I’m (essential) well at least until next week when we run outta work due to corona shut downs... after that I’m fishing hard! Try to figure out how to catch these spring walleyes. Iv never caught one before water temps hit 62*f if anyone’s got tips on that I’m all ears?
Apparently everyone in Oklahoma decided to go fishing on their time off. It was shoulder to shoulder but we still managed to catch a few. My niece insisted on keeping one so I helped her cut it up and sent it home with her (why waste freezer space on spoonbill when there's plenty of crappie, sand bass, catfish to catch).
I have been doing some farm pond fishing. I'm on the coast in VA & usually pull my boat down to the outer banks & go tuna fishing this time of year. But the outer banks NC is closed to non residents. And just ordered a mandatory stay at home. Also Chincoteague island has just closed to non essential non residents & also orderd a mandatory stay at home
You guys are killing me with all that ice fishing! Used to be a winter staple here in NW NJ - not anymore... been several years since safe ice... Nice fish everyone! Great way to practice "SSD".
You guys are killing me! I want to head north and do some ice fishing so bad I can taste em! Instead...working on a basement remodel. Keep posting picks especially you guys on hard water!!!
Does Lana not like touching the fish or are the gloves for the corona? I'd think the lips of a bass would make short order of a pair of latex gloves! I miss farm pond bass in Okiehoma!!
Not in North East Oklahoma. Grand River is out of banks, Ft Gibson Lake is 15 feet high with all the ramps closed. Besides, our Governor has issued a stay at home band for persons over 65, Been staying at home making spinnerbaits and jigs. Got enough to last 150 years.
Idle folks fishing AND hunting here..... but the state land is totally shut down. Just talked to a notorious fence jumper and he was complaining to me about all the poachers he was bumping into while he was poaching his favorite spots..... they're everywhere!
Tell me where to send some Dave and I'll stop the crying... PM me an address. For the record, they were in my truck from deer season. Surely one pair of gloves my wife used for fishing won't stop the world.
Nice stuff here. Had a trip planned three weeks ago but, the passenger side strut broke clean off my truck's A arm driving up the driveway to leave!!!!! Instead of fishing, I mechanic'ed. Going to try and do a trip this weekend.
Jaq, Glad you asked that question. It looks like not much changed really. Fishing and hunting are "essential". If they close the beach that will take away sunrise surf fishing and metal detecting there.
"The order encourages individuals to work from home.
All businesses or organizations are encouraged to provide delivery, carry-out or curbside service outside of the business or organization, according to the order.
The order also limits gathering in public spaces. Groups of people greater than 10 are not permitted to congregate in any public space.
According to the order, “essential activities” include:
Attending religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and houses of worship. Participating in recreational activities such as walking, biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, running or swimming. Taking care of pets.
The order will be effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday and expires on April 30."
My job is considered essential (I deliver car and truck parts. We have several city,county,and state police/fire/first responders garages we deliver to) so I'm working my 8AM-5:30PM job. With that said our entire state' s waterways are closed with the exception of private owned bodies of water.
My job is considered essential (I deliver car and truck parts. We have several city,county,and state police/fire/first responders garages we deliver to) so I'm working my 8AM-5:30PM job. With that said our entire state' s waterways are closed with the exception of private owned bodies of water.
My job is considered essential (I deliver car and truck parts. We have several city,county,and state police/fire/first responders garages we deliver to) so I'm working my 8AM-5:30PM job. With that said our entire state' s waterways are closed with the exception of private owned bodies of water.
My job is considered essential (I deliver car and truck parts. We have several city,county,and state police/fire/first responders garages we deliver to) so I'm working my 8AM-5:30PM job. With that said our entire state' s waterways are closed with the exception of private owned bodies of water.
Hillbilly, are you guys fishing the Maumee? I live 3 miles upstream from Side Cut Park. Had to replace the impeller on my outboard. Bought everything on line so, it all took a little longer than I would have liked. Wanna try to get out on Erie for some jigging and then onto the Detroit river unless they shut it down.
