fishing

[Xman95]

Who are the fisherman out there? What do you primarily go for?

I'll primarily head out for bass, but am perfectly comfortable kicking back with a bobber/minnow for panfish (crappies, bluegill, etc.). Even though I live right near Lake Erie, I don't do much walleye fishing, though it's still a day on the lake and I don't complain when I go.

[MADXSTER]

I go for whatever gets on my line. Unfortunately I don't go much.

The best bait that I've ever used is Cicaida(sp). For any of you out there with kids who get bored fishing, go when the cicaida come out. Pluck them off the trees before the sun comes out, as they are cold blooded and use them for bait. In all seriousness..fish will take the bait before the bobber hits the water. Kids will have an absolutely great time fishing.

[Fred Garvin]

I go mostly for smallies for smallies in the LMR. I've had a lot of luck at O'Bannon creek in Loveland. Usually use some crankbaits although I saw Lake Isabella just got the soft craws in.

My brother and I are heading down to the Licking River on Saturday(off the Ohio) for some cat fishing. Gonna get me some big river blues! Probably use some skipjack or blue gills with the heads cut off.

I love the variety of species you get from river fishing. I also like to get out the yak and get away from the heavy pressure.

In the cold months I'll fish the spillways for sauger. I'll use twisty tails tipped with a minnow.

[MADXSTER]

Okay, here's a fishing story for ya.

Years ago my stepfather and I pull into a truck stop just outside of Atlanta. It's about 9pm and all of the big rigs are pulling in for the night. The temperature is cooling off to somewhere around 75 degrees.

On the edge of the truck stop I notice quite a number of fires near a wooden fence. On closer look they are 55 gallon drums with holes in the bottom and a nice little fire going on inside. Each fire has about 6 to 8 guys sitting around drinking their favorite beverage. Radios going on about the braves baseball game in progress. Laughing, cursing and carrying on about everything and anything.

I ask my stepfather what in the world are they doing. He said fishing. I looked closer and saw that each group had probably 10 - 15 fishing poles all set up at attention facing the fence. Obviously my next question was, is there a lake on the other side of the fence. His answer came with a laugh and a resounding no, with more laughter.

My stepfather pointed out the baseball bats sticking out of the five gallon buckets. He then told me what was on the other side of the wooden fence. The local dump. Yes, the local dump. And you guessed it, they were fishing for rats. Big rats. Very big rats. I was completely flabbergasted. And by the way they use trebble hooks.

A line takes off and someone grabs their poll. Everyone else flies for the baseball bats. There's hoopin and a hollerin. Alot more so than regular fishing. As soon as the critter comes over the fence you can say goodnight critter. As far as I know they don't eatem. They just like catching them, drinking, socializing and having a good time.

And by the way, the truck stop doesn't mind. It helps keeps the rats away from the restuarant. The police don't mind because the fisherman don't cause any trouble and they're actually doing a public service. The dump doesn't have a problem with fewer rats on the property either. Everyone is happy.

Oh, and there isn't a catch limit. Or a length limit.

I love reliving this story because it always puts a smile on my face. City fishing at its best.

[xudash]

MADXSTER, all I can "say" is TO EACH THEIR OWN.

[MADXSTER]

Now that I think about it, I bet ATL was part of that group.

[American X]

Do you want to go to the dump and shoot some rats?

http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/294503.1020.A.jpg

[Pablo's Brother]

My dad, brother, and I have been to many cool places to fish. We have been to Lake of the Woods, Canada probably 15 times and always had a great time - even if the fishing was so-so. Last time, I actually caught a 60 lb. musky on a 12 pound test line. Brian always said he thought musky's did not actually exist and Canada gave stuffed ones to lodges to show because he never saw one.

We have been fortunate to go to Rio Parismina lodge on the Atlantic Ocean in Costa Rica for Tarpon fishing about 8 times. It was like catching them in a barrel and the average one was about 80 pounds. Brian caught the biggest tarpon I ever saw at over 125 lbs! You could also catch snook and red snapper in the river. Brian was in rare form one day. They would bring in the guests in a prop plane and probably take the drugs back with them. On one of our last trips, a bunch of New Jersey/NYC drug reps & their wives who looked like extras from the Sopranos (who wears sweats and gold chains to fish in 90 degree weather?) got off the plane. Brian immediately popped in his Billy Bob teeth and started introducing himself to all the gold chains. He forced himself in their photo shots, leered at the women in a very obvious manner, and tried hugging everyone. Brian would tell them that "they are never going to be in a ‘purdier’ place than Rica" and "ask the guides to take you monkey hunting." We and the guides were in tears because the Jersey boys were obviously irritated at him but cut him some slack because they thought he was retarded. The kid was funny as hell.

The coolest place was the Amazon River fishing for peacock bass. We flew into Manaus Brazil and took a tug boat up and down the Amazon and would take small speed boats out to fish. Peacock bass are like Small Mouth Bass - but on roids. They chomp on the huge "log like" lures as soon as it hits the water and fight like hell. Pound for pound, they are one of the best fighting fish in the world. We caught several 18-23 pounders (I think the record is 25 lbs). Funniest thing about the trip was at the hotel when we were flying out the next day. Brian/Pablo partied like a rock star the night before we left and basically terrorized the hotel - and their German female guests - for the whole night. We had an early flight and had to get up around 6 AM. Brian stumbled in around 5:55 AM. He was feeling no pain and fell face first in the bed and immediately started snoring - loudly. The alarm went off one minute later. He said "no f---ing way" and proceeded to have "the worst hangover in his life" for the rest of the trip home.

