Fish Chris

Rarely do I sharpen a hook. I simply use an Owner to begin with. The problems with sharpening hooks are; 1) Even if you get it feeling super-duper surgical sharp, you might have changed the hook point angle by just a few degrees, and greatly reduced its hooking abilities "wlthout even knowing it" 2) You might have taken away metal from vital "strength areas" of the hook point (without even knowing it), so that when it hits a hard bony portion of a fishes mouth, instead of hooking in, the points simply bends over, and skips right out of the fishes mouth.... 3) and finally, sharpening can heat up the very tip of a hook, with friction, causing it to lose its temper, and become weak. This can also cause the point to bend over, instead of penetrate. Bottom line is...... Don't "RISK" a sharpend hook. Use one that is surgical sharp, right out of the package. Then check it 9000 times during the trip, and it it ever becomes only 95% as sharp as it was to begin with, toss it, and put on a new perfectly sharp one ! ........or lose more fish. Those are your choices. Peace, Fish Fanatical, yes, but I don't lose too many fish.

I have to admit something here..... Forgive me for being skeptical, but when I saw the title "3 lb Crappie" I kind of rolled my eyes a little bit.... You know, like when you here a guy say, "I caught a 10 lb Bass"..... and your thinking, "Oh yea ? So, was it 'exactly' 10 lbs" ? But anyway, a 3lb 3oz Crappie it certainly is !!! Holy #$#% ! That thing is HUGE, and just beautiful too ! I'm not worthy. Still looking for my 3.0....... Hey Dan, the next time you see this guy, give him a big congrats for me ! Fish

Thank you for all the replies, guys. If I had to choose between fresh and salt (even as much as I enjoy salt) I'd have to go fresh too.... But since I don't "have to choose............. :-) One thing to keep in mind about saltwater gear, is that with the advent of super-braided line, and super high-tech, super precision reels, one can use MUCH lighter tackle nowadays, for huge fish such as Marlin, and Tuna..... depending, of course, on the bait / lures needed for such fish. Remember, I often fish for Sturgeon, with MUCH lighter gear than I use to throw swimbaits on, for dinky little 10 to 18 lb Largemouth bass ;-) Anyway, IMPO, if it involves a line in the water, chasing anything that swims, it's going to be WAY more fun than work ! :-) Peace, Fish

Hmmm... It's just a mild flavor, with nice, firm, white flesh. Kind of like a Flathead cat, maybe ? Again, I certainly would rather keep a "small" keeper of 48" to 50" for food, and release all the rest. The Ca DFG had tightened the slot down to 46" to 56", earlier this year, and personally, I was fine with that, but now they have expanded it back up to 46" to 72". I just don't see why anyone needs to kill a 70" fish ? Heck, even if I had a family of 20, I'd rather keep 2 or 3, 46" to 50" fish (only one per trip, of course)...... But anyway. Peace, Fish

Well Fourbizzle, when you start mentioning some of those species from other countries, that opens up a whole new field ! Like South American Catfish and Pacus.... Nile Perch.... New Gunea Black Bass... But hey, your close enough to fish for big Sturgies any time you want too ! :-) Peace, Fish

Hey FishBear, Yea, I have caught quite a few Sturgies up to 312 lbs. (going by the chart weight for an 8ft 4incher) The same chart shows a 7ft 7incher at 227 lbs, but that is still a REALLY big one ! We have a slot size too, which is, we can only keep one fish, per person, per day, between 46" and 72"...... But I will pretty much only keep 1 Sturgy per year, towards the bottom of the legal slot, even if I caught 100 of them. Like say a 48" to 50". Plenty of meat for me.... Plus, if you keep one fish (your limit) you cannot legally continue to fish, "even if" you plan to release the next ones, should you catch them. Heck, I'd rather C/R as many as I could in 12 hours, than to catch one in the first 20 minutes, and have to go home ! :-) My thing I got started with last year, was the micro-light Sturgeon trip.... I caught a bunch of Sturgies on this rod designed for Kokanee trout. No REALLY big ones... but up to 56 inches, and 47 lbs. Even that one took 40 minutes to land :-) Can't wait to hook a 70", 100 lb'er on this same gear :-) Peace, Fish