Rooster, yes that’s where we’ve been going. Just read that the mayor shut down all parking at the metro parks and adjacent streets near the river. You can still fish but have to be dropped off or walk from miles away.
Just out of coursoity are you traveling far from where you live to fish. I want to go but I'm traveling from Denver. Like to get on the Arkansas and some other rivers. The reason I have not is the issued of ban travel especially our county as the highest number of cases of the virus . Just being responsible and respectful of my neighbors countys.
Just found out the sneaky bastards opened up Trout Fishing in PA this morning about an hour ago. Was NOT supposed to open until 4/18! Guess they figure by opening up 11 days early and on a Tuesday, it might dissipate some pressure from opening on a Saturday. But with all the folks off work, out of work, or working from home I don't know that it will do much good.
Goelk, the way I figure it, if I bring my own food and don't "hug an angler", it doesn't really matter where I go to fish. Experts tell us COVID doesn't spew out the tailpipes of vehicles. We did a 20 mile bike ride yesterday and there were people walking, biking and fishing everywhere in the open space and natural areas. It was pretty crazy.
Randy, I'd love to go to the Reef for a couple days but the Cheyenne mayor just tweet-scolded us about fishing up there. So I guess I'll stay down for a bit. I still remember when Greenies were so despised that our tires would get cut, doors keyed in parking lots.
Heck Randy, I Much prefer fishing north of the border! Lots of lakes and several rivers that are way better than down here!!! Just fishing local now though...
Lou I got an email from Wyoming F&G saying nothing is closed and they understand if your state is on a stay at home notice but if people wanted to come for fishing or spring bear they are welcome.
"Lou I got an email from Wyoming F&G saying nothing is closed and they understand if your state is on a stay at home notice but if people wanted to come for fishing or spring bear they are welcome."
As long as you quarantine for 14 days after you enter the state first. At least through April 30.
Lou, I was just reading about some guy at a park in Denver (I think) that was cuffed and arrested in front of his daughter for "not practicing proper social distancing"....
14 day quarantine..... I figured they meant like, in dog years....
Looking for some silver linings.... driving around on Maui right now is like driving around back in the 80's before the Borg invasion.... retro-pleasant.
Excuse me, be right back.... got some deck chairs to rearrange.....
The first paragraph from a letter from WG&F that I got in an email:
"Dear hunters and anglers- The Wyoming Game and Fish Department understands many of you are unable to travel to Wyoming for spring hunting and fishing because of stay-at-home orders in your home state and the recent 14-day quarantine directive for people entering Wyoming through the end of April. Due to this directive, we ask nonresidents to stay home at this time, unless you can observe the quarantine. These are unprecedented times with rapid changes - but we are here to help."
Sounds like Wyoming is requiring a 14-day quarantine for anyone entering the state.
Guess a guy could quarantine - with proper "social distancing" - on the river or a lake?
We had such an influx of tourists to our county that the county closed all lake and river access. You can still go out if you can obtain private access.
WOW xtroutx, that's a pig walleye! Where we go in Ontario, we normally catch 1 or 2 in the 28 inch range. We have found that the ones in the 21 to 24 inch range seem to fight the best. The bigger ones kind of "log" it. Still a lot of fun on ultralight tho!
I still haven't figured out how to self-quarantine for 14 days before fishing in WY. Does that mean I sit in my camper by Outhouse Hole at the Reef for two weeks, staring out my windows watching people fish, before wading in? How would anyone know how long I quarantined myself?
I have a question for you walleye fisherman. Will the bite keep going most of the night? Or is it just a short lived timeframe when it starts to get dark in the evening. I was going to hit one of our local lakes. I have caught them before along the riprap on the dam.
We hammered them yesterday, just an incredible day for us. The weather was great, the 30 mile sled ride into the area was beautiful and the fishing was on fire. We lost count of the pike we landed, but we all left with our daily limit of 10. Going back for one last trip, the ice is still several feet thick, just need cooler temps at night to manage the overflow and we're good.
I have the same questions, Lou. Exactly what is the protocol for a 14 day quarantine in Wyoming, and how is it being enforced?
