Fishing

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2010-03-03T22:12:00.005-05:00

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FLW Freshwater Striper Tournament

2007-01-23T19:02:00.001-05:00

Brent,

Thank you for your email indicating your interest in a freshwater
striper trail! I am looking for anglers who would be interested in a
freshwater trail. If you know of anyone interested in a freshwater
striper trail please ask them to email me. I don't have a set number
but what I have received is maybe 35 and is hardly enough interest to get
attention from the sponsors and powers that be to get on the radar.

Keepem coming!

Thank you!

Bill Carson
Sales Director
FLW Outdoors
30 Gamble Lane Benton, KY 42025

Direct: 270.252.1568
Mobile: 270.205.6918

www.flwoutdoors.com

Here is a great article

2006-09-19T04:36:00.000-04:00

Secrets to Live Baiting Stripers

Not sure if you've read it or not, but its worth the read.
I've read it several times.

Deep Hook Removal Technique

2006-08-20T03:49:00.000-04:00

I found this article on In-fisherman.com

Through-The-Gill Hook Removal

Amazingly Easy & Effective

By Doug Stange , Editor In Chief

Gamakatsu Wide Gap 6/0 Shiner Hook

Among the most impressive learning experiences for someone like me, who has been writing about catch-and-release fishing for more than 20 years, was hands-on instruction in how easily and effectively hooks can be removed from a fish's gullet.

We traveled last spring to the Orlando, Florida, area to shoot television footage of fishing for big bass on Lake Toho, using shiners, the time-honored approach for huge bass from this heavily fished lake.

That Toho continues as one of the best places in North America for bass of 10 pounds is, in part, a tribute to catch and release. Guide Robert "Jamie" Jackson, Freelancer Guide Service, has been guiding on the lake for more than 20 years. Of the 40 or so bass we caught in two days, at least one fourth had obviously been hooked before. "A little on the low side," Jackson said. "Some days, half the fish we catch have been caught before. We often catch the same fish again and again from some spots."

Fishing shiners is an art that we'll try to cover next spring. Primary to my point here, though, the first fish I hooked (about 6 pounds) had the wide-gap 6/0 Gamakatsu shiner hook just about down the gullet, with only the eye of the hook showing. I gave Jackson an "oh-oh" look, but he just calmly took the fish and unceremoniously popped the hook free, held the fish up for the camera, and released it:

Basically, the technique is akin to some of the instruction we offered in an article by Ralph Manns (and In-Fisherman) in February 2002, "The Deep Hook Dilemma."

(1) With the hook in the gullet, note which side of the fish's mouth the hook shank is toward. Note: For illustration sake, the line is eliminated here in steps 2 through 5. In reality, the line stays connected as this technique is performed.

(2) With a finger or two, reach in through the last gill arch on that side of the fish and push and pull down on the hookeye so the hook turns and . . .

(3) rolls out below the gill toward the side of the fish. At that point, amazingly, the hook, barb and all, almost always pops free from its hold in the fish's gullet.

(4) Reach into the fish's mouth and grip the bend in the hook (which is now up) and . . .

(5) lift it free. If the fish's mouth is too small to reach in with your hand, use a needle-nose pliers to grip the hook bend.

Jackson also emphasized, as we also noted in the earlier article, how resilient a fish's gills actually are, far from being the fragile organs often suggest by some sources. And the occasional bleeding fish? Does it have to be kept? Jackson: "Just get the fish back into the water as soon as possible and, more often than not, the bleeding stops--at least we've caught these fish again and again.

The technique also works superbly on walleyes, smallmouths, and other fish, usually taken on smaller hooks, often salmon-style hooks. In a sidebar entitled "Hook Removal Walleye Style" in the February article, we related Mike Herrick's experiences in removing hooks by working through the gills, in much the same way Jackson works on largemouth bass.

I used Herrick's technique this past spring and summer. It works every bit as well as Jackson's approach with largemouths. Really, it 's possible to remove most hooks in a fish's gullet, as Herrick instructed in our February article:

* Look down the throat to check the hook position. If it's set in the throat or gullet--or it's out of sight--give a gentle pull on the line and the hook eye usually emerges.

* Check which side the hook shank is on. Then open the gill flap and, with small walleyes, use a forceps to grip the hook shank just below the eye. Roll the hook out toward the gill and side of the body of the fish and the hook and barb pop free from the lining of the gullet.

Simple as that. Really, it's amazing. With a bit of practice, you'll be killing fewer fish--indeed, almost no fish that you plan to release.

Once these techniques become much more widely used, we'll have taken another large step forward in helping to sustain better fishing based on a commitment to release some fish so they can be caught again.

