Anybody ever catch an Eel Pout ???

[Fish Chris]

I guess I've seen a "poor photo" of one, here and their, and I hear mention of them every once in a while.....

But I just saw a photo of an Eel Pout, in the latest In-Fisherman mag, and it looks SOOO freaking cool :-) ....so then I read where they can get up to 38" !!! Yea' buddies ! I'd just love to catch, and photograph a trophy sized Eel Pout !

Have any of you caught, or photographed one ?

Pictures please...

Peace,

Fish

[.dsaavedra.]

i wouldnt wanna touch it if i caught one of them

[Bassn Blvd]

I'm sure once he reads this, FivePoundBluegill will either produce a picture of one he caught or he will dedicate the rest of winter trying to catch one.  He is our off the wall exoctic fish catcher.

[Sam]

What waters hold this fish?

Never heard of it.

Only look at bass articles in the In-Fisherman magazine and then I throw it away.

Photos, anyone?

[T-rig]

I didn't catch this thing, the guy behind me caught it on a live minnow fished in abot 60 feet of water. They are supposed to be great eating but I wouldn't eat that thing. ;D

[Fish Chris]

this shot gives me a better idea of their shape.

Peace,

Fish

[Fish Chris]

You said > Only look at bass articles in the In-Fisherman magazine and then I throw it away. < What !?!?

The best part of I-F is the muti-species stuff, and scientific fish trivia ! I'd be more likely to read all through I-F, only skipping over the long articles on crank baits, or spinnerbaits for Largemouths.... or other impertinant stuff like that :-) In fairness, I-F does have some Western trophy bass articles once in a while, as well, which I would not skip past.

For bass fishing info though, I'd sooner read Bass West USA. 50% or more trophy bass info.

Peace,

Fish

[paul.]

For bass fishing info though, I'd sooner read Bass West USA. 50% or more trophy bass info.

you caught my attention with that chris.  that's the reason i'm gonna drop all my current bass subscriptions when they run out - not enough info on targeting big fish.  everything just seems dedicated to catching numbers and keepers and tournament tactics.  not that i have anything against any of that, it's just not what i'm into.  that "bass west USA" you mentioned, is it dedicated especially to cali fishing or does it have good info that will work anywhere?  just curious.  i'm tired of reading about how to catch 2 pounders.  ;D.  the more i chase big bass, the more i realize that at times it can be almost like fishing for a different species altogether.

[Jimzee]

For bass fishing info though, I'd sooner read Bass West USA. 50% or more trophy bass info.

you caught my attention with that chris. that's the reason i'm gonna drop all my current bass subscriptions when they run out - not enough info on targeting big fish. everything just seems dedicated to catching numbers and keepers and tournament tactics. not that i have anything against any of that, it's just not what i'm into. that "bass west USA" you mentioned, is it dedicated especially to cali fishing or does it have good info that will work anywhere? just curious. i'm tired of reading about how to catch 2 pounders. ;D. the more i chase big bass, the more i realize that at times it can be almost like fishing for a different species altogether.

I think that is one of the better statements I have read on this board. You hit the nail on the head.

[paul.]

the more i chase big bass, the more i realize that at times it can be almost like fishing for a different species altogether.

I think that is one of the better statements I have read on this board. You hit the nail on the head.

thanks buddy! you know, i wish SO much that what i said WASN'T true, but in my experience unfortunately it is. wouldn't it'd be great if you could just go down the bank slinging a spinnerbait and every fourth fish you caught was a 10 pounder? for that matter, i'd be happy if every 500th one was a 10. but it just don't happen that way, at least not for me. in my experience "pattern fishing" produces "pattern fish" which ususally end up being all within a few pounds of each other. unless of course you can get on a "big fish pattern" which is very hard to do most of the time. in my opinion, you are much more likely to catch big fish fishing "big fish spots" thoroughly with a variety of presentations if necessary. even then, no guarantees b/c timing seems to be everything with bigger fish.

i'm just so glad other people here can relate to the way i feel and think. let's me know that maybe i'm not crazy after all. ;D good luck out there.

[bassnleo]

Round here those things are commonly called Burbot.

They are chased on Lake Erie in the Winter months, mostly at night.

Here's a few pics of some caught in Erie the last couple years:

[bassnleo]

Another:

[bassnleo]

Couple more:

[michbass]

Now those are ugly. Look meaty though.

[RoLo]

Bassnleo, we used to pick up burbot in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, but I had no idea that got that large

We'd pick them up while pike fishing, generally in the quietest, shallowest reaches of the bay (time to move).

Here in Florida we have what I jokingly call 'southern burbot', I'm talking about bowfin of course

Roger

[burleytog]

Those do look quite meaty (or tasty).  

[bassnleo]

I've never caught one, nor have I eaten one. Some anglers say they taste like lobster, some say they are horrible. I don't fish for them, thought about trying it, but this time of year I'm chasing stream steelhead, I really have no desire to stand on a concrete pier and watch a rod baited with gobs of bait sitting on the bottom.

Just not my style.  

[TeamBerettaGold]

Up here in WI, we have them in Lake Winnabago, and the Fox River System.  We call them "poor mans lobster", ugly and slimy fish.

[boondocks]

The Missouri River runs right through the town I live in and it is  pretty common to catch them while fishing for walleye. They are more of a nuisance then anything. I have probably caught 15 in my life. Anywhere from 1.5 to 4 lbs have been the ones that I've caught.

I always heard they are good eating also till I treid one. Almost barfed. Stunk up the whole house on top of it all.

The reason they call them poor mans lobster is because you would have to be awfully poor to eat one. If they really did taste that good everybody would be eating them. And have yet to meet someone that keeps them to eat.