Well, first off, I'm about a 95% spinning guy..... But I do have a couple baitcasters; One micro-light designed for Kokanee trout, and one light saltwater set up.... both of which I use for Sturgeon.... big time battlers, which would tend to give me some line twist issues, to use spinning gear with (although I smoked the Bat Rays this Summer, to 110 lbs.... typical 40 to 60 minute fights... all on spinning gear, without much problem... but anyways) One of the things that I don't like about baitcasters, is that being a hard core spinning guy, I'm not used to having to keep my guides up, even though they "want to spin down". Therefor, I'd just love to try a spiral wrapped baitcasting rod...... I'm sure my micro-light model would have to be custom built for me though..... and other than the standard guides, I really like my light saltwater rod too. Plus, I hear its harder to re-wrap a rod, than it is to just build a new custom one from scratch..... Anyway, I know a couple of hard-core, bait casting, pro anglers, who swear by spiral wraps ! Hmmmm, Fish

Here in Nor Cal, I feel really blessed to fish for all kinds of awesome sportfish, including HUGE Largemouths, in freshwater..... Giant Sturgies and Stripers (in brackish) .....and Halibut, Leopard Sharks, and Bat Rays in the salt...... just to name a few of my favorites. But even so, I totally *** you guys that can fish for radical Muskies up North, and giant Blue and Flathead catfish down South. So, what species do you "not have" that you wish you could chase ??? Peace, Fish Oh..... and Alligator Gars ! Geeez, those things are SOOO radical ! I wish we had just one or two places with them, within a 4 hour round trip !

Hey, I lived in LA for 3 years.... Nobody mentioned: Grinnel = Bowfin Chinkipin = Redear Sunfish Goo fish / Gaspergoo = uhhh, help me out here.... isn't it a Smallmouthed Buffalo ? Peace, Fish PS, Here in Cali, we just call them what they are ;-)

Well, I'm glad to see that this thread has gotten back to a more comfortable, "to each his own" attitude" :-) Bottom line is, braid has just made my whole fishing experience night and day, better than when I used to use mono. I'm simply convinced that guys who have all kinds of problems with braid, like breaking off for no apparent reason, tip wraps, knots slipping, etc, have just not learned how to use braid to its fullest potential..... or maybe I should say, they have not made the changes neccessary, when coming away from mono. The fact that I have had such great success with braid, proves that a very positive experience with braid is "possible" for anybody, even if this is not what the next guy has experienced for himself. Now, while I did give a few examples myself, of situations in which braid is not the best choice, these situations are very rare, with braid being the best choice (certainly for myself, anyway :-)) 98% of the time. Peace, Fish

When I was just 3 years old, my late Uncle Elton Wise, placed a cane pole in my hand, baited with red worms, and told me to "pick up, when that bobber (he called it a cork) pulls down". Apparently, this was just about the coolest, most amazing thing, I had ever experienced, because here I am, nearly 40 years later, and I still get as excited as any 3 year old, every time I win the battle with a trophy sportfish :-) Of course nowadays, what constitutes a "trophy" has grown just a bit, but in reality, it's all the same, as no matter how big a fish you catch, there is always a bigger one out there somewhere, just waiting to be caught :-) Fishing is just flat MAGIC ! You cast your line out, with all of these hopes and dreams attached to it, but their are just no "givens". So when it finally happens, and you stick that monster that you have wanted to catch so bad, for so long, their is just no other feeling like it ! The phrase, "Only a fisherman would understand" truly applies ! Great fishing to all, Fish PS, At some point during, or after, pretty much every big catch I make, I imagine my Uncle Elton smiling down on me.

