Fishing Rodeo Date Set For May 16

Mark your calenders for May 16. The Lake Cavalier Fishing Association will be sponsoring a Fishing Rodeo on this date. You should be receiving info on it by email or regular mail. Please make plans to attend.

Lake Cavalier Fishing Rodeo

May 16, 2009

Come join us for a day of fun and fishing at the Lake

Open to all ages
No entry fee

The Lake Cavalier Fishing Association is sponsoring a fishing rodeo Saturday May 16,2009. It is open to all Lake property owners and their immediate families. There is no entry fee.

We will have 4 divisions. A Men's bass division, a Lady's bass division, an under 12 division, and a bream division open to all.

We will also have a Big Bass prize, a Big Bream Prize, and a Big Crappie Prize.

In the Men's, Lady's bass division each contestant will be allowed to weigh in up to 5 fish. Most total weight will win the division. Each contestant will only be allowed one weight total, so pick your 5 biggest bass to weigh.

In the Open bream division, each contestant can weigh in up to 10 bream. Most total weight will win the division. Each contestant will only be allowed one weight total.

In the under 12 division, each child may weigh in up to 10 bream or 10 Crappie, or any combination of the two for a total of 10 fish. Total weight will win. Each contestant will only be allowed one weight total.

Prizes will be given for 1st thru 3rd place for the Men's Bass, Lady's Bass, Open Bream and under 12 divisions.

We will also have a Lunker Division.

A prize will be given for the biggest bass, biggest bream, and biggest crappie. These may be weighed in at any time and you can weigh in as many times as you like until the scales close.

Scales will open from 7 am - 11:30 am for the Men's, Lady's, Open Bream, and Under 12 divisions.

Scales will be open for the Lunker Division from 7 am until 4 pm.

Any one waiting in line when the scales are scheduled to close will be allowed to weigh in.

Prizes will be as follows........

Men's Bass Division

1st $150 value prize
2nd $50 value prize
3rd $25 value prize

Lady's Bass Division

1st $150 value prize
2nd $50 value prize
3rd $25 value prize

Open Bream Division.....

1st $150 value prize
2nd $50 value prize
3rd $25 value prize

Under 12 Division

1st Trophy
2nd Trophy
3rd Trophy

Lunker Division (Live Fish)

Big Bass $150 value prize
Big Bream $50 value prize
Big Crappie $50 value prize

The scales will be located near the boat ramp at the Clubhouse

Please make your plans to come out fishing and enjoy the fun!!!!

Note: All disputes will be settled by the Rodeo committee.
All decisions of the Rodeo Committee are final.

The Fishing Association asks that you keep all bass under 17 inches.


If you have any questions, email me at the address at the top of the page.

My Hawaiian Fish Recipe

I have to admit that I stole the idea for this recipe after taking a trip to Hawaii.

I ate a similar dish and this is my attempt to copy it. I tried it last night with catfish and it turned out pretty good. Best of all for someone like me, it's simple.

It's light and spicy, with a small hint of sweetness.

Ingredients....

Enough marinated fish fillets( catfish, crappie, bass, tilapia) to feed the number of people you are serving.

1 can of diced tomatoes

Half a cup of very finely diced onions( you can buy the canned tomatoes with the onions already in it, that's what I do)

1 small can crushed pineapple in it's own juice,( not syrup)

Cayenne Pepper

Garlic

Olive oil

Marinade.....

You can get creative here, I use a tupperware container to put the fish in. I then marinate it in soy sauce, lemon juice, Italian Dressing, salt and lemon pepper. Feel free to add anything else you may like, such as Cavender's Seasoning.

Marinate the fish for at least an hour, covered in the fridge.

Combine tomatoes, pineapple( the juice too) and onions in a sauce pot over medium heat. Add cayenne pepper and garlic to taste. (I like mine a little spicy so I add a 1/2 teaspoon or more of cayenne.) Stir often.

When you get it bubbling reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring often. ( Test taste it. If it's too spicy add a little sugar)

(For a big group I guess you would just double the sauce recipe.)

Saute the fillets in olive oil or, bake or grill them till they are flaky. ( I saute mine on pretty high heat to brown them a little)

When the fish is done, spoon a good amount of the tomato- pineapple sauce over the fish.
Serve on a bed of rice with a salad and toasted buttered stale bread on the side.

And of course, your drink of choice.

It went pretty well with a vodka and tonic last night.

If you try it, let me know what you think.

Post Spawn Bass

While I believe that there is still time left in the bass spawn, it will soon be over.

Here are some articles that may help you with the post spawn patterns of bass, which for some, is a hard time to catch fish.

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Fish Fry

I was unable to attend.

Any body got a report on the turn out and how it went?

If you have any photos, I'll be glad to put them up.

Fishing Assc. Recap

Just got back home after 2 days spent at the Lake. My father, Sonny, and I attended the Fishing Assoc. meeting Thurs. night. It was nice to see some old friends and meet some new ones.

One thing we are gonna try is a fishing rodeo. I opened my big mouth about having one and the next thing I knew everybody thought it was a good idea and then put me in charge of trying to make it happen. I should listen more and talk less, I guess.

We hope to have it some time in May. I'll be working on getting it together. The Fishing Assoc. has pledged to offer some very nice prizes. There will be at least 4 divisions... a Men's, a Lady's , a junior, and an open division. Also there will be big fish prizes for all types of fish. It will be open to any Lake property owner and their family. There will be NO entry fee. We want everybody that can to participate.

