The Fishing Thread
 

So how many of you are into fishing? What do you fish for and how often do you go? Any tips for how to get the monster of your choice, lures, bait, flies? Feel free to throw in a fishing story or two as well. :) What was your best or worst experience while out fishing?

Trout, right now. I use corn.

I think I am going to head out next week and hit a river or two and go after some rainbows and browns. I have just put new Yo-zuri line on the reels and am ready to roll. I am going to knock the dust off my fly fishing equipment this year as well and get back into that. :thumb:

I chase the Largemouth Bass.

I prefer to fish Farm ponds, but the past couple of years have spent a little more time on lakes. I've had a fairly tough time with regular success at Bull Shoals. Any Bass pros down there, could feel free to offer some tips.

I basically fish with some combination of 3 lures. 7" plastic worms, Topp Popper, Buzz bait.

My all time Favorite(and I can't find them anywhere) is the 7" Gene Larew, electric Blue, white tail, salted worm.

I catch the Most Big bass on a Bill Dance "real bass" popper. Its about 4" long, looks like a small bass, and I catch Several 5-6lb a summer on it.

I have only had the pleasue of going after bass once, but it was a blast. Montana isn't exactly prime bass country. :) I have a standing invite at Billy Deans place to hit his bass ponds which I need to take him up on at some point. I guess he has some monsters in there. For trout, I use various mepps, Panther martin, Thomas cyclone and blue fox. I have been getting some killer deals on big lots of lures and spinners on ebay over the last week. I should be stocked for years to come!

Ice fishing using tip-ups and dead bait for big Pike. Get a big one of them on and you'll have a blast trying to bring him up hand over hand through the ice.

I caught a yellow fin tuna in Cabo last week. Also had about a 200 lb. striped marlin on, but we think I had it hooked in the side. Fought it for about 5 minutes and it jumped and poof, there he was, gone.

Nice! I am going to go after Marlin at some point as well. I never have had the pleasure of going after tuna. How heavy was your line?

I did that once and it was a blast. I don't really warm up to ice any more though. I had an "incident" when I was out goose hunting several years ago and I haven't been out it since. Nothing like crawling across ice an inch at a time hearing it crack to cure a guy of that. :shake:

I fish private property south of Kansas City, near Butler. Its all mined property from the 1970's that Pittsburg Mining company removed coal from several acres. Its a strip of land, about 3 miles long and 2 miles wide. It has 42 bodies of water on it ranging from shallow 5-10 foot creeks up to lakes that are over 80 foot deep and have all species of Missouri fish. Its great in the spring, because when the waters are rising the walleyes move in from Mulberry creek. Ive caught several bass last weekend on the spinnerbaits I build. Green/chartreuse with double copper colorado blades are all I build.

I also fish the mined land near West Mineral where the Brutus shovel is located, west of Pittsburg, Kansas. Some of that land down there is stocked with trout. Its all open to the public, boat ramps, and several hundred bodies of water to fish on. All you need is a Kansas license.

http://www.bigbrutus.org/index.html

I just got back from Lake Fork in Texas. This lake is supposed to be one of the mostlikely lakes to produce the next world record. I caught two 8" bass and the flu bug. What a miserable trip, but I plan to go back when we can use some top water lures instead of two days of jiggin' lizzards.

I usually go fishing on a private creek that my grandfather knows a gentleman that owns the land. So basically we can just go there and fish. Mostly alot of catfish around the area there.

Private land is the way to go if you can get on. Montana has a "High water mark" law that says a fisherman can walk any land in Montana as long as they don't go past the high water flood mark. You have to stick to the banks and can't go past the high water mark though and can't cross private land to get to it. As long as you find a public access and start walking the bank, you're safe.

Mel Gibson had a huge ranch about 45 miles from here that I fished before he bought it, but it was closed after he got it. It sold last month to a friend of mine so I am able to get back on. It is on the Stillwater river and no one has fished it for 12 years. I can wait to drift some flies on that water within the next two weeks. :drool:

We fish down here for fun......but we also go home to Bennett Springs 2 0r 3 times a year for trout fishing. The best there is.....you can almost reach down and catch them with your hands. We fish for 10 days straight and come back home with the freezer stocked for fish frys all year long.

