AlTheFisherman313

That’s a fair point. I really don’t keep anything I catch unless it’s a legal walleye. At least in my normal fishing grounds. I guess it’s a predicament I hope to never be in fishing to feed my family, but I couldn’t imagine eating a 15 pound carp.... yuck! Even a big catfish usually tastes awful. The best catfish are the barely legal ones. As far as the guys who are keeping things for the sake of keeping what you catch we can roll with douchebags haha. I literally wanna throw their poles on the ground and jump on them. I mean for f*** sake I feel bad foul hooking a fish even on topwater, I could never keep a dink. I want him to remember he was caught till he hits 5+ pounds and than he can forget about it and come jump on my line haha.

Fair enough sir. Like I said I wasn’t trying to go crazy political or too off topic, we all have the right to our own opinion, plus it’s not like we have nothing in common we both love fishing ? My god they have political forums? Haha. I’d rather scratch my eyes out. I do the same thing, hell I have called the DNR on people. I can’t understand how someone can love fishing, but harm the fisheries.... I mean how dumb can someone be.

Your absolutely right, I am not saying all are bad, but I have ran into enough bad ones to have me form that opinion. I actually have a cop on my hockey team lol and it’s great, but he’s also a good human being, if every cop was like my buddy Bobby I’d wanna get pulled over ? Won’t lie he got me good one day. He pulled me over in his city and I was nervous because I wasn’t doing anything wrong only to see Bobby’s dumb ass smiling asking me if I was gonna make it to hockey that night lol!

I am sure you are family with stony creek, I cannot for the life of me figure that lake out haha. It seems to be a big flat filled with weeds ? it seems like bass are everywhere, but nowhere. I don’t catch a lot of fish, when I hit that lake, but they are always hogs when I do, which is what makes that area so frustrating. I mean I can fish there all day and get skunked or in an hour catch 3 4-5 pounders, but the good days are scarce, it’s not surprising considering it’s a 50 acre lake, with heavy fishing pressure. I almost feel like the best way to get a bite is throw something they have never seen or it’s so old no one uses it anymore haha. They are trained not to hit most lures there already, I can’t imagine what else they won’t hit. In fact the only thing I have ever seen people catch fish on there is the good ole rubber worm, and I think that’s usually a deception type deal paired with a gentle cast. All my good fish come off the worm at that lake, but I definitely prefer... cranking? Vs worm fishing. I usually bring the senko out last lol.

The bushwhacker is required for my location haha. It’s fished occasionally, by others, but looking at it on google maps, or even walking down there, no path your gonna be climbing threw some stuff. I do love Michigan when one bite ends, usually something else is starting too lol! In michigan, unless I’m on a boat I’m gonna bring what I need. A boat with space is when I become frivolous haha, bring 10 large planos for bass or something, purely because once your launched, your out for the day, better bring what you need or think you might need, plus it’s just so hard to tell what the water conditions in the fishing areas will look vs a boat launch. Shore fishing is a little more predictable you know what you can and can’t throw, unless it’s a new location.

I’m not trying to stir the pot, but they get paid. That means they get something out of it, so to say they do it for others isn’t exactly the case. Again there are bad and good people in the world, that includes cops, lawyers, doctors so on and so forth. Just because your a cop doesn’t make you a hero. Again, your saying they have to go off what they see off statistics. I can guarantee you wouldn’t be ok with this if you fell into the statistic they look for. i really don’t wanna take this further let’s just agree to disagree. I am not saying all cops are bad, nor am I saying they are all good. It’s like an electrician there’s 60 ads for electricians in the area, how many are good vs bad is literally a person by person basis. In general speaking how many people see a cop and say phew thank god vs an anxiety reaction? It should never cause anxiety, but it does even in people doing nothing wrong. I am 100% pro police, but blindly defending them is as ignorant as fearing every cop. And yes I called myself ignorant ? I have just had too many “off” experiences for someone with a CLEAN record. Who knows maybe it’s just my area! I absolutely understand how dangerous Detroit is.... trust me, we make the worlds most dangerous cities every year for a reason. Downtown is becoming slowly better and better, but the surrounding areas can literally look and feel like a third world nation. There are areas of Detroit that looks like a bomber flew over the area. It’s actually very sad to see.

