Fishing

I enjoy fishing.

Where’s the logic in going fishing but refusing to hold your fishing pole?

In a couple hours, I will be fishing with other people who ‘are not fishing’ much. Go fishing but refuse to carry the pole and yet expect excitement?

“Let the fish take it” the bait and sometimes the pole, by swallowing your hook which I consider inhumane laziness..

The four hours spent out on the Mississippi were perfect.  Sunny, 78 degrees, slight breeze.

My pole of choice is a Zebco with 25+ lbs. test.
Nightcrawlers were the bait.

My catch:

  4 sheephead
  3 catfish
  1 clam
  1-15 lbs. anchor

Pulling up the clam was funny. Pulling up the anchor was hilarious.

Types of pole fishing that have been successful for me:

River (predominantly for catfish)
Lake (Salmon)
Ocean (Mystery bonus: spotted sea trout)

Haven't ever fished a sea, pond, stream/canal, etc.

Considering entering a small time, competitive fishing event.

Some are enslaved by the impressions of others, and those whose impressions they worry most about speak of being in nature as a low quality activity unless one is doing something. So they bring a fishing pole along to feel better about themselves.

Stuart- wrote:

Some are enslaved by the impressions of others, and those whose impressions they worry most about speak of being in nature as a low quality activity unless one is doing something. So they bring a fishing pole along to feel better about themselves.

 

Is what you wrote meant to be rude?  I'm wondering is all.

I consider the ability to survival in nature, wise. I don't expect others to be wise though.  And some people are suited to survive, others simply enjoy nature until it kills them.

I for one love fishing. Since 6 years old i would hang at the local swamp ponds.
I am thankful now for what i consider a good childhood investigating and discovering nature in the woods streams and swamps around our house.
I found it rewarding seeing and being in nature. Over the years i have caught many species.
Fish are good to eat. You are doing an actionable pursuit in the environment.
I have fished when it was snowing, raining and wind and waves.
Caught from bluegills to sharks.
My favorite place in the world is south shore Rhode Island for fishing.
So good for you Wendy,,,,, Love it

tautog wrote:

              I for one love fishing. Since 6 years old i would hang at the local swamp ponds.
      I am thankful now for what i consider a good childhood investigating and discovering nature in the woods streams and swamps around our house.
      I found it rewarding seeing and being in nature. Over the years i have caught many species.
Fish are good to eat. You are doing an actionable pursuit in the environment.
       I have fished when it was snowing, raining and wind and waves.
    Caught from bluegills to sharks.
       My favorite place in the world is south shore Rhode Island for fishing.
  So good for you Wendy,,,,, Love it                                                  

Sharks? What other interesting species have ended up on your line?

What could I expect to experience off the south shore of Rhode Island? Have yet to fish the Atlantic.

Hi Wendy:
I fish the Watch Hill RI area. I like eastern Long Island sound which is on the border of CT and RI.
There is fluke, striped bass, black sea bass, and blackfish which i go for. There is bluefish but not targeted
cuz i dont eat them. Have gone on 2day tuna trips which are like the outer frontier offshore waters of New England.
Exciting trip if you love fishing.

tautog wrote:

                  Hi Wendy:
           I fish the Watch Hill RI area. I like eastern Long Island sound which is on the border of CT and RI.
     There is fluke, striped bass, black sea bass, and blackfish which i go for. There is bluefish but not targeted
cuz i dont eat them. Have gone on 2day tuna trips which are like the outer frontier offshore waters of New England.
               Exciting trip if you love fishing.

Nice. Is your avatar pic of that area?

I’m assuming that you fish off a boat predominantly, trolling?

I have yet to fish an ocean from a boat.

Had to look up fluke, also known as the summer flounder, which is crazy looking but an important and tasty fish over there.

Are the bass, largemouth? Fishy tasting?

Is the blackfish slang for something else instead of a whale?

Curious about tuna fishing? And a shark took your bait or were you actually fishing for them?

Ever enter any fishing competitions?

In your opinion, which type of fish is the most thrilling to catch?

