Caddis
Zinger
I’ll stick to things that won’t eat me in the boat!
I love casting dry flies, watching the take.
Who loves fishing ?
- Thread starter Ramjet159
- Start date
I love casting dry flies, watching the take.
Doublej
In Bloom
That's SWEET!!
Ill be fishing eastern Washington for big kokanee, and lake trout probably next spring.
I've still got an old fly rod around here somewhere. Catch any fish with one at the right time...
I dig it!!!
Those white sturgeon are a whole different game. The lake sturgeon I target only get to ~150lbs, with over 50 being considered pretty huge. I'm a loner and these are about as big a fish as I can deal with on my own. From what I've seen, catching those monster whites is more of a team sport.
For me, anything that takes away from the one on one aspect is less fun. I don't care for trolling, I don't want to be in a boat so big I can't reach over and grab my fish. I don't like using a net.
I like to set the hook, fight the fight, land the fish by hand, preferably remove the hook without tools, and then hold it until it swims away. If it never leaves the water, bonus points.
But that is why fishing is such a wonderful pastime, we all get to play the game our own way.
Doublej
In Bloom
You ARE dead on brotherThose white sturgeon are a whole different game. The lake sturgeon I target only get to ~150lbs, with over 50 being considered pretty huge. I'm a loner and these are about as big a fish as I can deal with on my own. From what I've seen, catching those monster whites is more of a team sport.
For me, anything that takes away from the one on one aspect is less fun. I don't care for trolling, I don't want to be in a boat so big I can't reach over and grab my fish. I don't like using a net.
I like to set the hook, fight the fight, land the fish by hand, preferably remove the hook without tools, and then hold it until it swims away. If it never leaves the water, bonus points.
But that is why fishing is such a wonderful pastime, we all get to play the game our own way.
That's what's makes it one of the best ways to just spend your time.
Between Saturday and Tuesday we got close to 4" of rain. It stopped Tuesday morning.
I didn't know if the little trail down to the river would be washed out or if the river would be fishable, but there was only one way to find out. After work Tuesday I made my way down.
Trail was slick and sloppy but passable without much trouble.
The river was very high and still rising. Trees of all sizes floated by constantly. The water had so much suspended dirt you could almost walk on it. Visibility was maybe 1 cm.
I tried casting into the normal spots but even if the sinker grabbed, the line would be covered in debris in a few minutes. Cleaning all the crap off the line got old, especially with no hits.
Tactic switch time. A slip bobber with a drop shot minnow and a jig-rig worm on bottom, in a meter of water just off shore.
I just wanted to kill the skunk, but ended up with a 3 species evening. First was a medium walleye, followed by a chunky white sucker and later a redhorse sucker(such a beautiful fish). I believe that is 7 species from the river this spring. I drove home smiling.
Cool and misty this morning. Still contemplating returning today. It's supposed to rain from tomorrow until Sunday so I should probably go while I can.
I didn't know if the little trail down to the river would be washed out or if the river would be fishable, but there was only one way to find out. After work Tuesday I made my way down.
Trail was slick and sloppy but passable without much trouble.
The river was very high and still rising. Trees of all sizes floated by constantly. The water had so much suspended dirt you could almost walk on it. Visibility was maybe 1 cm.
I tried casting into the normal spots but even if the sinker grabbed, the line would be covered in debris in a few minutes. Cleaning all the crap off the line got old, especially with no hits.
Tactic switch time. A slip bobber with a drop shot minnow and a jig-rig worm on bottom, in a meter of water just off shore.
I just wanted to kill the skunk, but ended up with a 3 species evening. First was a medium walleye, followed by a chunky white sucker and later a redhorse sucker(such a beautiful fish). I believe that is 7 species from the river this spring. I drove home smiling.
Cool and misty this morning. Still contemplating returning today. It's supposed to rain from tomorrow until Sunday so I should probably go while I can.
I was just thinking about how I mostly fish the same few places, but how our drastic seasonal swings mean I'm never really at the same place twice.