It’s a shame law enforcement makes people feel this way, but sadly it’s true. I grew up in metro Detroit I’m a German American, but literally having friends of all ethnicities and races I have gotten more unwanted attention with my Arab and black friends from police than you could imagine. I realize I don’t have to face that first hand, but I have first hand witnessed police stereotyping. no need to get into specifics, but from what I have experienced I am afraid of cops and like I said I am German American. It’s sad we fear our police here.

Those statements tell me your 100% from Michigan. I don’t wanna get started on the state police, too many frustrating tickets. I have had one pull me over for tint when literally the guy next to me was drinking a bud light and almost spilled it on himself trying to tuck it down when seeing the cop.... needless to say I got a tint ticket that day ? the DNR of Michigan is like the DEA I swear they will hunt you down, find you and do sick things to you if they get your hands on you haha. I mean I am all for preservation, but when the DNR gets involved I feel like bolting haha. I usually do catch and release I’m just worried they will have some gear restriction I’m unaware of and get a poaching ticket ? obviously kidding, but at the same time not really

Interesting. The smaller pike are usually more tasty. I have always just felt bad wasting so much fish, but if you have an abundance I have no problem eating them. Just after filleting around the y bone you look like you caught a small walleye lol Message me, I have a great spot where you will hit Browns also. It’s on the Clinton I just try to not tell people because I have never seen anyone fish there. I have a trout/salmon box, a bass box, a pike/Muskie box.... I don’t cat fish..... yet haha. I was planning to target a sturgeon yet. I wanna catch 1 of everything we have to offer pretty much. Ice fishing is the only thing I don’t fish. That’s hockey season ? Those trout are so good to eat!

I will NOT fish with anyone without a license unless its a child under the age to need one. The DNR doesnt play games over here in Michigan. I have heard rumors of people getting tickets for POACHING without having a valid license. Print a couple copies put them in each tackle box. They are also accepting screen shots of the license in my state. Its not worth the risk, and in michigan the money goes towards preservation of fishing waters.

Ugh I just spent 110.00 on 3 muskie baits. If I didnt live by such a good fishery for them I wouldnt have to buy these fish sized lures lol. you may only need 2-3 rods to Ski fish, but where they get you is the bait. $30.00 bucktail, $40 plastic curly tail jerk x2 in 2 colors. I mean that's a decent rod, on 3 baits haha. Musky innovations want a lot of money for those alpha dawg pounders lol. At this point im wondering if I have some type of impulsive shopping issue strictly with fishing lures/poles, and hockey sticks haha. Maybe this thread should become a support group. My name is Alex (room hi alex) and I am a slave to the lure companies haha. All it takes is another angler to simply talk up a lure or a simple youtube video and I black out end up at bass pro or cabelas, somehow regaining conscientious after my card is swiped. I have lure I havent even thrown yet! Although, I suppose to be 28 and spending my money on fishing stuff, is probably better than what I see other people from my generation buying. They seem to really enjoy drugs haha! I played elite levels of hockey and soccer growing up, I dont smoke or drink, so I am probably still ahead of the partiers.

