Who loves fishing ?

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
Spent the weekend on the ice.
Saturday I was at a new to me lake and I will not be returning. The fishing was okay, but the lake was crazy for activity. Skidoos everywhere, traveling in packs at hypersonic speeds and pushing out decibels like F1 cars. Vehicles and kids and dogs and noise are not why I go fishing.

Went back to my local pond yesterday. The heavy snowfall has led to floodwater on top of the ice making getting around a pain in the ass. There is about 10 inches of dense snow, on top of about an inch and a half or so of water, on top of about 18 inches of ice. I set up on the area I cleared last trip, as it was frozen all the way through with no standing water, and there I spent the day.

One old fella fished for a few hours and left, and later a couple with their two dogs showed up. Everybody was cool, even the dogs were quiet, though the one that they said was part wolf(and very much looked it) was messing with me a bit. Like I said to the owners, nice thing about winter is I have on enough layers to protect me from the worst of a bite. What I didn't mention was that if that thing had bitten me, it would have sprouted a fixed blade from his neck very quickly. Luckily it wasn't needed. I shared some of my stash and we shot the shit for a bit.

I landed somewhere between 15 and 20 pike, none big(55-60cm average), and was bitten off a couple times. One of the bite-offs had some weight to it, which was encouraging, since I haven't seen much for size yet at this lake though I know there are big ones in there. The couple were fishing deeper than I was (about 35 fow) and were getting into some small perch as well as pike. I may have to go a little deeper next time. I don't like going deeper than 30 feet though if I'm C'n'R-ing since barotrauma becomes an issue at that depth.

It was a very enjoyable day. :)

A blizzard is supposed to blow in today, followed by a couple cold days, but I should be back on the ice in decent temps by Thursday or Friday. Life is good.
 

Psychobilly

🧀Muenster
I LOVE Wolves! But yeah for Perch I generally catch those by accident while Catfishing; two years ago I landed two fish that I didn't know what they were, and they ended up being White Perch.

The one was about 16 inches and the other like 18 inches, and it didn't dawn on me that these were possible state record fish until after I filleted them..... lol. Ah well, used them as cut bait and got a 33 or so inch Channel Cat.
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
I LOVE Wolves!
Me too, in the wild. Hybrids of wild and domestic canines make me wary though. You never know when those predator genes will take command.

This guy growled at me a few times when I was approaching and talking to his owners. Just low warning sounds, nothing that signaled imminent attack, but it kept me ready. Throughout the afternoon, he also came running up on my blind side a few times to try to get a reaction. He didn't growl or anything then, he was just testing me. I spoke calmly to him and made sure I could reach my belt.

We only have yellow perch around here. I don't know white perch, but YP don't get that big. A fourteen inch yellow perch is like a 20 pound pike or 10 pound walleye, as far as bragging rights. Most are under 10 inches. They are very tasty.
 

Psychobilly

🧀Muenster
Yeah I land Yellow Perch the exact same way, and I did get a few of them.

If you catch one, you have good bait for their buddies lol; people say to just stick a Perch Eye on a jig head, but the belly piece is really tough so it stays on a hook nicely.

I used some Lake Trout belly this year and it worked nicely.

As for the Wolves I wouldn't be surprised if I die trying to pet something I shouldn't lol.
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
As for the Wolves I wouldn't be surprised if I die trying to pet something I shouldn't lol.
I grew up in the country, playing in heavy timber and brush, hunting and fishing, so I've always known that nature is nothing like Disney cartoons. Any shred of naivete I may have still had was destroyed when I watched from my boat as a grizzly took down and killed a yearling moose like it was a rabbit on the shore of Maligne Lake in Jasper Park. That was terrifying.

I ain't petting nothing unless it's been made into a rug. ;)
 

Psychobilly

🧀Muenster
I grew up in the country, playing in heavy timber and brush, hunting and fishing, so I've always known that nature is nothing like Disney cartoons. Any shred of naivete I may have still had was destroyed when I watched from my boat as a grizzly took down and killed a yearling moose like it was a rabbit on the shore of Maligne Lake in Jasper Park. That was terrifying.

I ain't petting nothing unless it's been made into a rug. ;)
Don't get me wrong; I'd shoot the bear after it killed the moose and eat both and use the guts for Channel Cat bait but a Wolf, or a Cat? Lol I may try. There's a few Coyotes hanging on the walls and you can hear ten at night, and though I grew up in a city environment I am now "in the boonies" and the back yard leads to a county park which leads to the river and a state game area so I can understand pretty well how cool it'd be growing up there.

I've gone out back to fish and just grabbed whatever I saw on the way for bait (mainly Catfishing as I've said and if it can bleed, a Channel Cat or Bullhead will hit it) lol.

One of my spots where I landed a 14 or 15 pound Carp has a Coyote den right behind it and you know me, being a smart ass my mom said one day when she found out that we fish that close and got nervous and I was like "nah it's fine! If they attack you don't need a license and that's like a free 30 pound sack of bait right at the river" lol.

