Winter Fishing
Contributors to this thread:General Topic
From: DL
22-Nov-20
I would have put this in a community forum but? Seasons are over so I decided to go Bluefin tuna fishing. We don’t get the monsters like the east coast does. These are young fish. Like any tuna they Fight! The water is cooling off and the fish either won’t bite when found or have mostly disappeared. Fished for two days before we found some. Two guys hooked up. One had a new hook break in half, the other was jigging and the fish straightened out a large treble hook.. The big ones really go after flying fish using a kite to get them far away and skipping the surface. That’s how I got mine. I was using an 8’ stand up rod. Out here on these party boats the rail is used as a fulcrum. Rod under your arm and then down on your knee. Pump the rod or use the swell to gain a foot and then the fish takes back 5. Took around 45 minutes. Also had to make loops around the boat when it decided to run. I was hoping for a 100 pound fish. This one went 150.
From: BULELK1
22-Nov-20
Damn!!!
That's lot's of fish to eat
Congrats,
Robb
From: ahawkeye
22-Nov-20
Very cool! I've used party boats before, but it doesn't sound like the same thing you're explaining here. Mine were always going after red snapper in the gulf out of Destin Fl. or somewhere near by. A few questions...
#1. What was your cost for one day of fishing for just you? #2. Was everyone on the boat targeting the same species of fish? #3. Would you mind sharing the city you boarded or the company you used?
Congratulations, really nice fish!
From: Milhouse
22-Nov-20
Striped marlin, Cabo San Lucas Mexico
Striped marlin, Cabo San Lucas Mexico
49" Dorado, Puerto Vallarta Mexico
49" Dorado, Puerto Vallarta Mexico
Love getting out deep sea fishing..... my second favorite activity after whitetail deer hunting. I'm a long way from any oceans, but I try to get out for at least a day while on vacation. Fishing for the big stuff is a lot more like hunting than a lot of people realize.... I've been lucky enough to catch a few good ones, including striped marlin, sailfish, and big Dorado. The ultimate on my bucket list is a big blue marlin, and big wahoo.
The marlin was released after pics, and swam away strong!
From: Beav
22-Nov-20
Nice fish!!
From: JL
22-Nov-20
Nice fish above! If you're a fishaholic....do one of the 3 day/2 night marathon trips out of St John's Pass, FL or out of the Keys. You'll get your fishing fix and leave wanting more.
From: PECO
22-Nov-20
Nice fish, but that is not winter fishing. Winter fishing is through a hole in the ice.
From: PECO
22-Nov-20
this is winter fishing
From: cnelk
22-Nov-20
This is winter fishing
From: greg simon
22-Nov-20
God puts that ice there to show me it’s to cold to fish!!! I like the top pics better!!!
From: Jaquomo
22-Nov-20
Greg, in a portable hut with a little propane heater we fish in t-shirts. Too much fun watching down the hole and seeing the fish shark around the jig before they hit. I'm drilling holes tomorrow.
From: KsRancher
22-Nov-20
Jaq. What fish is that? The color is amazing/crazy!!!
From: Wild Bill
22-Nov-20
DL, Great story and fine picture . Congratulation you all. Those fish look mighty tasty.
From: fubar racin
22-Nov-20
Palomino trout beautiful aint they!
From: lewis
22-Nov-20
Be heading to central west Florida in a few weeks but the pictures sure bring back memories got to fish all over South America and the Virgin Islands.Had a great time and caught some really good fish.Can’t get over what has happened to Venezuela Socialism destroyed a paradise.Good luck all and tight lines Lewis
From: Jaquomo
22-Nov-20
Yep, palomino. It's a color phase rainbow I stock in our lakes and ponds. People really like to catch them but they are tough to catch, just nip at the fly or lure.
From: DL
22-Nov-20
Here’s some big boys caught by another boat.
From: Jack Whitmrie jr
22-Nov-20
After the Rut is over I'm all in for these fish!
From: drycreek
22-Nov-20
Ot as big as y’all’s are, but damn good on the plate ! Caught them last week, so I guess that’s fall fishing.
From: lewis
22-Nov-20
Jealous Jack never caught a Muskie but on my bucket list Lewis
From: Tilzbow
23-Nov-20
Caught this 25# Lahonton Cutthroat Trout two weeks ago at Pyramid Lake. It’s the fish I’ve hoping to catch for the 44 years I’ve been going to Pyramid Lake.
