Special privileges?

OUTDOORS ** ED ZIERALSKI

Ambassador of bass
Because Mike Long ranks as perhaps America's No. 1 big-bass angler,
every move he makes creates ripples

Poway's Mike Long, who has permission to fish Lake Jennings on closed
days, caught this 15-pound bass on a Huddleston Swimbait yesterday on an
open day.
Weighing In

On a Sunday night late last year, George McGrath was leaving Lake
Jennings when he noticed a fisherman backing his bass boat down the
launch ramp.
"I told the guy the lake was closing," McGrath said. "But he just looked
at me and kept launching his boat."

McGrath later was told the after-hours angler's name was Mike Long, of
Poway, arguably the most renowned big bass fisherman in the world, an
angler who has caught more largemouth bass over 10 pounds than any other
angler. Long's 20.75-pound largemouth from Lake Dixon in April of 2001
is the ninth-heaviest black bass ever caught. Not that he's asked for
it, but more than one bass fishing expert has touted Long as the man
destined to break George W. Perry's long-standing world record for bass
of 22 pounds, 4 ounces set in 1932.
Long even is a featured subject in the recent book, "Sowbelly: The
obsessive pursuit of the world record largemouth bass."

By the very nature of what Mike Long does – he's successful catching
record bass and regularly wins money as a professional angler – he
often is at the center of controversy. He has heard the full range of
accusations hurled at big bass fishermen, at successful fishermen. In
Long's case, none has ever been proven.

JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune
John McQuade and Jacob Erpelding work the shoreline for spawning
largemouth bass at Lake Jennings.
Sadly, things nastier than accusations have occurred. Twice now, all
four tires on Long's rig, parked at his home, were slashed the day
before tournaments. The police, Long says, are investigating.

The accusations are one issue, but a series of recent run-ins between
Long and park visitors at Lake Jennings in Lakeside is something
different.

McGrath was so upset about seeing Long on a closed lake that he called
the Union-Tribune to complain. Others have joined McGrath in asking why
Long gets to fish Jennings when others, except for campers who get a
limited amount of shoreline, may not. Jennings is open to the public on
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Long knows people resent his presence at the lake on closed days.
"I've had rocks thrown at my boat," Long said. "I had (former Padres
pitcher) Andy Ashby in the boat when a rock came over the fence by the
corner of the dam. Someone was up in the parking lot, throwing rocks and
yelling obscenities at us."

The tension escalated a few weeks ago when Jed Dickerson, who caught and
released the fourth-heaviest largemouth bass ever, a 21.70-pounder, also
at Dixon in May of 2003, visited Jennings to check the water clarity.
Big bass are nesting in shallow water now, and clear water helps anglers
spot smaller protective males and heavier nesting females. Dickerson
planned to return the next day, Friday, an open day, if the water were
clear. But Dickerson spotted Long fishing the lake's restricted area
beyond the buoy line.

Dickerson yelled down to Long, not in anger, but more in recognition, he
contends. And Long confirmed that. But soon, Dickerson was joined by
some rowdy men from the nearby county campground, and they yelled and
screamed at Long. Long's guest wondered about his safety. And a short
time later the loud group moved to the lake's entrance gate and
continued yelling at Long.

"The thing that got me was that the guy at the gate said Long caught the
lake record on a closed day," Dickerson said. "That was the lake record,
what about the world record? Is he going to count that if he catches it
on a closed day? I thought I was getting an advantage by going out and
checking the lake, but then I see Mike out there fishing. I realized I
didn't have any advantage at all."

Long told Dickerson later that the 17-pound, 2-ounce bass – the lake
record at Jennings – was caught on a Saturday (Jan. 29 this year), a
day the lake was open to the public. Long also explained that Lake
Jennings Supervisor Hugh Marx allows Long to fish on closed days with
guests in order to get publicity for the lake.
"I told Jed people have been getting access to lakes for years and years
before me," Long said recently. "Bill Murphy did it, Kevin Mineo, John
Grabowski, George Kramer, Mike Folkestad, they and others all did it.
There's a simple rule. Get publicity for the lake, and all the fish
caught are released and don't count."

