DaRy03621

Yes, an expired license. I grew up in PA, and was used to Jan-Jan licensing. When I moved to IN, the license ran from April-April and wasn't used to that. Got caught on April 3rd with an expired license...dooh!!! I realized it as soon as I handed him my license, but was trueful at least. I went and bought my license the day that it happened. He gave me a fine, and I decided to take it to court. Proved to the judge that I didn't intend to fish illegally, was a just a mental lapse and was let off! That was the only time though.

Heard a guy say in a tournament one time, "All these guys in aluminum boats follow the guys with fiberglass boats around and catch their fish." May quite possibly be one of the dumbest statements I've heard for multiple reasons. Plus, I own an aluminum boat. It's not the ~300 hours I put in fishing the same lake each year, or scouting structure when the lake is half way drawn down while others are sitting in tree stands or staying inside because it's too cold, nope....I own an aluminum boat and follow everyone else around to find and catch my fish! haha!!!

Hey guys, I have 2 humminbird finders-a matrix 17 in the front (with 20 and 60 degree cones) and a 565 at the console (also with 20 and 60 degree cones). I was just curious as to what kind of settings everyone uses on there finders? If I turn on the advanced user settings, I can switch between cones, sensitivty, noise filter, etc. Just trying to find input/insights as to what setting will help me detect fish better and reduce clutter at the same time. Also, how well can you detect bottom types (mud, rocks, gravel, etc) with your finder? Thanks in advance!

Yes, round gobies are an invasive species, but they are not related to Asian carp. Round gobies originated from the Caspian Sea in Europe, and are relatively small, bottom dwelling fish (much like a sculpin or darter if you have ever seen one of those). Asian carp grow to much larger sizes, and of course, are from Asia.

Any opportunity to fish is worth it! Of course, some places are better than others. Tried Freeman a handful of times, can't afford to tow the boat an hour then pay $12 to launch. If you've never been there before, there are plenty of docks. There is a branch of the lake to the north that is "no wake", which can be helpful during midday boat traffic. Maybe start in this branch (dock-o-plenty) for largemouth. Have had mild success at the back end of the lake (where the river enters) for smallmouth. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Hey guys, well, I'm not origionally a hoosier, but I've been working my way around the state so far trying to find some good places to fish. Waveland/Geist seem to have been hits for me so far. Was thinking about going to Maxikuckee this weekend. Any suggestions about any of these places? Has anyone seen bass spawning yet? Sorry wrenchesdude, no advice. Haven't fished there yet but hopefully will soon.

Fishing new water is an absolute must to becoming a better angler. If by fishing tournaments your forcing yourself to fish new water, then absolutely tournament angling makes you a better angler. I haven't started fishing tournaments till this year (Purdue bass club), but I've had the chance to recreationally fish in many different places-NY, WV, PA and now IN. My ability to read new water has helped me in these tournaments because I've never seen any of Indiana's lakes, but still have managed to fish well. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if tournament fishing forces you to fish new water, you can definitely improve your fish finding/fishing abilities. Of course you could do this recreationally like I have done, but some people may get into the habit of just fishing their home waters because they know they can catch fish there.

Anybody here fish Geist Reservoir lately? Hows the bite there?

Hey kybasser91, I also am pursing the same field that your interested in. I just graduated from WVU, with a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Science (with an emphasis on fisheries of course! ). I am currently at Purdue working on my MS. As these guys previously mentioned, a MS is the way to go if you want to get a good job in this field-it seems that a PhD may take you into the realm of educating, which is fine, but I am interested in management so I feel a MS is the way to go if your interested in management. This is a good thread, covers alot of aspects, but I'll throw in a couple more hints/suggestions for ya.... -Biology/Identification: Of course a biology background is a must. I'm sure your familiar with game fishes since your a fisherman, but there are even more fish that are not caught on hook and line. Being familiar with non-game fishes is crucial, and could potentially give you a leg up on any competition out there. There are other aquatic inhabitants (invertebrates, mussels, etc.) too, being familiar with these guys also helps out. -Networking: Know anybody and everybody. Not only is it a good idea to know people in the fisheries field for jobs/knowledge, but knowing who your trying to manage for-the angler! . Of course this isn't always the case, as in some of the non-game and conservation aspects. Check fisheries.org (the American Fisheries Society website) for an idea of what is going on in the field. This is where I do most of my job and internship/educational searching. -Moving: You'll be doing alot of this. I haven't even started a job and I've lived in multiple states for internships/schooling. Somebody has already mentioned this, but I just wanted to emphasize this. -Being open: When I first entered this field, I thought I would be working with game fish. As it turns out, there is already a ton of work that has been done with game fish. This field lacks information on the non-game fish field/things that effect fish (for instance, invertebrates or water quality. My MS research pertains to Diporeia, something many people had no idea existed until their populations started declining. To get an idea, type Diporeia into google.) However, if your a fisherman like I am, you'll understand all the aspects that effect game fish (which helps with bass fishing!). To summarize, don't be stuck on trying one thing, it probably with hinder more than it will help. Well, hope this helps. If you have any quesitons, send me a PM.