Davis Knight FLW Fishing area

BASSK9 · Post by **BASSK9** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 2:49 pm

Responding to:
tmcardoza28 (6/15/2010 at 18:50 PM)
delta don fish a simeye privite sul that is only ment for kids i know this because i am the farmer that owens it and whach him fish while i was mowing my picnic area that over looks the privite water way that is feed by the rivers ground water.If you make it in there ok but bring the fish back they were planted there by other pepole that fish for fun like handycap kids and little kids that we get started fishing.For pepole to come in there and fish it for money is not what it is intened for my own bass tronment not even aloud in this area and it is for a charity event.if any qustions please email me at mcardoza28@gmail.com thank you.Quote:

I am Don Davis aka BASSK9 and possibly other deserved or undeserved names. The area we fished has been accessed by numerous tournament fishermen for many years and it can be reached by boat. I can list several well known tournament fishermen who have fished it in the past. I can also list several competitors in the FLW Delta 6/9/2010 tournament who did not fish it though I have observed them fish it in past tournaments. It is navigatable water. It is in no way a pond meant for children. A "pond" infers a small body of water. This body of water is several square miles in size. No lawn mower" was watching us fish and I can list spectators who will verify my story. No Lawn is anywhere around the area we fished. Farmers are big businessmen and mcardoza (illiterate post) is not mentally capable of running a multi- million dollar farm. The farmers wife observed us during practise. Her only request was that we not damage the Beaver dam since it holds back water for the farms irrigation pumps. We assured her we had no intention of doing damage to the dam or the Beavers. Specifically the area is an old oxbow typical of the river before it was channelized. If mcardoza will be so kind as to respond to the email I sent him I will look forward to holding him responsible for damaging my character.

o:

flipit · Post by **flipit** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 2:59 pm

My guess is that he is not real.

My opinion?
Great tourney Don, wish I knew where this place is.

N.A.R · Post by **N.A.R** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 3:11 pm

Just wait a few weeks you'll know

whazup · Post by **whazup** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 3:22 pm

I think someone is jerking on your leg. You must have nerves of steel. I would have been sweating it out, wondering if I was gonna be able to get out when I needed to. Anyway, congrats. I don't think too many will take this particular complaint too seriously.

lcates · Post by **lcates** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 4:27 pm

the way i see this these two guys took a big gamble on gettingand out and not wrecking their boats.Took big balls to do what they did.Congrats on the win they went through alot of work that most people wouldnt of done even if they know about the place

Guyle · Post by **Guyle** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 6:12 pm

Congrats Don.........and Leon

ash · Post by **ash** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:11 pm

Guyle wrote:Congrats Don.........and Leon

I cant say it better, you took the gamble and it paid off way to show what the delta is capable of.

RichThiel · Post by **RichThiel** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 8:35 pm

Don and Leon,

Great Job,,,Lot of laugh to myself,,,would you believe I fished that area and the same place you won back in the late 50's and early 60's. I fished it then out of a wooden boat with a 5hp Elgin engine. Went to a 14ft valco and 18hrs Evinrude in the 60's.

The Island Club ring a bell, Al Tenant was there along with Dee and Ish (Not Monroe) George Holly.

Question to you? Did you try getting into Twin Slough's up and across from the San Jouquin City...By the way tell Billy that the Quail hunting up the river is World Class.

Rich

kmah · Post by **kmah** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 8:41 pm

I spoke to Don on the morning of Day 3. I heard a firsthand account of the activities from Darlene (Leon's Mom) and Don himself of what they went through to get into and out of their fishing area.

IMHO they did everything within the rules of FLW. They called Chris Hoover (TD) weeks ahead of time to ensure that everything they were doing and did fell within the rules. Where I'm from that's called SMART & Honest.

The only issue that I have with what they did was that they didn't include me. I could have helped hold a shovel or rake.

Ken Mah

usindynamite · Post by **usindynamite** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 8:12 pm

I had the opportunity to fish with Don during FLW as his non-boater. I know the FLW rules and can tell you first hand that nothing he and Leon did was illegal. All they did was their homework, leg work and took a huge gamble on getting in and out of that place that most people would not have tried. We came close to not getting out the day I fished with them due to the outboards overheating. I ruined a pair of shoes, my reels need to be serviced and I got mud on my hat and sunglasses from the prop wash and I was the non-boater. Just imagine what they put their equipment through. It was certainly an experience I will not forget.

chadbass · Post by **chadbass** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 11:08 pm

How did you ruin a pair of shoes?

basslayer · Post by **basslayer** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 5:55 am

I was wondering the same thing?????