Yes the avatar is Latimer lighthouse. I love the lighthouses.
Yes i fish from boats. Im not a fan of trolling. My preferred method is drifting. However you must drift with strategy. That is places where fish are likely to be in their ambush spots. Some sort of structure.
Each species has different tactics and rigs.
Your research of fluke is correct. They are an important food fish. We drift 30 to 60 ft water using jigs.
I might suggest John Skinner on youtube to get some image of this. He also does underwater camera video.
My favorite fishes for eating are cod, black sea bass, blackfish, and then fluke. Probably in that order from New England. Cod is caught farther offshore though and we stay mostly what is called inshore. So i admit i buy cod.
I dont care for striped bass for eating but it is up there with favorites to fish for because i like the night fishing method of drifting eels. Bigger fish at night.
The blackfish is a species all its own. A delicious hard fighting fish considered amongst the best bait stealers of the fishes. You have to anchor the boat for blackfish. Cannot get enough blackfishing.
There are many species of tuna. We get the smaller bonito and false albacore inshore.
You need a capable boat to get offshore to target the bigger tunas.
I went on the 2 day tuna trips where we got yellowfins and albacore.
But these trips were super exciting for me.
The 1st trip was like an adventure of Ishmael from the moby dick story.
The sights and sounds, the sea faring men and equipment going on quest for the big fish.
The sounds of the diesel engines taking us to the canyons.
We saw whales and dolphins. We had a whale shark next to the boat. Sharks swimming to and fro which we did hook and fight. Mostly 7 to 9ft bluesharks. We had squid around the boat all night.
It was a 100ft boat with 22 aboard. Drive all day to anchor in 600 to 700 ft.
And them tuna are some powerful fish. Aye lass you'll not forget fighting a yellowfin.
I cant imagine the bluefin like on the tv show wicked tuna.
Yes i have done a few tourneys but i am against that now.
The tournament now is just in the boat between me and my buddy.
Hope that helped a bit Wendy. And tomorrow is deer season,,,,,,,yeee haaa
For me,,,,,, fish and deer have been what life is about.
And Satyr is the greatest master of words and insight into the rest of what life is about.
A treasure found.

tautog wrote:

           Yes the avatar is Latimer lighthouse. I love the lighthouses.
    Yes i fish from boats. Im not a fan of trolling. My preferred method is drifting. However you must drift with strategy. That is places where fish are likely to be in their ambush spots. Some sort of structure.
        Each species has different tactics and rigs.
    Your research of fluke is correct. They are an important food fish. We drift 30 to 60 ft water using jigs.
I might suggest John Skinner on youtube to get some image of this. He also does underwater camera video.
          My favorite fishes for eating are cod, black sea bass, blackfish, and then fluke. Probably in that order from New England. Cod is caught farther offshore though and we stay mostly what is called inshore. So i admit i buy cod.
           I dont care for striped bass for eating but it is up there with favorites to fish for because i like the night fishing method of drifting eels. Bigger fish at night.
           The blackfish is a species all its own. A delicious hard fighting fish considered amongst the best bait stealers of the fishes. You have to anchor the boat for blackfish. Cannot get enough blackfishing.
          There are many species of tuna. We get the smaller bonito and false albacore inshore.
     You need a capable boat to get offshore to target the bigger tunas.
  I went on the 2 day tuna trips where we got yellowfins and albacore.
But these trips were super exciting for me.
          The 1st trip was like an adventure of Ishmael from the moby dick story.
    The sights and sounds, the sea faring men and equipment going on quest for the big fish.
   The sounds of the diesel engines taking us to the canyons.
              We saw whales and dolphins. We had a whale shark next to the boat. Sharks swimming to and fro which we did hook and fight. Mostly 7 to 9ft bluesharks. We had squid around the boat all night.
          It was a 100ft boat with 22 aboard. Drive all day to anchor in 600 to 700 ft.
      And them tuna are some powerful fish. Aye lass you'll not forget fighting a yellowfin.
I cant imagine the bluefin like on the tv show wicked tuna.
               Yes i have done a few tourneys but i am against that now.
          The tournament now is just in the boat between me and my buddy.
       Hope that helped a bit Wendy. And tomorrow is deer season,,,,,,,yeee haaa
    For me,,,,,, fish and deer have been what life is about.
And Satyr is the greatest master of words and insight into the rest of what life is about.
A treasure found.                
                       

Wow, tautog, fishermen’s tales and I can tell you have many! You even had luck fishing the internet to find your treasure, Satyr, however his ego is more uncontrollable than any wicked tuna.

Thank you for covering a good amount of territory in your reply.

Your Moby Dick experience sounds incredible.

In general, I have always felt that boating was an exciting adventure, loving the water, growing up on the water boating with family, the Illinois River and Lake Michigan. Now we take a flat bottom out above one lock and damn on the Mississippi River and anchor down since the current is super swift. If you don’t wish to be crushed in the lock, you never drift.

A 100 foot boat miles out on an ocean would be something. I’ve never even seen firsthand ocean fishing setups. Next time I’m in Florida, I may buy a place on a charter to give deep, ocean fishing a whirl. I am a very lucky fisherwoman in general thus I’m almost certain the venture would pay off.

So tuna fishing is where it’s at? How many pounds are the inland tuna? Does your blackfish go by another name as well? What size of boat would be ocean worthy there? If I’m remembering correctly, the typical, coastal waves on the Atlantic aren’t as big as on the Pacific.