Even a world record bass, Long is asked?
"Absolutely, doesn't count," Long said.
Long's fishing partner, John Kerr, echoed that: "If we catch a world
record bass on a closed day, no one is going to know about it."

Long has a list of national and international media members, current
Padres such as Jake Peavy, former Padres such as Randy Jones, who hosts
a televised fishing show on the Outdoor Channel, and others he has
fished with at Jennings and other lakes on closed days. Blue catfish
specialists Rick Guseman, who caught Jennings' blue catfish record of 61
pounds on an open day, and Cody Newton, also have served as fishing
ambassadors at Jennings, according to Marx, the lake's supervising
ranger.

The policy also allows any media member – including from the
Union-Tribune – to fish the lake at any time while working on a story.
All this has the endorsement of Marx's bosses at the Helix Water
District.

"We hired Hugh Marx and gave him the big task of promoting this lake,
getting it up on the radar and to boost attendance," said Joe Young,
assistant operations manager for Helix, at the recent opening of the
lake's concession stand. "I gave Hugh free reign, and he brought Mike
Long in because he produces a lot of press for the lake. They've done a
great job. But I do have a problem with people screaming from shore and
throwing rocks."

Shortly after the concession opening, Marx was told by Helix Water
District officials that the restricted area beyond the buoy line must be
off limits, even on closed days, to all fishermen. But the lake remains
available on closed days to media and angler ambassadors such as Long,
Kerr and Guseman.

"I'm an equal-opportunity provider," Marx said. "I want to get the word
out that this lake has huge potential, and even though it's a tough lake
to fish, it's a great place with great potential."
Marx said it would cost him "thousands of dollars" to hire someone like
Long to do public relations for Jennings and provide weekly fishing
reports that he writes or information he passes to the public.

Mac Weakley, who caught the world's 13th largest bass, a 19-pound,
8-ouncer (tie), also at Dixon, doesn't begrudge Long's ambassador
status.
"Mike Winn (Weakley's fishing partner) and I are kind of newcomers to
the sport," Weakley said. "Mike Long has put in his time. He and John
Kerr earned it. We've learned from those guys. There's no resentment."

Perhaps it is a coincidence, but more than likely it isn't. Long called
yesterday to say he'd sent an e-mail with a couple of pictures attached.
There in living color was Long, hoisting a 15-pound largemouth that he
caught on a Huddleston swim bait and released on the spot at Jennings
yesterday, an open day.
*
Ed Zieralski: Union-Tribune

John B wrote:

OUTDOORS ED ZIERALSKI

Ambassador of bass
Because Mike Long ranks as perhaps America's No. 1 big-bass angler,
every move he makes creates ripples ...

I don't get it. I mean these famous pros are allowed to ignore
the rules and if they do happen to catch a record fish while
they're ignoring the rules they'll keep it a secret. So where
is the publicity value in that ?

It seems to me that these famous pros are generating more ill
will and bad feelings than good publicity.

My 2¢ and worth every penny.

--
Ken Fortenberry

(Ken*Fortenberry)

It seems to me that these famous pros are generating more ill will and
bad feelings than good publicity.

My 2¢ and worth every penny.
--
Ken Fortenberry

========

Ken, it is just a hand full of people that are complaining, and acting
in that manner. Mike and John host free fishing seminars, promote kids
fishing tournaments, and maintain a forum "Ask the pros", where they
share their knowledge with anyone who asks. They are respected members
of the community, and fishing crowd.

John has hosted "Field and Stream" when they did an underwater bass
research project on Lake Jennings...I think they had to do it on a
closed day because of divers in the water. I'm not sure what the overall
benefits are....I just thought I would share it, and get your
opinions...and I respect yours.

John B

Very interesting story. Throwing rocks is not my favorite way of expressing
an opinion. Is Jennings a publicly or privately owned lake and why is it
closed four days a week?

"John B" wrote in message
...

OUTDOORS ED ZIERALSKI

Ambassador of bass
Because Mike Long ranks as perhaps America's No. 1 big-bass angler,
every move he makes creates ripples

Poway's Mike Long, who has permission to fish Lake Jennings on closed
days, caught this 15-pound bass on a Huddleston Swimbait yesterday on an
open day.
Weighing In

On a Sunday night late last year, George McGrath was leaving Lake
Jennings when he noticed a fisherman backing his bass boat down the
launch ramp.
"I told the guy the lake was closing," McGrath said. "But he just looked
at me and kept launching his boat."

