Hey guys, haven't been posting much, as not much has been happening around here. But I thought I'd start a post asking about fishing. Why? Why not! I haven't fished very much in my life, maybe when I was younger some ice fishing with Dad and such, and a few times I bought a license and went out in my mid 20's. But I probably haven't picked up a fishing pole in 10 years. So while I can cast a line without throwing my pole in the water, I'm not much more advanced than that lol My better half used to fish a bunch with her family when she was young, and has always sorta nagged me (nicely of course) to get into it. We had the gear around but I just didn't/don't have much of a clue when it comes to fishing. We've went a few times nearby just shore fishing at the river, but most people do "deadlining" with pickerel rigs or jack rigs, which I find sort of boring. I mean, it's relaxing and I can drink my coffee and visit, but I'd like to learn how to pursue rather than listen for a bell to ding. A few times I've used random small jigs and those plastic squigley tails and got action, but it's hit or miss really. Just looking for any advice you'd give for someone learning to fish. For the time being it's a river bank only proposition. Our species are pickerel (walleye to my southern neighbors I believe), northern pike or jack, perch, and goldeye/mooneye. These are the common ones I think. There's suckers and burbot and whatever, but I really wouldn't target them. Any and all thoughts, opinions, ideas, tricks you name it, drop it here. Thanks!
Find some cold water, Get a pair of waders and felt boots, a #5 fly rod and some #12 black whooley buggers and #18 copper johns and descent strike indicator. Go for a hike a mile up, dead drifting eddys and deep pools and make your way back down. Late in the season now, but check the stocking reports. Enjoy the hike!
Look for deep holes and throw a fathead minnow or night crawler. Use some weight (split shot, slip sinker, etc) to get it down and let it bounce along the bottom. Can't go wrong! Perch are some of the best eating fish in my mind. We have a big perch fry every year at a buddies house for labor day. I eat until I'm sick.
Not much luck in "bank" fishing around here, the brush/thickets doesn't allow it. Wade fishing with 3" to 4" tube jigs, mostly. Rigged Texas style or with a lead head hook weighing 1/16th or 1/8th ounce,, heavier weight in faster current. Target the cut banks, deadfalls or just about any "habitat" sticking out of the bank where it meets the water. Turbulent waters,,, riffles, rocks, bars,,,fish those as well. We chase smallmouth bass.
Absolutely! There's books and books and hours and hours on the river that could be invested in to master catching a trout. But to enjoy the hike, I think that about does it.
He said he'll be fishing for walleye, pike, and perch. I fish a lot, but in a very different area for other species.
Next year I'll find a little death trap boat and get set up to hit the lakes so I'll have more fish species to target, but for now no trout. I don't think they're found in the two closest river systems to us. So apparently I seem to be able to target jack fish fairly easy at the spot we go. I caught a 24" jack fish on a somewhat bouyant plastic minnow, and then his twin on a big five of diamonds spoon. I had my drag set a bit light, so I must not have had my hook set very well. Just about had him out of the water and he threw the hook and was gone like a shot!
Most in important point for any larger fish is to keep constant pressure on the line. As soon as there is slack they have a better chance to shake the hook. Otherwise I'm not fimilar with the species you target. Trial and error. It's rewarding when you figure things out on your own. Good luck
If there are pickeral walleye and pike, steel leaders are mandatory. I would use 20 lb line. And a medium weight rod. Any action-moving-flutter bait. I always had good luck letting the Mrs pick out "pretty" or cool looking lures. My choices never worked. I would hit up a Walmart or Bass pro etc and buy an array of colors. Blue spoons seem to work in all conditions and body's of water. A 3-4 inch spoon will make small and big fish bite. A trebble hook works well (harder to shake out) but can be a pain to get out. Epsecialy small pickeral. So needless nose pliers-hook remover helps a bunch with those tiny thrashing tooth filled mouths.
It seems just getting out there and fishing is a good way to learn. We had some great luck the other evening. Spoons or jigs seem hit or miss but when they work, they really work. I've been casting with a heavy jig head to map out the terrain in my head and think I have a good idea how it looks underneath. Mrs saskwoodburner caught a 30 " northern pike on a jack rig, she also caught two pickerel at once on a jack rig, and I landed a 19" pickerel in a very shallow area with a spoon...while I was looking for a jack! I also got a little 18" jack right after (mean as heck!) but he somewhat swallowed the treble hook so I had to keep him. I sure like this fishing thing.
Burbot are kinda boring to catch (like a boot), but they are fine eating. Beer battered and deep fried, for they are freshwater cod after all. I've never actually tried to catch one. It's one of those fish I have hooked while trying to catch something else.
