Posts: 484
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2003
Reputation:
0
Myself and mtnman went to the gorge june 5th thru the ninth. The weather was beautiful the first two days then on and off thunder storms. We do this trip every year, this is our third aniversity. We have fished the gorge a total to 15 days in 3 years. We are self taught. No guide just trial and error and every year we seem to do a little better. We only target mack. This year the total count was 10. Mtnman caught a 16,32,7,and a 29 Lbr. I caught a 7,20,19,13,11, and a 25 Lbr. Had a great time. The last day we both got skunked but sh** happens. That last evening right before dark the lightning started and we were hurrying to get stuff in the boat and get out of there. Both of us got shocked when we were putting our poles up. This was a little close for me. Here are some pics. Enjoy
Bodine
P.S. all fish were weighed, photoed, and released unharmed to catch next year.
[signature]
Posts: 2,396
Threads: 35
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
2
[font "Comic Sans MS"][red][size 4] Hey bodine11, man you guys were having way to much fun. I have got to get up there for some of that. Great job amd Thanks for sharing your pix.[/size][/red][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#ff0000][size 4][/size][/#ff0000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#ff0000][size 4]AFDan52[/size][/#ff0000][/font]
[signature]
Posts: 2,993
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2004
Reputation:
0
Bodine your sure givin' me the itch for some of that. Of course it dont take much to get me stirred up for a "MAC ATTACK!".
[signature]
Posts: 4,139
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2002
Reputation:
0
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Well, I guess the rest of us might as well abandon any thought of catching fish in Sheep Creek and Hideout. You and Mtnman have put the fear in all those fish down that way! Thanks for sharing the pictures.[/size][/black][/font]
[signature]
Posts: 1,335
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2003
Reputation:
0
those are some awesome pictures of some really big fish.
great report. thanks for sharing
[signature]
Posts: 484
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2003
Reputation:
0
I hope you all do that would be great[  ] I've aleady abondoned any hope on swim beach, antelope flats, lucerne , anvil, pipline and any near vicentity I know the fish there have seen all that can be seen. But it sure is fun catchen them big boys. Looks like you guys done pretty well yourselfs. Take care
Bodine
[signature]
Posts: 2,775
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2002
Reputation:
0
Nice report and thanks for sharing . I'm still trying to figure out how to sneek up there this year for a weekend without the wife finding out .
[signature]
Posts: 1,614
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2003
Reputation:
0
Nice fish! Thanks for the report. Looks like you had a blast.
[signature]
Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
Sounds like a great trip with plenty of big fish! Thanks for the report and especially the pictures! I noticed that you indicated that all fish were released unharmed however in most of the pictures there are hands and/or fingers shoved in the gills holding them up. Maybe I'm wrong but isn't that really bad for the fish and their survival? In some of the other posts I see people holding the big mac's more like a baby keeping their hands out of the gills. I also recall a past post about how lip grip devices and hanging scales are bad for fish this big because it can damage their spine from all the weight....
I am not trying to stir the pot here....just wanted to get some information. So a few questions for whoever...
1. What is the best way to hold a fish that big to protect the fish and for a good picture?
2. What is the best way (for the safety/survival of the fish) to weigh a fish of that size?
Thanks
[signature]
Posts: 4,139
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2002
Reputation:
0
[reply]
[size 1]1. What is the best way to hold a fish that big to protect the fish and for a good picture? [/size]
[/quote]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I believe you can be careful and support a large fish by the gill rakes without damaging gills. The DWR advises supporting big fish, such as tiger musky and I'm sure it could be applied to large lakers too, in this manner instead of hanging them from a lip grip which can damage and sometimes break, a large fish's spine. Any time you get your hands around gills, you do take a chance of damaging them especially with big fish that can roll and twist with such power.[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Speaking of the power a big fish has, I used to look at Jim William's pictures and always thought the people looked like they were holding cord wood. I didn't really care for it BUT on our last trip I got my eyes opened. I tried to hold a 28 lb fish under it's head and grabbing the tail. The fish start struggling and the fish was too strong for me to control. With Jim's style of holding the fish, the fish can struggle and you can use both your body and arms to control a struggling fish a lot better. You'd be surprised at how much better.[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I'm going to change my ways of holding large fish because the last thing I want to do is hurt one of those big toads. This is just my opinion and is not meant to belittle anyone else.[/size][/black][/font]
[reply]
[size 1]2. What is the best way (for the safety/survival of the fish) to weigh a fish of that size? [/size]
[/quote]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]With large fish a craddle works great. So does the net. These support the fish's weight without putting the fish in a position where he could harm himself struggling while being hung from a scale. Smaller fish can be hung by the jaws but I'd avoid hanging a large fish by the jaws. Their body weight can't be adequetely support by just their jaw and spine without the potential of harming the fish. Admitting no guilt, some things you learn the hard way. Enough said.[/size][/black][/font]
[signature]
Posts: 2,933
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2005
Reputation:
0
WELL PUT BUDDY. THOSE BIGGUNS HAVE POWER AND THATS NO BS. MY 31 LAST YR TOOK ALL I HAD JUST TO CRADEL. AND WHEN HOLING WITH THE JAWS OR BY HAND IN THE GILLS JUST LOOK AT THEIR NECKS BEND. I TAXIDERMY FISH AND THIS IS THE WEEKEST PART OF THE SPINE. AND BREAKS VERY EASY! ITS A COOL WAY TO NOT GET BLOOD IN A FILET WITH ANY FISH. BREAK NECK BY PULLING BACK AND SPINE BLOOD BLEADS BEFORE CLEANING. WALLEYE FILLETS ARE WHITE MEAT AND LOOK LESS APPEALING WITH THE BLOOD. JUST THOUGHT ID SHARE A TRICK WITH YA ALL.
