9 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Thanks Katie. My wife agrees, though I'm not sure why? I don't know how she puts up with me. The woman has the patience of Job. 😂

I had a good numbers day yesterday. I caught 6, lost 3 and raised about that many more. No big's though. 33x2, 34, 35, 36, 38 

 I added another 36, lost two, and pulled it away from a couple low 30's this morning. I also had a low 40's come in hot, but it wouldn't quite commit.

 These 30 somethings are dragging down my average size, but the season total is now at 62. This seems to be the SOP in August/September. Lots of mid size fish with an occasional big'n up in the weeds. The average size will go back up as we transition into fall.

 

Are you shooting for 100 again, Tim?

On 8/9/2025 at 6:34 PM, Peacedivision said:

 

 

 

Always nice to see a smile on a face when fishing!

14 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Are you shooting for 100 again, Tim?

I hope to get there, but it's kinda just an arbitrary number at this point. If getting there was a big deal, I wouldn't be pulling the bait away from those low 30's. Any fish over 30" counts, but I'd rather not risk injuring/killing those little fish. They're an unruly handful to deal with at that size, kinda like teenagers. 😂 

I’m about 36 hours in this muskie season and only have two mediocre fish to show for it.

 

I put another 4.5 hours in last weekend and only caught a 33 inch pike.

 

#embracethesuck

4 hours ago, gim said:

I’m about 36 hours in this muskie season and only have two mediocre fish to show for it.

 

I put another 4.5 hours in last weekend and only caught a 33 inch pike.

 

#embracethesuck

Apples and oranges given our greater population density. Also, I put that many hours in every couple weeks and there's been a couple times this year when I went a few weeks without a fish.

16 hours ago, T-Billy said:

I hope to get there, but it's kinda just an arbitrary number at this point. If getting there was a big deal, I wouldn't be pulling the bait away from those low 30's. Any fish over 30" counts, but I'd rather not risk injuring/killing those little fish. They're an unruly handful to deal with at that size, kinda like teenagers. 😂 

 

Oh, I know.

17 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Apples and oranges given our greater population density.

 

I understand that's a factor.  I also don't fish for 10 hours straight.  And I can only use one line, and I am not permitted to use any live bait other than a big expensive sucker minnow in the fall.  And our season is only open from early June to Dec 1.  So there's lots of things working against me that are aiding you.

 

That being said, it's very frustrating.  Rarely do I have such consistently poor results in anything I frequently try to do.

@gim, It's all about blades, cranks, and top waters around weeds in 2'-12' here right now, with lots of fish in the back end of the bays, especially bays with creeks. Dunno how similar your lakes fish.

No, this isn’t the bait.  Well it was supposed to be but not in this case.  I dropped a minnow trap with dogfood pellets in here Wednesday and checked it Thursday.  One crayfish.  I saw fish swirling, so i put some bread in and left it soak another 24 hours.  2 more crayfish.  I took a pole with me (UK graphite pole equivalent of a cane pole) with some small hooks and bread.  Only took two casts to catch this one and then caught a few more for good measure.  All about the same size.  No wonder there were none in the trap with a 1” hole.  The intention was to have some 3-4” shiners or minnows for stripers and a chill soak in the sunshine this weekend but that isn’t happening tomorrow. Found another spot that I could see some 3” shiners and we’re letting it soak again tonight.  

 

It's a little sloppy out here, 

and the pike are chewing !

 

A-Jay 

First proper river striper of the season and I'm pretty sure my BFS PB. Ate a 2.5" mayor on a 1/16oz jighead just after the flip to outgoing tide.

Tammy's getting a little outta control with the whole multi species angling thing. 😂

She snagged that big ol snapper by the front foot, and it was determined to remove a chunk from me while I unhooked it. In the end, we both got out of that deal pretty much unscathed. 

 We also managed to catch six muskie over the past two days, and lose three others. No bigs, all between 33" and 39". We did raise a couple low 40's but couldn't get 'em to go.

Jesus dude.  Getting mauled by a snapping turtle?  Kinda puts the wolf pelt hat to shame.

3 minutes ago, gim said:

Jesus dude.  Getting mauled by a snapping turtle?  Kinda puts the wolf pelt hat to shame.

Ha!!! If it had got me, it would have become a pot of soup for sure. It was a handful. Snagged on the front foot, and they can reach about half way back around their shell with that long neck. Look at that pic of it trying to bite me. My fist would dang near fit in that things mouth.

4 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Ha!!! If it had got me, it would have become a pot of soup for sure. It was a handful. Snagged on the front foot, and they can reach about half way back around their shell with that long neck. Look at that pic of it trying to bite me. My fist would dang near fit in that things mouth.

 

This is why I don't noodle for catfish.  I'd prefer to keep all my fingers.

3 hours ago, gim said:

This is why I don't noodle for catfish.  I'd prefer to keep all my fingers.

This is why you don’t grab turtles while noodlin’…Sometimes you just have to be quick!

 

The difference in feel underwater of a catfish and a turtle is very distinctive.

 

that may be the most redneck sentence I’ve ever written

I am skeptical that you can tell the difference between a catfish, snapping turtle, water moccasin, or alligator BEFORE a serious problem occurs. Like losing a finger. Or worse, an arm.

Well, fall is here for clear and with that comes a change in pursuit for me. While most of my state is chasing chinook, I’m after the much better coho and Atlantic salmon. Fresher, and bite way better for way longer. Plus, both species are much prettier.
 

It’s still early for Atlantics, but coho are starting and are a real fun bite. They’ll chase right to shore and smoke a lure at your feet or simply stop your bait two cranks out in the middle of the river or pier! I just used my 7’ M cranking rod with moderate action as I felt my fast action was pulling hooks on these early fish(they have a softer mouth still). I could bomb a lure as far as needed, especially if the wind wasn’t direct 

 

Fun with 3 wt fiberglass last night @bulldog1935
 

@JonB2, which part of Michigan do you fish? I bass fish the Crystal, platte, and pike fish the betsie. Want to try manistee one day 

Fish of The White Mountains

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

which part of Michigan do you fish?

NE MI, sunrise side 

23 hours ago, gim said:

 

This is why I don't noodle for catfish.  I'd prefer to keep all my fingers.

 

You'd have to be incredibly stupid or incredibly brave to noodle.

 

I ain't either!

 

I would probably fit more reasonably in the former. Also more in the ‘misplaced but optimistic confidence’ category.

Friday night before our tournament, Deric and I sat out at our campsite with a few catfish rods out to see if we could get one to bite. I've never caught a blue at this lake, but we found 3 of them and they were all solid fish. Had to reel the rods in to keep ourselves from sitting out all night.