20 $30,000 boats on a 220 acre lake?

[Okie Basser]

 Someone please explain to me why a big boat tournament with more than 10 or 15  boats would come to a 220 acre lake that has a no wake? Yes I understand the fishing is good and there are quality fish in this lake which produce large stringers. The problem I have is tournament fishing to me is where your running that $20,000 plus boat like a striped ass ape trying to get to your spot and being able to space yourself to at least out of casting distance. This is really bothering me because I've grown up fishing this lake when it was crowded with 2 boats. I've seen it drained for dam repair and slowly fill up over the years. The fishing has always been good, but within the last few years you can see the impact of all the weekend,Tuesday night,midweek and night fishing tournaments is slowly ruining it. Someone please explain to me with all the large bodies of water around Lawton and the OKC area why were having tournaments on such a small body of water.I am all for tournament fishing, but how do we separate tournament lakes to recreation lakes. Or do we? Are they all fair game? If so I've got a 100 acre flood control they can add to there list to fish next year. I believe that the big dogs of these clubs need to step up and set some guidelines on the lakes there going to fish in reference with lake size and number of fisherman and even agree with other clubs certain lakes are off limits for tournaments. At one time this was a lake you could take a kid to and get him/her hooked for life. Can someone please explain to me what is going on?

Jeff

[rip-n-lips]

well tournament fishing is NOT all about hauling a$$  around the lake! yeah its nice to have 21ft of boat to work with but not all the guys i fish with have 20,000 dollar boats and you dont need them. as far as fishing letra goes, it is a fishing lake. its not a recreation lake, thats why its a no wake lake. i am a member of a club in lawton and the only time we have even been on the lake for a tournament is tuesday night ones.