Shad*Wizard · Post by **Shad*Wizard** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 6:28 am

I wonder how much bait was in there?...

Fast 492 · Post by **Fast 492** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:02 am

My guess is they pushed their way out, you are allowed to get out of the boat to assist in returning from an area, just not able to get out of the boat and push your way in... Smart thinking guys, great job on the win and 2nd...... Way to use your heads...

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:31 am

Also could have been helping change a prop. Again you can get out of your boat in emergency situations.
Smitty

sTony · Post by **sTony** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:10 am

I'm thinking the only thing that could have hung these guys up was if a couple more boats showed up expecting to get the assist to get into the area also.

Which kind of leads to the question, are future tournaments now going to be won by 'teams' of boaters committing to work with each other? Does this go on all the time? It kind of struck me as odd but, having not competed at that level, I don't know if it happens all the time and is permitted by rule. I heard how Don and Leon were doing what they were and I got to wondering. The next logical step in this progression is multiple boaters working in conjunction with each other, which wasn't what I thought the sport was about, but I could be just extremely naive about the whole thing.

Not trying to stir up a fuss but asking an honest question hoping someone more experienced could respond.

sTony

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:41 am

sTony,
I dont know about being more experienced but it happens all the time and is the norm not the exception. While most dont work together to such great lengths, sharing practice knowledge, dividing lakes during practice looking for different patterns better fish and even working together by sharing an area or giving up an area because your "partner" is doing well and it cant hold the pressure of two boats both catching fish for 3 or 4 days.

Maybe I am off on it being the norm, but I cant count the number of articles I have seen, or heard on stage that my roomate, or partner helped me by ....

Smitty

sTony · Post by **sTony** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:45 am

Thanks, Smitty!

sTony

Ryan8753 · Post by **Ryan8753** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:12 am

Awesome story! I am one person who hopes that NO IDIOTS can take this away from a very deserving individual. Cant wait to see the footage.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:15 am

So, were they "stocking" this pond for the last 3 weeks too??

Hipster · Post by **Hipster** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:19 am

sTony,

This is from yesterdays BASSFAN report:

7. Terry Butcher â€“ He's having a career season and knows the lake better than nearly everyone else. Has a lot on the line but local knowledge should carry him this week.

8. Scott Rook â€“ An accomplished crankbaiter from over the border in Arkansas who could have a very good week.

9. Edwin Evers â€“ He's 2nd in the AOY race and a strong finish here could be his key to the title. You can bet he knows it, and he and Butcher are working together like they always do, so that's two Oklahoma minds at work tonight in the hotel room â€“ one way to get ahead of the half-day practice handicap.

Note Evers a Butcher Sharing and helping each other

So I guess it's ok if the biggest of the Bigs do it!!

Robert F · Post by **Robert F** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:39 am

Smitty wrote:sTony,
I dont know about being more experienced but it happens all the time and is the norm not the exception. While most dont work together to such great lengths, sharing practice knowledge, dividing lakes during practice looking for different patterns better fish and even working together by sharing an area or giving up an area because your "partner" is doing well and it cant hold the pressure of two boats both catching fish for 3 or 4 days.

Maybe I am off on it being the norm, but I cant count the number of articles I have seen, or heard on stage that my roomate, or partner helped me by ....

Smitty

+1
Very much the norm on Tour. Most anglers have a travel partner. Some practice by splitting the lake and travel in a group. Brett Hite and Rusty Salewske trust each other with every bit of their practice info and call each other numerous times during the practice day. Cody Meyer and Justin Lucas share, Ish and Roumbanis compare notes, etc. It seems to be a very advantageous arrangement as most of these guys will finish within a few spots of each other. Guys like Hite and Salewske have cashed in nearly event the past couple of years. I had two guys that I info-shared/ travelled with during the Strens last year. Though we didn't cash many checks

It was good in learning the lakes and saving a ton on rooming.

Matt Moreau · Post by **Matt Moreau** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 10:14 am

flipit wrote:My guess is that he is not real.

My opinion?
Great tourney Don, wish I knew where this place is.

Agreed! People just like to stir the pot. Funny how if they new where it was they would be the first ones in there too! Gotta love idiots.

Great win Don you and Leon deserved it!

usindynamite · Post by **usindynamite** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 12:25 pm

Yes, we had to push our way out and as previous posts point out, in FLW you are allowed to push your way out if stuck, and we were very stuck due to the outboards over heating and delaying us in getting out. No pushing was required or allowed when we got into the fishing area. I would also like to add that once Don has his limit he went out of his way to help me fill my limit out, not required but certainly appreciated by this non-boater.

