Finding fun in pursuing alternative species..

[J Francho]

12 minutes ago, Further North said:

I've never fished a center pin.  Never even really looked at the process or what fishing one looks like.

 

This is a decent overview.  I don't use a side hand cast too often.  I get less twist using a modified Wallace cast (there's tutorials on YouTube).

 

 

[Further North]

I just finished watching a couple videos...I can see it being efficient.

...It looks a lot like steelhead fishing here on the Brule which I've tried a few times.

[J Francho]

When fish are lazy and hanging in deeper holes, there's really no better way to get them. I generally out fish flies in that type of presentation. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

58 minutes ago, Further North said:

I've never fished a center pin.  Never even really looked at the process or what fishing one looks like.

It’s hard. Big learning curve, but also very good if you can use it properly in the situations that need it. I get out fished by pins very often! 

Smoked the lakers in Ny this week on jigs I made.  

[Further North]

6 hours ago, J Francho said:

When fish are lazy and hanging in deeper holes, there's really no better way to get them. I generally out fish flies in that type of presentation. 

I'll bet you're right.

This is very close to what some folks are doing for muskies in the fall, but they're doing it with fly rods and calling it "fly fishing".  How heavy are those center pin flies - or how much weight is on the line?

6 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

Smoked the lakers in Ny this week on jigs I made.  

Making your own stuff is fun, and rewarding.

I have not tied any jigs, but lots of flies, and I have partnered with a friend to pour our own soft plastics.

[bulldog1935]

I have a couple of nice centrepins, Speedia and Adcock Stanton, and Brit small-guide spinning rods (i.e., not for fixed spool) to match.  The Speedia is the nicest of the two by far. 

 

In the 50s, they made Colorado reels, Fre-Line, Humphreys, GoodAll, Johnson 20, which let you steelhead using quill float and mono on a fly rod. 

https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=71452&p=391962

I just added a Rogue steelhead fly reel I've been looking for years.  The free-spool is built into the disc drag. 

The lever lets you add drag or reduce it to freespool, letting the line trot (steelhead).  Release it, and you have preset drag. 

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Further North said:

I've never fished a center pin.  Never even really looked at the process or what fishing one looks like.

 

Fun and deadly, once you get the hang of it.

 

31 minutes ago, J Francho said:

When fish are lazy and hanging in deeper holes, there's really no better way to get them. I generally out fish flies in that type of presentation. 

 

This.  I started with a centerpin about 20 years ago now and its a real tool for that slick water.  I fished it for steelhead to start, but it also went with me to England and I used it for grayling and trout.  Early season steelhead with a single egg when the leaves are still on the trees and the air is above 60 degrees- perfection. 

 

3 minutes ago, Further North said:

I'll be you're right.

This is very close to what some folks are doing for muskies in the fall, but they're doing it with fly rods and calling it "fly fishing".  How heavy are those center pin flies - or how much weight is on the line?

 

Weight depends on the water you're fishing and how big of a float you're fishing.  You need enough weight to set the float so just the tip is sticking up.  For most things for me, that's about 6 BB shot or equivalent.  Depending on the location, that usually means 3-4 right at the bottom of the float and the balance spread down the line.  You can also stack high and low or spread all of them evenly.  The bait or fly is unweighted.

 

[J Francho]

18 minutes ago, Further North said:

How heavy are those center pin flies - or how much weight is on the line?

 

I generally fish a small egg sac or a single bead pegged above the hook.  Occasionally, I use a Berkley Trout worm - always pink.  Weight is determined by the float, and what float you use depends on the flow.  Raven has a decent breakdown of shot patterns and what they work for.  Most often I use an accelerated shot pattern.

 

https://raventackle.com/shotting-patterns/

[Further North]

Thanks folks...sounds like it'd work well for late season muskies in the deep holes on rivers.

...not sure I have the patience for it though.

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

In the 50s, they made Colorado reels, Fre-Line, Humphreys, GoodAll, Johnson 20, which let you steelhead using quill float and mono on a fly rod. 

https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=71452&p=391962

I still see these in use on our Lake Ontario tribs.  Pretty cool rigs.