BTW, the Outhouse hole used to be one of my favorites on the Reef, but that was way before they built the campground and every yahoo started racing to it. The Reef is still a fun spot to fish, but it isn't half the fishery it was 25 years ago, sadly. Back in day I remember floating from the damn to Government Bridge and not seeing more than few other fisherman all day. I miss those days.
My last straw on the Reef was when I nearly got into a fist fight with 3 guides who told me I shouldn't be fishing the shallow water reds, when they were doing the same thing over reds in deeper water. They've never liked greenies up there, but a greenie with his own drift boat is absolutely despised.
Canoe, kayaks and sail boats are legal. Should be interesting to see how many have to be rescued in the Detroit River while walleye fishing in a canoe. $1,000 fine for violations!
Took up a new hobby in January/ February offshore kayak fishing. With everything shut down and ocean on my doorstep it’s really one of the only things I can do without pushing the boundaries of the guidelines set out here in QLD. Keeping the freezer stocked and having a blast!
Just jigging spoons. There are around 20K pike that spend the winter in this river, when it’s hot, it’s unreal. We had two very good trips out there this year.
Joey I believe they are slightly different to the Spanish mackerel in the USA waters. Im not 100% sure and to be honest am not a huge fish guy so don't know much about them, except they are fun to catch and taste great! Our Spanish here in Australia get a lot larger than the ones I posted mine are good ones but plenty out there that are much larger. (Narrow Barred Spanish Mackerel) is the more specific name.
Tyler, yours looks a lot like the king mackerel we catch off the coast of the Atlantic and Gulf. We can catch them just off shore or in deep water. They are often caught by guys using kayaks just off shore. Along with what we know are Spanish. And you’re right, hooking up with That size from a kayak are a great fight. More often than not, kings that big are released back because since they are pelagic fish, there is a fear of mercury contamination. But they are a good fish to eat and are usually cut cross section into steaks and smoked on the grill.
A quick google search search indicates the Mackerel you caught could be the Blue mackerel.
So I see that you bowhunters are good fishermen as well as good hunters. l enjoy the photos and putting some handsome faces behind some handles that I am used to seeing on here. Keep up the good work with friends and family in these crazy times. ......Badbull
My granddaughter can catch fish too. Just trying to keep a really good thread alive. Thanks for posting all the photos of some great fish, good people, and that Moose is a great looking dog. Good fishing to all you bowhunters...... Badbull
I went bowfishing for the first time about a week ago. Wow what a blast! We shot over 50 carp. (4 of us on a small boat) Were out all night and got home at 6 AM! I’m still trying to recover ;)
Fishing off the coast of Florida you'd never know there was a lockdown.As many boats as ever if not more. Nice Blue Marlin one day and some tuna/dolphin
Been catching a few crappie the past weeks. My grandson loves “shishing”. Especially when we catch a “big momma shish”. Great pics guys. Love Spring time in the Ozarks. Turkeys gobbling and crappie biting.
Finally got out for open water. First hook set 5 minutes in was a 28” walleye. Was out for 3.5 hours and had 2-28” and a 29”, a 25.5 and others. Best outing I’ve ever had
Some awesome fish above!! The only thing I have caught this spring is bluegills and small crappie. But it been fun taking a kid new to fishing and my 17 year old daughter.
Troy I've hit the big lake three times this spring and each time has been amazing. Also three different locations. So each trip I've had to find them and act accordingly. First two trips was predominantly jig and salted minnow bite. This last trip on Sunday the gravel lizards were in full chow mode. They just wanted to eat. Jig and a saltie worked just fine but a paddletail swimbait outperformed all for bites. Flutter spoons consistently produced larger fish. I caught a 29.5 on a 5" flutter spoon tipped with a whole minnow, and my 29.25 came on a 5" swimbait. Lipless rattlebaits that are dynamite in the winter have been "OK" at best. Caught a couple on cranks, but when a jigging bite is on there's nothing I'd rather do than set the hook 400 times which is what was the case on Sunday. I've never felt walleye hit that hard. Some would hit so hard they nearly pull the rod from your hands. It is quite something when a walleye attacks and initiates the drag on your reel with it's bite. What a truly fantastic fishery. (When it isn't windy)
Went out and did some scouting in an area yesterday. I bought my little spinning pole with me to see if I could catch anything in this tiny creek. I fished it 5/6 years ago and caught some small trout. This was the biggest so far.