We go to Lake Fork all the time....great place. Sorry you got the bug while down here. next time try lake Tawokonia.....they pulled a 54 pound catfish out of it the other day.

Those are the kind of words that start fishing feuds. :hmmm:

Just went fly fishing last weekend on the Owyhee River in eastern Oregon (about 10 miles from the Idaho border). We fished the river about 1 mile below the dam. We all caught brown trout, the smallest 12", the largest about 23". It was all catch and release so none brought home. It was a great way to start off the season!

I've fished down there a few times. Some of my uncles own property on it. Last time I found a pretty big Septerian Nodule and got bit by a green watersnake. There are nice bass down there.

I've been learning alot more about getting big flatheads the past couple of years too. We've camped and ran lines on the river since I was a kid, but mostly jut channel cat.

Fishing Big Flatheads is an entirely different game. I've got a relative south of Harrisonville who is a big-cat Guru. Several 40-50lbs a summer.

I worst experience fishing.

I was out on a lake with a girl friend in some dinker 12 ft aluminum boat with some wussy little engine that looked like it belonged on a big toy. I rented this heap and we headed out into the big ass lake and it was calm and sunny.

We go out there and I tried every lure and bait know to man and not so much as a hit. I was so into fishing I didn't notice the cloud of doom rolling over. In about 7 minutes it goes from calm and sunny to raining, 40 mile per hour winds and waves from hell. The girl I was with was going nuts thinking we were going to sink and I had to keep on my poker face explaining how "this is just a little squall, not a thing to worry about." It took us about a half an hour to make it back and the boat was about half full of water. (That's after bailing all the way back) I hit the shore and headed into the bar for several highballs. :shake:

The best: Any day I am out fishing way back in the mountains.

I think it was in the 80 lb. range.

Interestinly enough, I got a call last sunday from a farmer who had just built a new pond. He wanted us to "build a bass pond" out of it.

We're going saturday morning and evening to build structure(its already half full). I haven't seen it yet, so I'm not sure how big it is or what shape/depth..I think its pretty good size though, based on where I think its built.

The initial game plan is to Pile some rocks/blocks, build some shaped structures out of a big pile of clay tiles we have, place some cut Cedar Trees, maybe some cement tubes, and tie some Pallets together in a tripod.

If its big enough........might even sink a junk car(no engine-tranny).

Then, I'd like to go start catching up sunfish, bluegill and some RedEar(eat snails, which cause worms in fish) and get them in there, hopefully in time to spawn. He's talked about stocking it this fall, but I'm leaning towards telling him to just let us do it.

We have several ponds where the bass are Really Strong.......After the Bluegill take good root, I'd like to start throwing some decent size bass in, and then the next spring/fall....add some Cats to keep balance........and a few grass carp to keep the moss reasonable.

Any Suggestions?

Wow, that's some serious line. I can't remember what the weight was when we went after Halibut in Alaska. I don't think it was that heavy duty and we pulled in some hoggs.

Hey Otter, do you remember?

That sounds fantastic. It sounds like you have the game plan down. :thumb: My uncle had two trout ponds that had some HUGE rainbows and brookies in them a long time ago, but we got one summer of drought, followed by one really cold winter and killed most of them off. He restocked about 7 years ago so thery should be decent size again.

Stock it with fatheads or another small minnow to serve as a base in the food chain. Some lilly pads if you can transfer them from another pond.

Ice can be scary. But mostly when I go its about 3 feet thick. Although my first day ice fishing we put an atv, trailer, and all of our gear through the ice on Lake of the Woods. For some strange reason I'll probably never understand I'm hooked on it now.

You boys have some decent salmon fishing around there as well don't you?

Always trying to out do me aren't you?

Call Arkasas Pond Stockers and order 10 pounds of "fathead minnows"

If the pond is big enough, toss in a few pounds of Gizzard Shad. Largemouth bass will thrive of them.....and its awesome to see an eruption from a 8+ pound bass in a school of shad!

I thought about adding some of the fatheads...........But don't they grow into Carp?

If I do add them, which I had thought about.....should it be when we add the Bluegill(months to a year before the bass) or WHEN we put the bass in?

I've got a vision in my mind of my dream pond.....Uphill from it(just) would be 2, 3-4'deep gravel bottom frog ponds.........one with fatheads, one with Crawfish. I'd sein each one, once per year and flood the Main Pond with a foodsource.

