Other Species Latest Catch Pics Thread

[Bluebasser86]

4 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

Got this big Softshell this evening on a live bream. Thought it was a big catfish at first. My G. Daughter finally netted it after a hard fight of 7-10 minutes. It was app.25 inch long and completely filled up my cooler.

Turtle soup?

[N Florida Mike]

Not this time. We released him into the creek that is the outflow for the lake.

[UPSmallie]

[Capt.Bob]

Hit Monday late morning after the rain then about the time they started firing up, here come the rain again and shut em down, but got 17 anyway's, 5 of which were perch! This 11 3/4"r was the big boy of the week! a few 9 and 10" but none under 8".

 

But they are on the beds heavy, I put up 117 this week with limits every day after the 2 weeks of rain ended Monday night.

this weeks efforts, 9.8# scaled and filleted, finally last night ready to bag & freeze. They were all males but 6 or 8, so it's just starting!

 

 

 

[StrikePrince]

On 5/18/2018 at 7:21 AM, Team9nine said:

One of the best ways to understand what's going on in your waters (with the bass) is to fish the bluegill spawn. Spent a couple hours doing that last night and managed about 4 dozen nice gills. Planning on pulling out the fly rod and hitting it again this weekend.

 

 

Interesting- can you elaborate on what you can learn from fishing the bluegill spawn?  I"m up north and bluegill/perch are a primary forage in a lot of lakes here I think and would love to learn more about them and how their behavior relates to the bass.

[A-Jay]

23 hours ago, Capt.Bob said:

Hit Monday late morning after the rain then about the time they started firing up, here come the rain again and shut em down, but got 17 anyway's, 5 of which were perch! This 11 3/4"r was the big boy of the week! a few 9 and 10" but none under 8".

 

But they are on the beds heavy, I put up 117 this week with limits every day after the 2 weeks of rain ended Monday night.

this weeks efforts, 9.8# scaled and filleted, finally last night ready to bag & freeze. They were all males but 6 or 8, so it's just starting!

 

 

 

Cue the Hot Fat ~ ! 

Seriously jealous - 

A-Jay

[Capt.Bob]

12 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Cue the Hot Fat ~ ! 

Seriously jealous - 

A-Jay

They will be turn'n on there any day now, and the shoe will soon be on the other foot! 

[Team9nine]

2 hours ago, StrikePrince said:

Interesting- can you elaborate on what you can learn from fishing the bluegill spawn?  I"m up north and bluegill/perch are a primary forage in a lot of lakes here I think and would love to learn more about them and how their behavior relates to the bass.

There is a saying among fisheries people; "Bluegill set the table for the success of most bass lakes."

 

In smaller (non-shad) lakes and ponds, the size and quantity of the spawning bluegills gives you a good idea about the quality of the bass fishery. Lakes with big spawning gills usually have high populations of smaller bass, with just a few barrier breakers. On the other hand, lots of small spawning gills or hordes of gills in the shallows usually suggests less, but  larger bass. Frequently you'll also see this reflected in the skinniness or fatness of the bass you catch. Bass anglers can literally change the dynamics of the fishery in some cases in this regard.

 

Bluegill also like to spawn on firm bottoms near vegetation, so knowing the areas where they spawn every year can tell you something about the substrate and cover in the area. Bass will often spawn in these same areas but earlier than the bluegills. You can also learn these areas in reverse by observing the vegetation in the area and knowing what bottom type they prefer. In one particular pond I fish, it's easy to pick out all the good spawning areas based on whether the bank has pencil reed along it or cattails.

 

Additionally, there is a certain portion of the bass population that will hang around the bluegill bedding areas after spawning, picking off smaller stray gills brought into the area during spawning, creating good locations or patterns that bass anglers can exploit. Plus, just sitting in these areas and watching the bass move into and out of these areas gives you a better idea of bass behavior.

 

These are just a few things that come to mind. Lots of articles online that go into more details on all these specifics if you want to search them out.

[slonezp]

On 5/18/2018 at 9:21 AM, Team9nine said:

One of the best ways to understand what's going on in your waters (with the bass) is to fish the bluegill spawn. Spent a couple hours doing that last night and managed about 4 dozen nice gills. Planning on pulling out the fly rod and hitting it again this weekend.

I have been stating that forever. 

[Bluebasser86]

Some of my catches from Tuesday. Full report in my kayak challenge thread.

[UPSmallie]

Probably my craziest from shore catch yet.