55 minutes ago, Further North said:

Thanks folks...sounds like it'd work well for late season muskies in the deep holes on rivers.

...not sure I have the patience for it though.

I don't see why not.  I've used it for smallies in the Genny R. in summer.

[Further North]

8 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I don't see why not.  I've used it for smallies in the Genny R. in summer.

It's a me thing - I am bad at anything that is even close to a "sit and wait" process.

Muskies are a low percentage endeavor as it is, and drifting a float through a hole multiple times in the hope that Big Momma will eat doesn't seem like a thing I'd have the patience for.  I lack the patience for nymphing, for running a stonefly for steelehead, even for jigging for walleyes. 

Like I said, it's a me thing, I'm not criticizing.

...I do have an idea for a set up similar to this involving a 9 ft. steelhead casting rod, a baitcasting reel, a floating fly line, a float, and a "balanced fly" that I want to try...mostly to prove a point with some folks.  But I doubt I'll use it once I prove it works.

[Catt]

Occasionally momma wants a fish fry or fish cooked on grill. 

 

[Mobasser]

39 minutes ago, Catt said:

Occasionally momma wants a fish fry or fish cooked on grill. 

 

Really nice bream Catt.

[dave]

Yesterday, November 26th, 2022, (for reference sake) a friend, who is quite the carp fisherman, took my fishing partner and me, carp fishing. (a trip two years in the making) it was a perfect day weathersize for the end of November and we caught 19 carp up to about 20 pounds.  We sure had a lot of fun.  I really want to explore this species. (a serious science this carp fishing) whoa is me,  another revenue stream going out...

[Susky River Rat]

When I was diehard into musky fishing I had the typical musky guy attitude. “Everything else is bait, junk, easy etc”.  Then my thought process started changing. The musky grind wasn’t near as appealing. It opened my eyes to I’m just going to go have fun instead of tear my rotator cuff. Now I just fish for whatever peaks my interest that day. It might be smallies, musky, eyes, cats who really knows. I think every species you learn to target successfully  makes you better at angling period. This will over all help your most common target species. 

[gim]

2 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

When I was diehard into musky fishing I had the typical musky guy attitude. “Everything else is bait, junk, easy etc”.  Then my thought process started changing. The musky grind wasn’t near as appealing. It opened my eyes to I’m just going to go have fun instead of tear my rotator cuff.

I have a couple friends that pretty much only muskie fish and that is their line of thinking too.  Nothing else peaks their interest or gets their blood pumping.  To an extent, I can understand that.  Muskie fishing is very physically and mentally challenging though.  It takes some physical ability and strength to toss those giant lures for hours on end that often ends in failure.  The mental portion is just as bad.  At times you just cast robotically without the expectation that you are going to catch anything.  There is an episode of River Monsters where Jeremy Wade targets muskies at Eagle Lake, Ontario.  It takes him over a week to finally catch one.  His body aches, he's behind on sleep, and it takes a serious mental toll on him.  Anyone who regularly targets these fish can relate to that.  I know that I can.

[Susky River Rat]

42 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I have a couple friends that pretty much only muskie fish and that is their line of thinking too.  Nothing else peaks their interest or gets their blood pumping.  To an extent, I can understand that.  Muskie fishing is very physically and mentally challenging though.  It takes some physical ability and strength to toss those giant lures for hours on end that often ends in failure.  The mental portion is just as bad.  At times you just cast robotically without the expectation that you are going to catch anything.  There is an episode of River Monsters where Jeremy Wade targets muskies at Eagle Lake, Ontario.  It takes him over a week to finally catch one.  His body aches, he's behind on sleep, and it takes a serious mental toll on him.  Anyone who regularly targets these fish can relate to that.  I know that I can.

Don’t get me wrong I still do it. It does make the grind easier when the last three trips I smallie fished and had fun. To me nothing gives me more adrenaline than a musky. Smallies are a blast but for me musky will always be the biggest rush.

[DitchPanda]

17 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

When I was diehard into musky fishing I had the typical musky guy attitude. “Everything else is bait, junk, easy etc”.  Then my thought process started changing. The musky grind wasn’t near as appealing. It opened my eyes to I’m just going to go have fun instead of tear my rotator cuff. Now I just fish for whatever peaks my interest that day. It might be smallies, musky, eyes, cats who really knows. I think every species you learn to target successfully  makes you better at angling period. This will over all help your most common target species. 