Well, the fact that I have gotten out and fished probably 100 plus days so far in 06', and have done most of this on my brand new G3, makes it a pretty darn good year :-) As far as my catches go... I dunno'.... Maybe a 7 out of 10 ? I did catch 8 Largemouth's over 10 lbs, but none over 13, for nearly two years now. Kind of a slump in that respect. All of those Leopard Sharks and Bat Rays to 110 lbs, this Summer, were sure a kick, but only one nice Halibut though. And although I have had to work my butt off for only 4 good 20 plus Stripers, at least I did catch my new 31.2 lb PB. Now the Sturgies are apparently coming on strong, so it's not over yet :-) Peace, Fish

Funny, I had just posted the thread, kinding of slamming myself, for allowing myself to be sidetracked with the smaller Stripers, instead of staying really focused on the big ones...... Well, now I have been sidetracked from the trophy Stripers big time ! But this is a little bit different. Let me explain; Okay, so yesterday I fished hard for 12 more hours without a touch. Oh well, I should be used to it, huh ? And honestly, I was prepared to do that again today..... and 3 more days a week, until I started sticking some big ones with regularity. They really should be starting to come in better...... So, I get back to the ramp last evening, and another boat, with 3 guys, comes in right behind me. I asked how they had done. The guy didn't speak very good English, but it sounded like he said they caught one 54" Sturgeon. So I ask if I can see it. The guy lifts the hatch of his storage to show me one 52" to 54" Sturgy FOR EACH OF THE 3 OF THEM !!! So the next boat comes in. Of course I ask, "How did you do" ? Really good the guy says, "My son and I both got a keeper Sturgeon" ! The fathers fish was 67", and was the fattest for that length I have ever seen ! In fact, we weighed it on my spring scale, and it went 87 lbs ! Holy #$##$ I ask 5 guys, and they caught 5 Sturgeon ! You guys have to understand that Sturgeon fishing is typically like 2 or 3 trips for 1 fish, "during a good bite.... for the guys that know what they are doing" ! So, I have most definately been sidetracked from the 40 lb Striper...... But at least I'm switching from a fish that might go 50 lbs, to one that could go 500 ! :-) ......and apparently, are coming on REALLY strong ! The Stripers should start to come in thicker soon, and they will hang around all Winter, so I can always get back to them (and at some point, I plan to), but for now, I have to get out there after the dino-fish :-) I really want to get a 70", 100 lb'er on my Kokanee trout rod :-) I know I can do it. It will just take a lot of boat chasing. Will post photos soon. Peace, Fish PS, I'd would be out there right now..... If I hadn't been blown out by the North wind storm from hell ! :-(

Hey LBH, I've never tried it.... and would be open to try anything... except, most of our Striper waters, besides a few small holes, is only about 25 ft deep. Yea' our slough water is almost always murky rotten, green / brown.... But it doesn't bother me, like it does in lakes, when I'm after the big mouthed trout-eaters. Only one time last year, was it a nice, clearish green, with maybe a 6 ft vis...... And I didn't catch anything ! :-) Peace, Fish

No. Only about 140 days. However, I fish as many hours as some guys who do fish everyday... about 1200 to 1400 a year. Ten hour days are normal for me. 12 to 14 hour days are not that unusual. It's not time to leave until it's too dark to see :-) Peace, Fish

Hey guys, yes. Shoot me a PM. Peace, Fish

Well hey Daniel, it's funny you should mention it..... I wasn't going to bother posting this.... but since you asked :-) My excuse for trolling, early on, was that I might get a big Salmon.... but there are very few in here right now, and nobody is catching them anyway. Bottom line is, I know what it takes..... but I just wimped out..... Not today though ! :-) Peace, Fish

I committed the cardinal sin today..... That is, I allowed myself to be sidetracked with the little ones :-( What's even dummer, is that I had a couple beautiful 13" to 14" Split Tails with me too ! I mean, don't get me wrong, I did soak one of them in 3 or 4 spots, for a total of 6 hours or so..... but I wasted the other 6 hours, trolling a 6" broken back P-line crankbait. Oh sure, I caught four Stripers from 5 to 9 lbs, and missed several more, but this method hardly ever produces the 40 plus fish that I really want ! I promise to fish nothing but Split Tails, all day, for the next two :-) I'd rather fish the best choice for a monster, and get skunked, than to greatly reduce my odds at a big one, and end up with a handful of 5 to 15's...... Peace, Fish

Fourbizzle is right..... to a certain degree. When you look at the numbers, So Cal has produced more than a dozen bass over 20 lbs. While Nor Cal hasn't produced a dozen over 18, and never a "certified" 19. On the other hand, So cal had never produced a 23 or a 24, then, it kicks out a 25.1 ! So anyway, anything is possible, but the odds lean heavily towards So Cal. Peace, Fish

