UrbanRedneck

You cook them in a deep fryer? Is that the only way to cook them? I've never even heard of eating the eggs. The idea intrigues me a bit though as I like to try new foods. Yeah, just drop them in a deep fryer. Only takes like a minute and you really dont want to do this with a bass over 3 pounds. Crappie and bluegill eggs are even better. Years ago a roomate showed me how to do it and at first I was like "no way am I eating those eggs, that gross". But he convinced me to do it and I really like it.

When somebody calls a spinnerbait a spinner. People who are disorganized. Buying a wakebait that doesnt float then the paint falls off after one day of fishing it.

I wouldnt kill a big fish but I have not problem taking a 2-3 pound female full of eggs and eating her. I like to take the egg sacks out carefully so you dont tear the skein, then just drop them in hot oil. Try it you might like it.

Um, yeah, I dont think those guys would ever say what they were doing was actually fun. Not even almost. Texas will never, ever come close to the world record bass in our lifetimes. But the SAL program is awesome. Could you imagine what Cali could produce if they had a similar program? Certain types of protein are more conducive to good growth. My understanding is that trout flesh provides for the best growth rates, and for producing stored fat, when compared to species such as shad and bluegill. So without trout there is no way, IMHO, a lake can produce a WRB.

LOL! I guess everybody has dreams......

http://fishbase.org/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.php?ID=4798 I think that is what it is, a mayan cichlid

That fish is odd for sure. Looks like some sort of hybrid with Oscar being in there, who knows what the other half is.

It aint cut and dry. Each year can and usually is different, depending on the weather. However, I can tell you that when the water temp hits about 54, maybe 52 (sustained that is) I get excited that the true pre-spawn movement has started (largemouth). From there you just have to be on the water as much as possible to determine what is happening, meaning everyday get into the shallows and look. Its that simple.

Ive had mine for many years now and love it. Its probably my favorite rod. Sometimes I go drop shotting just because I like that rod so much! Get it.

What lake is that?

Did you smell them?

Heres something I never understood. A six pack is significantly heavier prior to drinking. So how come somebody can tote a six pack to a fishing spot but not tote out the emptys even though they only weigh a fraction of what they did on the way in? I hate bank fishermen.

How about looking into the effects from discarded fishing line. Im certain you can find a ton of photos online. Through the years Ive seen more wildlife, in particular birds, either dead, flying around, or trapped by discarded fishing line. Think about what happens when you throw fishing line in the trash can. It goes to the dump. Wildlife love visiting dumps. I always cut all my discarded fishing line into little pieces prior to throwing away. You can even look into how long it takes that stuff to break down. Heres a story. I was fishing the other night and got hung up in some fishing line on the bottom in 22 feet of water. I finally just pulled as hard as I could and the line I was stuck on broke. A few seconds later I saw something float to the surface. I investigated and found a dead western grebe wrapped in fishing line. Theres no telling how many diving water birds meet their end because of broken off fishing line.

Its a fugus Jay. Ive seen this thing before. I used to fish a lake where the bass had this same sort of thing on their gill plate, and it was circular in shape. Sometimes on one, sometimes on both. It bugged the snot out of me, and nobody within the fisheries community could tell me what it was. Im not a disease or infection person, so I didnt know what it was and really didnt do my research into it. I even posted photos on a fisheries disease forum and nobody could tell me what it was other than some sort of fungus. These sorts of things are just an odd thing that goes on every now and then. Ill post a photo of these fish as soon as I can find them. Has nothing to do with hooking or foraging.

Check your field guide. Cottonmouths dont occur in PA. You pay too much attention to wives tales.

Yeah, Ive seen them and caught them in CA. Ive seen them just about 9 pounds out of Lake Pardee CA.

