Other Species Latest Catch Pics Thread

[Darren.]

Went out with son #2 this weekend, Friday night saltwater,

Saturday freshwater. Flounder (pic), about a 3 pound red, 

unfortunately no pic that was good. Saturday I caught 5 

bass and this lovely crappie. 2 bass over 2 pounds, the 

rest under. Keitech micro-finess jigs and a TRD on a drop.

 

 

[T-Billy]

11 hours ago, Further North said:

Sorry for my ignorance,  but what is a crappie rig?

Here's how I make mine.

90# coated 7 strand. 18" main leader with a #3 AFW Mighty Mini swivel up top. 150# welded ring connecting the two leader sections. The short leader section is about 3" after looping and crimping. #1 treble up front for hooking the crappie through the nostrils. It's attached with a 100# hyper wire split ring. 3/0 rear hook gets skin hooked mid body. Both hooks are 4X strong VMC's.

 90%+ hookup ratio. 80%+ have gone into the net so far. If I remember correctly, between the wife and I, we've put 16 in the boat with this rig so far, and only lost two. The vast majority of fish get hooked right in the corner of the mouth. I use a free sliding 3oz egg sinker on the main line to keep the crappie down. 

11 hours ago, gimruis said:

Not legal here and even if it was you wouldn’t see me doing it.

Why not? 

10 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya, crappie belong in the broiler, not in another fish's belly.

While I enjoy a crappie dinner as much as anyone, I'll gladly trade a 6"-8" crappie for a battle with a big ol muskie. 😉

[MN Fisher]

3 hours ago, T-Billy said:

While I enjoy a crappie dinner as much as anyone, I'll gladly trade a 6"-8" crappie for a battle with a big ol muskie. 😉

Ya - but as Gim pointed out, it's illegal here. Anything MN-DNR classifies as a 'game fish' cannot be used, alive or dead - whole or cut up, as bait...that includes all the panfish species. So we're limited to what's labeled as 'minnows'...though that does include some pretty large fish as the Golden Shiner can hit 12" and the White Sucker can reach 20".

[gim]

3 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Why not? 

 

Because its like watching grass grow lol

 

I'd rather sort my sock drawer

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Because its like watching grass grow lol

 

I'd rather sort my sock drawer

You must learn to practice patience, young Padawan.

 

There are times I just love tossing out a bobber/jig with a bit of plastic on the hook and lean back, enjoying the quiet while keeping an eye on that bobber. It's very relaxing.

 

Just like a drop-shot...toss it out, keep it semi-taunt and wait for that tap...I kinda get into a Zen state...again, very relaxing.

[T-Billy]

17 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Because its like watching grass grow lol

 

I'd rather sort my sock drawer

😂 I'm with ya if soaking live bait was all I was doing. I'm usually casting too. Keeps me occupied, and also pulls fish in to the crappie. Yesterday's 46.5" is a good example of that paying off. 

[gim]

12 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

There are times I just love tossing out a bobber/jig with a bit of plastic on the hook and lean back, enjoying the quiet while keeping an eye on that bobber. It's very relaxing.

 

I'm not necessarily against bobber fishing itself.  I should have clarified.  I actually do some of it each spring when I target crappies.

 

Its the live bait thing specifically targeting a muskie that bores me to no end.  I'm not questioning its productivity, because I've done it before and seen it work, but more often than not you just sit there drinking beer waiting for hours on end while nothing happens.  Kinda reminds me of ice fishing to be honest.  I'd rather just cast aritificial lures for them instead.

 

I'm not permitted to soak live bait AND cast at the same time so given the required choice I'm always going to be casting.

[T-Billy]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Anything MN-DNR classifies as a 'game fish' cannot be used, alive or dead - whole or cut up, as bait...that includes all the panfish species.

 

7 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I'm not permitted to soak live bait AND cast at the same time so given the required choice I'm always going to be casting.

Y'all have some silly laws up there. I'm sure glad OH isn't nearly as restrictive. We can use any native fish that doesn't have a size or creel limit for bait. Gotta be careful with that as we do have some lake specific limits. We are also allowed three rods per angler. 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, T-Billy said:

We are also allowed three rods per angler.

Ice fishing we're allowed 2 setups....most go with a tip-up and a jigging rod. Open water, we're limited to 1 'wet' rod at a time.

[gim]

1 minute ago, T-Billy said:

Y'all have some silly laws up there. I'm sure glad OH isn't nearly as restrictive.

 

I don't think anyone would disagree with you on much of that.  We're one of only two states in the entire country that still has a completely closed bass season for a portion of the year.

 

But, I don't make the rules.  I just follow them.  Most of the more restrictive fishing laws here have nothing to do with the actual species they're trying to protect though.  In some way, shape, or form, the restrictions are in place to protect the sacred walleye.  They are placed on a pedestal here and protecting them trumps everything else.  Even if there is no scientific reason, like having a closed bass season from Feb - May when they spawn after that.  Make it make sense.

[Further North]

5 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Here's how I make mine.

90# coated 7 strand. 18" main leader with a #3 AFW Mighty Mini swivel up top. 150# welded ring connecting the two leader sections. The short leader section is about 3" after looping and crimping. #1 treble up front for hooking the crappie through the nostrils. It's attached with a 100# hyper wire split ring. 3/0 rear hook gets skin hooked mid body. Both hooks are 4X strong VMC's.