From: Shuteye
23-Nov-20
I love ice fishing but some years we just don't have enough cold to make the ice safe. When it freezes over I go almost every day. My wife, daughter, son in law and I have fished for yellow fin tuna off the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Last time we went we got 18 yellow fins. That was our limit and the mate and captain's limit. You want to see something you would get a kick out of my 4'8" wife with a 50 pound yellow fin on the line. They had her strapped in the fighting chair. We vacuum sealed the frozen steaks and man were they good. My daughter is down there right now and said she will bring me some tuna when she gets back.
From: Shuteye
23-Nov-20
Two weeks ago my daughter, my grandson, his wife, my 8 year old great grand daughter and my 11 year old great grandson went in the Chesapeake Bay striper fishing. We got our limit. My 8 year old great grand daughter rigged up my line on the outrigger. She climbed right up there and hooked up my line and ran the line out to the end of the outrigger. The boat has two 200 HP engines and she runs the boat while the rest of us fish. Her 11 year old brother runs the plotter and keeps an eye of the fish finder and tells us when we are passing over fish. I was amazed at these kids, they know more about boat handling and fishing than most adults. They know how to navigate and put us on the fish.
From: Shuteye
23-Nov-20
This is the whole group when back at the dock. My daughter is on the left with the pink sweater and I am next to her.
From: cnelk
23-Nov-20
More 'Winter Fishing'... :)
From: Grey Ghost
23-Nov-20
This is a close friend of mine a few weeks ago. We went 2 for 5 that night. Mine was even bigger, but he thrashed from my grip before we could get pics.
Matt
From: Jaquomo
23-Nov-20
Tilzbow, great fish! That's the one I've been trying to catch there too, for many years. Now that the giant strain is back, 30 pounders may be possible soon.
From: Gileguy
23-Nov-20
37" laker
37" laker
3 days of rifle hunting without seeing anything but fresh wolf tracks has me wishing for Lake Superior ice!!
From: Gileguy
23-Nov-20
3 days of rifle hunting without seeing anything but fresh wolf tracks has me wishing for Lake Superior ice!!
From: Nick Muche
23-Nov-20
Been out a few times already for some winter fishing, lot's of ice up here for this time of the year.
From: DL
23-Nov-20
Last months stripped Marlin that was released.
From: Whocares
23-Nov-20
Nick, you're killin me! Winter trout my favorite. Open water trout a close second. But you guys won't let us up there!!
From: DL
23-Nov-20
Millhouse did you eat that Marlin? Stripped ones are really good smoked. I didn’t know I could have kept that one until the next day. Probably never catch another one in my life. This is the kind of Party boats used down out of San Diego. They have state rooms to sleep in and gourmet meals. Trips on these 85-105 foot boats go from 3-15 days and Tavel clear down to the tip of Mexico.
From: Milhouse
25-Nov-20
No, that marlin was released. The one my friend caught earlier was bleeding badly, and wouldn't swim. That one was butchered. We didn't take any of the meat from it, but I know they took every scrap of available meat. The captains don't want to kill any billfish, but sometimes they don't make it.
From: Milhouse
25-Nov-20
The Mahi, however, is one of my favorites, right up there with perch and walleye. I've been fortunate to catch a few good ones on different trips. I had a replica mount done on the one above.
From: carcus
25-Nov-20
Soon to be ice fishing, gotta kill a deer tho
From: Treeline
25-Nov-20
Checked a box for several firsts last week. Steelhead was one of them...
From: DL
26-Nov-20
I used to have an obsession fishing for steelhead.
From: Skippy
26-Nov-20
Blue cats in the winter, gotta love it!
From: Shuteye
26-Nov-20
Skippy, I love blue cats and Channel cats. We catch a lot of them right up until Winter. However my fishing buddy and I went in his boat about a month ago and he is down now with pneumonia..He also is taking chemo for cancer so it looks like it will be a while for us and the catfish. He lost a lung to lung cancer about four years ago and when we get in the river he says that is his happy place.
From: Skippy
26-Nov-20
We really pound them in the winter here, find them in deep water on the lowrance and throw cut bait at them. My buddy caught a 52 last winter.
