I had just gotten into these chunks at a favorite spot off the Ms. River Sat. The property there is owned by my in laws, and I slide a flat bottom boat off in the river chute. In fact I had just pulled this one in, took a picuture, and released him when I heard the boat coming. I was fishing a little narrow cut where they were ganging up and ambushing the shad. The cut is maybe 25 yards wide with a 6 foot ditch running in the middle. You can see the privot bush in the background which were on both sides and sitting in 6 to 8 inches of water just off the ditch. I was fishing between the second and third upper hole in the this river chute. With the water falling and mud banks, if you muddy the water out from the banks, in these old Ms. River lakes, it shuts the fish down. Bass and Crappie do not like the muddy water and move out to clearer water.
The 16ft. Boat with at least a 25HP did not slow up, even though I was clearly visible from the the middle of the the second hole where the boat was. It kept coming, and did not slow up until it was 50 yards from me. In the rear of the boat was a reported retired Arkansas State Tooper running the boat. His fishing partner this day was a reported Federal Game Warden.
The reported patrolman says "You having any luck?" As the now 4 ft., building wave wash from the boat, broke across the shallow mud bar where I was fishing. I lost it. "I WAS UNTIL you did what you just DID?" I proceeded to give them the best tongue lashing that I could muster for at least 5 minutes. They tried to defend their action of which there was no excuse for messing up a mans fishing sport. It was 45 minutes before I caught the next fish there. The falling water did wash the mud down stream and I was able to catch about 15 nice chunks. No telling how many I could have caught before the fish shut down altogether.
On the back past me when they were leaving about an hour and a half later, I cranked up my 3 hp. and ran up to them and shut down the motor. I asked "You having any LUCK".
At this point I continued the tongue lashing, and, the reported Federal Game Warden (that had remained quite until this point) started mouthing off, turned, and threw a spinner bait at me.
Needless to say the fishing trip was eventful. I should have most likely turned the other cheek. I also should not have emailed the Fish and Wildlife service to see if they have this reported Warden in their employ. Since they now have an account of the incident, it will be interesting to see their response on this incident.
Please practice a little courtesy on our waterways this Summer! Also be sure to carry your nitrogycerian pills in your top shirt pocket, you may not know when you may need them.!!!
Mr. E