Robert F · Post by **Robert F** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 12:45 pm

usindynamite wrote: I would also like to add that once Don has his limit he went out of his way to help me fill my limit out, not required but certainly appreciated by this non-boater.

My son fished with Don last year and he was a heck of a gentleman doing the same thing. Even going as far as giving him a hardbait to catch em with. Congrats Don, Leon and all the other top finishers up there.

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 6:38 pm

BASSK9 wrote: damaging my character.

o:

Ha Ha, You have been doing that yourself for a few years just by the posts you make. Hell you're almost as bad as I am..........

fish_food · Post by **fish_food** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 4:36 pm

sTony wrote:Which kind of leads to the question, are future tournaments now going to be won by 'teams' of boaters committing to work with each other?

You don't remember Crown Royal's fishing team? Team Crown Royal included Aaron Martens, Carol Martens, Skeet Reese, Peter Thliveros and Mike Wurm among others. They all had identical rigs:

Andrew Jackson · Post by **Andrew Jackson** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 2:46 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UUoGhdfPrM

The video

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 5:09 am

Andrew Jackson wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UUoGhdfPrM

The video

Nice Work Boys.............

jcruz · Post by **jcruz** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 7:33 am

A well deserved WIN -- that is for sure.

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 5:31 pm

After watching the video a few times all I have to say is Great job. To put that much work, and effort within the rules as far as I can see? Unreal!!

Great vid, good job...

stickbait · Post by **stickbait** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 11:12 pm

g-man wrote:After watching the video a few times all I have to say is Great job. To put that much work, and effort within the rules as far as I can see? Unreal!!

Great vid, good job...

I agree... g man

great job.. life jackets on, nobody got out of the boat.. from what the camera shows all rules were followed..

Looks like they broke push poles and all kinds of stuff.. job well done for sure.. lots of work to get it done. !!!

K Luby · Post by **K Luby** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:21 am

I spoke with Don Hilton this AM ( the AAA that made the video) and I asked him how the hell did he only catch one fish in there. He said " After all the work that those guys did to get in there he had no right to catch there fish " Don Hilton you are a better man then I.

FROGvsBASS · Post by **FROGvsBASS** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 11:32 am

I understand "sharing" info and things of that nature but I thought it was brought to another level when two boats are physically hooked up to each other to tow to an area that is not accessable by a lone boat.

Swimbait Wannabe · Post by **Swimbait Wannabe** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:17 pm

Wow this is a tough call, good work on getting back into that area, too bad you couldn't do it alone. Kinda makes me feel like those two boats are on the same team, its one thing to help a guy out of a jam but to leap frog each other and use each others boats to gain access to a place that a single boat could not get is pushing it for me, not gonna say cheating, but shady as far as I am concerned. Sure they didn't break any tournament rules, but morally I think that working together like that makes it a team of 4 not 2! I can see it now team tournaments with guys working together, if these guys do why won't other people?

vu. · Post by **vu.** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:42 pm

Swimbait Wannabe wrote:Wow this is a tough call, good work on getting back into that area, too bad you couldn't do it alone. Kinda makes me feel like those two boats are on the same team, its one thing to help a guy out of a jam but to leap frog each other and use each others boats to gain access to a place that a single boat could not get is pushing it for me, not gonna say cheating, but shady as far as I am concerned. Sure they didn't break any tournament rules, but morally I think that working together like that makes it a team of 4 not 2! I can see it now team tournaments with guys working together, if these guys do why won't other people?

i agree with you. im not mad or upset about the situation. i think it is unfair that the boater couldnt do it alone and need aid to get into fishable water.

so how did the first boat get thru the beaver dam??

Ricky-S · Post by **Ricky-S** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 4:46 pm

Don't hate the player hate the game.

Watched the you tube and didn't see any rules broken or anything else for that matter.

Those guys found the spot, worked their butts off to get in there, only had short time to fish, and knew at any point that they were risking getting STUCK or breaking something.

This is goig to make for one of the BEST Bass fishing TV shows EVER.

There is another part of this sport that people are missing and that is the entertainment factor.

Anyone that thinks this is unfair is really mad that:
1. They didn't find the spot
2. They didn't get invited to the spot
3. Those guys found a spot of a LIFE TIME.

In terms of the beaver dam....anyone that has fished a backwater at Havasu has jumped or ran over a beaver dam.