I've caught small Spotted Bass at 90 feet, and I have a buddy who has caught them at 120 feet ! These were caught at Lk. Berryessa, which is 220 feet deep by the dam. But I never seem to catch big bass any deeper than 20 ft, and most are in 12 feet or less. Peace, Fish

If it does get caught, I'd say it will be from Cali, and I'd give it an 75% chance of being the same 25.1 lb'er, that was accidentally foul hooked this year. Heck, that fish could "lose" 2 lbs (typical of a fish nearing the end of its lifespan) and still be a new WR ! But with that said, my answer is, no. The odds say it won't be caught this year, from Cali, nor anywhere else for that matter. Peace, Fish

now that this thread has evolved to this level, I must admit something here..... I have actually found two situations where "mono" is better than braid. I just didn't mention this earlier, for concern that it might sound like I was arguing my own point (I had an ex girlfriend once, who was the Queen of that :-) LOL ) If you are one of the guys who likes to night fish with a blacklight, braid does not fluoresce. None of it. Not even the brightly colored stuff :-( I'm a lousy night fishermen anyway, so this is a non-issue for me. But it is something I am aware of, about braid. The other one is, Crappie fishing. Geeez, I'd have thought that using a really soft micro-light rod, and a very light drag, and a fluorocarbon leader, would solve any problems that might be incurred from the use of braid................................... but for whatever weird and unexplainable reason, I have just done night and day better for Crappie, with 2 lb test fluorocarbon, than I ever did with micro-braid and a fluorocarbon leader ? So yes, my point is, I understand that there are a few situations in which mono is better suited....... I just personally find those situations to be few and far between :-) Now, is this more politically correct ? :-) Great fishing to you, regardless of what line your using, Peace, Fish

that was a good tip you gave, about using a cheaper line for a backing. But for those who want fill the spool with pure braid, simply wrap a small piece of electrical tape, duct tape, or my favorite (since I always have it around for wrapping my reel seats anyway) batters grip tape, all the way around the center of the spool first. Then wind on your braid tightly. It will basically cut into the tape, and glue it to your spool. When you go to replace your line, just leave the last 10 or 15 feet, and tie to the end of that. Guaranteed to never slip on your spool. Peace, Fish

Hey Hawgin, you asked, "Don't I think I am getting a bit full of myself" ??? No. Not whatsoever, and I sincerely apoligize if you took it that way. It's just that after using mono for more than 20 years, and then braid for the last 13, I feel I have plenty experience to base my "mono vs. braid" argument on. Hey Flech, it's just because "braid is better" :-) LOL Seriously though guys, I have to admit, the first trip I tried braid, I hated it ! (but it was too expensive to throw away.... and at the time, a pretty long drive to get any kind of fishing line) It just didn't do anything like the mono I was so used to. The second trip probably was not much better...... although it was kind of amazing, when I was able to straighten a 5/0 stainless steel spinnerbait hook, and retrieve a brand new $4 lure ! I'll bet it took me 10 trips to start to get used to it, but as I did, I began to see more and more benefits. Too, it really helped when I went from that first "low grade Gorilla braid" and stepped up to Fenwick Iron Thread, and then to Spiderwire. I bet it took several months before braid felt completely normal too me, and maybe a few more, before I felt I could never go back to mono. So therefore, when I hear guys talk about how they tried it, and hated it, I just have to believe that a large percentage of these guys, just never allowed themselves to get over the hump.... or past the learning curve, whatever you want to call it. In any case, I certainly would not get mad at anybody, if they believe mono is better, and I see no reason for anyone to get mad at me for my opinion. You guys should already know that I am a whacked-out, fanatical, fish-headed fool, anyway ? How could a guy spend as much of his lifes energies on fishing, as I do, and "not" develop a few VERY strong personal opinions ? Peace, Fish PS, Many of the best trophy bass guys I know, use mono..... so your not by yourself on that crazy train :-) (come on.... I'm trying to be light hearted about this :-)

No argument here... It's just that I think the original subject was just about burnt out already, anyway. Peace, Fish