McGrath later was told the after-hours angler's name was Mike Long, of
Poway, arguably the most renowned big bass fisherman in the world, an
angler who has caught more largemouth bass over 10 pounds than any other
angler. Long's 20.75-pound largemouth from Lake Dixon in April of 2001
is the ninth-heaviest black bass ever caught. Not that he's asked for
it, but more than one bass fishing expert has touted Long as the man
destined to break George W. Perry's long-standing world record for bass
of 22 pounds, 4 ounces set in 1932.
Long even is a featured subject in the recent book, "Sowbelly: The
obsessive pursuit of the world record largemouth bass."

By the very nature of what Mike Long does - he's successful catching
record bass and regularly wins money as a professional angler - he
often is at the center of controversy. He has heard the full range of
accusations hurled at big bass fishermen, at successful fishermen. In
Long's case, none has ever been proven.

JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune
John McQuade and Jacob Erpelding work the shoreline for spawning
largemouth bass at Lake Jennings.
Sadly, things nastier than accusations have occurred. Twice now, all
four tires on Long's rig, parked at his home, were slashed the day
before tournaments. The police, Long says, are investigating.

The accusations are one issue, but a series of recent run-ins between
Long and park visitors at Lake Jennings in Lakeside is something
different.

McGrath was so upset about seeing Long on a closed lake that he called
the Union-Tribune to complain. Others have joined McGrath in asking why
Long gets to fish Jennings when others, except for campers who get a
limited amount of shoreline, may not. Jennings is open to the public on
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Long knows people resent his presence at the lake on closed days.
"I've had rocks thrown at my boat," Long said. "I had (former Padres
pitcher) Andy Ashby in the boat when a rock came over the fence by the
corner of the dam. Someone was up in the parking lot, throwing rocks and
yelling obscenities at us."

The tension escalated a few weeks ago when Jed Dickerson, who caught and
released the fourth-heaviest largemouth bass ever, a 21.70-pounder, also
at Dixon in May of 2003, visited Jennings to check the water clarity.
Big bass are nesting in shallow water now, and clear water helps anglers
spot smaller protective males and heavier nesting females. Dickerson
planned to return the next day, Friday, an open day, if the water were
clear. But Dickerson spotted Long fishing the lake's restricted area
beyond the buoy line.

Dickerson yelled down to Long, not in anger, but more in recognition, he
contends. And Long confirmed that. But soon, Dickerson was joined by
some rowdy men from the nearby county campground, and they yelled and
screamed at Long. Long's guest wondered about his safety. And a short
time later the loud group moved to the lake's entrance gate and
continued yelling at Long.

"The thing that got me was that the guy at the gate said Long caught the
lake record on a closed day," Dickerson said. "That was the lake record,
what about the world record? Is he going to count that if he catches it
on a closed day? I thought I was getting an advantage by going out and
checking the lake, but then I see Mike out there fishing. I realized I
didn't have any advantage at all."

Long told Dickerson later that the 17-pound, 2-ounce bass - the lake
record at Jennings - was caught on a Saturday (Jan. 29 this year), a
day the lake was open to the public. Long also explained that Lake
Jennings Supervisor Hugh Marx allows Long to fish on closed days with
guests in order to get publicity for the lake.
"I told Jed people have been getting access to lakes for years and years
before me," Long said recently. "Bill Murphy did it, Kevin Mineo, John
Grabowski, George Kramer, Mike Folkestad, they and others all did it.
There's a simple rule. Get publicity for the lake, and all the fish
caught are released and don't count."

Even a world record bass, Long is asked?
"Absolutely, doesn't count," Long said.
Long's fishing partner, John Kerr, echoed that: "If we catch a world
record bass on a closed day, no one is going to know about it."

Long has a list of national and international media members, current
Padres such as Jake Peavy, former Padres such as Randy Jones, who hosts
a televised fishing show on the Outdoor Channel, and others he has
fished with at Jennings and other lakes on closed days. Blue catfish
specialists Rick Guseman, who caught Jennings' blue catfish record of 61
pounds on an open day, and Cody Newton, also have served as fishing
ambassadors at Jennings, according to Marx, the lake's supervising
ranger.