Catching Channel Catfish In the Summer

2006-08-06T23:04:00.000-04:00

I found this post over at www.katmasters.com, a great catfishing forum. And since, I haven't made a post about catfish yet, I figured this would be a good start. He wrote the article well, and I couldn't do better myself, so here is some tips for catching catfish in the summertime.

Most people associate summertime channel cats with a campfire and a comfy chair on a stuffy summer night. The usual can of worms are present and only a few small fish are caught. However, for those interested in catching more channel cats, more consistently, there is a solution!

You may find it surprising that you can catch more channel cats during the day. I know I caught your attention with that statement. I first read about channel catfishing during the day almost 5 years ago. I showed the article to a friend that loves fishing as much as I do. In less than an hour we were on the water trying it out. Remarkably it took him less than 5 minutes to catch his first one, and it was his biggest channel cat ever caught at that point. I’ll never forget how shocked I was to unhook that catfish for him. It has forever changed how I fish.

Why is it easier during the day?

The answer to this question is quite simple. Catfish are most active at night during the summer to avoid the heat of the day and the sunlight. This means that if you are fishing at night during the summer, unless you are fishing near a well known feeding area or are lucky enough to catch a few fish passing through on their way to a feeding area, your catch count will be rather low. Don’t get me wrong I’ve had some stellar nights but never as consistent as during the day.

Catfish will still actively feed during the day, but the main difference is they aren’t actively searching for it. They will gladly eat if it floats their way. During the day catfish will “hole up” as I like to say. They will be tight to structure, making it easier for you to find them. All you have to do is look for structure. Now isn’t that easier than sitting on the shore hoping one swims by?

If you own a boat catching a bunch of channel cats should be a breeze. Look for the best, downed trees or log jams in a 5-mile stretch of river. The best of the bunch should produce several catfish, while single trees may produce one or two. Anchor on the upstream side and cast your bait a few feet behind the tree. Be sure to leave a little room in case the fish tries to run into the tree so you don’t get snagged. Daytime fish will be surprisingly fast. I’ve caught fish without ever putting the rod in the rod holder. Most active fish will bite within five minutes. I normally sit in one location for 15-20 minutes depending on how the action has been. I use this time table whether I am setup on trees, humps, ledges, etc.

Don’t overlook ledges and drop-offs, especially those that have an abundance of rocks or trees nearby for the catfish to hide in. Normally you’ll find bigger fish in deeper water. I usually start my day fishing the deepest trees, boulders, and ledges and work my way shallow. Fishing the deepest available structure is especially important when fishing wing dams, one the biggest producers of daytime fish.

Take some time just motoring around looking for downed trees, mid depth ledges, wing dams, and any other fishy looking spots. Chances are good there are channel cats hiding beneath.

If you happen to be boat less fear not, you can still catch channel cats during the day. If your body of water is shallow enough to wade in I would recommend fishing riffle sections with large boulders and especially the “tail out”, which is the very end of the riffle where it begins to drop into the hole. In addition, if it’s safe you should try to fish downed trees and other things mentioned for boat fishing. You’ll be surprised how willing these fish are to bite during the day!

Bait for daytime catfishing is rather simple. Take along a few bluegill, suckers, or creek chubs to use as cut bait. Don’t cut the pieces too big, just a filet off the side will do. The blood and oils will reach the catfish through the current and they will swim out of the structure to pick up the bait. Set the hook and fight your first daytime channel catfish!

As always release all our trophy fish to grow bigger and preserve the future of fishing for our children!

Differences between Yellow, White, Hybrids, and Striped Bass

2006-08-02T20:01:00.000-04:00

Yellow Bass

A. Does not have a tooth patch near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B. Stripes distinct, broken above anal fin.
C. Dorsal fins joined.
D. Color - silvery yellow

White Bass

A. Has one tooth patch near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B. Body deep, more than 1/3 length.
C. Stripes faint, only one extends to tail.

Striped Bass

A. Has two, distinct tooth patches near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B. Body slender, less than 1/3 length.
C. Stripes distinct, several extend to tail.

Hybrid Striped Bass

A. Has two, distinct tooth patches near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B. Body deep, more than 1/3 length.
C. Stripes distinct, usually broken, several extend to tail.

Two buddies charged with cheating to win prizes in fishing tournaments

2006-07-30T02:18:00.000-04:00

I just read this, looks like these guys are pretty much screwed:

BENTON, Ky. — A pair of fishing buddies were charged with 10 felonies after being accused of cheating in fishing tournaments on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley on the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

Marshall and Lyon county grand juries on Tuesday indicted Dwayne E. Nesmith, 43, of Island, and Brian K. Thomas, 31, of Dawson Springs, on nine counts of theft by deception of over $300 in Marshall County, Ky., one count of complicity to commit theft by deception of over $300 and one count of attempted theft by deception of over $300 in Lyon County.

