Author Topic: Went out today (Read 29052 times)

btmidwest · « **Reply #60 on:** March 25, 2010, 03:11:20 PM »

Hey Zulu, Good luck on your trip tomorrow. Please let us know how it goes - the details - what you use, water temp so on.

and of course the results! How far is this lake from you, how big a piece of water is it? Have you done well there in the past? Iknow I got it bad right now!!!!

BT

Savage .250 · « **Reply #61 on:** March 26, 2010, 02:44:25 AM »

Zulu:
I see you caught some "more" dinks......good for you.

"We`ll pick up some minnows..................." I see your going back to "easy" fishing. Nothing like building up your confidence on crappie. What`s a crappie dink weigh......8 ozs ?

"Fla fish stories.." Pictures tell the tale. As soon as I save up enough stamp money( those pic`s are heavy) I`ll send them down to you to post.

When am I going back out ? Next week for sure. I usually go during the week as all the working folks are doing just that, leaving the river mostly to me. Nice and quiet! Just me and the gators and there are plenty of those.
Looking foreward to checking out my new Garmin 140. If it works as well as the one connected to my T/M, I`ll be a happy camper. It`s a 140 as well.

Hope you had a good day on the water and caught some fish.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #62 on:** March 26, 2010, 02:47:43 AM »

btmidwest:

" I know I got it bad right now!!!!" I`m thinking, way to many cups of coffee.

Zulu · « **Reply #63 on:** March 26, 2010, 12:07:30 PM »

Well,
On the water at first light. Water temp 60 degrees. Air temp 44. Warmed to 70.
We got skunked so bad I'm sure you can smell us where you are. $:-\$
No fish! Not even a bite. I bought three dozen minnows and couldn't even loose one! We fished them shallow along the rip rap where we did good last year and then deep around bridge pilings. No bites.
Then we went bass fishing. No hits. Nothing! We were throwing rubber lizards and crawfish, rattletraps and spinnerbaits.
6 hours of nothing!
I guess the water temp, at 60, is still too cold.

BT,
Lake Conroe is 1 hour away. It is a big lake. Several miles long. We fish there all the time. Sometimes we even catch fish

Savage,
You don't have a digital camera?
Zulu

Oldshooter · « **Reply #64 on:** March 26, 2010, 12:18:35 PM »

Quote from: Zulu on March 25, 2010, 01:07:34 PM

Headed for Lake Conroe in the morning. We'll pick up some minnows and see if the crappie are spawning. If not we'll see if we can spot some bass beds.
It's supposed to be 46 degrees in the morning but warming up into the 70's. I've never seen it still this cold this late in March. $:-\$
Zulu

Hey Savage, when are you going back out? We want to hear some Florida stories.

Those big sow crappie are gonna be in the shallow beds right now as well. Shhhh dont tell savage 2fitty. a 2 1/2 pound white perch may scare em!

Try a beetle spin or h&h in the shallow grasses!

btmidwest · « **Reply #65 on:** March 26, 2010, 04:20:55 PM »

Hey Zulu, Those kind of days are so frustrating

- the only benefit that comes to mind is how much you'll appreciate it ;Dwhen you gett'em figured out.

Do you have any suspending baits you can jerk and pause somewhere about 2 to 5 feet below the surface? If the bass are slow maybe suspending cranks or plastics would work - like a fluke or something. What color is some of the major forage fish in the lake? Just thinking out loud that's all. $:-\$ $:-\$ That's what I caught the big bass on a week and a have ago -a big suspending crankbait that kinda matched color wise some of the food base there - now granted that was the only bite I got in 7 hours of fishing over 5 afternoons but hey if you love the outdoors....

I realize there are more than a few differences between TX and IN but any who. I did get to check out some of the cannons - nice work!

Savage - Sorry to hear about THAT issue, hope you had facilities close

- have you ever heard of DECAFE!!!

Just a thought!!

Regards, BT

Savage .250 · « **Reply #66 on:** March 27, 2010, 02:01:51 AM »

Zulu:

You said," we got skunked........" Famous words that have been said by many a fishermen.

