I appreciate all the feedback and am still weighing whether or not to head out there. I'm not concerned about the $40, so much as the atmosphere in which I'm fishing. I don't want to catch skinny or unhealthy bass and support something that's not worth supporting.

I actually talked to Bob on the phone and he was very nice. He even offered to hook me up with a guide on my first trip out there (at no cost). He kept promoting the fact that membership includes taking at least ten kids fishing during the year. He said "that's what we do... take kids fishing." He said the members were all great guys and again, he could hook me up with one of them on my first trip out. He admitted that the fishing had been a little slow this past week because the lake is deeper and higher than any other in Orange County (95 feet deep). He said the fish had not spawned yet and that fishing should get better soon, but the water was still colder than most places. He was also upfront about the bait fish die off and that they had spent $30,000 to replace the bait fish.

Hawgseeker, thanks for the offer, but again - it's not the $40 - I just want to make sure I'm supporting a good lake.