Yes, I eat bass and have since I started fishing over 30 years ago. However, I am very critical of where Ill eat bass out of and I practice selective harvest. Ill only eat bass out of waters that I know are not polluted, and in CA this means higher elevation lakes with minimal upstream pollution sources. Flat ground waters are totally out of the question, I wont even swim in those waters. I selectively harvest only the small, barely keeper fish as well. Ill keep a limit of 12" spots every time I go to Shasta or Oroville. And for those that dont like the taste you havent cooked them right! Chunk the fillets, roll in egg and your favorite coating and deep fry. Then dip in your favorite sauce (for me thats ketchup with tabasco added). I would never eat a larger bass, or any fish for that matter. I cant believe it when I see people keep 20 pound catfish out of Clear Lake. Totally disgusting.

[quote author=63474D5C415E5A4B5C5B5D2E0 link=1228084344/20#27 date=1228181826 Seriously, if the there were no trout, perhaps frogs would be on the bass' menu

Just gonna play the devils advocate here for a second. I briefly glanced at the list of NorCal lakes that would no longer receive DFG stockings. Many of the no stock lakes are "managed" by private concessionaires (for those not from or familar with CA, what exactly a private concessionaire is would be a good topic for another thread), and many of these lakes are those considered to be trophy NorCal fisheries. When you fish one of these concessionaire managed lakes you pay a fishing access fee. 100% of the fees are used to buy and stock trout and kokanee for that particular lake. These "private" stockings have nothing to do with DFG and they will continue no matter what. Many of these same lakes receive additional stockings from DFG which of course will cease. Who knows what fewer trout will mean to the trophy potential of these lakes. This issue has been blown out of proportion but it is a great example of how screwed up natural resource managment practices in CA are. BTW, Im a very strong proponent of wise conservation of native species in CA, and the key word here is wise. I would have to look at historic natural ranges of native amphibians and trout and current presence data, then compare to those systems where stocking would cease prior to deciding if this is a good thing or a bunch of BS.

Tell us where the fish was caught. That would eliminate several possiblilites without even looking at the photos. But they all look like spotted bass to me. Let me guess. Cape Fear River.

Without a doubt a 175 pound bluefin tuna. That fish blew my mind, I never thought a fish could actually beat me up physically the way that fish did. In freshwater there is one fish that stands out. I was fishing a ledge at night with a spinnerbait. I would slow roll the bait to the edge then let it free fall down the drop. I did this once and for some reason put my reel in free spool as the bait was free falling. I also was talking to my partner. Well, when I kicked that reel in gear my rod flew out of my hand, I barely got it before it went over board. I stood up and the darn fish actually ripped the rod out of my hand again. I have never had my rod ripped from my hand before or since, and this fish did it twice. I thought for sure it was a big striper. But surprise, surprise it turned out to be a nasty, nasty 3.5 pound spotted bass! That occurred on Lake Martin in Alabama many years ago. Just one of those fish Ill neverr forget.

Yes, populations of bass can have multiple spawns (as in more than 2) during a given year. However, based on my experience, this is a rare occurence. Its seems to occur during years that have very odd weather patterns, and IMHO its likely the combination of multiple environmental variables working together. Also, during odd weather years, many bass will not spawn and will reabsorb their eggs.

I make sure I carry a measuring tape with me at all times, and a scale, and a camera, and backup batteries for all. That way, when I do catch a fish I would like to mount, I have everything I need to get a replica. And once I have photos and measurements I can decide to get a replica at anytime in the future. Ive caught some good fish but havent mounted any yet, mostly because they werent "pretty enough". I want one of those great big pot bellied ones! Most of my big fish came post-spawn and where box shaped :-[. One over 15 would be nice but I would take a high 13 if it had the right shape. Also, I assume Ill get her on a swimbait and I will have the bait mounted with the fish as well. I always thought that would be super cool.

Maybe your lakes are in the fall turnover period which typically is a difficult time to catch fish since they can be anywhere. My suggestion would be to keep moving and trying different things, cover the entire water column (including suspended fish) and you will relocate them. Once the turnover is complete the will settle into a more routine and things will return to normal. Or something like that. IMHO, it has nothing to do with "plastics".

;D ;D ;D ;D Now that right there is funny. The only thing you didnt include Mr. Bizz is the urban dictionary definition. Classic. Some things are too predictable.