The river changes from thaw till freeze with temps, depths, conditions, holding locations, and species available, all constantly varying, with each new combination creating a new puzzle. The river I'm fishing now is a completely different beast than the one I'll be fishing in August.
I have a lot of lakes within a short drive, with different species and sizes and structures to choose from, but the closeness, ease of access, and the chance to catch trophy walleye, pike and sturgeon, with a bunch of other species available, only a few minutes from home means I usually don't even think of lakes until maybe mid-July.
The river changes from thaw till freeze with temps, depths, conditions, holding locations, and species available, all constantly varying, with each new combination creating a new puzzle. The river I'm fishing now is a completely different beast than the one I'll be fishing in August.
I have a lot of lakes within a short drive, with different species and sizes and structures to choose from, but the closeness, ease of access, and the chance to catch trophy walleye, pike and sturgeon, with a bunch of other species available, only a few minutes from home means I usually don't even think of lakes until maybe mid-July.
Weather has been marginal and the water is still high and filthy but you never know until you try.
Popped down this afternoon for a few hours while storm cells cycled through. It wasn't great action but I managed 3 fish, all of different species, by being adaptable.
Coolest part was nailing the first (IIRC)mooneye of the year to make 8 species from the river so far this season: burbot, walleye, pike, sturgeon, goldeye, mooneye, white sucker and redhorse sucker.
Popped down this afternoon for a few hours while storm cells cycled through. It wasn't great action but I managed 3 fish, all of different species, by being adaptable.
Coolest part was nailing the first (IIRC)mooneye of the year to make 8 species from the river so far this season: burbot, walleye, pike, sturgeon, goldeye, mooneye, white sucker and redhorse sucker.
Ran into the city after work for a few things and ended up at Cabelas, as one does. 
I grabbed a couple little things and as I wandered, I saw a twentyish kid looking at rod combos. I commented that one was generally better off buying rod and reel separately as with combos, one or the other was usually substandard. That led to him quizzing me about a pike setup. I showed him some rods, and how to read the rod shaft and what the weight and action listing meant. Then his friend walked up and started asking questions. I ended up walking him around the fishing section. We picked out some lures, some line, some hooks, and some terminal tackle to get him started. We probably spent 20 minutes together.
They were both extremely respectful and appreciative. Most of the questions started with "sorry to bug you, but can I ask you one more thing?"
I told them that this was my passion. I love fishing, I love talking fishing, I love teaching folks that want to learn, so I was happy to help.
They each introduced themselves and shook my hand while thanking me. I walked away smiling, richer for the experience.
I grabbed a couple little things and as I wandered, I saw a twentyish kid looking at rod combos. I commented that one was generally better off buying rod and reel separately as with combos, one or the other was usually substandard. That led to him quizzing me about a pike setup. I showed him some rods, and how to read the rod shaft and what the weight and action listing meant. Then his friend walked up and started asking questions. I ended up walking him around the fishing section. We picked out some lures, some line, some hooks, and some terminal tackle to get him started. We probably spent 20 minutes together.
They were both extremely respectful and appreciative. Most of the questions started with "sorry to bug you, but can I ask you one more thing?"
I told them that this was my passion. I love fishing, I love talking fishing, I love teaching folks that want to learn, so I was happy to help.
They each introduced themselves and shook my hand while thanking me. I walked away smiling, richer for the experience.
Boats are a blast, but I always remember the old saying "a boat is a hole in the water you pour money into". There is so much maintenance and expense involved in boat ownership that many people end up walking away.
Doublej
In Bloom
I'm not one of those people
🛥
There's another saying...boat/fishin money are different
It's just part of are life ,I don't mind the work!
You do have to keep things serviced just part of it...
Up here it is even harder to justify. For most guys, boating season only goes from mid-May till Labour Day weekend.
I always find that dumb, as September and October are some of the best fishing times, but almost everybody pulls their boats in early September. Tough weather can arrive early and many guys are getting ready for hunting so it makes sense to them.