I still have no idea how this happened lol. Was fishing with a buddy at one of the local rivers yesterday a little before sunset rip jigging a moonshine shiver minnow, trying for walleyes. I'd caught a lot of atlantics in this spot before but never this early in the year. I was working the shoreline, popping the shiver minnow back to me just off bottom, no big deal. Then I moved over to one spot, pitched it out and 12 feet from the shoreline I felt a hard strike and my rod got ripped down hard. Thankfully I had my net right next to me. I yelled "I got one, it's an Atlantic!" to my buddy but he didn't believe me. I had 15 lb test on so I wasn't worried about breaking off. The fish was barely hooked so I fought him as hard as I could to the net before he could pop off. I got him half netted when he jumped out of the net. I figured the hooks would have got stuck on the mesh and popped out, but somehow they didn't. A few minutes later and I got the miracle catch in the net. Hooks popped out shortly after. I still can't believe it. The fish was Right Ventral clipped so it looks like it was stocked in 2012. 22.5 inches and 3.5 lbs. Not a bug or minnow in its stomach. Of course I later ended up snagging and loosing the exact shiver minnow, but now I have an excuse to buy a bunch more ?

 

 

 

[gardnerjigman]

On ‎4‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 5:17 PM, Chris at Tech said:

Even a slow day inshore in Hilton Head has its moments of excitement.

 

Going to be there in less than a month! Can't freaking wait!

[Way north bass guy]

Took the family out to a small local lake for a few hours for pike. Caught a half dozen, lost a real nice one at the boat, but still a lovely afternoon on the lake. 

This little guy didn’t want to be held for a pic ?.

Moved so fast my wife got 2 action pics of him before my facial expression even changed!

[Team9nine]

Bluegill are done spawning for the most part, so moved on to another bite window...post-spawn walleye that are now recovered and feeding again. Managed half a dozen this afternoon.

 

 

[J Francho]

Half a dozen fish Sammies!

[Team9nine]

23 hours ago, J Francho said:

Half a dozen fish Sammies!

All released to swim again  but speaking of sammiches...

 

Changed up and decided to target crappie today. Another fun afternoon on the water!

 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Half the fun of a Ned rig is the accidental catches.

My dad and I got out on Monday to chase some walleye and saugeye. Caught a bunch, just no keepers like he was hoping. I was having fun smacking them on spoons though.

[fishballer06]

Went out with my tournament partner for a fun day of fishing for some post spawn bass. In the last creek arm that we were fishing that day, we saw a big fish on a bed still. We made a few flips, but scared the fish off. We came back 5-10 minutes later and we could see that the fish was back. I stepped up on the front deck next to my buddy and made one flip and a short hop. Boom, fish on! We thought for certain that it was a 7+ pound largemouth based on the size of the shadow we saw...

 

[JustJames]

Catfish hit my Jig. I though it was good size bass, it hit me three time until third cast that I got him(almost pull rod of my hand).

[Bluebasser86]

8 hours ago, JustJames said:

Catfish hit my Jig. I though it was good size bass, it hit me three time until third cast that I got him(almost pull rod of my hand).

About time for them to be spawning, you were probably near it's nesting area. They're very territorial when they have a bedding area and even more so when they have eggs to guard. 

[JustJames]

2 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

About time for them to be spawning, you were probably near it's nesting area. They're very territorial when they have a bedding area and even more so when they have eggs to guard. 

I think you are right. I got a whole bunch of nibbles almost every cast in this location(I don't fish here very often) and I don't see bass around either.

[A-Jay]

Old Marble Eyes ~

A-Jay

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Old Marble Eyes ~

A-Jay

Nice catch. Looks a little too big for a tasty meal which isn't a bad thing. Do you ever keep a walleye or two for a nice meal? 

[Subaqua Adinterim]

Wind was gusting yesterday, so stayed close to shore.  Caught just 4 LMB on a senko and spent most of the time having fun with the ultralight setup catching dozens of good sized panfish.  Couple pics of one of the many colorful sunnys, as well as a massive crappie caught near the end of the day when wind went down.  A bonus was sighting a fawn laying in the high weeds close to water.  Was able to paddle my kayak into about 6" of water and zoom in with my little point and shoot camera. 

 

[A-Jay]

10 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Nice catch. Looks a little too big for a tasty meal which isn't a bad thing. Do you ever keep a walleye or two for a nice meal? 

Thanks ~ Once or twice a season I'll take 2 or 3 home for a hot fat bath.

They are very tasty so it's always very tempting.

A-Jay