Shotgun starts post

brings up memories. How many remember them from the 70"s? Some even actually used a shotgun. I remember one on Lake Ouachita out of Mountain Harbor with over 200 boats in it. I used the "cut" to go upriver and beat all those who chose to go around the long woody point. Even though it was a no wake zone I used I was first up the river.

I'll be the first to say this

But you should have been dq'ed from the tournament

And especially for doing it knowingly

Nothing is illegal until you get caught

Nothing illegal about it. I observed the no wake rules I just went a different way than others ignored.

I turn 62 in march, I remember shotgun starts. Most of us thought it was a boat race and we got fish after it was over. I raced motocross until I got to big, I'd get in there and mix it up with the best of them.

Kevlar hull 270 Hydrosport, jackplate, 150 Evinrude punched 30 over. Michigan Wheel prop worked by Mike Hood. Roostertail magazine was my favorite publication.!!!!!

They used to shoot a flare to start the race, I mean tournament, state park cove lake Corpus Christi, we called it lake Mathis back then, It was wild some times. Some of the guys even wore motorcycle helmets and it wouldn't even be cold. Not as wild on Falcon, bigger coves, spread out more not as bunched up.

Tournaments were a lot more fun back then. No social media, just flashers and paper graphs.

We weren't as politically correct or as sensitive back then. If anybody had a real big problem back then, you took care of it ever how you needed to to.

i have a team tournament partner that forgets what we are out there for sometimes. I don't know how many times we've had to backtrack to our intended starting spot because he gets in a boat race and drives right past it lol

Even with the one at a time starts in the BFL it gets crowded. Some boats are slower than others get to on plane.

Loved them back in the day. Very exciting but our field then was about 40 boats...100, that would be scary.

Nothing wrong with a boat race to get the day started. Sadly, sometimes its the most exciting part of the day

Every Wed night on Lake Worth from time change in the spring till September we do a shotgun start at 6pm. Starts to get fun when you have 20+ boats.

Some of my best memories are takeoff at daylight on Amistad and Elephant Butte

Has anyone ever seen 2 boats hit during a shotgun start? Just wondering. I have not been in many shotgun start but it can get crazy.

Never did. I have seen more close calls fishing BFLs on Rayburn than any of the shotgun starts.

Billy you are right about the BFL's coming out of Umphrey. Some of them slow to plane boats need to get in the right lane! I've rode as a co for two years, had some great boaters, but I am driving this year. Gotta take it easy on the ole back.

That seems to go against everything I like about fishing - fast, loud, and crowded.

Either flight them out a boat at a time or be on starting spot and fish at certain time, too dangerous on shot gun starts.

I learned a long time ago...shot gun starts aren't worth the danger. The fish will still be there. Just don't fish the community holes. Find spots that will produce and require effort

Oh I remember them. The good ol days.