BSmaster

Fish was 30.5"

This is NOT a question of 33Scout's measurement.  I am more interested in discussing the weigh charts.  Last year I caught a 25 in walleye out of the river that weighed 5lbs.  This spring I caught a 25 inch walleye (post spawn) out of a lake that weighed 8lbs.  A few years ago (pre spawn) I caught a 30.5 from the river that weighed 10lbs.  Is there something different in how these fish grow depending on their environment?

BTW:  That is an awesome fish.  Congratulations.  The biggest walleye I ever caught was the only one I caught that day.

Nice fish!  Did she pull that canoe around?

I caught a bass in the river years ago and the fish had the mono hanging from its hoohah and the hook was the only thing it couldn't pass thru its digestive system.  I got the hook to come out without injury. I saved the hook and it was fine.  It didn't look all that corroded.  I do know that the soft plastics dissolve.  I have seen it doing autopsies on panfish.

I am not disagreeing with the concept of cutting the line as he showed.  Any fish you wish to return to the water where hook removal is questionable should be cut off.  The fish will be fine.  I have had success going under the gill plate with small forceps but this not recommended.

The thought ocurred to me Sunday while watching the opening ceremony for the NASCAR race that I have a lot ot be thankful for.  I was in the middle of preparing marinades for my Venison rounds, rabbit tenderloins, and wild turkey breast, this after I couldn't make up my mind which type of fish to pull out of the chest freezer (ended up with bull heads).  A lot of people served this great country (I did not) and this is the reason that I have this much opportunity, this many choices, the ability to complain, and the ability to pursue my passions.  Whether you were knee deep in hell or recreational supervisor in southern Cal Pendelton (my Brother), I want to say THANK YOU.  I appreciate my freedom and I know why I have it.

Joe

I am no stranger to snapping turtles.  When I was a teenager, My Grandfather and I would catch them and butcher them for a turtle dinner at the addison fish and game club.  My yuppy fishing friends still give me c-r-a-p about it like I am some hillbhilly.  Don't knock it till you try it.  I don't do it anymore but mostly because the state has messed with it to the point where I would be poaching now.  You catch them, and then you flush them with fresh water for the next 2 weeks and then you butcher them.  Flushing does wonders for the smell, shooting them with a bow or gun doesn't allow for flushing sequence.  Therefore - what is the point?

I was hoping someone would suggest snapping turtle because that was kinda what I was thinking  when I have seen it.  Being in close in the weedbeds to spawn, I thought might make them an easier target.  I have no evidence - just a thought.

Chad, do you know what those marks are on the fish?  I have seen it before and not sure what caused it.

Didn't do really well but I did manage this nice fish under the bobber.  37 inches and had not spawned out yet.  She was returned to the river to complete her mission.  Her little Brother came home with me.  All in all it was pretty calm and that seemed to be the scuttlebut with everyone we talked to.

Another year done...

Joe

Heading to Saugherties this weekend for my annual trip - can't wait.  I am hoping to break that 40 inch barrier this year.  I love the zing...........  It is addicting.

Joe

Can't attend the meeting, but would like to hear what is going on with Lamoka.  An update would be great.  Thank you, Joe

Wish i were a younger redneck.  I'd be there...

Kevin,

Its good.  I usually throw a walleye fillet or something like that with my game.  This winter for my birthday I had surf and turf.  Grilled Rabbit tenderloin aldante (teriyaki) and open face pickeral sandwiches.  Soon as I get my bird, I will probably make a marinade have grilled turkey breast with crappie (surf and turf theme)

BTW, I like the asparagus.  You can mark your territory better when you eat that.

Good times,

Joe

2 more weeks and I'll be there!  Getting pumped!

haha.  I have been looking for the "can't wait" first opener post.  I am excited too, but I did a little scouting and I am nervous.  I know the fish are there but patterning them may be a little more work this year.

Good luck - tight lines...

Oneida first...  Then Cayuga...  Then eventually Seneca.  The only thing constant is change.  Get ready for some.

I hate seeing it but it is probably as natural as a winter fish kill.  Too bad for many reasons but mother nature has her methods.  This is why it is important to let the bigger fish go and keep the eaters instead (if you keep them) If you just like to catch and release try to do it with less harm to the fish - what ever that means to you.  I think the pike population will be fine but please be conscious of it.

Water is like glass.  Last time I was on it was like that.  I was fishing for perch and couldn't find biters up that way so after a while I just enjoyed the day puttering in 30 ft of water looking down at all the 6 lb bass.  Guys were hammering the lakers by jigging that day- I am talking about 30 -40 fish for half a day.  Like LJ said, They are fishing and they are happy - looks great to me.

I generally like the slot limit idea.   Keep the eaters or the occassional trophy for the wall and let the healthy breeders go back.   I will admit that a 40 inch size limit would create a pike paradise.  It may be too aggressive.  Creel limit at 5 always made me wonder.  Why so many?

That's sweet!  Reminds me of one of those fish in the tank up at Auburn.

If you haven't done so, I suggest you contact fingerlakes land trust.  They are primarily focused on wetlands but there could be some discussion of interest to your cause.  Good luck.  It is a good project. 

AC, I gave this a good nights rest before I commented.  I like the idea of restoration, however, (MHO) pick streams that have no brook trout, that could possibly sustain brook trout and do a 5-10 year study.  I don't like the idea of mapping all of the hidden streams that have natural populations.  I can see more harm than good coming from this approach.  When I read your post, initially, I was on board, but now after giving it some thought, I think you should focus on streams with potential and not those that mother nature is in control of.  I would love to be a part of this, but those little hidden gems...  I don't fish them and I don't talk about them either.  Its too easy for them to get jacked up by people who get them while they can and don't care about tomorrow.

Freshwater Models, the climate change is in general making everything warmer, however, one of the offsetting factors for stream recovery is the decline of agriculture and the streams down on the flood plain don't resemble their passageways through the hills which is most of the time under full canopy.  The rivers and streams in the Southern Tier Look the best they have ever looked in my lifetime.

That lake has a lot of forage fish.  You could have been doing everything right and they just aren't hungry.  Could be that prespawn they don't have as much room to eat large meals.  The 3 colors I hear the "experts" use are green, black and white hair or tube jigs.  I like to use white body/split tail/green black accents beetle spin and reel as slow as I can while keeping the spinner active.  I also like to use minnows under a bobber (2-3ft).  I find at this time of year they eat but don't swim away like a bass or pike would making indicators more difficult.  Anyway, I am not an expert by any means but, I do believe that timing is important.  Some times you can't keep them off your line and other times you catch one and wonder for an hour where the hell his buddies are.  1/2hr before and after sunset seems to be most active.  Good Luck.

I have been looking for some new ones too.  One thing I noticed last time I was looking for my current pair is that not all polarizing film is the same level of dichroism.  I found that I could use my current pair to cross the thru transmission of the potential new pairs to see which ones were most dichroic.  Of course, I am always looking for the 20$ pairs because I always seem to break the ones that cost more. 

Alabama Shiners was their bait name.  They look like golden shiners on steroids.  I read that they are vegetarians, however, that doesn't explain why they tear into my beetle spin.

I know the DEC won't go for it but I still believe Conesus is a perfect lake to stock Striped Hybrids.  They could be used to reduce the alewive population.  Once that is done, then stop/reduce the stocking.  I don't have an issue with them making it a natural muskie lake either.  That lake has the ecosystem to grow big fish and a lot of them.