 90%+ hookup ratio. 80%+ have gone into the net so far. If I remember correctly, between the wife and I, we've put 16 in the boat with this rig so far, and only lost two. The vast majority of fish get hooked right in the corner of the mouth. I use a free sliding 3oz egg sinker on the main line to keep the crappie down. 

Thanks, I appreciate the info!  Not something I've ever seen.  Suckers (big ones) seem to be the lave bait of choice here, and I think using any gamefish is illegal.

I'm not a live bait angler - I lack the patience, and don't want to deal with the mess and hassle, but I know a lot of people who do it and enjoy it.

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, Further North said:

I think using any gamefish is illegal.

I just checked - WI is a little more open than MN for bait

 

"Fish other than minnows may be used as bait. Typically, bluegills and perch are used in this fashion."

 

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/questions/fishasbait.html

 

There are some restrictions, but you can use some panfish for bait while we can't.

[MassBass]

Break out the live bait, or go home and mow the lawn.

[gim]

28 minutes ago, Further North said:

and don't want to deal with the mess and hassle

 

That's the other part that inhibits me from doing it nowadays too.  Its just a big pain in the rear.  There's no bait shops by me anymore, and a big 12+ inch sucker minnow is about 15 bucks.  You never just buy one, but they are a one-time use.  Two guys going muskie fishing with 2 suckers each, do the math.  That's 60 bucks just in bait, for one outing.  You could buy at least a few muskie lures with that instead, and not waste time stopping at the bait shop or keeping it alive.

[Further North]

59 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I just checked - WI is a little more open than MN for bait

 

"Fish other than minnows may be used as bait. Typically, bluegills and perch are used in this fashion."

 

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/questions/fishasbait.html

 

There are some restrictions, but you can use some panfish for bait while we can't.

Thanks - I didn't check because I won't be doing it - but it's good to know.

 

39 minutes ago, MassBass said:

Break out the live bait, or go home and mow the lawn.

...or not.  It's not a binary decision. 😉

[gim]

39 minutes ago, MassBass said:

Break out the live bait, or go home and mow the lawn.

 

I'll stick to sorting my sock drawer, thank you very much

[Fishlegs]

I hope @T-Billy keeps posting pictures of the monsters he catches regardless of whether it's caught using live bait, a home made lure, or horse poop. I love seeing them!

[T-Billy]

16 minutes ago, Fishlegs said:

I hope @T-Billy keeps posting pictures of the monsters he catches regardless of whether it's caught using live bait, a home made lure, or horse poop. I love seeing them!

😂 Thanks, the pics will continue. I've slowed down on 'em recently. I figure y'all get tired of looking at 30 something inchers. Probably just post some of the better ones going forward, along with a short report.

[TnRiver46]

11.5” rock bass 

[T-Billy]

We used to catch a handful of 10-13 inchers on a stretch of my local river every year @TnRiver46. Then one year the city cut all the overhanging brush off the bank and the big's disappeared. 

[GreenPig]

17 Blues today

[T-Billy]

With the end of daylight savings time, our Saturday after work trips have been shortened up and there aren't many left this year. We only got to muskie fish for about 2.5 hrs today, but Tammy got to put a 37.5" in the net with the crappie rig. That's #12 for her this year. Her first year getting into double digits on 'em.

Then the Muskie managed to catch a sucker when it buried a #1 4x strong treble in my index finger clear up to the bend, then it proceeded to go ape while we were hooked together. That was fun!!!🤬 😂

  I'm here to tell ya'll, those Knipex cutters are worth every penny. I screwed up by cutting the point that was in my finger at the shank, thinking I'd just push it through. WRONG!!! It was too deep and I almost lost the whole thing under the skin. I ended up having to apply pressure away from the barb and rip it out with pliers. Lesson learned. I'll be cutting them at the eye every time going forward. Then I can pop 'em out with braid.

Anyway, It was a good trip. I'm always happy when I can put my girl on fish.

[Further North]

21 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Then the Muskie managed to catch a sucker when it buried a #1 4x strong treble in my index finger clear up to the bend, then it proceeded to go ape while we were hooked together. That was fun!!!🤬 😂

  I'm here to tell ya'll, those Knipex cutters are worth every penny. I screwed up by cutting the point that was in my finger at the shank, thinking I'd just push it through. WRONG!!! It was too deep and I almost lost the whole thing under the skin. I ended up having to apply pressure away from the barb and rip it out with pliers. Lesson learned. I'll be cutting them at the eye every time going forward. Then I can pop 'em out with braid.

This is why every hook used on my boats is barbless.

So much easier to get out, and almost no risk of having to cut a day short with a trip to the Emergency Room.

[T-Billy]

3 hours ago, Further North said:

This is why every hook used on my boats is barbless.

So much easier to get out, and almost no risk of having to cut a day short with a trip to the Emergency Room.

Different strokes for different folks... I'd rather to keep the barbs and land more fish. I've only been hooked a few times over the decades and haven't had any real trouble removing them. The braid method is pretty painless. Pushing them through sucks but is effective, if it's not too deep. I misjudged it this time and shouldn't have cut the hook where I did, but even pulling it out with pliers really wasn't too bad. Just gotta grit yer teeth and go for it.

 

 

[gim]

@T-Billy you can get a snag proof glove that will prevent being stuck by hooks.  I have one for my left hand and it works pretty well.  Made by Lindy.  Just have to remember to put it on when removing hooks.

 

Hope you're up to date on tetanus.  Dirty hooks are an infection waiting to happen.