I've got a few buddies that only target wall eyes ...turning their noses up at other species. I've never understood it. I also know a guy at work who basically only targets big flatheads..that one I can kinda understand.

[gim]

9 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

I've got a few buddies that only target wall eyes ...turning their noses up at other species. I've never understood it.

I know dozens of people exactly like this here in MN.  Walleye is king here and anything else is inferior.  98% of them are strictly meat hunters, so I'm guessing that plays a role.  God forbid they should go fishing for the simple enjoyment of it rather than trying to come home with a livewell or bucket full of fish every time.

[DitchPanda]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

I know dozens of people exactly like this here in MN.  Walleye is king here and anything else is inferior.  98% of them are strictly meat hunters, so I'm guessing that plays a role.  God forbid they should go fishing for the simple enjoyment of it rather than trying to come home with a livewell or bucket full of fish every time.

True that...I enjoy catch and release more than eating fish ...although I do like fish its just not an every trip priority. What else is funny to me is that the guys that love to keep walleye to eat don't understand that bluegill, crappie and perch are every bit as good.

[gim]

5 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

What else is funny to me is that the guys that love to keep walleye to eat don't understand that bluegill, crappie and perch are every bit as good.

If I remember correctly, there was a thread about this a while back.  Walleye anglers having this attitude that "bass are trash and much easier to catch."  It may have been around when that big cheating thing happened on Lake Erie with the lead weights in the fish.

 

Most of the walleye anglers I know being meat hunters also target panfish, especially in the winter.  The mindset does not change though.  Its all about filling a bag limit and bringing fish home and anything less is undesirable.  Ice fishing has ballooned in popularity here too and with the advancement of live sonar being used through the ice to more quickly and efficiently locate schools of panfish, they are getting absolutely destroyed during the winter months.  Reduced bag limits and/or size restrictions will be coming, hopefully sooner than later.  Last year the MN DNR added 93 lakes here to a list that has very restrictive sunfish rules of only 5 fish per day, and a max of 10 in possession.  Wouldn't bother me if that became a statewide rule.

[DitchPanda]

16 minutes ago, gimruis said:

If I remember correctly, there was a thread about this a while back.  Walleye anglers having this attitude that "bass are trash and much easier to catch."  It may have been around when that big cheating thing happened on Lake Erie with the lead weights in the fish.

 

Most of the walleye anglers I know being meat hunters also target panfish, especially in the winter.  The mindset does not change though.  Its all about filling a bag limit and bringing fish home and anything less is undesirable.  Ice fishing has ballooned in popularity here too and with the advancement of live sonar being used through the ice to more quickly and efficiently locate schools of panfish, they are getting absolutely destroyed during the winter months.  Reduced bag limits and/or size restrictions will be coming, hopefully sooner than later.  Last year the MN DNR added 93 lakes here to a list that has very restrictive sunfish rules of only 5 fish per day, and a max of 10 in possession.  Wouldn't bother me if that became a statewide rule.

Yep I agree with this. I cant remember the last time I came home with more than a meal or 2 worth of fish. I don't have an issue with somebody keeping a limit of fish...but I do have an issue with somebody keeping a limit every time they go out. Also who wants to clean 25 fish a day every day.

[gim]

30 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

I don't have an issue with somebody keeping a limit of fish...but I do have an issue with somebody keeping a limit every time they go out.

Legally they aren't allowed to do that here in MN.  The daily bag limit is the same as the possession limit for every species except yellow perch.  Whether most meat hunters are abiding by this, I don't know.  The lack of law enforcement officers out there is an issue too, but that is another topic.

 

People need to harvest and eat more small northern pike here.  They are abundant, easily caught, and they taste pretty good out of cold water.  We're vastly under-utilizing this widely available resource.

[J Francho]

Any walleyes i catch are C&R into Crisco Bay. 

[TnRiver46]

58 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

 Also who wants to clean 25 fish a day every day.

*Looks around the room while reluctantly raising his hand*