You can do a ton with spoons, Troll them, cast them. If your fishing shallow cast and burn it. If you have depth pick the appropriate size and fish it fast enough to wobble it like others said, They actually have way more action and feedback than your probably expecting. I personally catch pike on the by just burning them to the boat over weeds or near structure. On your average pike, muskie trip my personal experience is if they want it they will catch it at insane speeds, always figure 8 at the end and use polarized glasses, Those fish dont give a **** about boats if you see a follow up tip in the water and whip 8s until it hits or looses interest. Watching some youtube videos will explain the figure 8 better than I can type it. Also, they slam salmon in trout in smaller sizes, although the big salmon im pretty sure still use a pretty large spoon. I mainly target bass, pike, walleye, muskie and tuna 1 time a year when I go to san diego to visit relatives. Salt water fishing is...Special to say the least. A tuna pound for pound makes a muskie look like a 10 year old girl lol. Im not kidding on lightish tuna tackle I fought an 80 pound bluefin for an hour and my arms were jello after for about 20 minutes. I still havent managed a tuna over 100, but I cant imagine the fight. The guy on our charter had a 1 hour fight with a 170ish pound tuna it was awesome, he however was trolling at the time so he had a lot more stopping power. I still cant imagine catching a 500 pound bluefin or something. Hopefully this august! Should mention tuna fishing changed what I thought was a lure. My first tuna was trolling with a cedar plug. I thought my uncle was trying to mess with me, but I caught a fish on a lure that was unpainted wood that looked like a...... pleasure device minus the hooks haha!

I actually cannot get a bass to hit a buzz bait believe it or not, I throw topwater all day, not sure if its the water, or using cheap buzz baits, but I have 4 on the way from TackleWarehouse to see if I can change that. I have hit bass on literally everything from ploppers, to spooks, to frogs, but buzzbaits I cant figure out if im working them too fast, too slow or dont understand how to pick their colors lol. The whopper plopper, and my choppos are my go to topwaters. They are on sale I would defintely try a bone, a black, and maybe like a ghostgill or monkeybutt color and you can thank me later haha. They will get hit in full sun high noon, something about those baits, maybe its where I fish, but they get just hammered. My choppo has not came off one of my rigs all season, I actually need to put a hook on it, one of the trebles snapped off.

How sure are you it wasn't a colorful full grown pike? I have seen them with "muskie" coloring. If its a pike its fine, however if its a muskie no way, not in that size. Does a River or creek flow into the pond? that the only way I can imagine it got there, unless it was placed there if it is indeed a muskie. Im leaning toward a trophy pike, but I wasnt there I didnt see it. If you had crystal clear waters and know what you saw the DNR should be notified, like I said I dont think a muskie ends up in a pond of that size on accident, and if it did he definitely needs to be relocated, preserving these predators is huge in my area of lake st clair. Ship him here no such thing as too many muskie!!! lol. So far this season they have proved to be the fish of 10,000 casts, but on lake st clair its usually a fish of a 100 casts lol. Our muskie are eating machines. I am actually going out for some skis saturday! lets hope I nab one casting finally this season. Trolling sucks!!!! too boring! I am hoping for a tiger, shockingly never caught a tigski yet!

You couldnt be more correct. The pike the catch in Canada are silly. I have seen videos of clear water where they are swarming haha! Plus, a friend I made reffing hockey happens to run a muskie charter who happens to fish the canadian side of St. Clair and with all the small river he usually hammers them on their side of the lake!!!!! I see you from my area, or at least I assume off your fishing locations. I am guessing your a multi-species angler as well? My garage is a **** show from that en-devour haha. I still haven't caught a muskie this year casting in my area or a pike over 30 inches and I am frustrated! Although what else can I expect with the season we had. Maybe a trip up north is due where the fishing pressure is lower, and the water is always clearer. 10!!!!! What are you size limitations? I think we can keep 2 in Michigan per day in some areas 5 in others with some odd slot regulations. I don not usually keep them, but if you could keep the good eating size id be glad to help with your overpopulation haha. I heard rumors of Colorado paying anglers to catch pike. Apparently not native, and highly invasive, not sure how valid this is. Edit-Very valid https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/05/31/get-paid-to-fish-northern-pike-colorado/

If anyone is interested in these they can be had in a combo for under $100.00 walmart online, but my god what a deal that’s under 100 shipped. i personally own a 2500,3000 and 5000 combo. I use the smaller for bass and the 5k for musky.