8lb bass is EXACTLY what I'm shooting for, in Iowa's climate.

river cats and rock bass.

If you know where to go the south ozarks has some world class smallmouth fishing.

Bass pro special ultralight stren 4-6# and plastic skirted road runners or any shallow to med. running crank bait w/ a red bottom.
Fish the males in the day and the mommas at night.

In the northeast "fatheads" are also known as pinhead minnows. They definately do not grow large, and are not carp. They are minnows about 1/2 to 1 long that I think if left in the wild would grow between 2-3" max. I would think you would want to add them before adding any other fish.

Yes and this year the run is supposed to be very good. The steelhead and salmon fishing is supposed to be great. However, it takes entirely different tackle to fish for them. I am just getting started with fly fishing. Once I get that down and have all the equipment, I might try the salmon and steelhead. I think that will be a few years down the road.

The salmon/steel head fishing is getting better every year over the last 5 years. Usually the season is spring and fall, but they are expecting such a good run this year they are talking about a summer season also.

You know, the ocean current changed a few years ago bringing warm water back to the Northwest coast. That has allowed the food chain to increase and hence, the salmon population. And all this time we were told it was those darn damns!

I'm sure its the same thing..........and there are Gizzard shad in the creeks here too. Maybe they are what I'm thinking of.... We talked about seining a creek or two to get some crawdads and minnows going in there too.

I like the idea of some lilly pads, but they aren't realy very common around here. If they'll transport, I do know a couple of lakes not too far away that always has them.

The biggest challenge will be getting this pond fenced off so no cows get in it, and get the much too charitable farmer, to keep the Morons out of it.

Nah. You just lead a boring life.

Are the McKenzie Brothers about to have another Tussle? Take Off, Eh Hoser.

I'd almost be willing to pleasure the wife(you may substitute Iowani-rep and Gratitude) of anyone who can find me a link where I can order my 7", Salted, Electric Blue(and grape) with White tail plastic worms.

I've looked, and looked and haven't been able to find it. I'd order a few bags if I can find them.

You are going to love fly fishing. Just take your time and expect to catch as many trees as fish your first trip or two. I bet there is still flies in pine trees from a few of my adventures. After fishing in close quarters with pine trees in the mountains, I was forced to learn the roll cast. It was either that or go broke buying flies. ROFL The only salmon I have gone after is Kings in Alaska, but I would love to hit a river full of something else at some point. Glad to hear the run is up for you over there. It should make for some great days of fishing! :thumb:

I go after large mouth bass, and catfish regularly. Only tip I can add other than using decent gear is that if you're going to fish off the bottom, tie a weight to the end of your line, then go up about 3 inches and put the hook there. That way you wont drag bottom and get your bait covered in sludge / debris. (they sell swivels in wal mart with this built in, it even has rigs for multiple hooks)

Is this what you want?

http://search.ebay.com/Electric-Blue...fsopZ1QQfsooZ1

I fish mostly off a bank at the nearby river. The fish that are most readily available are Perch and Catfish with an occaisional Black Bass or Striper. I have been trying to teach my Mom how to cook them without rolling the fish in Corn meal and then pan frying them in oil. Tastes good, but oh my the fat.

Trout are also available in the lakes and streams of the Sierra's. Although I have never done it, a lot of folks here enjoy Deep Sea fishing as well.

No....those are too dark.

these are a lighter blue with a WHITE tail........thats the important part..........you see the blue worms with Red or chartruse tails all the time........

Gene Larew.....7" Electric Blue(and electric Grape) with WHITE tails.

I Appreciate the effort though. there is a genelarew.com, but I've had no luck finding them.

I haven't had much of a chance to go after cats around here. I always hear about all this nasty crap people put on the bait, does it work?

On a side note, there are all these products that a person can buy to spray on their bait. Has anyone ever tried them, do any of them work?

He said 7"!!! You know how particular us fishermen are.

