of state coming. I only hate the ones that litter and yell constantly on the lake (locals and non-locals). I'm always willing to help the folks out that come for a nice weekend away, so I'll gladly tell them where it's been the best and what I've used. There's plenty of fish for everybody. Not all of us are that grumpy, ha ha!

Now, if they could get that spillway situation sorted..