What are you using for bait? Mind describing your fishing pole and test line? And night fishing for larger catches, good to know. Now the timing makes sense that my Great Uncle caught a 60 pound catfish in a canal, it was at night. Poor guy, he called several family and friends trying to get somebody to help him pull it up on shore. What a picture, that fish was almost as long as he was.

Have you ice fished inside a shanty?

What about the competitions turned you off?

Keep the great information coming, thoroughly enjoying it.

Today was opening day here for deer too. My Dad and Uncle had to resort to public lands since they didn’t set up anything private. By 8 this morning, my Dad was knocking on my door in his hip waders(for trekking along the wooded, Mississippi shoreline). Too many hunters were out there already so they gave up. They haven’t had any luck geese hunting either. Sad times.

Seems like most women have a tough time with Satyr. But It is not ego. He is right on.
Have followed for years.

Yes been ice fishing. Trout bass perch pike smelt. Fished VT NY CT RI and now Florida.
I dont like tounaments as i think it exploits the fish populations for ego.
No need for all those boats hooking all those fish stressing the resource.
Tuna for me was like the final frontier of fishing.
I started with the bluegills and the bass. Over the years it became an evolution from freshwater to salt.
There is way more action in the ocean and generally bigger fish. And best is they taste better.
But i aint never got a catfish 60lbs. Maybe an 8lber in the CT river.
The offshore tuna trips have become so expensive i do not go anymore. Sad,,,,
The indian name for blackfish is Tautog.
Baits rigs and rod reel line specs are classified. Jus kiddin,,,, i ttyl,,, gotta git

So Wendy,,,,,,,,, Tell some of your catches.
Do you have walleyes in your river?
Bass,,, what are your best? Sounds like your dad took you fishing and was your spark for outdoors.
Taking today off here.

tautog wrote:

          So Wendy,,,,,,,,, Tell some of your catches.
       Do you have walleyes in your river?
   Bass,,, what are your best?   Sounds like your dad took you fishing and was your spark for outdoors.
                    Taking today off here.  

Yes, there are walleye and bass, but we only use nightcrawlers as bait rather than minnows or something else, so I’ve never even seen a walleye be pulled out.

Stories, yes! Luckily, I am no relation to Pinocchio. And my Dad was instrumental in my love of fishing.

My very first time fishing, trolling Lake Michigan off the Wisconsin peninsula, age 13, caught a 26 lbs. salmon at sunset. Was told at the local bait shop that it would have won the season’s salmon competition, but found that out too late.

This year, our competition was boys(Dad and Uncle) against girls(my Sister and I). They got smoked every outing by refusing to hold their fishing poles the entire time so they missed out on most of the nibbles and we did not.

Our poles usually have 20-25 lbs. test, but it was snapped a lot this last summer at our catfish hole.

Pulled up a beaut off a friend’s dock, top half was shiny silver with a shiny red underbelly which also snapped 25 lbs. test. That fish was beautiful and the only one like it that I’ve ever seen. After that, my best friend rigged our poles with 35 lbs. test. Too late.

Once, I could have sworn I caught a log because the sheepshead stayed motionless and I had to drag it all the way in, walking the pole back. Hilarious, huge fish.

When my best friend and I would fish off our friend’s dock, he spent most of his time removing fish from my hook. It got to the point that he left one of my catches on and I let it swim around the dock for awhile. Our friend’s came out to their dock laughing at how fast I was pulling in fish. Good times.

Need to return to 35 lbs. test and remember our net every time next year.

What river you fishing? Does the water get clear? Walleyes bite nite crawlers.
We used to do drift trips in the chenango river for walleye.
You need 2 trucks. Leave 1 downriver and then go launch upriver. A small rowboat or canoe.
We used 1/8 to 1/4 jighead with 3inch twister tail. As you drift you get a new spot to cast.
I also read 1 of you posts about Not getting the shot,,,, good woman.

tautog wrote:

                   What river you fishing? Does the water get clear? Walleyes bite nite crawlers.
         We used to do drift trips in the chenango river for walleye.
   You need 2 trucks. Leave 1 downriver and then go launch upriver. A small rowboat or canoe.
We used 1/8 to 1/4 jighead with 3inch twister tail. As you drift you get a new spot to cast.
           I also read 1 of you posts about Not getting the shot,,,, good woman.
         

The Mississippi(Illinois/Iowa border). Clear? As in clean, no. Dark and murky, lots of mud, and sediment. Maybe it’s clear further up North. Sometimes when the river is choppy, we fish near tullies and lily pads in a bay.

Walleye enjoy nightcrawlers? Not our nightcrawlers then, by George!

Know nothing about jigs and lures. We use straight up hooks and weights. No bobbers either.