Two limits of big walleyes on my birthday Sunday, with some nice smallies, a 14" crappie, and some 13" jumbo perch as bonuses. Eating a blackened walleye sandwich right now!
We’re on a pretty good walleye bite in N. Colorado right now. The fish are small, 14-16”, but we’ve put a limit in the boat 3 times this week, and I like eating the little ones anyway. Going again tomorrow morning...
Any of you ever fish Devils Lake for walleye? I usually go to MN or Canada but have always wanted to give DL a try. I looked once and I like the MN resorts where you can launch your boat and leave it in all week fishing from camp. The resorts I saw on DL it looked like you had to launch your boat each day you fished. I probably misunderstood that.
bfisherman- RE Devils Lake. Look into Woodland Resort. I know they have slips. But they also have a very nice ramp in the resort. Sometimes with the wind, it is a good idea to pull your boat out each night anyway.
Congrats on the nice fish guys. Z, thank you. I will check them out. I am heading to Rainy Lake in MN the last week of July. I've fished up there since I was 14 and am 61 now. Still learning that awesome lake but we usually do fine. Once I retire I want to travel around more, Devils lake is a for sure spot.
Got a surprise yesterday, while catching little dink rainbows, in a NorCal creek. Hooked this thing, couldn't believe it when he rolled! Was able to get him to the bank after about 10 minutes. Caught him on a number one Mepps Gold spinner, 6 pound test!
Had tonight off over here in LA. Snuck in a little bass fishing across from the hotel on the golf course pond... broke off two and landed about 15. Several in this class and a bunch of little ones. Good break!
Gotta make the most of it, no matter where you find yourself!
Just got back from a full month of fly fishing and camping with my sweetie (mostly off-grid) from Colorado to the Oregon coast. Caught fish everywhere we threw a fly. Now time to get serious about elk scouting!
RockyD ... with the new regs in place it’s been hard trying to fill those slot size fish .. 28-35”..most have been way too big ! Makes for great memories if you’re looking for that 40-50lber though.
Hey t-roy... they really are good to eat ! Meat’s white and firm , more “steak like” than fish . The charter took it all home with them , except for a nice piece I kept for the BBQ ! Lol
I took my 13 y/o daughter On a 6 day float trip down an essentially unfished River in the NW Brooks range of AK. Phenomenal al sights and more Dolly Varden and grayling than you could catch. Awesome trip. She caught a fish about every successful cast that she got more than 10 feet feet from her person. I wish I enjoyed fishing more. This place is a fly fisherman’s paradise.
Can't believe I missed this thread. Great photos everyone. Looks like quarantine well spent. Haven't got out much in Florida, they closed our boat ramps locally for a while, but we managed a few days on the water.
Got the boys into some solid catch and release fishing . Tough when all the fish are too big to keep ! Good for the future fishery though !! Tight lines all ! Mike
Thanx Bou’...there’s been a ton of real big Bass around . Makes for a nice picture and a quick release. Only problem is trying to find the right size that we can keep ..tough when they’re all too big ! Lol
Bahamas trips were going good till lighting hit the boat. How to kill 3 1/2 days in the middle of the summer.Thats how long it took to get towed back to the US.Thankfully we didn't lose the generator,AC,Refrigeration. This was our tow for the next 3 plus days.
As I said it took over 3 days at 5knots to get back to the US.Numerous storms,wind,currents along the way.But you do find out if you get along when stuck together on a floating RV.
That was actually a little slow but all we caught was barracuda since we were on the Bahama bank(shallow water).The one day we got to fish was awesome 2 marlin,yellowfin and blackfin tuna box was about full.
Caught that fish and 3 of its 30# buddies (limit) on the Outrider from Fisherman's Landing, San Diego, CA. I would recommend those guys without question. They are a very limited load operation. Max 11 anglers on a 50'x16' boat. They fish hard and have fun doing it.