Some Needed Changes and Problems with Lake Guntersville
This past week I was fortunate to be involved in a meeting that included several FLW Pro fishermen including David Fritz. As I got to know some of these guys better and better over the course of the week, I just had to ask them what their opinion of Guntersville was after their summer tournament. FLW Pro David Fritz made some eye opening comments to me. Some comments that made me realize that these tough days we have had on Guntersville this past fall is just the beginning of Guntersville going downhill.
FLW Pro David Fritz said to me "the lake is getting so much pressure from so many fisherman that the fishing is going downhill." He said that the patterns on the lake have changed drastically and that is a sign of too much fishing pressure. He personally noticed a big change from the beginning of their practice days to the start of the tournament.
These changes friends could be the downfall of the lake unless our local towns of Guntersville and Scottsboro get involved quickly to manage this great resource. I predict this next year will even be worse, and the pressure will increase again and those tax dollars collected from fishermen will start decreasing as word gets out and affect motels, restaurants and the like by the year 2012. This will be a tell tale year unless there are many changes made to improve this resource and we have to start now!
There needs to be first and foremost a replenishment program, the fishing pressure we are seeing is affecting the spawn as the numbers of small fish have drastically been reduced. The lake needs 200,000 or more fingerlings put in the lake every year. We have to strictly enforce creel limits and in my opinion lower the numbers allowed to be taken from the lake. This tournament traffic coming to Guntersville needs to be managed for tournament pressure and be forced to take better care of the bass being caught at every tournament no matter how big or small. I believe we need to manage the spawning time of year.
I hope that if you have an interest in this lakes productivity, whether you are a benefiting business or just a fisherman that you will become a voice to any and all that will listen to start now repairing our lake before it's too late. The good times are gone, help before it's to late!
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry