Bed Springs and Crank Baits!

[Dinky Dave]

If you have ever wondered about what type of obstructions there were in the waters below dams, to account for all your snagged and ultimately lost lures, this little story may reveal the answer.
A few years ago while fishing the Little Sioux river below the dam at Linn Grove, Iowa; I had the opportunity to see a Genius at work!
It was in the early daylight hours of a summer day when I saw a fisherman dressed in chest waders, and armed with a garden rake walk out into the shallows in waist deep water. Thusly he started to rake the bottom of the river bed. In search of what I couldn't imagine.
In a few quick thrusts of the garden rake he had found what he was looking for, it was a rope attached to a large cinder block. He dragged the block to shore, and began tugging at the rope. Which was taunt, and tied to the end of an old bed metal bedspring, (not a box spring, like they make today).
Attached to this "metal net" was his harvest. It was all the lures that other fishermen had lost, when they became entangled in his bedsprings. God knows he probably had a few of mine aswell!
He had a pretty successful catch, that day!
If you don't feel this is being a bit too unscrupulous, you may want to try it. As an inexpensive way to refill your tackle box with expensive lures!

[ezmarc]

Dinky Dave,

You sir, are on a roll! Keep them belly laughers comin.

[PKW - IN]

I have seen a chunk of chain-link fence do the same thing. I didn't enjoy givin' up the baits!

[WAeyes]

If I saw a guy doing that in my fishin hole, I'd take that bed spring and shove it over his head and shoulders, tie his arms behind his back and make him stand out on the road and make a fool of himself!!!

[sib]

I think i'd add a troutline or net to his line and remove the springs.

Then I'd post for him in the brush and video tape him as he brought his line in and stop filming as soon as the line could be recognized. I'd be careful not to get any reaction of his surprise when he sees the line line.

Next I'd video tape him as he left in his vehicle, making sure to get his plate number.

Then i'd anonymously turn the tape into the C.O. and let him try to explain his actions to the proper authority.

"go outside and play"
sib

[Jeremy A]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-02-01 AT 10:36AM (CST)[p]a quiz for you

I know a place on the james river near mitchell SD, just like that...

can any locals tell me the name of the place

[Old Saying]

"What goes around come around". You want to be extra carefull doing this kind of thing. Some guys might take it personnel.

[Backwater Eddy]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-02-01 AT 11:03AM (CST)[p]This story has been around a while, sort of a urban legend for a shore caster.

I have heard the same thing in at least 3 different areas of my state.

That is not to say it is not true, but rumors travel faster than light.

Backwater Eddy

[Gunga Din]

I used to scuba dive alot in high school in the local Arkansas lakes, and I'd frequently find logs with dozens of lures stuck in them. However, most were rusted and unsalvagable. But you'd be amazed at the kind of stuff I'd bring back after each outing.

[Dinky Dave]

Actually this was a Factual account. And as most crimes grow in recognition, so does the number of criminals committing them. So I'm not so surprised that others have committed this same practice across the nation.

[Dragger]

I was once fishing in a necked down channel area. We were anchored and when it was time to go, the anchor was stuck. We worked and worked and finally brought the anchor up and it was hooked on a twin size bed spring full of lures. There was no rope attached to it other than our anchor. We cleaned off all the lures on the bedspring and tossed it back, since our boat was too small to take it with us. It didn't seem like a fable to me. I still have some of those lures!