Also, according to the last Lake shocking, we still need to get more bass out. We still need to keep anything under 17 inches. Please try to keep these fish. Also keep all catfish, yellow bass and crappie.

My dad and I were able to fish a little this morning. The swirling wind made it tough. We had to go to the protected banks to keep from being blown away. The bream bite was good on crickets. Not real good on the artificial baits. A couple of bass hit on plastic worms tight against the bank. Lately the bass hits have come fishing something real slow, like worms or jigs. I think the up and down weather has affected the bedding of the bream and the crappie spawn. Also lot's of rain has hurt putting fresh water in the Lake and causing the water level to fluctuate. Maybe it will stabilize soon.

The bass were schooling about 8:30 around the No Wake marker just inside the Fishing Lake. We used to could throw anything in these schools and get a hit. However, the last couple of years the fish have gotten finicky about what they will hit. I've had a lot of luck throwing a black or blue Zero worm or a Sinko worm in the middle of them. Just cast it in and let it sink. You don't need a weight, just a regular worm hook. This worm sinks slow and the fish usually hit it on the way down. Watch your line. When it starts moving, slowly take up the slack and then set the hook.

The only crank bait we've had much luck with in the schools lately, is 1/4 oz. Red Eye Shad by Strike King.. The Sexy Shad color has been the best for us. It has a different fall to it. Throw it in the middle of the school and let it sink. Then reel it in. Also try "yo-yoing" it.

Albert also said the jig of choice for the crappie is the Electric Chicken color.

I'll be getting out the details about the fishing rodeo as soon as I get an email list of all the Lake members. Until then get out and go fishing. We are very fortunate to have a fishing Lake like we do. Please take advantage of it.

Don't forget about the Fish Fry at the clubhouse Sat night. I would love to be there but will be in Starkville for the spring football game. ( After the last few years, I just want to see somebody in maroon and white win a game.)

I'm gonna need some help getting the rodeo together. All volunteers will be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to e-mail me anytime. Ideas, suggestions, news, fishing reports or whatever is on your mind.

Fishing Association and Fish Fry and some Crappie tips

The Lake Cavalier Fishing Association will hold their annual meeting at 6:30 pm on April 16.

On Saturday, April 18, they will host their annual fish fry.

Both events will be at the clubhouse.

Ran across this little item. Although not a sure thing, it is a pretty good rule of thumb.......

The best months to fish for crappie is whatever month they spawn in ... in this area that's usually April. I fish for them from Mar - Nov (weather permitting) but they can be caught year-round.
What to use: I prefer jigs ... but minnows, "bugs", and small "creek" crankbaits/spinners & such will catch them at times too. The "trick" to knowing "what to use, when" is knowing (or finding out) "how deep and where" they should be at that time - then selecting a bait that you can present to them. I use weedless jigheads with tubes most of the time, because I can cast/present this bait to them from 1ft of water to 20+ foot of water. If they're down in the trees I can use marabou jigs and vertical jig, or use a minnow deadline or under a cork.
Nobody knows where they'll be at any given time - without knowing the conditions of the waters at that time. I "expect" them to be out over creek channels in early Mar/Apr ... shallow cover in Apr/May ... creek channels & deep timber Jun/July/Aug ... and in the timber and deep brush Sep/Oct/Nov. --but I get fooled on occasion. Any tall tree that has fallen into the lake (blowdown/laydown/deadfall) is a good target most any time of year - especially if it stays put and the top of the tree extends out into deep water. Under docks is another great place (crappie like shade). Those docks over deep water (over 12ft) with brush under them are especially good. Again it depends on which bait you can get to them the easiest - as to which bait is best: never depend on just ONE bait ... always present a variety to them and let them tell you which one they want.

First Post

I have been wanting to do this for a while now.

What can you expect from this site?

Well, hopefully a lot of good fishing reports, recipes, photos, and Lake news. Also, a forum for suggestions and ideas to make the Lake better and more enjoyable.

I'll start off with a fishing report and some photos I've taken over the last few years.

My friend, Jimmy Pickle, has had more chances to fish at the lake than I have lately. Jimmy, and my brother-in- law , Craig Allen, went bass fishing last Saturday afternoon and caught about 30.

Jimmy has developed a great set of patterns since the grass is gone. He keeps a journal on his trips and, through trial and error, has the bass pretty well patterned.

Jimmy and Craig tried a few patterns and didn't have much luck until they tied on some white colored swimming jigs with white trailers. They banged the banks swimming the jigs and also "dead sticking them."(Fishing them like plastic worms). They tore them up using this method.

Jimmy had been having luck in deeper water fishing deep running crank baits off the points up until this time but, with the spawn, the banks seem to be where they are now.

Jimmy personally caught and recorded over 500 bass in the Lake last year alone. He is close to 200 this year already. He is beginning to know the Lake as good as anyone.

Here are some photos I've taken over the last couple of years.

Our dog Rugby loved the Lake too. Unfortunately, Rugby died last week at the age of 13.


My wife ,Christie, and our little girl, Allen Kaye on the pier around Christmas 2005.

Allen Kaye with one of her Lake Friends, Bama, a neighbor's dog.


Allen Kaye catching one of our famous Lake Cavalier bream.


Pelicans out on the Lake in January.


My father-in-law, Paul Allen, with his
2.5 lb crappie caught at the Lake.

Our little boy, George Bryant, is only a year and a half
old, but he already loves the "Yake".





If you have any photos or anything else pertaining to the Lake, please send it to me.