5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Definitely a blue. The straight anal fin is a dead giveaway. 

When I was a kid an old man told me that a Channel had a forked tail, and a Blue didn't.  I see now that the "internet" says both have a forked tail.  I don't look at them that close, just look at the pictures later.   The one I pictured a few days ago was more Olive colored than most of the ones I catch that I call "Blues".   

I do know this one is a flathead.   

 

1 hour ago, Woody B said:

When I was a kid an old man told me that a Channel had a forked tail, and a Blue didn't.  I see now that the "internet" says both have a forked tail.  I don't look at them that close, just look at the pictures later.   The one I pictured a few days ago was more Olive colored than most of the ones I catch that I call "Blues".   

I do know this one is a flathead.   

 

Flatheads and bullheads don't have forked tails, blues and channels do. It's the anal fins and rays in that fin that are the main ways to tell the difference between channels and blues, except in small fish where channels typically have spots and blues do not.

Striper fishing turned into getting on a stream bluegill bite to save the skunk.

What in the heck is this? Flathead? Bullhead? It slammed a chatterbait and was very well behaved getting off the hook

The ned by-catch has been increasing the past week.  Wish I had the boat/gear/time as the crappies were thick.

 

1 hour ago, thediscochef said:

What in the heck is this? Flathead? Bullhead? It slammed a chatterbait and was very well behaved getting off the hook

A baby flathead. Have caught quite a few little ones on jigs and crank baits. 

Caught these 2 at my favorite retention pond yesterday. I would have thought I recaught the same fish twice if it wasn’t for the fact the first one I released was stuck in the weed infested area that went from the shore to about 15 feet out. I almost waded in to re-release him but he finally figured it out. After the second catch and me having to launch him back into the water so he didn’t have the same problem I decided I’m going to hit some other ponds with cleaner edge’s until they treat the pond via the homeowners association.

Edited May 27, 20233 yr by Eric 26
Grammar

Snuck out onto my backyard lake for a couple hours this morning before it got too hot, to see if I could find a pike or two. 
Well, that’s exactly what I found. One about 36” swiped and missed my bait right at the boat, and this guy, a solid 40” long fish that t-boned a jerkbait about 10’ from the boat. Was about the biggest pike I’ve caught out of this lake, and my first 40” fish of the year ( granted I’ve only been out twice, so that’s a pretty good average so far).

3 hours ago, Way north bass guy said:

One about 36” swiped and missed my bait right at the boat, and this guy, a solid 40” long fish

Those are a rare fish nowadays here in Minnesota. 95% of the pike here are of the annoying small snot rocket variety.

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Those are a rare fish nowadays here in Minnesota. 95% of the pike here are of the annoying small snot rocket variety.

There’s quite a few lakes like that around here too, mainly the smaller lakes that get more pressure. Lots of mid size to larger lakes don’t get near the pressure, and have more places for them to hide and get a chance to get larger. Also, most of the lakes around here have a pretty good variety and amount of forage for them as well. 

8 minutes ago, Way north bass guy said:

There’s quite a few lakes like that around here too, mainly the smaller lakes that get more pressure. Lots of mid size to larger lakes don’t get near the pressure, and have more places for them to hide and get a chance to get larger. Also, most of the lakes around here have a pretty good variety and amount of forage for them as well. 

Yes, the larger systems here often have a higher percentage of sizable pike too. Most of those lakes have Cisco/tulibee as the main forage and they are loaded with calories.

I can have a ton of fun in a system "infested" with smaller pike, it's just a matter of adjusting expectations, and going to the water prepared for what's in there.

Wire leaders are a given, lighter rods, and smaller baits/flies and I can have an absolute blast.

Give me choice between a 50 bluegill day, or a 50 hammer handle pike day, and I'll take the latter every time.  Aggressive eats, never say die fights...what's not to like?

PB bluegill, 2nd ever smallmouth, 2nd ever pike. Decent 20 hours. 
 

How about this one. American Eel:

 

I don't think we have any pike here, but I caught this little guy yesterday on a stick worm piece on a mushroom head, after he harassed me repeatedly and tore up my worm.

A couple nice Crappie and a Yellow Perch today while bass fishing.  The biggest Crappie was 13 inches.  

Yellow perch are a pain in the butt due to small bones, but they are excellent table fare! 

This guy was almost an 'other catch'.  Pulling a topwater in, saw some movement out of the corner of my eye.  Looked to see this owl swooping down, aiming right at my lure.  I started reeling in as fast as I could.. he gave up about 10 feet away from the kayak and perched on this branch, looking pretty angry at me.

 

 

Might've been, but I think owls just have RBF.

20 hours ago, Standard said:

This guy was almost an 'other catch'.  Pulling a topwater in, saw some movement out of the corner of my eye.  Looked to see this owl swooping down, aiming right at my lure.  I started reeling in as fast as I could.. he gave up about 10 feet away from the kayak and perched on this branch, looking pretty angry at me.

I have had songbirds go after smaller flies and streamers while I've been practice casting, and once had a bat grab my fly on the river, but never an owl.

Maybe I need larger flies.

On 5/29/2023 at 6:16 PM, BrianMDTX said:

but they are excellent table fare!

Yellow perch out of cold/cool water are the best eating freshwater fish I've had.  Even better than a walleye IMO.  The filet is a little firmer.

 

They do have scales like iron though, so a very sharp knife is needed.  And of course, you need jumbos, not dinks.

They DO have scales like iron! You need a few of the big ones with a humped back to make a good perch fry. 
 

Yellow perch and bluegills are my favorite freshwater eating fish. 

59 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

You need a few of the big ones with a humped back to make a good perch fry. 

When they get that hump on the back/forehead then they are a big perch.

 

Years ago there was no daily bag limit on them here.  Then it went to 100.  Then it went to 50.  Now I think its 20.  People found out how tasty they were.

23 hours ago, Further North said:

I have had songbirds go after smaller flies and streamers while I've been practice casting, and once had a bat grab my fly on the river, but never an owl.

Maybe I need larger flies.

 

Haven't had any birds come after flies yet.  So far it's just been that owl, and a few years ago had a heron try to snatch up a top water as well.