From: Jaquomo
26-Nov-20
Excellent, Tavis! Were you swinging, or drifting egg patterns?
From: Nick Muche
30-Nov-20
I love them Lakers! Had a 4 fish day this past weekend, this one was the nicest.
From: Patdel
02-Dec-20
Jack Jr. Is that Melton Hill?
From: carcus
03-Dec-20
Off to a good start, ice is a little thin yet
From: carcus
03-Dec-20
A beast
From: altitude sick
03-Dec-20
Mill house, you are correct Billfish should be released. We had a striped Marlin that did not recover. So we ate it. I kept saying I didn’t want any of it and would take the Tuna. They finally forced me to take about 10lbs. Man what a mistake. I should have taken 30lbs. It was so good. Even better than the tuna. I had never eaten stripped Marlin. Because your supposed to release them.
From: Milhouse
03-Dec-20
Altitude... I wish I'd have taken some. I've always taken Dorado, and had it cooked at the hotel or some little bar. I've taken tina as well.... and it always end up tasting a lot like tuna....even when fresh caught. They did tell me the marlin was delicious.
From: altitude sick
03-Dec-20
Sorry for the crappy pic
From: Live2Hunt
03-Dec-20
LOL, I will take pulling fish through a hole in the ice any day before going out in a boat cooking my brains out in the sun. Sorry, but I love winter ice fishing. Been out in the gulf fishing before, never been so hot and miserable in my life. Hooked an amberjack that would not come in with my head just pounding from the sun baking on us. Winter ice fishing? No bugs, no idiots in boats, NO HOT SUN BAKING YOU!,
From: Shiras42
03-Dec-20
Nice fish all. No ice in eastern Nebraska any time soon...
From: altitude sick
03-Dec-20
I love it all ! Deep, blue water trolling. Or a small pond for panfish.
I hope to get up soon on some of our northern Michigan rivers that don’t freeze over for winter steelhead.
From: Live2Hunt
03-Dec-20
Altitude, yes, I do like steelhead fishing wild fish in wild rivers.
From: Treeline
03-Dec-20
Still open water at some of the lakes around here.
Cold days though with the line freezing up in the guides though...
Still picking up some late browns on the fly!
From: Patdel
03-Dec-20
The browns and steelhead sure are pretty fish.
From: Patdel
03-Dec-20
From: altitude sick
03-Dec-20
Patdel, that covers the spectrum. Man would I love to be somewhere warm. Trolling with a hangover from too much fun the night before.
From: Treeline
03-Dec-20
That is a monster altitude!!!
From: Patdel
03-Dec-20
Altitude, that's a pig. Michigan fish? I used to drive over there and fish with an old military buddy, but he passed away. I miss fishing with that guy.
From: Live2Hunt
03-Dec-20
Altitude, ouch, that is a nice fish. Western stream? wild fish?
From: altitude sick
03-Dec-20
Yes, sorry to misrepresent. It’s a wild fish from a Michigan river. But it’s not my fish.
From: PECO
08-Dec-20
Got on the local ice today, 4" thick, caught and released one, missed a few more. It was wonderful out there, sun and no wind.
From: PECO
08-Dec-20
From: PECO
08-Dec-20
Ummmm, not my bear picture.... let us try again.
From: rooster
13-Dec-20
Sold my boat in September, to get a bigger one. Missed the opportunity at a couple of nice ones due to bowhunting. Now that I have two deer in the freezer I can get serious about looking . That said the guys have ben killing the walleyes here on Lake Erie non stop. Hopefully I can get a new ride soon, and take advantage.
From: Grey Ghost
13-Dec-20
Love me some winter tripletail. One of the best eating fish there is, IMO.
Matt
From: Patdel
14-Dec-20
Altitude sick, marlin is good eating fish. If you're supposed to let them go, Noone told the guys I've fished with in Cabo.
If you don't want them, they still thump them, then sell the meat to local restaurants.
From: Hancock West
14-Dec-20
drycreek thats one good looking mess of fish. Crappie & bluegill thru the ice is the best
From: altitude sick
14-Dec-20
I’m not a marine biologist. I’ve just always been told to let Pelagic’s go if your not going to eat them.
