It seems to me there's been a lot of activity on this forum lately. Is it because spring is almost here, or is it because this site is just getting better?

All of the above plus we are growing. Welcome to Claude our number 1803 member!

Bob

I have noticed that here in my area of the country that in the last 3 yrs, that in a 10 mile radius there has been about 10 new ponds built that I know of. Seems like more people wanting little land with pond. I think alot of it is as us baby boomers are having grandkids we want them to grow up having some memories of the country life (staying at my grandparents farm was some of my best memories in life)corn cob fights, forts in the hay loft, swimming in the creek, and then Sunday dinner when everyone was there. Just think more people would like life to slow down alittle from the fast pace it seems to be nowdays.
PO

And also our public waters, at least in my area, are getting stretched to the breaking point. More and more boats -- more and more people. Lots of public use conflicts with casual fisherman in conflict with plugged boat ramps due to tournaments, and more and more power boaters and jetskiers etc.

Personally I've had it up to here with the crowded lakes and rude selfish people. Sometimes I feel like I'm in the middle of a freaking carnival. I've had my lines run over and been purposely harrassed by non anglers. I'm seriously considering selling the boat. It's a lot more fun on my private ponds and I can grow larger and more fish too.

I suggested a simple solution to my DNR a few years back when I was an outdoor columnist; idle speed limits in the early morning to give the casual fisherman a level playing field. As usual I wasn't taken seriously.

I think our DNR's are working themselves out of a job if they don't get with it.

More people are getting fired because they play around on Pond Boss' website all day. After they get fired they get more freetime to play on the net.

Cecil and PO summed up my thoughts exactly....and I'm glad to be on the same board with them and the other folks here.

Only on rare occasions will I fish public freshwater impoundments ever again. By the time all of the worlds' undiscovered saltwater places get "bigMacs" I hope to be so old and have caught and released so many fish it won't matter.

I want my grandkids to experience quality fishing. I've also been a pond junky all my life. Those combined provide me motivation to create the best fisheries I can on our East Texas ranch. This forum helps that objective tremendously. Thanks.

Hey there Bruce, I finally took your advice and signed on. I sit in front of a computer during the day, and it is more interesting for me to spend my lunch helping people out with their problems, than looking at naked women.

Amen, Cecil and PO. PO, I spent my teens in Terre Haute 25 years ago or so. My friends and I spent many a summer's day swimming in the area's old strip pits - Porky's, 51, Piner's, others whose names I've forgotten. Piner's was my favorite - it was beautiful - until they pumped it dry to strip it again. I never thought to try angling in them, though. I guess the kids still swim in them? Any nice fish in those pits?

82Martin, Boy do you bring back memories,spent lot of my high school summer days at Harveys Rock, 51, Porky's it looked like a beach on any summer day instead of old strip-pit. Cars lined both sides of old gravel road at Porky's, never had heard of Piner's though. I grad. Gerstmeyer-Tech high school 1969.They have all been bought and closed off for a long long time now. And they don't allow the kids to run the "BASH" in their cars on friday and saturday nights like back then. Sure was some good times,how things have changed. Nice to hear from you 82Martin made me relive some of the good old days. Shoot me an e-mail anytime, sure enjoyed. PO

I notice that there is a hugh amount of (what I have named) "topic creep" on the posts for the forum. That is, the original post may be about the validity of adding HSB to an existing pond, but end up talking about how to post pictures and then talk about how to catch perch that have been feed trained. "topic creep"

I have simply learned to periodically read topics that have multiple posts, even if the original topic was for something like, "Ice on our yankee ponds." even though I have no interest in an iced over pond and seldom see one. The topic under such heading may have evolved to something that is interesting to a good old southern redneck.

Nick that makes great sense! Now how do I post the picture of my 15 inch perch?