Who's catching fish this week and what are ya catching?

My buddy gave me one of those whopper ploppers to try out and I was fishing for smallmouth last night right at sunset and a Fish Ohio, 21 inch, saugeye slammed it about 10 feet from shore. Smallmouth fishing has been good lately too! Only going to get better after the first hard frost, that is when the top water bite gets good!

Had a good couple days on Vermilion this week fishing for Walleye. No monsters, but several 19 to 24 inch fish. All were caught with slip bobber, 1/4 oz. jigs, and either minnow or crawlers. They seemed to hit each equally. Our bobbers were set at 6 feet deep, and we were on the edge of a drop off . We were in a area with a lot of current.we also caught 12 Jumbo perch in the same area , as they were mixed in with the Walleyes. The perch were 10 to 14 inches and they were delicious!!

Not me ;-(

I'm working........But I'm coming your way Mike in a few weeks if you can spare an afternoon. Nice fish BTW! Thats a weird catch on the last lure you could of imagined. Did you bang any smallies with it? I laugh every time I say "Whopper Plopper" ;-)

Nice fish Mike - thanks for sharing. Nice work on those walleyes on Vermilion Walllee.

Was fishing for Splake this week:

quote walllee: "Had a good couple days on Vermilion this week fishing for Walleye. No monsters, but several 19 to 24 inch fish. All were caught with slip bobber, 1/4 oz. jigs, and either minnow or crawlers. They seemed to hit each equally. Our bobbers were set at 6 feet deep, and we were on the edge of a drop off . We were in a area with a lot of current.we also caught 12 Jumbo perch in the same area , as they were mixed in with the Walleyes. The perch were 10 to 14 inches and they were delicious!!"

Guess I'll post a pic of the biggest one...

Catching trout :-)

quote walllee: "

quote walllee: "Had a good couple days on Vermilion this week fishing for Walleye. No monsters, but several 19 to 24 inch fish. All were caught with slip bobber, 1/4 oz. jigs, and either minnow or crawlers. They seemed to hit each equally. Our bobbers were set at 6 feet deep, and we were on the edge of a drop off . We were in a area with a lot of current.we also caught 12 Jumbo perch in the same area , as they were mixed in with the Walleyes. The perch were 10 to 14 inches and they were delicious!!"

Guess I'll post a pic of the biggest one... "

Good looking fish wallee, I like how the dorsal fin is up. The beautiful day brings out the color as well. You look nice and comfy ;-)

Life is good!

I live in central MN, and it's smallie time on the Mississippi. I wish the water wasn't so high, but you'd have to be seriously deficient in mind, body, or soul to not catch at least some fish this time of year. If you have the money for good-sized sucker minnows, you can go through $100 a day, no problem save for the wife (or husband).

The after-dark trolling is also in full swing. Buddy and I got 57 in a few hours on Leech a few days back, and while I didn't land any muskies on Mille Lacs last weekend, we did catch multiple walleyes on our 10'' crankbaits.

Man, why can't it be October every month?!? :)

Not this week but did a 5 day trip last week. Caught a lot of nice eaters but nothing over 20''

Thanks for sharing everybody, keep them coming!

quote egknuti: "Was fishing for Splake this week: "

Beautiful fish! Any chance we can know where? ;)

a few crappie in south ohio

quote mastertangler: "Not me ;-(


I'm working........But I'm coming your way Mike in a few weeks if you can spare an afternoon. Nice fish BTW! Thats a weird catch on the last lure you could of imagined. Did you bang any smallies with it? I laugh every time I say "Whopper Plopper" ;-)"

I haven't caught any big smallmouth with it yet. Haven't really used it too often.

quote GirlOnARock: "

quote egknuti: "Was fishing for Splake this week: "

Beautiful fish! Any chance we can know where? ;)"

Just outside of Ely. I’ll let you figure out the rest:)

Not a lot of walleye and smallmouth to be caught in northern California but I have caught some trout. I did some camping and fishing on the East Walker River which flows into Nevada and sinks into the bottom of the Great Basin. I made a two minute video which is a little off topic but it might be entertaining and you can check out some Eastern Sierra fishing. A couple of photos and a link to the video are below.

Live Forever - East Walker

quote Basspro69: "Catching trout :-)"

Me too the stream trout in lakes the bite is good.

quote egknuti: "Was fishing for Splake this week: "

Nice fish, your photo journal is amazing !!!

Here at home the walleye and perch fishing has been great with full limits of each in the freezer.

quote Basspro69: "

quote egknuti: "Was fishing for Splake this week: "

Nice fish, your photo journal is amazing !!!"

Indeed! An artist with a camera! Must have some nice equipment........very worthwhile, good catch Bass Pro.

Mississippi walleyes. Waiting on the perch.

quote mastertangler: "

quote Basspro69: "

quote egknuti: "Was fishing for Splake this week: "

Nice fish, your photo journal is amazing !!!"

Indeed! An artist with a camera! Must have some nice equipment........very worthwhile, good catch Bass Pro. "

Always the struggle: Do I fish or do I take pictures? Thanks for the compliments!

quote egknuti: "

quote mastertangler: "

quote Basspro69: "

quote egknuti: "Was fishing for Splake this week: "

Nice fish, your photo journal is amazing !!!"

Indeed! An artist with a camera! Must have some nice equipment........very worthwhile, good catch Bass Pro. "

Always the struggle: Do I fish or do I take pictures? Thanks for the compliments!"

Sweet fish :)

5 crappie Friday evening. Bite was slow then nil. Saturday was cold rain with even a few flakes of snow mixed in. Bite should get better soon. They were tasty.

It was in the 30s this morning, but I still managed to catch 2 "Fish Ohio" qualifying smallmouth today. Caught 6 pretty good ones today.....I was even wearing my BWCA.com hat to keep my head warm :)

Just got in from my last open water stream trout(lakes) this year and brother and I caught 8 rainbow trout we kept from 11-15 inches.

quote Pinetree: "Just got in from my last open water stream trout(lakes) this year and brother and I caught 8 rainbow trout we kept from 11-15 inches."

Man I'm jeolous Pinetree!!! I sure wish I could of made it up to Ely before the end of the month. Love to finish the season on Tofte .

quote QueticoMike: "It was in the 30s this morning, but I still managed to catch 2 "Fish Ohio" qualifying smallmouth today. Caught 6 pretty good ones today.....I was even wearing my BWCA.com hat to keep my head warm :)


"

Pretty jeolous of those Smallies also!! Great job Mike!

Rain, cold, dreary Monday, but I wasn't going to cacth this one sitting at home all dry and warm ;)

quote walllee: "

quote Pinetree: "Just got in from my last open water stream trout(lakes) this year and brother and I caught 8 rainbow trout we kept from 11-15 inches."

Man I'm jeolous Pinetree!!! I sure wish I could of made it up to Ely before the end of the month. Love to finish the season on Tofte ."

And they tasted excellent tonight while watching the wind blow and snowing.

quote Pinetree: "

quote walllee: "

quote Pinetree: "Just got in from my last open water stream trout(lakes) this year and brother and I caught 8 rainbow trout we kept from 11-15 inches."

Man I'm jeolous Pinetree!!! I sure wish I could of made it up to Ely before the end of the month. Love to finish the season on Tofte ."

And they tasted excellent tonight while watching the wind blow and snowing."

Sounds good! How were they prepared?

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Pinetree: "

quote walllee: "

quote Pinetree: "Just got in from my last open water stream trout(lakes) this year and brother and I caught 8 rainbow trout we kept from 11-15 inches."

Man I'm jeolous Pinetree!!! I sure wish I could of made it up to Ely before the end of the month. Love to finish the season on Tofte ."

And they tasted excellent tonight while watching the wind blow and snowing."

Sounds good! How were they prepared?"

I just soaked them in milk and a pinch of salt,than rinsed the off. Than fried them in Safflower oil using brand name Shore Lunch in the cornmeal recipe. Very simple but very good. I have gotten to love Safflower oil much better than other oils. But that is just me and most people are much better cooks than I.

Never heard of Safflower before. I use Shore Lunch when I am in Quetico. I'm sure they were good.

quote QueticoMike: "Rain, cold, dreary Monday, but I wasn't going to cacth this one sitting at home all dry and warm ;)


"

Nice river smallies Mike.........I think I would rather catch river bass over lake bass. The scenery is usually good plus they just seem to fight better!

quote mastertangler: "

quote QueticoMike: "Rain, cold, dreary Monday, but I wasn't going to cacth this one sitting at home all dry and warm ;)



"

Nice river smallies Mike.........I think I would rather catch river bass over lake bass. The scenery is usually good plus they just seem to fight better!"

Thanks! They are hard pullers. They work out every day in that current and build muscles and don't get fat like those darn lake bass,,,,,haha

quote Johnh: "Not a lot of walleye and smallmouth to be caught in northern California but I have caught some trout. I did some camping and fishing on the East Walker River which flows into Nevada and sinks into the bottom of the Great Basin. I made a two minute video which is a little off topic but it might be entertaining and you can check out some Eastern Sierra fishing. A couple of photos and a link to the video are below.

Live Forever - East Walker









"

Very cool video thanks for sharing !!!

I just moved to Northeast Ohio. Was over 40, so launched the canoe and caught my first steelhead. Fun day on the water

quote MeatGun: "I just moved to Northeast Ohio. Was over 40, so launched the canoe and caught my first steelhead. Fun day on the water "

Nice! Did you live in another part of Ohio or are you coming from another state?