My dad, son, and I are going to visit a friend who lives in the sticks in Iowa around July 4th. There are a bunch of farm pounds all over the place and you can land bass with little or no problem. Can't wait - but I may want to go "rat fishing" instead.

[Kahns Krazy]

Fred and I did a little fishing this weekend on a small lake near down in Kentucky. I'm not much (or at all) of a fisherman, but we had a pretty good time. Of course, Fred did all the hard work, tying things up and such. We caught plenty of fish. I didn't know what their names were. One of them looked like his name might have been Sean.

Spending an afternoon on a lake in a canoe with a fishing pole and a cooler is not a bad way to pass the time. Next time, we threatened to be more prepared with the bait. I also needs me some of them polarized glasses. Fred kept pointing out fish, and all I could see was glare.

Also, several hours of weed-pulling on Saturday combined with sitting essentially in place in the canoe for about 4 hours Sunday had me so cramped up I could barely stand. It took me about 5 minutes to get fully upright. My hammies are tight as crap today.

[Fred Garvin]

Man, we are getting pelted with the rain. We had monsoons today and we were already 9 inches above the normal year-to-date. The footage of the Great Miami is ridiculous.
AtL and Lake Lanier could use some of this.

[wkrq59]

I love reliving this story because it always puts a smile on my face. City fishing at its best.
Madxter.,
Wish I had heard that tale back when I wrote an outdoors--fishing and hunting mainly--column for The Post. I think you should submit that to Readers Digest if someone hasn't already. You may just start an new sport, Rat Fishing.
Seriously, I've heard the walleye pike is the fillet mignon of fish. Is that true? Also heard the Walleye fishing in spots on Lake Erie is fantastic. There are guys from Cincinnati who reserve a few days of their vacations every year to make pilgrimages up there.
One fish story dear to my heart occurred many many years ago during a family vacation in Gatlinburg.
My son who was about four or five at the time begged us to take him fishing. Having no poles, no license and damn little experience if any, we opted for a paid trout farm at the end of the town that guaranteed a catch.
They'd give a kid a pole with a hook and some corn on it for bait, throw a few kernels of corn in the water to create a feeding frenzy for the scads of fish in the 20x20 pond, throw the kid's line in and bang, a fish was caught.
Well, as luck would have it, my son had none, and after about 10 tries, he turned and said to me, "Catch one with your bear paw, daddy."
I still tear up every time I remember that.
Oh, I dropped a line in, pulled out a trout, held the line out to my son and he gleefully took it to the guy we paid who hit the poor fish in the head with a mallet. My wife took it back to the motel, cleaned it and cooked it on an outdoor grill. I've never seen my son enjoy fish more than that night.:D

[Xman95]

[COLOR="Red"]
Seriously, I've heard the walleye pike is the fillet mignon of fish. Is that true? Also heard the Walleye fishing in spots on Lake Erie is fantastic. There are guys from Cincinnati who reserve a few days of their vacations every year to make pilgrimages up there.


Q,

The walleye fishing on Erie is outstanding. There are MANY (not just those from the shores of the big lake) who claim it to be the best walleye fishing in the world. The fishing is a little different in the last 5-10 years because the water has cleared up so much, but it's still outstanding if you know what you're doing -- a reason charters are often a good idea. It should also be pointed out that the smallmouth bass fishing is also phenomenal, but many don't focus on it. The largemouth is also picking up.

Walleye is very good eating, but don't overlook fresh perch. I would take a batch of fresh, breaded perch over probably any other fish. It's terrific.


You know, people often mention getting golf outings together or other such functions. Maybe we should look into getting a fishing charter with board members. Just a thought.

[Fred Garvin]

Q,

The walleye fishing on Erie is outstanding. There are MANY (not just those from the shores of the big lake) who claim it to be the best walleye fishing in the world. The fishing is a little different in the last 5-10 years because the water has cleared up so much, but it's still outstanding if you know what you're doing -- a reason charters are often a good idea. It should also be pointed out that the smallmouth bass fishing is also phenomenal, but many don't focus on it. The largemouth is also picking up.

Walleye is very good eating, but don't overlook fresh perch. I would take a batch of fresh, breaded perch over probably any other fish. It's terrific.


You know, people often mention getting golf outings together or other such functions. Maybe we should look into getting a fishing charter with board members. Just a thought.

With ya on the perch. Love eatin' a mess of crappie.

[PM Thor]

My best fishing story involves when I lived out on Lake Erie for a half dozen years. I don't fish, or, I don't fish well or very often. Well so a group of my friends head out on a guys boat, we are out there for a couple of hours, drinking, having fun.

Well, one of the guys looks over the side and says, "Hey, the water isn't that deep here, I bet you could jump out and stand on the bottom with your head out of the water."

So me, in my infinite wisdom, jump out. They were right, I could stand up, but they all waved and took off in the boat. I was out there on that shale for about 45 minutes, and that is not a fun experience, your head will start thinking some whacky things about what you should do.....

[Stonebreaker]

I need to learn how to fish. It's on my list.

[MADXSTER]

I need to learn how to fish. It's on my list.

If you can drink, you can fish.

[Stonebreaker]

Then I'm 5 X 5.