As far as camera`s go, My wife has one but won`t let me use it. Says I`m a klutz and might break it.
I use a Wal-Mart special. Takes great pic`s. Think I`ve got 2-3 more picture`s to take then it`s off to get them developed. I`m sure there are some shots of a Toad or 3 in there. Will keep you posted.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #67 on:** March 27, 2010, 02:25:25 AM »

oldshooter:
I`m strictly a Bass fisherman. No minnows. No cut bait. No corks.bobbers. No beatle spins.No trolling
anything from the end of a 10 foot cane pole. Do not read the "Crappie Times." Don`t wear a Tee-
shirt with a 2 1/2 lb White Perch on it. Don`t have a minnow bucket hanging from the side of my boat.
Don`t have one of those stringers used to hook up all those little dinks on. No scale that reads in
ounces. No little bell hanging from the tip of any rod. Signaling a bite. Never tie up to a tree and soak
anything. Never yell, crappie on! Best of all, I`ve never had to say... I got skunked. As I don`t
fish for crappie........................

But I have said it many times after being out-smarted by Mr Bass.

Zulu · « **Reply #68 on:** March 27, 2010, 04:29:18 AM »

Savage,
Think of crappie fishing like going to the grocery store.
Gas---$50
lunch--$8
beer---$8
minnows-- $9
boat cost and overhead for one trip--$100
Total $175
divided by
4 lbs of fish fillets
= $43.75 per lb.

fun factor-- priceless

I'd rather fish for bass too. But it is fun to bring home a mess of fish to eat.

But you can't eat skunk

Zulu

Oldshooter · « **Reply #69 on:** March 27, 2010, 06:45:40 AM »

OK yous guys I'll do the white perch fishin fer ya, but i'll eatum fer ya too!

We call it a bad day when we only half fill a box with white perch. We also use ultra light rigs to enhance the fun of catchin those 2 lb slabs. THEN we eatum! we only catch and release the "dinks"

$175 / 50 lbs o filet = $3.50

Having the whole family out on the boat(22 ft pontoon) and feed em a fish dinner..............priceless!

We long ago quit using the minnerbuckets. They invented livewells and areators here in Texas by God!
I'll have ta research that bell on my cane pole thing!

Sounds like sumpn a coon ass ought ta have!

Zulu · « **Reply #70 on:** March 27, 2010, 07:15:14 AM »

50 lbs of fillets? I never caught that many fish in my life. Never claimed to be a good fisherman. Just said I like fishing.

Zulu

Oldshooter · « **Reply #71 on:** March 27, 2010, 07:38:35 AM »

Build you a pvc tree and set it out in about 25 ft of water. mark it with a gps only!
You can fish bass and white perch on it. The round smooth pvc will help with hang-ups and you can hang over it during the summer and catch a box full of white perch, and Bass, but ya gotta use those pesky minners and beetle spins.

Heres some info that might help.

http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/bassboard/fishing_tactics/message.html?message_id=138195

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/illinois-crappie-fishing/125633-pvc-crappie-tree.html

Savage .250 · « **Reply #72 on:** March 27, 2010, 07:57:11 AM »

Zulu...oldshooter: I`ll give you guys one thing.... Deep fry them "slabs" and I`m there!

Never said I don`t like to eat-um.

Zulu · « **Reply #73 on:** March 27, 2010, 02:01:09 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 27, 2010, 07:38:35 AM

Build you a pvc tree and set it out in about 25 ft of water. mark it with a gps only!
You can fish bass and white perch on it. The round smooth pvc will help with hang-ups and you can hang over it during the summer and catch a box full of white perch, and Bass, but ya gotta use those pesky minners and beetle spins.

Heres some info that might help.

http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/bassboard/fishing_tactics/message.html?message_id=138195

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/illinois-crappie-fishing/125633-pvc-crappie-tree.html

Oldshooter,
I don't have a GPS nor do I know how to use one. From what you are saying, they are accurate enough to find a 5' diameter PVC tree in 25' of water? This seems like it would be tough to me and you would never know if you were wrong.