The policy also allows any media member - including from the
Union-Tribune - to fish the lake at any time while working on a story.
All this has the endorsement of Marx's bosses at the Helix Water
District.

"We hired Hugh Marx and gave him the big task of promoting this lake,
getting it up on the radar and to boost attendance," said Joe Young,
assistant operations manager for Helix, at the recent opening of the
lake's concession stand. "I gave Hugh free reign, and he brought Mike
Long in because he produces a lot of press for the lake. They've done a
great job. But I do have a problem with people screaming from shore and
throwing rocks."

Shortly after the concession opening, Marx was told by Helix Water
District officials that the restricted area beyond the buoy line must be
off limits, even on closed days, to all fishermen. But the lake remains
available on closed days to media and angler ambassadors such as Long,
Kerr and Guseman.

"I'm an equal-opportunity provider," Marx said. "I want to get the word
out that this lake has huge potential, and even though it's a tough lake
to fish, it's a great place with great potential."
Marx said it would cost him "thousands of dollars" to hire someone like
Long to do public relations for Jennings and provide weekly fishing
reports that he writes or information he passes to the public.

Mac Weakley, who caught the world's 13th largest bass, a 19-pound,
8-ouncer (tie), also at Dixon, doesn't begrudge Long's ambassador
status.
"Mike Winn (Weakley's fishing partner) and I are kind of newcomers to
the sport," Weakley said. "Mike Long has put in his time. He and John
Kerr earned it. We've learned from those guys. There's no resentment."

Perhaps it is a coincidence, but more than likely it isn't. Long called
yesterday to say he'd sent an e-mail with a couple of pictures attached.
There in living color was Long, hoisting a 15-pound largemouth that he
caught on a Huddleston swim bait and released on the spot at Jennings
yesterday, an open day.

Ed Zieralski: Union-Tribune

Special privileges?

(Marty)

Very interesting story. Throwing rocks is not my favorite way of
expressing an opinion. Is Jennings a publicly or privately owned lake
and why is it closed four days a week?

=========

Marty, almost al of the southern California lakes are under the control
of the 'Water District". They have done extensive research on lake
management, and have established a schedule, that they believe is best
for that lakes management program. I guess it works...they have some of
the best best "big" bass fishing lakes around.

John B

John, after I posted I noticed that Zieralski's column was from March 2005.
Any particular reason for pointing it out now?

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont...26outdoor.html

"John B" wrote in message
...

Special privileges?

(Marty)

Very interesting story. Throwing rocks is not my favorite way of
expressing an opinion. Is Jennings a publicly or privately owned lake
and why is it closed four days a week?

=========

Marty, almost al of the southern California lakes are under the control
of the 'Water District". They have done extensive research on lake
management, and have established a schedule, that they believe is best
for that lakes management program. I guess it works...they have some of
the best best "big" bass fishing lakes around.

John B

John, after I posted I noticed that Zieralski's column was from March
2005. Any particular reason for pointing it out now?

=======

Marty, due to some recent similar things happening, I just thought I
would post it to see what "every day" bass fishemen thought about
special privledges for some. I think there is a jealousy factor there,
that I personally don't understand.

John

"John B" wrote in message
...

John, after I posted I noticed that Zieralski's column was from March
2005. Any particular reason for pointing it out now?

=======

Marty, due to some recent similar things happening, I just thought I
would post it to see what "every day" bass fishemen thought about
special privledges for some. I think there is a jealousy factor there,
that I personally don't understand.

John



I do not think it is a jealousy factor as much as everyone should have to
follow the same rules. If I can only fish on certain days at a lake, then
everybody should only have the same days. Special events like a Field and
Stream photo shoot are a different matter, and I do not think anybody will
be upset about those times. Just like having a special kids fishing derby.
Netted area with lots of fish. There are those who would sneak in a fish
the area ahead of time but no one complains that the kids or Vets get a
special deal on a couple days a year. Should George Clooney get to fish
closed days also just because he is famous? It is a public waterway, and
all the public should have the same access rules.