Fishing season 2k14!!!!!!!!!!!!

[divemaster99]

Some pics from my trip last week

NICE bro! (Come on lake, THAW!).

hey quick question guys, as you get to know me on his thread you'll limy specialty fish are cats. But my question is, my fish commision stocked my local lake (the now frozen one) with 0.5" channel catfish fry either in October or early November. Are they even big enough to be caught yet? I have no idea how big they'd be at this point after the cold winter we had here and in a lot of the north east.

 

[thrillbillie12]

You in PA to bro! I've been meaning to get out for Bowfin for a good while as well. Hopefully somebody can give us both a good answer. All I know is there are some monster ones in the outdoor native tanks (basically ponds with one side glass) at the Pittsburgh aquarium. Here is the best picture I got:
View attachment 1000654

I've seen some huge Bowfin caught by people near me in the bashakill in ny. You should check it out there are enormous potential state record Bowfin in there

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Where at in pa are you? I know they aren't that common in the Pittsburgh area, but up here around Conneaut Lake they are every where. I got a good tip about the swamp run off area of Conneaut Lake. Supposed to be monster in there and no one around here actively fishes for them.


They keep a state record in NY for them? It's sad to say, but every one around this area are firm believer that they are invasive and kill them. I get a lot of heat for putting them back.

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[divemaster99]

Where at in pa are you? I know they aren't that common in the Pittsburgh area, but up here around Conneaut Lake they are every where. I got a good tip about the swamp run off area of Conneaut Lake. Supposed to be monster in there and no one around here actively fishes for them.


They keep a state record in NY for them? It's sad to say, but every one around this area are firm believer that they are invasive and kill them. I get a lot of heat for putting them back.

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Suburbs of pittsburgh. Great fishing, just not for bowfin .

 

[thrillbillie12]

Suburbs of pittsburgh. Great fishing, just not for bowfin .

I was born and raised in Elizabeth township. Little Boston to be exact. I still come down a few weekends every summer just for river cat fishing. Just can't beat the 30-40 pound flat heads. If you ever come up and fish Conneaut Lake or Pymatuming(spell check) give me a yell. I'll show you some spots.


And yes, I miss the small mouth fishing down there. I'll take a smallie on a fly rod over a large mouth any day of the week. So much fun.

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[divemaster99]

I was born and raised in Elizabeth township. Little Boston to be exact. I still come down a few weekends every summer just for river cat fishing. Just can't beat the 30-40 pound flat heads. If you ever come up and fish Conneaut Lake or Pymatuming(spell check) give me a yell. I'll show you some spots.


And yes, I miss the small mouth fishing down there. I'll take a smallie on a fly rod over a large mouth any day of the week. So much fun.

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+1 on the SMB. Don't know why but I just like their look and personality better than LMBs. Thanks bro, if you're ever around here I got some nice not well known holes on pine creek that are amazing for fly fishing.

 

[NCStateFisher]

NICE bro! (Come on lake, THAW!).

hey quick question guys, as you get to know me on his thread you'll limy specialty fish are cats. But my question is, my fish commision stocked my local lake (the now frozen one) with 0.5" channel catfish fry either in October or early November. Are they even big enough to be caught yet? I have no idea how big they'd be at this point after the cold winter we had here and in a lot of the north east.

as cold as its been I'd say no. average fish that survived predation and the cold temps might be 3-4" if you're lucky

 

[divemaster99]

as cold as its been I'd say no. average fish that survived predation and the cold temps might be 3-4" if you're lucky

Will they even hit? 3 inches is OK (saying with sarcastic voice)

 

[Andrew1002]

Where at in pa are you? I know they aren't that common in the Pittsburgh area, but up here around Conneaut Lake they are every where. I got a good tip about the swamp run off area of Conneaut Lake. Supposed to be monster in there and no one around here actively fishes for them.


They keep a state record in NY for them? It's sad to say, but every one around this area are firm believer that they are invasive and kill them. I get a lot of heat for putting them back.

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I'm in ny state and Bowfin aren't native to these waters so they are considered invasive and people normally kill them or throw them on land to die

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[thrillbillie12]

I'm in ny state and Bowfin aren't native to these waters so they are considered invasive and people normally kill them or throw them on land to die

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I was told that they made there way through the great lakes and that they have been in Erie long enough to be considered native.

Also, I don't think throwing on sure is an effective way of killing them. I would assume many of them just find there way back to water.

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[divemaster99]

Anybody around the pittsburgh area fish for gar? I've heard they're plentiful in the rivers (not sure if all or better in one) and they're another fish on my catch list for this year.

my goals this year are:

bowfin (never caught one)
any esox sp. (never caught one)
more flatheads (only caught one)
Bullhead species other than yellow (I've caught 100+ yellows but can never catch any others)
burbot (never caught one)
12" plus white bass(es)
10" plus yellow perch(es)
10" plus bluegills (my personal record is 14", 2.2 lbs)
blue catfish (never caught one and I found a pay lake that has them)

and finally, my number one goal (that I nearly achieved last year) is to get at least in the top 5 biggest catches for this year for any fish. Last year I caught a 15", 2.5 lbs yellow perch at erie that I released right away but later I looked at the fish commission board and if I took it in to be measured it would have been biggest perch proven to be caught 2013 and 3rd place for all years. I almost punched a wall for not taking that fish in .