I already know one of my biggest problems is not knowing how to use my depth finder to the fullest. It is a nice one that came with the boat. In fact I have two. One in the dash and one at the trolling motor. They are capable of seven languages!

I can only use them to tell how deep it is and the temperature. I wouldn't know if there was a grass bed underneath me to save my life.
The instruction book is 1/2" thick! They will do hundreds of things I can't even describe much less remember.
I need to fish with a pro to see how they catch fish. There was a tournement today on the same lake I fished yesterday. I'm sure i'll read about the hundreds of bass caught and all the 10 pounders. $:-\$ $:-\$
Zulu

Oldshooter · « **Reply #74 on:** March 27, 2010, 03:29:00 PM »

OK Sorry, I didn't fully explain. You find the area with the GPS. That's the general location usually between 5 and 10 feet of where you marked your spot with the GPS. Then you use the depth finder to locate the tree/trees by echo. They will show up as a lump on the bottom. If there are fish there they will show up as well. Keep your boat over the lump with the troll motor. Now that's sometimes the hard part. But practice makes perfect. Wind will make it hard at times but early morning and late evening seems best to me.

There are many brush piles where we fish and they show up on the sounder, We try to use the PVC trees that we put in due to the fact that hangups are not as much of a problem. You can also drift and spot brush piles on the sounder and drop a floaty marker to come back and fish em.

I can hook you up with a guide on Rayburn that will put you on Piles of white perch economically.

Zulu · « **Reply #75 on:** March 28, 2010, 01:41:59 PM »

Do you guys think bass can see braided line?

I basically quit catching fish when I put braided on my reels. $:-\$ Or maybe it is just winter conditions. I put it on in November.
Zulu

btmidwest · « **Reply #76 on:** March 28, 2010, 02:13:12 PM »

Zulu, I use braided line on my slop and pad rig. Depending on water clarity and which braided line, mine is dark green, I believe they can see it. The rest of the time I use flourocarbon for cranks (deep stuff) and mono for shallow and top water stuff. BT

Zulu · « **Reply #77 on:** March 28, 2010, 02:23:11 PM »

Mine is dark green too. I'm starting to think they can see it. $:-\$ $:-\$
Zulu

Zulu · « **Reply #78 on:** March 28, 2010, 02:37:49 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 27, 2010, 03:29:00 PM

OK Sorry, I didn't fully explain. You find the area with the GPS. That's the general location usually between 5 and 10 feet of where you marked your spot with the GPS. Then you use the depth finder to locate the tree/trees by echo. They will show up as a lump on the bottom. If there are fish there they will show up as well. Keep your boat over the lump with the troll motor. Now that's sometimes the hard part. But practice makes perfect. Wind will make it hard at times but early morning and late evening seems best to me.

There are many brush piles where we fish and they show up on the sounder, We try to use the PVC trees that we put in due to the fact that hangups are not as much of a problem. You can also drift and spot brush piles on the sounder and drop a floaty marker to come back and fish em.

I can hook you up with a guide on Rayburn that will put you on Piles of white perch economically.

Oldshooter,
It's a pretty long drive from here to the south end of Rayburn. I don't think I would hire a guide for perch. I need to learn how to be a better bass fisherman.

I love to cast for bass. I need to keep moving and look for cover. I let them all go.
I love to catch them!

Zulu

btmidwest · « **Reply #79 on:** March 28, 2010, 02:45:09 PM »

+1 Zulu That's where I'm at!!

squirrellluck · « **Reply #80 on:** March 28, 2010, 03:22:58 PM »

I love to catch them too, but the weekly fish fries require we keep lots of fish. Bass fishing is for fun but in order to stay in good with the women of my family means I have to do a lot of work. You know, catching catfish and white perch for frying

Savage .250 · « **Reply #81 on:** March 29, 2010, 02:41:11 AM »

Quote from: Zulu on March 28, 2010, 01:41:59 PM

Do you guys think bass can see braided line? I basically quit catching fish when I put braided on my reels. $:-\$ Or maybe it is just winter conditions. I put it on in November.
Zulu

Zulu:

I use braided line on a lot of my reels. As I do a lot of grass, pads and junk fishing, It`s a must. Use it on my carolina set-up. Flippin/pitchen. The heavier the better. Been using it for years and never gave," can they(bass) see it" a second thought. Maybe I should send you some pic`s of Toads that didn`t see it. Braided line that is.

Do use mono for a lot of different situations though. Mostly Big Game. Even when I`m fishing a 'floater" but if I`m using it in grass/pads I`ll use braided. If they(bass) like it,they`ll eat it. No matter what kind of "string"your using.
About the only time I use "light" mono (12-14 lb) is when I`using a Trap or the like. If I were to guess. I`d say I spend 90% of my time in junk (grass,etc) and 10 % in open water. Braided line is the only thing that will give "junk" a run for it`s money.
Don`t let that "see it" crap get in your head. Use it more. Get some confidence!

Savage .250 · « **Reply #82 on:** March 29, 2010, 02:50:01 AM »

Quote from: btmidwest on March 28, 2010, 02:13:12 PM

Zulu, I use braided line on my slop and pad rig. Depending on water clarity and which braided line, mine is dark green, I believe they can see it. The rest of the time I use flourocarbon for cranks (deep stuff) and mono for shallow and top water stuff. BT

btmidwest:
I`d hate to see you and Zulu in the same boat using ....braided line. You guys would be huddled together, and saying to each other," they can see it I tell you!!" We`ll never catch anything.

Zulu · « **Reply #83 on:** March 29, 2010, 04:09:49 AM »

That does it!! I'm coming to Florida! You're taking me fishing!

Can I bring my pink Barbie Zebco? $:-\$ It has 240 lb. braided line on it.

Zulu

Savage .250 · « **Reply #84 on:** March 29, 2010, 05:30:53 AM »

Quote from: Zulu on March 29, 2010, 04:09:49 AM

That does it!! I'm coming to Florida! You're taking me fishing!
Can I bring my pink Barbie Zebco? $:-\$ It has 240 lb. braided line on it.
Zulu

240 lb braided line..............

As far as the fishing part goes. I`ll give you an open invitation on that! I had my own Guide Service for a fair amount of time. Had lots of fun but after awhile it got to be ......work. So I pulled the plug on that
but on occasion, I still get clients (from the past) who want to spend some time on the water bass fishing. Then it`s like taking an old friend fishing. Back to being fun again.

Bye the way.....no girlie rods ( Pink Barbie Zebco) allowed in my boat. Never! Somebody should snatch
your man-card over that.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #85 on:** March 29, 2010, 06:02:06 AM »

HEY! I GOTTA SPONGEBOB SQUARE PANTS ROD! and hes a manly ~~Man~~ errrrr sponge!

Savage .250 · « **Reply #86 on:** March 29, 2010, 06:08:15 AM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 29, 2010, 06:02:06 AM

HEY! I GOTTA SPONGEBOB SQUARE PANTS ROD! and hes a manly ~~Man~~ errrrr sponge!

oldshooter:

You and Zulu fishing for some "slabs" from your barge. Oops,I mean pontoon craft. Using those afore
mentioned rods...................priceless.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #87 on:** March 29, 2010, 06:44:48 AM »

Hey dont dis my ponton boat, when you have a family that wont let you go without em you have to make adjustments. And i have a potta pot on it so I dont have to run to the dock or the woods evr fitteen minutes!

Zulu · « **Reply #88 on:** March 29, 2010, 03:04:28 PM »

Old Shooter,
I'm with you! Keeping the family happy is a full time job! Keeping myself happy is not to be discounted though.

I'll keep trying.
Zulu

Oldshooter · « **Reply #89 on:** March 29, 2010, 04:28:53 PM »

Yea! I work under the Mark Twain theory of fishing, Anyone can catch fish with a nice fast boat and a buddy fishing pardner, with the latest equipment rods and reels.

I like the handicap of a big bulky boat, a wife a handicapped son, a dog and maybe a grandson, constantly needing something, to really enjoy a good day of fishn.

The other is just too easy!