An investigation of the pair started April 30, when authorities allege the men stashed five live bass in a fish basket in the water, then picked them up to weigh in at the Relay for Life Buddy Bass Tournament at the Lake Barkley State Resort Park, state police said.

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Sgt. Bill Snow said someone reported the bass, which were marked with clippings in their fins.

Nesmith and Thomas were witnessed picking up the fish early on the morning of April 30, then putting their catch in the boat, Snow said.

Snow said the men entered three of the stashed fish in the tournament's weigh-in at the end of the day.

That sparked an investigation into tournaments the pair had previously won, Snow said.

Kentucky State Police Sgt. Brent White said Nesmith and Thomas won several thousand dollars and a bass boat worth $30,000 by catching fish before a tournament, then submitting the fish as being caught during the competition.

The two men were arrested Tuesday after the grand juries approved the indictments.

Great Fishing TV Show

2006-07-26T04:42:00.000-04:00

There is a great TV show, I just saw for the first time called "Addictive Fishing". You guys have to watch it, I just set a season pass on my Tivo for it. They were off the coast of Florida catching giant fish. There was alot of action on the show, definately was fun to watch.

They had sharks attacking the fish they were reeling up, with some great footage right near the boat.

Makes me want to go saltwater fishing, or fishing in general actually. I'd be just as happy striper fishing again. I just haven't had a chance to go recently, but when I do I'll post a fishing report.

What do you guys want to see me write about? Post comments, I noticed im getting a good amount of traffic now. So I'll write up some more interesting articles soon.

Man finds rare two toned lobster.

2006-07-23T15:42:00.000-04:00

Interesting. The odds of finding this thing 1 in 50,000,000 or lower.

He donated the lobster to an oceanarium. I would have sold it to an aquarium; you know a lobster that rare will go for some good money. Im sure the oceanarium was happy, you know they will end up selling it down the road.

I know its not really about fishing, but interesting non the less.

This story comes from MSNBC:

"BAR HARBOR, Maine - An eastern Maine lobsterman caught a lobster last week that looks like it's half-cooked.
The lobster caught by Alan Robinson in Dyer's Bay is a typical mottled green on one side; the other side is a shade of orange that looks cooked.
Robinson, of Steuben, donated the lobster to the Mount Desert Oceanarium. Staff members say the odds or finding a half-and-half lobster are 1 in 50 million to 100 million. By comparison, the odds of finding a blue lobster are about 1 in a million.
Robinson, who has been fishing for more than 20 years, said he didn't know what to think when he spotted the odd creature in his trap.
"I thought somebody was playing a joke on me," Robinson said. "Once I saw what it was ... it was worth seeing."
Bette Spurling, who works at the oceanarium, said lobster shells are usually a blend of the three primary colors: red, yellow and blue. Those colors mix to form the greenish-brown color of most lobsters. This lobster, though, has no blue in half of its shell, she said.
Bernard Arseneau, a former manager at the oceanarium's lobster hatchery, said lobsters also have a growth pattern in which the two sides develop independently of each other.
The oceanarium has received only three two-toned lobsters in its 35 years of existence, staff members said."

The Barometer, Myth or Fact?

2006-07-23T15:08:00.000-04:00

I came across an interesting article, very well written. I've always believed that the barometer effects fishing, but now im not so sure. It could be the tempature chances that come before storms, that drive fish crazy. Most cases I think think of, when the barometer rapidly changes, the tempature is effected. So that gets the fish active, changing fishing altogether.

"How much do fish respond to these day-to-day fluctuations? Consider that a normal value for barometric pressure is about 30 inches. Strong high pressure is about 30.70 inches. A powerful low, such as during a hurricane, can reach down to 28 inches or less. The difference between these two extremes (2.7 inches of barometric pressure) is equal to about .09 atmospheres. The barometric pressure difference from a simple passing cold front is only about .06 atmospheres.

The rate of a falling barometer also tells us how fast a low-pressure storm is approaching. A slow-moving storm would have a dip of about .02 to .03 inches of barometric pressure per hour; a fast-moving storm will drop the barometer about 0.05 to 0.06 inches per hour.

Simply stated, barometric pressure does not change quickly enough to magically turn the bite on or off. It certainly is one of the ingredients in the overall weather process, but temperature, cloud cover, wind direction and speed, and humidity can also affect fishing conditions. More importantly, the rate and amount of change in barometric pressure is insignificant compared to what’s going on below the surface."