Oh well, it often means my canoe or zodiac and I have the lake to myself in the Fall.
I always find that dumb, as September and October are some of the best fishing times, but almost everybody pulls their boats in early September. Tough weather can arrive early and many guys are getting ready for hunting so it makes sense to them.
Oh well, it often means my canoe or zodiac and I have the lake to myself in the Fall.
Was at the river around 7:30 this morning. Within the first half hour I set the hook on a sturgeon and the line started peeling. It lasted just long enough for the adrenaline to hit before the hook popped out. Definition of bittersweet, lost a dino, but know they are around and feeding despite condition of river.
And that was it for about 4 hours. Lost the odd minnow and a few worms came in partially chewed, but no solid hits. Nothing I would swear was a hit at all. I was getting ready to take the skunk when the rod finally started moving. I let it twitch a few more times and set the hook. It came in heavy but docile until it finally realized it was hooked and then it gave an awesome fight. Twice I had to thumb the spool to keep her out of the big current and there was a stretch where I stood on a tiny shelf just above the surface while she pulled and twisted in less than a meter of water right at my feet before peeling off again.
Finally I beached a very thick 41 inch dino, number 4 for the year. Managed to get her on her back, pulled the hook, and had her on her way in no time.
I'm noticing two main phenotypes. The first and more common are the thinner ones. I think of them as more torpedo shaped, fairly thin in relation to their length. The second is far thicker and stronger. Today's was one of those, as was my PB from last year. Not sure if it is sexual dimorphism or just phenotypical variation.
Supposed to be a wet week ahead, not sure if it will shut me down or not.
On another note, I just became aware that crappie have been illegally introduced into a lake not far from me. Only place in the province they exist. Never even seen one in person. May have to go hunting for a new species.
And that was it for about 4 hours. Lost the odd minnow and a few worms came in partially chewed, but no solid hits. Nothing I would swear was a hit at all. I was getting ready to take the skunk when the rod finally started moving. I let it twitch a few more times and set the hook. It came in heavy but docile until it finally realized it was hooked and then it gave an awesome fight. Twice I had to thumb the spool to keep her out of the big current and there was a stretch where I stood on a tiny shelf just above the surface while she pulled and twisted in less than a meter of water right at my feet before peeling off again.
Finally I beached a very thick 41 inch dino, number 4 for the year. Managed to get her on her back, pulled the hook, and had her on her way in no time.
I'm noticing two main phenotypes. The first and more common are the thinner ones. I think of them as more torpedo shaped, fairly thin in relation to their length. The second is far thicker and stronger. Today's was one of those, as was my PB from last year. Not sure if it is sexual dimorphism or just phenotypical variation.
Supposed to be a wet week ahead, not sure if it will shut me down or not.
On another note, I just became aware that crappie have been illegally introduced into a lake not far from me. Only place in the province they exist. Never even seen one in person. May have to go hunting for a new species.
belleswell
In Bloom
On another note, I just became aware that crappie have been illegally introduced into a lake not far from me. Only place in the province they exist. Never even seen one in person. May have to go hunting for a new species.
There are white crappies and black crappie. This is a white crappie a little over 16" which is about 4" longer than I like for the table.
Here is one just a little over 12" which is about the max size I like to bring home for the table.
When crappie fishing I like to dab just a touch of anise oil on the jig or hook and then use the normal minnows, grubs, or worms. I prefer minnows for them. Anise oil is the active ingredient in many commercial crappie bait scents. I buy mine at the grocery store as it is also used for flavoring rock candy. Crappie love the scent and flavor and scenting up the hook or jig with just a dab of anise oil will greatly increase ones catches of crappie. Secret sauce that easily quadruples ones catches of these fish.
Limit catch of bluegills and crappie. A limit catch of bluegills and crappie in Michigan is 25 of them. The four crappie in this pic were accidentally caught while fishing for bluegills. I prefer the taste of bluegills over crappie, but will usually bring home the combo when fishing for a limit.
