Author Topic: pics from this year (Read 955 times)

jim-NE · « **on:** March 26, 2006, 08:19:30 AM »

my four-year old and his reaction to this skunk catch... :eek: :eek: :eek:

Here's a coyote we caught...first test run for some Duke 1.75 4x4s we bought earlier in the summer. They work! :grin:

yours truly...

yours truly and a snared coyote

snared possum. now I can say I have caught one in almost every set imagineable.

Bogmaster · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2006, 03:13:17 AM »

Nice pics jim,were you able to get out for those rats?
Tom

jim-NE · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2006, 07:53:29 AM »

Tom,
I did get out, but did not have much success. This fall there was quite a bit of sign on several ponds and stretches of creek where I have permission...then this March it was tough hunting for anything fresh enough to warrant a set. We had a relatively dry and mild winter, and many of the ponds dropped an additional 2-3 feet from already low fall water levels. Some of the rats just redug runs farther out in deeper water, and, I'm convinced that some others either vacated the areas all together or fell prey to predators (land and air types). Saw a lot of mink sign, too, and a lot of rat carcasses here and there that were picked clean. I can't tell if maybe a disease hit these populations or whatever else. It was unreal.
One pond this fall had 15 fresh huts and I marked several runs. Then in early March I ventured out and many of those huts were no longer in the water (all on mud flats or dried up bank areas now) The muck was too soft to maneuver with hips so had to forgo many of the hut areas and then just hunted for anything...a muddy active run here and there, maybe a feed area/bed, whatever I could find. I didn't catch 20 total, and weird thing was that many were very small...maybe wouldn't even make a medium grade. I got frustrated then when we had a freak late spring snowstorm forecasted so I pulled out as soon as things thawed back out. I put a lot of miles on my little car and took a couple notches off of my belt for very little return.
Oh well, saw a lot of waterfowl that week and did have fun trying...
Jim

kctrapper · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2006, 05:12:03 PM »

Jim, that lake in the background of your third picture would'nt happen to be wagon train or stagecoach would it? I grew up in lincoln and used to fish both of them. If i had to guess one it would be wagon train. lol

jim-NE · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2006, 09:24:05 PM »

kctrapper,
No that is a private lake. My wife's family owns quite a bit of ground, and a few lakes like that. They water ski on that one, so it is of decent size surface acres. Got several nice bass out of that one, a few pushing 26" in length. I have a couple of 24" in my freezer that I want to get mounted from it...nothing to take 5 to 8 pound bass regularly from it. They've really managed it to a nice fishery. Its fun when one of the grandkids tie into one of those pigs...they plant their feet and hang on with both hands...quite a site.
Speaking of Wagon Train though...been fishing that one fairly frequently lately. The NE G&P department completely renovated it back in 2000, and it has turned out very nice. I've seen pics of some very nice muskies taken out of, plenty of 24" eyes, and the bass are really coming around in size. My 14 year old son took a 20-1/2" largemouth on his second cast this afternoon in the rain. The other lake, Stagecoach, was renovated in the late 90s and it too has some pleasant surprises in it now. The crappie fishing has been unbelievable...tons of 14-15" fish, a few wipers, nice 6-8 pound cats, and a few eyes here and there. Both lakes, as you know, are only 2-3 miles from my front door here in Hickman.