Hahaha so much worse than a pink reel. id rock a pink reel all day. Honestly who gives a *** lol. If anything you will hear it from a close friend. I doubt a guy is gonna cruise by and chirp you ? Or you could slap a small breast cancer sticker on it and make everyone feel really bad when they say anything about it ?

I think I’m gonna take a trip to bass pro shops this weekend. I wanna see everything in person, but I’m definitely gonna be looking at what was recommended if they have it in stock. I am still learning about specializing rods for technique. I grew up with a medium ugly stick and a random penn reel my uncle gave me. I caught a ton of fish with that combo and actually still have it, however I have came a long way since those days. really the only reason I’m upgrading is because I’m realizing I can’t do certain things, or fish a certain way to it’s full potential. I don’t think it’s wise for me to keep throwing a frog into reeds on 10-15 pound braid. I know you can, but my fear with the frog is having a fish take it, break me off in cover and be unable to eat from the frog blocking its mouth. I am huge on preservation of fisheries. I’m not even kidding I am the guy who calls the dnr? I have unfortunately had to report a guy who had a bucket of undersized bass. Over his limits under On size needless to say I wasn’t happy. I really don’t understand that mentality. It’s one thing If your private pond is overstocked, but to do it on a public fishery is ruining the future of the water, in return ruining the sport they claim to love.

As far as for bluegills, usually a small jighead and a short curly tail work out here in Michigan. As far as bass, depending on depth you wanna try at least 3 options. Top mid and deep. I’d go with a buzz bait, a whopper plopper, popper or a frog for top water. A small rattle trap, or spinner for the middle collum, and soft plastics for the bottom. I also have luck luck with both bluegill and bass with j-9 or j-11 rapalas in the black and gold, black and silver or perch colors. Oddly enough frogs, craws and plastic worms work everywhere! In tons of situations. If you wanna go really basic, grab some 3/0 4/0 hooks and some jigs grab 2 colors of craw, 2 colors of worms and a couple weedless frogs. Attempt to figure out the main food source and at first try baits you can cover water with. if you see others fisherman try approaching without tackle or your rods like your out for a walk and just act like a fishing newbie “hey catch anything?” And take a look at what’s on the end of their line haha. i should mention ask the guy catching fish not the guy banging his head on the ground because he’s frustrated ? Heart shaped paddle tails for swim baits are killer as well, especially if you get a nice weedless jighead. Also forgot to mention, approach the pond quietly, stay a few feet back when casting, fish are smarter than you think. When I shore fish I will sometimes attempt to hide behind cover if possible or crouch haha

are you fishing in areas with pike? I saw you location is minnesota and I have heard great things about pike, unsure if you guys have musky! Am I wrong to assume they go hand in hand? I almost always fish waters with pike that attack topwaters, and frogs its frustrating to pick what I want to do here. I have heard everything from medium to medium heavy, my mediums handle pike fine, but not the massive lures. Whats messing with me is we have had unusual flooding in Michigan, and in my mind I thought this would result in less weeds, for whatever reason they seem worse than ever. I think I am getting frustrated, because the bass in my area are being turned on and off so easily from all the rain and storms. Its making me questions if I need a new go-to combo for just this season and I have no clue what it would be, I feel like in heavy weeds bait presentation is limited some of the lakes I have been attempting to fish are so weed choked I could probably go with just a frog and a pole I feel ok with working a worm with haha. This is the versatility I look for once you cover 3 bait types at least it peaks my interest. I wish I was made of money, but im 29 with bills! I really only have 2 hobbies, hockey and fishing. Hockey is awful at the level I play I break a $300.00 stick almost monthly, so that hobby is always chipping away at my funds. Skates retail for 600.00-900.00 for elite skates I end up destroying in a year. If I was not a part time ref and coach, being able to write skates, helmets, gloves and sticks off I am not sure if I could even afford hockey haha. Its actually the reason I started reffing and coaching was to afford my extra hobbies, as well as spread to love for a sadly dying game. Youth signups are down 20-30% I wish I picked up cheaper hobbies, but being raised in michigan at my age, watching the wings win back to back cups twice hockey was one of the more dominant sports in my area. Than we have the great lakes with amazing fishing, so I guess its in my blood? haha