Those guys beat us with a rod and reel and I have nothing but RESPECT for both of them. Here is a man that nearly died a year or two ago and he does something that he has spent a LIFETIME trying and waiting to do. I can't wait for the show!

Hate on HATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ash · Post by **ash** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:19 pm

I think more guys are running teams then you may think, kinda like nascar...isnt that the business model that we spoke of 10 years ago when BASS took over?

Its an individual competition but guys have figured out or better said it is more public and accepted that guys work together instead of against each other...its better to compete against 1st and 2nd vs 1st and 51st right?

We all have our network, we have spoken to friends who fish the same type of stuff as us and work together not to hurt each other or ourselves. It takes one *** head to go through a spot and kill an actively feeding school.

Again, congrats...you EARNED the win, as far as ethics...working together is much more ethical then working against.

Swimbait Wannabe · Post by **Swimbait Wannabe** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:25 pm

ASD · Post by **ASD** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:25 pm

ash wrote: as far as ethics...working together is much more ethical then working against.

Well said

Swimbait Wannabe · Post by **Swimbait Wannabe** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:49 pm

Ricky-S · Post by **Ricky-S** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:59 pm

This is not the first time that someone dug out an entrence to get into a location. Do a google search on the Havasu BASS tournament in early 2000 when the winner went on record of jumping over a beaver dam and spending his entire practice digging the entrence to ensure that his boat could get into the back water.

NO RULE BROKEN.

Everyone has the right to spend their practice how ever they like.

For the record: My message was not pointed at any one individual-However, if you through a rock in a pack of dogs the one that got hit usually barks.

ash · Post by **ash** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:03 pm

Swimbait Wannabe wrote:
Ricky-S wrote:Don't hate the player hate the game. god forbid I express my opinion on something on the whinefest website!

That a boy, blame the website for your frustration...its the damn mods fault

ASD · Post by **ASD** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:08 pm

Ash

Now that's funny

Swimbait Wannabe · Post by **Swimbait Wannabe** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:11 pm

Blame them for my frustration? I'm not frustrated! I just think that it is wrong for two boats to work together in that fashion. I remember a few years back a guy whipped out a chainsaw to get to a previously inaccessible area of river. That was cool! Now if he had gotten a "buddy" boat to push him over the logs and then threw then a line and pulled them over with him....... it would still be legal, but just not kosher in my book. Like I said before I know that no rules were broken. Victory is theirs and will always be!

CN · Post by CN » Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:57 pm

Well one thing for sure I wouldnt buy one of there Boats after there done with them.

As far as how they won good for them it's obvious FLW didnt have a problem so there for it is a win. And besides anyone that would go thru that much more power to you.

Mike Nance

FROGvsBASS · Post by **FROGvsBASS** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:57 am

i was always told the boat has to stay in the water at all times and you cant tie up to anything..don't get me wrong they won the damn thing I just won't be surprised if amendments to the rules are soon to follow..

jletsinger · Post by **jletsinger** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:31 am

"So, were they "stocking" this pond for the last 3 weeks too??"

I was wondering the same thing.

Vince Borges · Post by **Vince Borges** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:02 am

Been fishing that area for years. It is the kind of area that you can only fish about once every five seasons. So there is no reason to stock it. It pretty much replenishes itself. The problem with the area is it is usually only good for about 20-25lbs. So in the spring when you can go down there, its not really worth it cause the rest of the Delta is kicking out 30+ limits to win. There is actually a small boat ramp in the pond that the owner uses to put there boat on. As Don mentioned they don't like people in there but as long as you don't harm or destroy the beaver dam the owner realizes there is nothing she can do about stopping boats from entering. She has voiced her opinion about it to me on more than one occasion. And trust me when I say that there are WAY more than a few people that know of and fish this area. In fact I could probably name at least 20 that I know. Congrats on the win Don and fellow Blackwater staffer Leon for his second place finish. By the way Don how was the Hyacinths in there? Last time I was there it was almost completely over grown which the owner blamed us fisherman for bringing it in there.

usindynamite · Post by **usindynamite** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:54 pm

I did not realize that you were filming a video of the entrance that day, I thought you were just taking pictures. I also now realize that I did way too much work that day, haha. In truth, getting in was far easier than getting out and these guys did it 4 days in a row. More power to them. One thing people over look is that this will bring the West Coast a little fame in the fishing world too at a time we can definitely use it. When the show airs it will be the talk from coast to coast. Will rules be changed? My bet is yes but hey, there is something to be said of being a trailblazer and having a rule changed because of you. Dee's original flipping poles come to mind.

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