I imagine a Pike or Musky would nail that too but as of yet they don't come close enough.
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
Don't get me wrong; I'd shoot the bear after it killed the moose and eat both and use the guts for Channel Cat bait but a Wolf, or a Cat? Lol I may try. There's a few Coyotes hanging on the walls and you can hear ten at night, and though I grew up in a city environment I am now "in the boonies" and the back yard leads to a county park which leads to the river and a state game area so I can understand pretty well how cool it'd be growing up there.

I've gone out back to fish and just grabbed whatever I saw on the way for bait (mainly Catfishing as I've said and if it can bleed, a Channel Cat or Bullhead will hit it) lol.

One of my spots where I landed a 14 or 15 pound Carp has a Coyote den right behind it and you know me, being a smart ass my mom said one day when she found out that we fish that close and got nervous and I was like "nah it's fine! If they attack you don't need a license and that's like a free 30 pound sack of bait right at the river" lol.

I imagine a Pike or Musky would nail that too but as of yet they don't come close enough.
Yeah, it's funny when people get worried because they saw/know animals are around. I wonder how they'd feel about all the critters they don't see that are all around, all the time, in rural settings? ;)

I'm paying far more attention to tracks the last few years, and even in very urban areas, river valleys and washes are animal highways. Outside the city, it's amazing the amount of new tracks you see if you are visiting the same places regularly, though you rarely actually see any of the animals themselves.
I enjoy walking around my village after a snowfall and seeing the fresh deer and squirrel and coyote tracks. Pretty sure there are some moose tracks down the block as well. Love it all.

(another awesome thing about being out Sunday, it was so quiet I could hear a crow flying over my tent, this after the Skidoo5000 the previous day:))
 

Psychobilly

🧀Muenster
Yeah, it's funny when people get worried because they saw/know animals are around. I wonder how they'd feel about all the critters they don't see that are all around, all the time, in rural settings? ;)

I'm paying far more attention to tracks the last few years, and even in very urban areas, river valleys and washes are animal highways. Outside the city, it's amazing the amount of new tracks you see if you are visiting the same places regularly, though you rarely actually see any of the animals themselves.
I enjoy walking around my village after a snowfall and seeing the fresh deer and squirrel and coyote tracks. Pretty sure there are some moose tracks down the block as well. Love it all.

(another awesome thing about being out Sunday, it was so quiet I could hear a crow flying over my tent, this after the Skidoo5000 the previous day:))
Yeah bro having a county park in the back is in my opinion pretty awesome, and I enjoy walking out there.

I actually look at the prints I find too and my Fiance has been hunting and fishing a good chunk of her life, and we walk in the woods a lot. I take pictures too as I find the views out there beautiful.

This far south in Michigan we don't have any Bears or Wolves but I've seen some pretty large prints of what I think may have been a Bob Cat, and heard what sounded like one once but sti cast haven't actually seen one.... probably good though; my dumb ass works want to pet it lol.

Looking forward to Spring right now so we can go fishing and walk out there. Lots of Deer around here, freezer is full of a few of them lol.
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
Tried a new lake today and got lucky. Found fish in the first hole I drilled and spent the day within 50 feet of that spot. Iced 12 pike and two walleye, one of which was a real good size. Saw a lot of marks on the sonar, and lost a few hits as well. It was another fine day on the ice.

Meeting a couple buds tomorrow at another new lake. They only get to come out and play on the weekends, poor employed buggers. ;)
:LOL:
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
^^Ouch! I presume someone will be looking for a new job after that.^^



I got out on the ice yesterday. Beautiful weather, and the fishing was pretty good. Iced half a dozen pike and a couple of these guys, all released per lake regulations. Too bad, as this one would have been delicious.
ll eye.jpg
I could see fish on the sonar almost continuously, but they were very picky and needed finesse presentations to get them to hit. I dropped the u/w cam in for a bit, nose down, and the pike were slowly cruising around in a very neutral mood. They would look at a lure or bait from a few inches away and then just keep going.

Crazy amount of tracks in the fresh snow on shore. Deer, moose, rabbits, coyotes, possible lynx and weasel/martin, and the freakiest ones looked like a critter that is suppose to be sleeping, black bear. Didn't see anything but birds and fish though. :)

It was another fine day in the great outdoors. (y)
 

Orion

CHOOSE YOUR TITLE
With a nor easter / blizzard possible this weekend I am so looking foward to my April Tarpon trip too Boca Grande Fla...some pics from last year...
 

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Ramjet159

pHeno pHisher
^^Ouch! I presume someone will be looking for a new job after that.^^



I got out on the ice yesterday. Beautiful weather, and the fishing was pretty good. Iced half a dozen pike and a couple of these guys, all released per lake regulations. Too bad, as this one would have been delicious.
View attachment 102796
I could see fish on the sonar almost continuously, but they were very picky and needed finesse presentations to get them to hit. I dropped the u/w cam in for a bit, nose down, and the pike were slowly cruising around in a very neutral mood. They would look at a lure or bait from a few inches away and then just keep going.