[signature]
Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
[font "Comic Sans MS"]BLM-[/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]"I believe you can be careful and support a large fish by the gill rakes without damaging gills."[/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]What exactly are the gill rakes? Is that the same as the gill plate? Is is the hard boney covering to the gills? [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]"I'm going to change my ways of holding large fish because the last thing I want to do is hurt one of those big toads"[/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]Amen to that! Those big lakers are big and powerful and we all need to do what we can to protect them and not harm them before releasing them!!![/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]Thanks for the info. I never thought about weighing them still in the net! Duh, great idea![/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][/font]
[signature]
Posts: 484
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2003
Reputation:
0
thanks big cat, and BLm you are both correct and I personally am going to change the way I handle the big ones. Blm is right these fish are very powerful and can actually throw you around. So I can see where holding them by the gill plate could be bad one hard flip and it's neck could easily break. Also thanks for not beating me up to bad....I do enjoy this site and would want to keep participating.
Bodine
[signature]
Posts: 4,139
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2002
Reputation:
0
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Hey, Jeff,[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Hopefully, we're not here to beat each other up about stuff but to help each other become better anglers. I had no intent to belittle you of demean you in any way. You have always preached consevation of our resources, both on Bear Lake and the Gorge and I applaud you for that. If you were able to come away with any tidbit of info I tried to supply, than I'm honored. I didn't think of any of the suggestions I made for handling fish but was educated by better anglers than myself! Also the school of hard knocks has taught me a thing or two! LOL![/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I look forward to your future reports here on BFT. You're a great member! Please, don't leave![/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Hey, bigcat! Here the definition of Gill rakes:[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 3][black]Gill rakes, or Gill rakers (Anat.), horny filaments, or progresses, on the inside of the branchial arches of fishes, which help to prevent solid substances from being carried into gill cavities.[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]I may have used the term incorrectly and possibly gill plates would of been a better term. I don't know. I'm not a fish biologist nor am I as educated. [/black][/size][/font]
[signature]
Posts: 484
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2003
Reputation:
0
No harm, no foul. All is good. [cool] Tight lines
Bodine
P.S. The fish we had with the lip grippers was only 7 Lbs it looks bigger in the picture. I definantly wouldn't use them on a big boy.
[signature]
Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
[reply]
Also thanks for not beating me up to bad....I do enjoy this site and would want to keep participating.
[/reply]
Bodine11, No beating was intended and I hope it didn't come across like that. It was my intention to find out more for myself what handling procedure is best for a fish that size. You see all different styles in the pictures posted on BFT and I was wondering what other people thought was correct or safest for the fish. I was not trying to use yours as a bad example.....just as an example (not necessarily good or bad) for discussion purposes.
I used to keep most of the trout I would catch so I had no problem holding them by the gills cause I was going to kill them and eat them anyway. But since I fell in love with Strawberry and have to release almost every fish I catch I have had to learn new techniqes and handling procedures to help the survival rate of the fish. I purchased a larger rubberized net with a flatter bottom that the fish lays in very nicely and I am able to unhook the jig with needle nose pliers and then put the net back into the water and the fish swims away. Hardly ever do I even need to touch the fish. I realize it is a different story with bigger fish like macs. I have only fished FG one time and was fortunate enough to go with a very experienced gorge fisherman who really got us into some good fish. i have a lot of respect for that lake and the huge fish it holds. Those big beasts are magnificent fish and need to be treated carefully to preserve their longevity so that we all can have a chance at catching that 30+ pounder (my biggest was only 25#).
So no offense was intended by my post so I hope your not feeling offended. You are a valued member of the board so please don't be scared off on my account.
[signature]
Posts: 2,933
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2005
Reputation:
0
I ALSO MENT NO HARM. AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FUTURE POST. SOLID SETS.
[signature]
Posts: 484
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2003
Reputation:
0
I'm still here. I'm just a little touchy about my fishing. It is my passion and I take it very seriously. Plus working alot of midnight shifts in a row can wear on a guy.[  ] This board has a lot of good people on it. Though I mainly fish Idaho resevoirs with the exception of Bear Lake (which kinda is both an Idaho and Utah lake) and Faming gorge and a few lakes in wyoming. I still enjoy reading the post on this site. All is well and the way we all handle fish is a good topic. I have learned alot and can appreciate other peoples opinions. I do love to fish for Big Mack that is my mainstay and anything I can do to help them servive after a tough battle is worthy of discussion. So good luck to everyone and keep the fishing adventures coming. I will.[cool]
Bodine
[signature]
|