As they use fiberglass for the mounts anyway.
But man you are correct striped Marlin is very good eating.
From: altitude sick
14-Dec-20
Patdel, I’m hearing the steelhead fishing has been slow. Hopefully the recent heavy rains mix things up. I hope to get on one of the western Michigan rivers before the holidays
From: Glunker
14-Dec-20
Trolling Lake Michigan 10 days ago. Smoked this lake trout along with a smaller brown. The party boat on the west coast has my interest. Heard of similar trips off the northeast coast for tuna tonnage that I can't get out of my mind.
From: altitude sick
15-Dec-20
Todd, I’ll be on the Muskegon River Sunday morning. Near Grant Mi.
From: bigswivle
15-Dec-20
Queen snapper, brought up from 850’. Good eats
Queen snapper, brought up from 850’. Good eats
From: M.Pauls
15-Dec-20
No giants yet but the kids are enjoying putting walleye on the table!
From: M.Pauls
15-Dec-20
From: altitude sick
15-Dec-20
Fun for the kids and good eats!
From: bigswivle
15-Dec-20
Awesome day on the water
Awesome day on the water
From: altitude sick
15-Dec-20
Sure, Rub it in.
From: Rut Nut
19-Dec-20
Awesome day on the “water!” ;-)
From: Rut Nut
19-Dec-20
FINALLY got some safe ice in NEPA.......................could not wait for first light! : )
From: altitude sick
20-Dec-20
Be careful in the ice
From: Rut Nut
20-Dec-20
ALWAYS! It was 4.5-6” everywhere we measured. That lanyard around my neck has ice picks on the end, was wearing a float suit and I was using a spud bar testing the ice as we walked out.
Amazing how many people walk out on ice withOUT any spud bar! I use it even when there is 12”+................
From: altitude sick
20-Dec-20
We haven’t found the Steelhead Or I should day they are not hungry.
From: altitude sick
20-Dec-20
It was a beautiful day on the river.
but tough for steelhead. the water is low and too clear.
Hooked one, got him to the boat and he got under the boat and cut the line. Oh well, I release them all anyway. I just wanted to make him famous
From: PECO
27-Dec-20
Got a few through the ice today.
From: Jaquomo
27-Dec-20
Us too! Wife caught the biggest ones, as usual..
From: PECO
27-Dec-20
Another beautiful Golden! I have not got one of those, or a tiger trout yet.
From: Cut2Kill
28-Dec-20
Son and Grandson MT Rainbow
Son and Grandson MT Rainbow
From: altitude sick
29-Dec-20
Nice trout ladies and gentlemen.
From: 320 bull
29-Dec-20
Altitude I live 20 minutes from the Muskegon. Awesome piece of water that I used to fish very often. What section were you in? Here are a few from an October trip to Islamorada
From: 320 bull
29-Dec-20
Couple more
From: 320 bull
29-Dec-20
Couple more
From: 320 bull
29-Dec-20
I stink at this
From: altitude sick
29-Dec-20
320, We were near Grant. I’ll be on Marco Island in a week. Hope to get some fishing in.
From: 320 bull
29-Dec-20
Couple of bags of walleyes. We call this type of photo the money shot
From: 320 bull
29-Dec-20
Lastly a few of the biggest perch of the day
From: 320 bull
29-Dec-20
Altitude that is a nice stretch of river north of Grant near Newaygo. One of my favorites
From: altitude sick
29-Dec-20
We went into the govt land area. More snags I we hoped more fish They were just tough that day.
From: PECO
07-Jan-21
Slow grind today but I did not get skunked.
From: altitude sick
07-Jan-21
Nice!
From: Nick Muche
07-Jan-21
From: Nick Muche
07-Jan-21
From: PECO
07-Jan-21
You are killing me Nick!
From: Jaquomo
07-Jan-21
Nice ones, Nick! You jigging for those?
From: Willieboat
07-Jan-21
Bad pic of a big wild steelhead at work this week
Bad pic of a big wild steelhead at work this week
From: Whocares
07-Jan-21
For reference, my kitchen sink is super oversized.....
From: Whocares
07-Jan-21
Or would you believe I was just hungry for walleye...
