On May 7, 2010 the Toledo Blade had an article written by outdoor writer Steve Pollick detailing the abuse of our fishing grounds by six men from the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. That article prompted me to write a letter to the editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press letting them know of what was occurring. This is the content of letter I sent.
You can thank Freelan C. Leffew, Herbert Samuel Stephens of Soddy Daisy, Tenn. and Freelan’s son, Michael Todd Leffew of Hixson, Tenn. You can also say thanks to Freddie Warren, of Wildwood, Ga.; Charles H. Burkhart, and Samuel J. Carroll, of Ringgold, GA.* Why thank these fellows, well because now every time I see a vehicle with a license plate from Georgia or Tennessee towing a boat in my area of Ohio and Michigan, I will be sure they are following the law, and if it speeds, crosses the line or does not use a turn signal I will be calling 911 on my handy cell phone to report any law breaking activity no matter how minor the crime. Why you may ask am I being so “petty”, well this Yankee is sick of out of towners raping the fishing resource he loves. Therefore I am going to be watching and reporting. Please read on, I beg you.
The above mentioned men were arrested for one of the most egregious instances of over bagging this fisherman has ever heard. And Gino Barna, Lake Erie law enforcement supervisor for the Ohio Division of Wildlife was also impressed by these miscreants. These men were charged with taking at least 141 smallmouth bass over the limit from the western basin of Lake Erie in and around the Bass Islands over a six day period. They were targeting the spawning fish for the several days immediately prior to the smallmouth bass season closing. This closing is to protect the spawning bass. For five to six days these greedy jerks pilfered the spawning areas. The bass club I am a proud member of does catch and release of our bass alive all season long, those are a civilized sportsmen’s’ rules. And in case you are thinking these nimrods are innocent until proven guilty think again, they pleaded guilty already and are awaiting sentencing in June of this year.
I realize nothing can bring back those murdered fish. I understand that in the grand scheme of things this was a small percentage of bass from our area of Lake Erie. But I am betting this was not these idiots first trip and they are not the only poachers overbagging from Lake Erie. Local fishermen are pretty good at policing each other and now we have more people to look out for. In case the excuse is that these men were catching the fish as a food source, well these men were in the walleye capital of the world. Yellow perch are around in good numbers also. Now those are some of the best tasting fresh water fish around-period.
So say hey to Freelan C. Leffew, Herbert Samuel Stephens of Soddy Daisy, Tenn. and Freelan’s son, Michael Todd Leffew of Hixson, Tenn., Freddie Warren, of Wildwood, Ga.; Charles H. Burkhart, and Samuel J. Carroll, of Ringgold, GA. too.* And thank them for all the special attention those from your neck of the woods may receive when you come on up to visit and fish.
Please come and see why this natural resource is so dear to me and my fellow sportsmen. I vow that I will not violate your laws concerning bag limits and such when I come to your area to fish. We ask the same consideration on your part if you are coming up to our area. Screw with our lake and waters, come prepared, we are watching. Better yet, if you plan on breaking the law, stay home and take your chances with your local authorities. Just ask Freelan and the gang.
Respectfully;
Blake M. Watkiss
Berkey, OH
*Names were published in Toledo Blade article published on May 7, 2010