This place has more links than a logging chain. Did you try here?

http://members.aol.com/BassRatter/Bassrat4.htm

Yeah, catfish are nasty buggers, they'll eat gizzards, hog maws, chitterlings, or livers. I usually fish for them using "chop" bait (chop up a fish I've caught earlier)

The one time I used that stuff, I didnt catch any more than usual. All it seems to do is coat the water with a greasy rainbow color. It could work, because I havent used it since as I havent had a chance to get out :(

check this place out. Its where is used to buy 25ct bags of salt craws and a great place to check for your Gene Larew.


http://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/

Or, if nothing else, someone on here should know. :thumb:

http://ultimatebass.com/

I didn't see that I could order my worms at the site, but fired off an email, and may call. I think that is the place one of my uncles recommended before, but I'm not exactly in KC to just run down to check it out.

Thanks.

Well you better keep trying. I've still caught a bigger fish.

ROFL NOW it's turning into a true fishing thread.

You lucky bastards that live out west make me sick! :cuss:

This might be a good place to put some pics of El Gran Pez. I caught this one on the 4th of July a couple of summers ago, while my lazy brothers and Brotherinlaw slept in.

Hm. Not really sure what to say about that except for :holdman:

I think you boys need to post a few pictures!

That's one thing I've yet to do. I've spent about 5 years trying to talk my dad into a trip to Alaska, and I think he's finally starting to cave. The bad part is, like you said, it's going to involve buying all new gear. Not going to be cheap.

The only pictures he has of fish is of his boyfriend holding them when they used to go to Canada.

Busting threw the drifts in early summer on the Polaris to get to one of my fishing holes near Yellowsone National park.

A halibut trip to Alaska:

Good God man. What'd you use to land those things? A spear gun?

LOL, no, it was up in Homer, AK last summer. We used 30 or 35 pound test if I remember correctly? I called well in advance and requested a "rouge captain who has a set of nads." We got him! Old Captain Tom wasn't afraid of a few waves and knows were the Hawgs are. If any of you ever want to go up there, send me some smoke, I still have his card and will never use any other captain in the future up there. The guy is hardcore and a good guy.

Since we're all telling "fish stories"
Here's one I caught.....bare handed....with nothing but my pocket knife.

I understand. I grew up in the northwest, Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, I now live in Southern Idaho. However, I spent about 4 years living in the Kansas City area, (that's why I am a Chiefs fan) and after the first year I couldn't wait to get back to the mountians.

No offense to those that love their native area, but I wouldn't leave the northwest again for any amount of $$.

I have made a few trips to Coeur d'Alene and did some pike fishing and had a blast. I also have a cousin that has a place on lake ponderay that I need to go visit at least once this summer. I guess the are some monsters in that lake. :hmmm:

Baaaaaaaa! That's a dinker, I don't know if that would be big enough to tempt the big ones that we catch using it as bait. :D:Poke:

Seriously, it would be fun to catch one that size and I have video of a guy who did when we were up there, but you couldn't eat it. The meat is like string.

hmmmmmm...is that you killer? Why did you block out your face? By the way very nice looking

























fish.......ROFL

I grew up about 20 min from Coeur d'Alene and spent lots of time on Ponderay also. However, I have never fished them. My partents had a ski boat so I spent all my time whisking over the surface of those lakes!

Wish I could afford a boat rather than fishing gear......... :)

That's awesome man.

Boy, you are just Mr. Renaissance Man, aren't you? :D

No offense taken, I completely understand. If it was at all possible for me, I'd be out there in a second.

I hope it works out for you sometime. :)

Perhaps he's in the witness protection program. :)

Even my boyfriend catches bigger fish then you.

Ugh, that didn't sound right.

No kidding. You used "then" instead of "than".

Joe is probably smarter than you. And probably beats you at chess at will.

Best fishing to date:

San Juan River in New Mexico about 3 miles below Navajo Dam. We were pulling in on average 23" rainbows every 10 - 15 minutes using flash back pheasent tails on the fly rods.

Once you hooked them they would head right for the fast currents and make your reel sing.

Bass, catfish and saltwater fishing is fun but there is nothing like fooling a trout into taking a fly then reeling him in on a fly rod.

Figures you'd drop the fishing argument by pointing out grammatical mistakes. Typical for a wannabe.

Then my allegations must be correct.

Yea, compared to me you're a genious (ptlyon spelling).

,,,,
I have to block my face out per Witness relocation policy. Also if word spread that I am really the stunt man for Brad Pitt, and the Body double at the closing scene of Boogie Nights, I'd have to beat the poon away with a club and couldn't read about football.

,,,,