From: Nick Muche
07-Jan-21
Jigging yeah
From: Nick Muche
08-Jan-21
From: altitude sick
08-Jan-21
Willieboat, That is one stout aquarium.
From: JohnMC
08-Jan-21
Stolen that from oldgoat's instagram post. I am sure he stolen it from somewhere!
From: Michael
08-Jan-21
Good one John lol
From: Heat
08-Jan-21
Congrats on your big bluefin Dave! One heck of a fish. I got my personal best this past summer and it was a handful at half the size of yours.
Congrats to all the other personal bests, first time, box checkers or livewell and freezer fillers ya'll caught! Thanks for sharing.
From: Capt C
09-Jan-21
Beautiful even
Beautiful even
From: altitude sick
10-Jan-21
I’m in southern Florida. For a few days. I’m Struggling, I’m with the hand full of casts I’ve made so far. Red tide, cold. But they have to be some where and hungry.
From: DRR324
10-Jan-21
Took a drive down to my old stomping grounds yesterday. First night on the ice for me this year. 18 specks and a 24” eye that I released.
From: Michael
11-Jan-21
Sitting on Lake of the Woods for the week.
From: altitude sick
12-Jan-21
Not catching anything but enjoying the weather.
From: Live2Hunt
12-Jan-21
Nick, we used to go up to Canada to fish Lakers through the ice. All I can say is, what a blast!!!!
From: Jason Stafford
12-Jan-21
Wyoming
Wyoming
From: Jason Stafford
12-Jan-21
From: Jason Stafford
12-Jan-21
Big sauger
Big sauger
From: Jason Stafford
12-Jan-21
From: SB761
12-Jan-21
Those are some badass Blue Cats, Skippy. Which state? Scenery looks quite familiar.
From: Skippy
12-Jan-21
Oklahoma, lake Hudson. Good action for sure.
From: Skippy
12-Jan-21
From: TrapperKayak
12-Jan-21
Them are some beautiful channel cats...
From: JL
12-Jan-21
Nice ones in Wyoming!!
From: PECO
01-Mar-21
Who is still on the ice? Got this nice Cuttbow on the local lake yesterday, and some smaller ones. We are still at 20" of ice but thin on the edges as the lake is slowly filling up.
From: DRR324
01-Mar-21
Finally got my first couple steelhead of 2021. One day I might keep one male for the grill, but females always get released.
From: M.Pauls
01-Mar-21
Had an awesome day out on Saturday. Big day for my son who caught his first Laker and his biggest pike :)
From: M.Pauls
01-Mar-21
From: PECO
02-Mar-21
MPauls how this is the ice up there?
From: Live2Hunt
02-Mar-21
I will be spending this Thurs - Sunday on a northern WI lake ice fishing. There is about 2' of ice. I will be 45 deg's all days there, great times. Grilling, maybe a beer? and pulling fish through the ice with no hot sun baking on you, no bugs, no jet ski's, no pontoons, no idiots who should not own a boat. Good times.
From: carcus
02-Mar-21
Found some big ones last week, 31"
From: carcus
02-Mar-21
29"
From: carcus
02-Mar-21
28"
From: carcus
02-Mar-21
28"
From: M.Pauls
02-Mar-21
Nice fish Carcus, PECO, about 3’
From: Paul@thefort
02-Mar-21
Heading out tomorrow for a few more of these. "foot ball trout" from Colorado
From: Jaquomo
03-Mar-21
Got second place in a derby on Saturday.
From: GF
03-Mar-21
I think Nick Muche should br teaching a photography class somewhere...
I have fished Paul’s neck of the woods this time of year, but sure didn’t see any of those footballs in the Cache...
From: jingalls
04-Mar-21
Kansas Wipers.
From: jingalls
04-Mar-21
Had 4 straight days of great fishing in SD.
From: PECO
05-Mar-21
Hey Jingalls, how do you like that ION? What Gen is it?
From: Smtn10PT
05-Mar-21
Kind of a slow year but finding a few here and there
From: APauls
06-Mar-21
Finally got out again. These are the kinds of greens I love
From: rattling_junkie
07-Mar-21
Finally got to get out with Carcus and a couple of other buddies.
From: M.Pauls
07-Mar-21
Great day out with my brother yesterday!
From: M.Pauls
07-Mar-21
My son Layne caught a nice walleye too