Also, with all our species it makes me hesitant than to do more than 200-300 for a combo. To successfully fish our state you would need a room of poles so versatility is a big thing for me. I use unconventional set-ups in the first place. My two main go to rods for the areas I fish due to the prevalence of medium sized pike and minimal weeds are my two medium fast 7 footers with SPINNING reels. 1 with 10 pound braid to a leader the other with 15 or 20 depending on which pole I’m using. They just max out at 1oz lures and about 20 pounds of braid. I have 3 bait casters also, but I used spinners since I was 9-25 and I’m only 29 now. I’m actually just as accurate with both assuming It’s not ridiculously far or skipping under a tree or something I opt for what I feel comfortable with. I just hear the pros talk about this magical medium heavy heavy frog rod, and how they run 40-65 pound braid and they pull hogs from weeds and grass, I’m just not sure what is considered overkill in my area. I also, got a new musky setup this month so I’m starting to question when would this specific of a rod be needed? Is it a southern lake thing where the beds are that thick? Or am I not throwing my lures into the right areas haha? I catch 12-16 bass all day sometimes 18 inches maybe that’s why I’ll never ever catch a big bass again haha maybe you only get one massive bass in Michigan per lifetime.

Trust me, top water takes out a lot of the need for an ultra sensitive rod haha. I mean just watch and depending on the lure either set or pause and set lol. I’m more worried about backbone and lure weight because I like to cover water and bomb casts with frogs or top waters I was thinking about that, I’m not sure if I would even need the 50-60 pound braid people use. I don’t ever fish in areas that thick? I live in Michigan so maybe it depends on your area and whatnot. Out bass here are small. I’m on this forum acting as a bass angler, but I’m multi-species haha don’t tell anyone. It’s hard not to be given the lakes we have here. Bass inland or in canals, pike everywhere, panfish, salmon, trout.... I could go on, but I basically target what’s biting good, but often go bass fishing, because of the size of the boat I have access to is small so st Clair has to be flat if we wanna fish real waters lol. You can do it, but on a choppy day no way, or when a freighter passes ?. Up north is a whole other ball game. Musky live in slow running wide rivers up there, you could catch them with an aluminum boat all day no motors or a wide kayak.

That actually looks like a setup I may run with. I’m at a point where I try to fish topwater and plan my times and trips according to it. Growing up in michigan fishing for pike and musky, as well as going deep sea fishing for tuna in San Diego 5 times and lots of trips to the kelp beds when bass fishing I try to make it as exciting as possible. Plus in my experience I may catch less fish with top water, but they are usually bigger! Like I said earlier if I could go out and throw frogs, spooks, ploppers and poppers all day and be productive that’s my dream fishing day. Nothing beats watching your bait get hammered haha. Granted you can’t always get what you want, so I obviously still throw soft plastics and sub surface lures, spinners all that stuff too, I just prefer top water.

Definitely my big plopper for bass not that anyone cares, but my jointed x-rap that’s I believe clocking in at 1 3/4 and my bucktails for pike/musky lol. That’s when they work the best. I throw rapalas a lot and can tell you they need to just send them pre beat up. My silver and gold j-7s have seen hooks, but look like a pike flossed their teeth with it haha. If anything it makes the injured bait more believable ?

Absolutely, I was more concerned with a huge pike or even a musky when I’m up north. I think I’m gonna end up getting a kayak trolling motor hybrid that’s a stand up caster as well. I know I have to register it as a boat, but I think it would be great for river fishing and shallows. Otherwise we usually fish off a 16 foot Boston whaler.... and a dingy for a secret drain spot you can’t get back in anything else lol. Obviously a dedicated bass boat would be great, but I’m 28 a real boat will come to me when I earn it! Plus I will say you could fish off really almost any boat with better results than shore in my personal opinion. Being able to work along the weed beds and not threw them is productive and less frustrating