Some Detail on the Needs for Guntersville Lake
From this point going forward I will be referring to this as a movement for:
"THE IMPROVEMENT OF LAKE GUNTERSVILLE"
As a follow-up on my last article, I have been collecting ideas from the hundreds of emails I have received on this subject. The pure fact that Guntersville Lake is regressing and the catches are going down and the average fisherman is struggling is being confirmed by the many fisherman that fish our lake day in and day out. I believe that we need some very strong and quick responses addressing a multitude of issues and needs and here are my collected thoughts.
1. First and foremost we need the political clout from the Mayors of each town Guntersville and Scottsboro. Our leaders need to promote some change to ensure some lasting positive change to our lake. Clout that will get the attention of the controlling State agencies to take action quickly and put some programs in place that will not only help in the short term, but make for long lasting productive bass fishing on Guntersville.
2. First and foremost Lake Guntersville needs to be restocked every year with fingerlings for at least the next 5 years, preferable the Florida strain bass that will create size and enhance productivity. At that point, the lake should then be set up to be replenished at least every other year.
3. The lake should be off limits for all tournaments during the spawn for at least 3 years to allow for the spawn to become naturally stronger without the extreme tournament pressure it has been seeing.
4. Understanding the realization that money is an issue then its time we as fisherman realize that in order to keep this lake strong it takes money. I propose that every fisherman pay a $50 fee yearly that will be used solely for the enhancement of the Lake Guntersville. I also believe that every boat launched as part of a tournament should be accessed a $5 fee to help in our efforts to keep Guntersville productive. The thousands of fisherman coming to our lake need to help us keep it strong and I believe they will. This money collected needs to be used to enhance and promote good healthy fishing on Guntersville, and here is how we should use it!
a. Any costs we cannot get covered by the state for replenishment or restocking should be paid out of these funds
b. Every ramp in the Guntersville, Scottsboro area should be equipped with proper tournament equipment used to protect the health of bass caught and released during tournaments. This equipment should be maintained and in working order throughout the region.
c. Tournaments coming to our area should be made to practice catch and release programs that ensure to the best of their ability the safety of the fish. Our local Game officers should be checking these tournaments for safe practices, and have the right to issue citations to every club member when they do not.
5. It's also time that the BASS and FLW realize that when they come to Guntersville for one of their events that there is a responsibility that they should bare to enhance and repair the lake from their event. These organizations are paying big money to their winners, they are becoming high paid athletes between sponsors and pay-outs, and they should be burdened in some way to target some percentage of this to keep our lake strong.
6. Summer fishing and creel limits are a topic that I believe need to be addressed, no one should be allowed to keep more than 10 bass per boat to eat. It is just a shame to see people coming here keeping 30 or 40 bass in a boat for eating purposes.
a. Size limits should be looked at yearly to better manage the lake
b. Limits of bass kept should adjust with lake changes, and conditions
c. When the water temperature hit's the mid to upper 80's tournaments should be forced to use 3 fish catch limits for weigh-ins
d. No angler should be allowed to keep a fish during the spawn; all bass should be released immediately after being caught, during this time of year.
People the time has come to make some serious changes to how we treat our lake, we need to pay for the right to play. Our leaders must feel our pain, the mayors of these towns Scottsboro and Guntersville must know that we are serious; and the time has come for them to stand up for the biggest tax revenue producing industry in our area. We all need to promote our lake, take ownership in the results and protect our resource. Without protecting Lake Guntersville and starting now we are in danger of Guntersville becoming another Lake Toho, FL just ask the guides who service that lake. Lake Toho became a dead sea overnight, because no one took a stand when the very signs that we see here on Guntersville showed their heads on Toho. Tournaments and pressure killed Toho right in front of them. We cannot let that happen, we must invest in the lake, make some tough decisions so we can keep enjoying the tax revenue from the tournaments and the anglers coming here from all over to fish. We have the responsibility to keep this resource strong and producing and make it a better resource for all of us to enjoy!
SAVE OUR LAKE, GUNTERSVILLE NEEDS OUR HELP I NEED YOUR HELP IT'S TIME WE WORK TO IMPROVE THIS GREAT LAKE
I will be willing to meet with any leader of any organization or Mayor of either of these towns or State Agencies who feel my pain and want to work seriously with me on "The Improvement of Lake Guntersville"
Let's make Lake Guntersville the best, make it the number one lake in the country instead of looking back sitting around coffee tables talking about the good times and wishing we did. I encourage the leaders of every bass club or organization or business that benefits from this industry or tax revenue, to become a voice for the "THE IMPROVEMENT OF LAKE GUNTERSVILLE"
Let me point out that there are so many industries that will be affected by this movement from, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, tackle stores, private rentals homes, motels to the improvement of our roads and real estate industry ETC. in general that will either go down as fishing gets worse or improve if we act now to make it better and prevent disaster. What are you going to do to do your part because we are at a critical junction, either act now with me or whine later when it's gone! Help! "THE IMPROVEMENT OF LAKE GUNTERSVILLE" the time is now!
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry