Innholdsfortegnelse for October/November 2020 i In-Fisherman

From the Field— In 2012, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission initiated a TrophyCatch program, providing awards to anglers and documenting the catch and release of bass weighing at least 8 pounds. With conservation partners from the fishing industry, including Bass Pro Shops, the biggest fish of the year are awarded prizes, including a new Phoenix bass boat. It quickly gained momentum and in 2020 the program verified its 10,000th catch. Because bass must be photographed or filmed to document weight, biologists have used the results for biological assessments and conducted associated tagging and radio-telemetry projects. Data suggest there are 18,000 to 33,000 trophy bass (8-plus pounds) in Florida’s public waters, of which anglers annually catch from 3,000 to 6,000. Over the 12-year period, release rates have ranged from…

Whether you fancy crappies, perch, or bluegills, fall presents opportunities for both numbers and trophy fish. From sea to shining sea, stellar pan-fish fisheries dot the landscape. Some locations have a history of being prolific panfish producers, while others are riding a new surge in size and numbers. Before fall turns to winter, it’s time to pick a species, choose a location, and put a few primetime techniques into play to put panfish in the boat or on the bank. Clear Lake, California This destination about 100 miles north of San Francisco has a reputation for producing trophy largemouth bass. Anglers toss swimbaits the size of stocker trout in hopes of topping the lake record at 17.52 pounds. What often goes overlooked is that Clear Lake also holds the state…

Bright sun. Slight breeze. Warm, sunny, October afternoon. Too many people around on days like that, so we parked ourselves in a good pool at daybreak and stayed put. But we worked it for over an hour without a take. We kept changing jig colors and I finally elected taupe—the most boring color in the box—in this case sort of tan with a hint of pink. Waxworms added, I pitched it to midstream. And the float dove on the first drift. After landing the fish, the float was ripped under on the next drift. Fighting a second steelie, I directed my partner Mary to a jig box in my vest. “Open it up,” I said. I pointed to a jig. “Tie that on.” “This? You’re kidding.” I shook my head.…

The key to catching channel catfish in the fall is to forget where you caught them last summer. Once water temperatures fall below about 50°F, channel cats move toward areas where they spend the winter. Anglers aware of that annual migration and who alter where and how they fish can enjoy catfishing success well into November, maybe even to Christmas Day. The challenge to catching late-season channel catfish is that there are no absolute rules about how far and how fast catfish move. Studies of radio-tagged channel catfish in rivers at multiple locations across the Midwest proved some fish moved as much as 35 miles between Labor Day and Thanksgiving to find suitable wintering areas; others moved barely at all. Some fish moved from their summer grounds to their wintering…

“I have some bad news,” Doc said over the phone. “The pandemic? The economy? The outrageous increase in beer prices?” “Even badder,” Doc said. “It is with a profoundly distressed heart that I break the news that Knobby has passed away.” “Impossible!” I said. “Last year he looked to be in tip top shape. What happened?” “He was 86 with some serious health issues,” Doc said. “That’s what happened.” We met Knobby Clark four decades ago when he first greeted us with, “Welcome to Paradise!” on our inaugural fly-in fishing adventure. Occasional phone calls kept us loosely in touch, but when we did hook up on our annual trips, the warm ember of camaraderie would burst into flame. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again,” Doc said. “If…

Spawning of Eastern Brook Trout Fish Life History— Native eastern brook trout range from eastern Canada through northeastern Georgia. They are found in 20 additional states with sustaining populations in 14 states outside their original range. Their beautiful coloration is distinct. The back, dorsal, and caudal fins have vermiculations—wavy, wormy lines. The sides have iridescent blue spots, large yellow spots, and some small red spots circled by blue. A white bar sets off the front edge of each of the lower fins with a black stripe edging into the reddish colored fin. Trout in the Northeast spend their adult life in cold headwater streams, large rivers, ponds, and large lakes in inland and coastal areas. Typically, they prepare to spawn in October or November. Spawning males are bright red on…

Zenon It’s the lightest spinning reel in the world, weighing in at 4.9 ounces (20 size). Abu Garcia Zenon offers a magnesium body (contours to fit the hand perfectly) and an ultralight hybrid spool, for weight reduction and durability, plus a silky-smooth drag across all settings, making ultralight line presentations a sure success. Also offered in 30 size (5.3 ounces)—$499.95, abugarcia.com Fluoroshield A marriage of fluorocarbon and copolymer, Berkley Fluoroshield offers the manageability of monofilament with the abrasion resistance and near invisibility of fluorocarbon. Superior knot strength. It’s offered in break strengths from 4 to 30 pounds—$9.99, berkley-fishing.com Storm Shad Body The Storm Largo Shad rolls, swims, and thumps along on a straight retrieve or in free-fall rigged on a weighted swimbait hook or a jighead. Cut the tail tendon…

Fishing hair and marabou jigs for bass is all about light tackle, which allows light jigs—typically 1/16 to 3/16 ounce—to do their thing, gliding and flaring. It’s like tip-toeing along a high wire, which is why it’s so much fun. Heavier jigs also work at times, but the additional weight can reduce the finesse performance that makes these options so magical in the first place. But the balancing act between line strength, line diameter, lure weight, casting distance, and effective presentation can topple anybody. Conditions and cover become factors. In cloudy water with heavy cover, casts can be short. In clear water with rock or sparse cover, success can be measured by the distance of your cast. Throw in the uncertainty factor—can these choices actually land a big bass?—and, well,…

If muskies are the question, livebait might just be the answer. In a game defined by uncertainty, unforeseen circumstances and I’ve-never-seen-that-before’s, livebait is perhaps the one sure way to put a fish in the net. Attach a live critter to a hook, dance it on the doorstep of their domain, and eventually, a muskie will eat. Even a greenhorn can make that happen. Right? If we’re being honest, fishing with livebait—usually a 10- to 16-inch white sucker—ought to be treated a little like wielding a firearm. There’s a sort of responsibility to do it right. If you’ve faked your way through the process, you’ll inevitably find yourself in some trouble—missing numerous bites or worse, impaling fish deep into the gills, pharynx, or esophagus. Many of the rigs available at baitshops…

Market research has found that of all the messages promoting outdoor activities, those that reference fishing memories resonate with more people than any other. Those of us fortunate enough to have been raised fishing tend to get a warm, fuzzy feeling when we think about past fishing experiences. My head is chock full of fishing memories. Some of the better ones occurred around Memorial Day because that is the time of year we typically open the family cabin on Stalker Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. That’s also the time black crappies and rock bass usually spawn and provide great fishing. Over the last 25 years, I can’t remember a single year that I wasn’t at the cabin in late May and early June. That is until this year. When…