There article can be found here, you should definately read it. He has some interesting points.

My First Rant

2006-07-23T00:07:00.000-04:00

I know I've only had this blog for a couple of hours now, and Im surprised that I have had nearly 20 visitors already, and 1 Comment. Thank you man! Comments are encouraging. I can't wait until the search engines index this and I'll get some more traffic.

Anyways, on to my rant, lets stir up some controversy here.....

Man the FLW Wal-Mart Series Striper Tournament sucks!

I was looking forward to fishing this tournament when I first heard about it. They were claiming $1,000,000 in prizes. I was excited, finally Striper fishing could become a sport that could earn the best fisherman a living. Largemouth fisherman have had this luxury, look at the top pros, making MILLIONS a year. Bass fishing isn't for me though. I'm not knocking those who fish for them, but I prefer Stripers.

The rules are pathetic, you can not keep a fish over a certain length. I understand the minimum length, requirement, but a maximum? Are these people stupid?!? There is only one state I'm aware of that has a maximum weight law, but they don't fish there.

People come to these tournaments to watch, they want to see the BIGGEST fish. How boring is it, when all the fish at the weigh-in are going to be around the same size. What's the point? I want to go catch some hogs. It is a catch and release tournament; yes sometimes the fish die, but since the Striper Tube has been introduced, it cuts down the chances majorly.

Another thing that I can not stand is the fact that the tournament is ARTIFICIALS ONLY! That's ridiculous, the only reason why I can think of is because Wal-Mart wants to sell their artificial lures. Being the great sponsor, I am sure they had a major influence on this decision. If I wanted to sling artificial baits all day, I would be fishing in the bass tournaments! There is so much skill in using real bait. Locating them, knowing which ones to use, cut baiting techniques.

So I think they are limited the fishing too much. Does anyone else agree/disagree with me here?

Fishing Knots

2006-07-22T23:40:00.000-04:00

Fishing Knots for Dummies

There are several different type of fishing knots you can use, there are two types of fishing knots that are the best.

Palomer Fishing Knot:

The Palomar Knot is easy to tie correctly, and consistently the strongest knot known to hold terminal tackle.

1. Double about 5" of line and pass the loop through the eye of fishing hook.
2. Tie a standard over the hand knot in the double line. Try not to twist the fishing line too much.
3. Take the Loop End and pass it over the hook.
4. Tighten the line, by pulling both ends of the knots. You want to keep the line wet when you tighten it. This will keep the line from weakening do to the friction.

Your done, make sure that the eye of the hook is not caught up in the knot, it happens, and you can loose a good fish. There you go, thats all it takes to tie one of the best fishing knots there are. I like this fishing knot, because once you do it enough, you can do it with little light.

Trilene Fishing Knot aka the Clinch Knot

The Trilene Knot is a strong knot that can be used to join line to swivels, snaps, hooks and lures. The Trilene Knot is fairly easy to learn and is a very strong knot that resists slippage.

Directions for tying the Trilene Knot:

Thread the line through the eye of the hook or lure and double back through the eye a second time.

Holding the hook or lure in your left hand, and the standing line in your right hand, loop the tag end around the standing line 6 times. Then feed the tag end through the loop made in step 1.

Tighten the knot by pulling gently on the tag end and the standing line simultaneously. Moisten the knot with water as you tighten to lubricate the line, allowing the knot to slide more easily while tightening. Trim tag end to 1/8 inch.

Tying the Trilene Knot is complete.

Throwing a Cast Net - How To

2006-07-22T19:20:00.000-04:00

Throwing a cast net is a skill that everyone who uses live bait should learn.

I would suggest learning with a cheaper net, because chances are you will loose your net starting off, or you could rip it.

I found some good how to videos here:

http://www.ausfish.com.au/castnet/castnet1isdn.wmv
http://www.ausfish.com.au/castnet/castnet2isdn.wmv

When you learn how to throw a net, you will feel like you've accomplished something great.

Make sure you wash the fish slime off your net, it can deteriorate it over time.

Happy Fishing!

25lb Large Mouth Bass

2006-07-22T19:12:00.000-04:00

25 pounds, 1 ounce Largemouth Bass

By Ed Zieralski
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

March 21, 2006

It should have been the greatest day in the history of bass fishing, and Mac Weakley should have been on top of the bass angling universe for catching a beach ball-sized, 25-pound, 1-ounce bass yesterday at Escondido's Dixon Lake that would be a world record.

But Weakley and his crew, longtime buddies Mike “Budda” Winn and Jed Dickerson, knew something was missing from a catch that, if somehow approved by the International Game Fish Association, would shatter the Joe DiMaggio-like “unbreakable” mark of bass fishing, the 22-pound, 4-ounce bass caught by George W. Perry at Montgomery Lake in Georgia in 1932.

“It's a great day, but it's a bad day,” Weakley said at his home in Carlsbad. “It was a valiant effort. We've been trying and trying to catch this fish for years. It's the world-record bass. Unfortunately, it was foul-hooked.”

Weakley's catch faces an uphill battle for world-record consideration because Weakley unintentionally foul-hooked it off a spawning bed, snaring it on its left side and just below the dorsal fin during some wild, sight-fishing action in the wind and rain and early-morning light.

Yesterday, news of the catch quickly spread cross country via the Internet, where anglers discussed the possible world record – a holy grail that has been pursued for decades and a catch that many have said would be worth a fortune in endorsement money, especially in this big-money, big-bass era.

Weakley's monster bass, caught on a Bob Sangster handmade white rattlesnake jig (on 15-pound P-Line monofilament) from Angler's Arsenal, was weighed on a Berkley BogaGrip, a hand-held scale, but no measurements were taken of the biggest bucketmouth landed in the history of black bass fishing.

The Department of Fish and Game regulation on fishing states that for a fish to be legally caught, “the fish voluntarily takes the bait or lure in its mouth.” The IGFA rule only states a catch may be disqualified if the angler “intentionally” foul-hooks a fish. Weakley, who was fishing alongside Dickerson with Winn running the boat, said the fish was not foul-hooked intentionally, and several witnesses agreed.

IGFA officials couldn't be reached for comment.

Dickerson said he recognized the fish as soon as he saw it in their net after Winn missed on the first try, but scooped it on his second. The bass has a black mark on the underside of its right gill plate. Poway's Mike Long caught a 20-pound, 12-ounce bass at Dixon with the same mark in 2001. Dickerson caught a 21-11 with the same mark in 2003, also at Dixon. But Long said he discovered a huge bass with that same marking floating at Dixon and identified it as the same bass he caught through a scale sampling, adding more mystery to this fish.

Dixon supervising ranger Tony Smock said they should call it “Spot,” and Jay Cowan, supervisor at Escondido's Lake Wohlford, said it should be called “Beauty,” as in beauty mark.

Weakley, who runs a banking corporation for casinos with Dickerson and Winn as his main hands, often teams with his buddies on these big-bass hunts. They are not strangers to big bass. Dickerson's 21-11 is the fourth-largest bass ever caught. Weakley's 19-8, also from Dixon in May of 2003, is tied for 13th on the all-time list. Winn landed a 15-pounder earlier this month.

The crew videotaped and photographed the weigh-in before releasing the fish. The short video shows the excitement and fulfillment of these diehard bass fishermen's longtime dream.

“That's the beast right there,” Weakley can be heard saying on the video he shot as Winn lifts the bass out of the water.

The video shows the hand-held scale recording a weight of 24-15, 25-0 and finally 25-1 for the last few seconds.

Dixon Lake dock attendant Chris Bozir, one of three witnesses, watched from the fishing pier.

“They were definitely fishing for it, and it was a hook-set,” Bozir said. “After he landed it, I could see the lure sticking out of the fish's dorsal fin when he got it on the boat. It was a gorgeous fish.”

Weakley can be heard on the video saying, “Hurry up, get it back in the water.” And the world's largest bass ever caught was released.

“We figured that was the right thing to do,” Weakley said. “I didn't want to put it on the dock, measure it and then take a chance it would die.”

Dickerson described how the big bass just rested calmly on a rope tied to the dock after the catch.

“She sat there like she'd done all this before,” Dickerson said. “She was so docile. That fish probably thinks this is all just part of the spawning process.”

Rancho Bernardo youngsters Steve and Dan Barnett also witnessed the catch from shore. Steve, 18, who recently fished in the Junior Bassmaster Classic in Florida, took his brother, Dan, 15, to the lake to try to get a junior world record bass.

Steve Barnett said Weakley missed the fish four times and caught it the fifth time he swung on it.

Said Weakley: “I felt a thump and saw the white of its belly swirl around. I set the hook and knew I had it.”

He just didn't realize where it was hooked until it tumbled into the boat.

Know your bait

2006-07-22T17:23:00.000-04:00

Here are the types of Live bait we often use when fishing for Striped Bass:

Skipjack Herring

Nickames: tennesee tarpon, skipjack, river herring, herring.

Natural History: A migratory species, skipjacks assemble below dams in late spring returning from the gulf of Mexico or the lower Mississippi River. They spawn from late April to mid June, during which time they can be captured by dip net, cast net, jigs, spoons, or multi fly rigs.

Characteristics: Long and thin, bright silvery, blue-black back, protruding lower jaw and the presence of teeth in both jaws.

Typical Size: Adult length: 12-16 inches

Habitat: Prefer clear waters, normally found in swift current, over sand and gravel in large rivers.

Feeding Habits: Skipjacks eat plankton, minnows and larvae of mayflies and caddisflies. They feed in large schools, leaping out of the water while pursuing prey.

Fish Facts: Most every fish will feed on the skipjack herring until they reach the size of 5 inches at which time they become to large for most fish.

Bait: The herring are used whole and live for Striped Bass. Cut into chunks they make great catfish bait.

The skipjack herring is not usually consumed by humans because of its bony disposition, however a pleasure on the hook due to its speed, and jumping ability.

To catch herring from 3 to 6 inches for bait one may use a cast net or a rig with multiple small flies.

To catch the larger herring use lead head jigs with curly tails or spoons.

Gizzard Shad

Nicknames : bluetail, shad, nanny shad, stink shad, slime ball, hickory shad, mud shad, hairy back, golden eyes, slicks, jack shad, saw belly.

Characteristics: bright silvery blue-green on back, silvery sides and dull white belly; wide body that is more of a stocky nature than most herring. Shad make great bait for catching catfish also!

Fish Facts: Highly susceptible to sudden changes in water temperature. Shad commonly reach 4 inches in length during the first year of life.

Habitat: Preferring low gradient waters with an abundance of phytoplankton.

Typical Size: . 625 pounds to 10 pounds.

Gizzard Shad Fishing Information:

The gizzard shad is common in most Western Kentucky rivers and lakes.

Gizzard shad exhibit the typical herring body shape with a wide body that is stocky in nature. Color ranges from bright silvery blue-green on the back, silvery sides and a dull white belly. A dark shoulder spot is common on younger fish but may be absent from adults. The front of the head is rounded with a subterminal mouth.Bottom jaw or lip is not very strong. Teeth are absent. There are about 190 rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch. The eyes have adipose eyelids with vertical slits. Body scales are cycloid with no lateral line present. The ventral scales are keeled. Dorsal fin rays number 10 to 12 with the last ray elongated into a thin whiplike filament. This fin is inserted slightly behind the pelvic fin. An auxiliary process is present at the base of the pelvic fin. The anal fin has 27 to 34 rays, and the caudal fin is deeply forked.

Gizzard shad prefer sluggish rivers and soft-bottomed lakes. The fish is synonymous with mud. It is found most commonly in open water near the surface. The fish are random, nocturnal group spawners in shallow bays, coves, or sloughs with no care given to the young. Eggs are released near the surface of the water from late April or early May to early August at 50 to 70 degrees F. The eggs are adhesive and sink. The females are prolific, producing up to 400,000 eggs that are about .03 inch in diameter.

The species is an omnivorous filter feeder taking both phytoplankton and zoo plankton, which are then ground in the gizzard section of the gut. Some bottom material is often ingested while feeding; hence, the name mud shad or mud feeder. Shad are intermediate hosts for several species of the glochidiad stages of mussels and in that respect have economic importance in the perpetuation of freshwater mussels with commercial value.

Gizzard shad have little value as a food-fish and are seldom taken by hook-and-line. Its flesh or sides as commonly reffered to, and particularly the gizzard or gut are great catfish bait. Dense shad populations provide considerable forage as young for other predatory fishes, and their schooling behavior during the first year make them easy prey for larger fish. Some controversy surrounds this forage value, however, as shad quickly outgrow the vulnerable forage size and rapidly assume pest levels in some closed watersheds or when predator populations are insufficient to control their numbers. One reason that states such as Kentucky stock Striped Bass is to help control the overpopulation of large gizzard shad. Evidence is quite strong that shad compete with young bluegill for food items, and when populations reach very dense levels, bluegill survival is inevitably lowered. Massive dieoffs of young and yearling shad are commonly reported after spring ice-out as a result of their susceptibility to fluctuating water temperatures.

Shad Catching Tips:Use a dip net or cast net to catch them for bait according to state and local laws. Use a net sized so that your shad will not hang in the mesh, this can bruise or knock off their scales. Gizzard shad will not take a baited hook.

Shad Tanks and Keeping Bait

Water: Should be kept moving and changed often in bait holding devices in boats. Baitfish forced to swim will absorb more oxygen due to water flowing accross thier gills.

Aerator: This mixes the water and adds oxygen. Paddle aerators work well but can beat the scales off the bait.

Temperatures: Kept between 50-62 degrees are best. Check with the bait man and try to get within a few degrees to keep from shocking the bait during transfer. Warm water means lower oxygen levels. Cool your water by adding ice, but do it slowly, rapid temperature change can result in shock or death. 3 degrees per minute is a good guideline. Buy an inexpensive temperature gauge. This can be a valuable tool to have.

Chemicals: Salt is the most important ingredient (use rock salt; never iodized) 10 gallons- 2/3 cup 20 gallons- 1 1/2 cups 30 gallons- 2 cups 40 gallons- 2 2/3 cups. hardens and bonds scales to Shad. Replaces valuable electrolytes lost due to stress. Should always be used in holding tanks. Chlorine: If you are using city water or ice, use a chlorine killer. Most bait dealers can order this or will have some form of chlorine killer. It's cheap, and it kills the chlorine before you put the shad in the tank, not after.

Ammonia : Caused by waste products from stressed shad resulting in red nose shad, loss of scales, loss of color, dead shad, and dirty, foamy water.Change or clean water regularly or filter with cotton and charcoal.

Foam: Caused by ammonia and dirty water. Foam on the water cuts down on the oxygen level. Non dairy coffee creamer works well. Using defoamers allows proper oxygen transfer add one or two drops until foam disappears.

Bait Saver: 1 teaspoon per 25 gallons helps coat scale damaged areas eliminates chlorine and trace metals

Red Nosed Shad: If you experience this you are doing something wrong. Caused by stress , over crowding or using a none oval tank .

Filtration: Can be done through a developed system in the tank or changing water. If you change the water watch your temperature rise and fall.

Amount: I shad per gallon of water. Adjust this formula with the season. The hotter the weather, the less shad in the tank.

Guidelines:The effort you put forth in caring for bait will greatly enhance your ability to catch fish. It is always best to mix a fresh tank of water. Match tank size and air to load requirements. Keep temperature steady and in desired range and mix in proper chemicals. Your bait will stay livelier and help you catch more fish. Blueback Herring

Blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) are a favorite food of bass where they live in the same waters. They are a saltwater fish that can live in freshwater and have become established in many freshwater lakes.

Blueback Herring Descripton - Blueback herring and alewife are very similar. They are flat sided fish with rounded bellies and forked tails. Both are silvery with dark blue or bronze backs and have small spiny scales along their belly.
Blueback Herring Size - Reach a maximum length of 16 inches (40 cm) and weight of 7 ounces (200 g.) MAximum age is about eight years.
Blueback Herring Distribution - From Nova Scotia to northern Florida and inland rivers and lakes.
What Blueback Herring Eat - Microscopic plants and animals (plankton), small insects, small fish and eggs of fish (including bass)
Blueback Herring Spawn - In fresh or brackish water by depositing eggs that stick to hard objects like gravel, rocks, plants and wood.
In lakes they like hard botoms composed of clay or gravel where wind and wave action keep silt clear. They will spawn on riprap, seawalls and pilings, too.
Blueback Herring Attraction to Light - Blueback herring seem to come to the surface when the sun is shining and go deep on darker days. For that reason the topwater bite is better on sunny days and largemouth and spotted bass tend to feed better when the sun is shining.
Blueback Herring Life Cycle - In saltwater adult blueback herring swim to fresh or brackish water to spawn. They spawn in water above 70 degrees, so lake herring spawn when the water reaches about 70 degrees. Many adults die after the spawn but a few survive to return to the sea. The larval herring live for a few months in spawning areas then move back to the sea. In freshwater herring are more likely to survive the spawn. Female herring are fully mature at five years old and produce 60,000 tp 100,000 eggs. Males are smaller and mature at three to five years of age.
Blueback Herring Problems In Freshwater Lakes - Since blueback herring eat fish eggs and fry as well as the food that game fish fry eat, they are director predators and competitors with them. Because of this they ahve caused problems with largemouth populations in Lake Burton and Nottely in Georgia and walleye populations in Lake Hiwassee in North Carolina. All state Departments of Natural Resources work to limit their spread in freshwater lakes and it is illegal to use them as live bait in lakes where they don't already exist and it is always illegal to stock them.

Alewives

Background: The alewife is a member of the herring family. Originally a saltwater species, it can survive and reproduce in landlocked freshwater environments. It has been stocked (intentionally and accidentally) into many reservoirs across the U.S. Average size is 3-6 inches, but up to 14 inches. In lakes where alewives and striper coexist, they are a preferred food for striper of all sizes.

Acquisition: One of the more difficult baits to acquire, they do not gather in tight schools. In the summer, they will congregate at the thermocline which is usually 35-40 feet below the surface. Other than rare random encounters while netting other species of bait, the only surefire method is to lure them at night. Alewives are attracted to light at night in deep water. Lure them in, turn off the light, and throw your cast net. Turning the light off disorients them and makes them easier targets. Also try jigging a small sabiki rig amongst the school. This is effective on the larger alewives.

Storage: Alewives are somewhat fragile. Typical ratio of bait to water would be 2 alewives per gallon of water for 3-5" baits and 1 bait per gallon for the big 7-10 inchers.

Threadfin Shad

Nickames: yellow tails, shad, shad minnows.

Characteristics: Head is strongly compressed, scaleless. Mouth terminal, floor of oral cavity is spotted with black. Bottom lip protruding; upper lip with a slight indication of a notch or notch lacking. Back dark gray to bluish black; sides and abdomen silvery;distinct post opercular dark spot present; spot smaller than the eye. Fins,except the dorsal, yellowish; caudal deeper yellow than the other fins. Body is deep, strongly compressed laterally. .

Typical Size: Adult length: normally less than 9 inches

Habitat: The threadfin inhabits large lakes and rivers with moderate current, usually congregating in schools over deep water during the daylight hours, moving into shallower areas at night.

Feeding Habits: Threadfin shad are mainly limnetic particulate feeders on larger plankton and filter-feeders on smaller plankton; however, some bottom feeding does occur. Adult threadfin shad may also prey upon fish larvae. .

Fish Facts: It is sensitive to cool temperatures, and below 45 deg. F it has decreased swimming and schooling abilities. It cannot tolerate water temperatures below 35 deg F.

Crayfish

Sometimes called crawfish, or crawdads are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are closely related. They are found in bodies of fresh water that do not freeze to the bottom, and which have shelter against predators. Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species such as the invasive Procambarus clarkii are more hardy. Some crayfish have been found living as much as 3 m (10 feet) underground.

Crawfish are great fish river fishing, bass love them!

sources from www.geocities.com/yosemite/rapids/9007/gzsh.html and www.seeinstripes.com
Great sites

Fishing for Striped Bass

2006-07-22T16:59:00.000-04:00

Fishing for Striped Bass is too much fun. These suckers can get HUGE, land locked striped have been caught nearly 70lbs. They are aggressive and fierce feeders.

When you are fishing for freshwater stripers, the best bait you can use will be:

Gizzard Shad
Skipjack
Threadfin Minnows
Alewives
Crawfish
Trout

They basically hit anything that moves, stripers have been known to eat smaller stripers. I saw a guy fishing for catfish, and his catfish we're getting hit when he was reeling them in. Catfishermen sometimes even catch Stripers when they are fishing with Chicken Livers.

Stripers don't necessarily look for cover and structure as much as some other fish, except in current. When river fishing, you can often find them near cover closer to the banks.

They are very tempature specific fish, with a optimal water temp of 63 degrees. So instead of structure, look for cooler water, and bait. When you find bait, you will find the stripers near by in most cases. The bigger fish are more effected by the water tempature, then the smaller fish. The bigger fish, are often large and lazy. A lot of big stripers are caught on cutbait, because it is said they wait for the scraps from the smaller fish feeding frenzies, instead of using all their energy to chase down bait.

Cut Baiting

Cut bait fishing for Stripers can be very effective. you can often find the biggest fish on cutbait. When cut-baiting, there are several methods. Some prefer to cut the fish in half and use either the head or tail section. I prefer to cut the head off, and use it; sometimes I cut the nose/eye area off as well to double the sent.

You will want to make sure you use FRESH cut bait, the fresher the better. You will notice more hook ups when using fresh bait. I would also suggest chumming the area around as well.

Another thing I noticed is, when cutbaiting you should use a more oily bait. When fishing with a more oily bait, there will be more scent. Skipjack is a great oily fish, and stripers can't resist them.

More fishing information coming soon!

Fishing

2006-07-22T16:34:00.000-04:00

Im going to start a fishing resource webpage. This is my first attempt, and I will provide you with all the information I can. Expect a fishing forum coming soon too.

I love to go fishing, and I am currently fishing with the NSBA. Team Hyperstriper, I'll post our tournament results soon.

We placed 1st in the Striped Bass Fishing Tournament at Lake Cherokee Tennesee in May 2006.
Im going to post all my fishing stories, and fishing information soon.