Crazy amount of tracks in the fresh snow on shore. Deer, moose, rabbits, coyotes, possible lynx and weasel/martin, and the freakiest ones looked like a critter that is suppose to be sleeping, black bear. Didn't see anything but birds and fish though. :)

It was another fine day in the great outdoors. (y)
Yep I’m sure someone’s ass will be grass for sure . It’s undetermined yet as to exactly what went wrong . Could be Pilot error , engine failure , steering failure etc .
I’ve always said you rarely have small accidents on the water . Just like aviation it usually doesn’t end well ?‍♂️
 

Orion

CHOOSE YOUR TITLE
@Amarok ; here in Michigan as long as they're like 15 inches they're legal to keep. Very tasty as well, though I think the next one I catch is getting a double hook / stinger rig cause apparently big Flatheads like them lol.

@Orion ; NICE! I'd love to land a Tarpon one day. What kind of Reel do you use?
Conventional gear with marked line for acurate presentation...squirl fish and small crabs for bait.

 
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Psychobilly

🧀Muenster
Nice! I have a theory about Tarpon that I've never gotten to test, but I feel like it can work:

I know normally people "bow" when they jump so the hook doesn't come out, but I feel like with a Lever Drag Reel you could just lower the drag when you feel it coming up to the surface, and just press it back up when it lands, and use a mix of Mono main line and leader, with a Circle Hook, so there's enough stretch to not have the hook come out.

My favorite fishing Reel ever is my Penn Fathom Lever Drag Reels, and I use 50 pound Mono main line and leader with hundred pound test swivels, and my favorite rods are the Big Cat Fever Rods from Catch The Fever, which are pure S-Glass so they flex pretty well. The backbone eventually is gone, but they flex really well.



If you watch the Rod there; even though there's no backbone left it flexes straight down without snapping.

All that flex "should" in theory, help a Circle Hook pivot and set, and then it's game on lol.
 

18B

In Bloom
So for salt water fishing...the rig I use for live baiting or even chunk baiting is a triple hook configuration...not a treble hook!! (Treble hooks do not come on my boat)...I hook one hook with the other through the eye until I get a daisy chain of 3 hooks...I usually use 10' of florocarbon...about 30' of mono (Sometimes) and straight to braid...the reason why I don't use mono is that the sharks are so fucking bad that if you try to play your fish, you will lose it...you have to crank your drag down, horse them in and swing them over as if you wait to gaff...there will be nothing left.
1643499340557.png
I never get bitten off unless they manage to swallow the bait and rig...shark usually anyways...I learned to use these commercial rod n reel fishing in Florida.
 

Psychobilly

🧀Muenster
I don't like Treble Hooks either; for one thing they tear the fuck out of a fish's mouth, and in terms of setting a hook properly, you're now dividing the force of the set over 3 points instead of one.

The stinger rig I mentioned is what I think would work using an elongated live bait like a Walleye without much issue.

Personally I use Circle Hooks and Octopus Hooks as my go to Hooks; I've got massive ones of both styles, and smaller ones too, and Octopus Hooks work really well.

Gamakatsu Octopus Hooks along with the VMC, are generally what I use for most of my fishing when I'm not using a Circle Hook, and for Circle Hooks, I really like the Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks, the Berkeley Fusion 19 or whatever they're called Circle Hooks, and I have ONE pack of the Eagle Claw Trokar HD Saltwater Circle Hooks..... bro I could probably cast just the hook, those things are huge! They're 9/0 and I think capable of landing Sturgeon..... probably a Bull Shark too lol.

For Reels, I'm a Penn guy. I like and have no problem using other brands, and when I got back into fishing after years of not doing it, my budget was like 40 dollars lol.

That's why I've got multiple Ugly Stik rods (1 GX2 spinning combo, 1 Spinning Catfish Edition, and one conventional Catfish edition so I have a two piece that fits in the car trunk) and a Berkeley Fusion Rod and Reel combo. All of those will catch fish, but once I really got into Catfishing I started telling my Mom I wanted a Big Cat Fever Rod for Christmas, and went with the Conventional Rod instead of spinning to force myself to learn to cast one lol.

I got an Okuma Classic CLX 450-LA to go on it because it was cheap and met my requirements; big spool so I can use Mono, 18 pounds of Drag, and a bait clicker.

I've gotten a Big Cat Fever Rod every year for Christmas for a few years now, and between Christmas and Birthday presents, I managed to get the Penn Fathom Lever Drag Reels! I also got a Penn 209m given to me from my soon to be Father in law, which I also use.
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
I like circle hooks for softwater but tend to use trebles for hardwater.

---------------------------------

Now that the weather has become tolerable, my hands are getting back to proper fisherman's hands. I pulled a chunk of walleye fin from my finger on Sunday, and now a couple of my fingers are well chewed up from performing oral surgery on toothy critters yesterday. (Note to @Ramjet159 , even though they bit me, I didn't punch them.? :LOL: )

I iced 9 pike and 2 walleye yesterday. It was a beautiful warm day, I never set up the tent and didn't even need gloves. I was mostly hole hopping, trying to find the more active fish, as they are so finicky right now. Once again, there were fish on the graph almost constantly, but triggering a hit was tough work.

Today the wind is gusting to 80 kmh. Sounds like a domestic chores day. (No video games and weed, domestic chores, honest ;) )
 
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