Got this one on Sunday on a green pumpkin tube.....

quote QueticoMike: "Got this one on Sunday on a green pumpkin tube.....



"

You've got that fishery wired. Do you ever see anyone else fishing or is it just you? I'm heading right by you on Friday but I have to be in Louisville Saturday. I keep trying to tell my boss that all work and no play is not so good but he's a slave driver.

Just me out there on the river. People are saying that they have put their rods away already, I tell them there is still 5 weeks of fall left :)

I grew up in Columbus, but the last 12 years has taken me to Michigan, Minnesota, PA and Kentucky. All great places but of course it is great to be back in my home state and nearer to family.

quote MeatGun: "I grew up in Columbus, but the last 12 years has taken me to Michigan, Minnesota, PA and Kentucky. All great places but of course it is great to be back in my home state and nearer to family. "

Welcome home! Good luck finding some new fishing spots up there.

quote QueticoMike: "Got this one on Sunday on a green pumpkin tube.....



"

1 thing for sure QM doesn't need Q to catch quality smallies ;)

Of course one of the great things about the canoe country fishing experience is the beautiful surroundings in which the angler finds themselves in.

Not only doesn't QM need to go to the Quetico to catch quality fish he still gets to pursue his passion in a quality environment. I pass over his little river several times a year and admire the watershed. Very nice.

Thanks! A quality fish (smallmouth) out of my river is 16 inches. 18 inches is considered a trophy in these parts. After 43 years of fishing it you learn where to fish and what to fish with. With that said I am still not close to figuring it out yet :)

quote shock: "

quote QueticoMike: "Got this one on Sunday on a green pumpkin tube.....



"

1 thing for sure QM doesn't need Q to catch quality samllies ;)"

What the heck is a samllie??

quote Captn Tony: "

quote shock: "

quote QueticoMike: "Got this one on Sunday on a green pumpkin tube.....




"

1 thing for sure QM doesn't need Q to catch quality samllies ;)"

LOL.


What the heck is a samllie??"

LOL , I stand corrected

A Samillie is the moniker for the male Small mouth bass.

quote shock: "

quote Captn Tony: "

quote shock: "

quote QueticoMike: "Got this one on Sunday on a green pumpkin tube.....





"

1 thing for sure QM doesn't need Q to catch quality samllies ;)"

LOL.



What the heck is a samllie??"

LOL , I stand corrected"

I didn't even catch that, looked like a smallie to me :)

November Steelhead in Lake Michigan ...

Some friends and I used to make an annual trip to the breakwater at St. Joe every November to cast for those Steelhead. What a blast it was! Envious. Great thread Mike and all.

quote golanibutch: "


November Steelhead in Lake Michigan ..."

Nice fish! Looks like dinner :)

quote BearRaid: "Some friends and I used to make an annual trip to the breakwater at St. Joe every November to cast for those Steelhead. What a blast it was! Envious. Great thread Mike and all."

The fishery is insane here. Steelhead and monster brown trout in the rivers and harbors. 15lb steelhead on 6 lb test in incredible. Super fighting fish.

Threw that one back Mike!:) Have a freezer full of coho now:)

Since we have some steelhead pics....here are a couple from the Rogue River in Oregon in late October. I may need to come to the great lakes for steelhead next year. It looks pretty good.




r

quote Johnh: "Since we have some steelhead pics....here are a couple from the Rogue River in Oregon in late October. I may need to come to the great lakes for steelhead next year. It looks pretty good.






r"

Nice ones! Thanks for sharing!

Beautiful fish.

^^^ awesome fish and pics !

quote mastertangler: "A Samillie is the moniker for the male Small mouth bass. "

I have to remember that.

Only caught two today, but this just nudged the 20-inch mark.

quote Spookmeister: "
Only caught two today, but this just nudged the 20-inch mark."

Nice one!

quote Spookmeister: "
Only caught two today, but this just nudged the 20-inch mark."

Looks like a tough day with bluebird skies. Nice looking fish. Where you at?

quote mastertangler: "

quote Spookmeister: "
Only caught two today, but this just nudged the 20-inch mark."

Looks like a tough day with bluebird skies. Nice looking fish. Where you at? "

Yup...tough day with only two fish. Northern Indiana--that's a really good smallie for around here.

^^^ You bet it is! Nice fish.

2 we caught this weekend

Nice fish!

A nice smallmouth for December........

I cut up 5 crappies, 2 bluegills, and one pike the other day. No braggers, but one of the gills was very nice-probably 8". Cold as can be out on the ice. Perfect.

I got up to Mille Lacs for the first time today...tossed some 10'' suckers on tip-ups fishing for big pike. Caught one smallish pike and one decent (26'') eye...Nothing special, but man it was nice to be on the ice again.

Going back up tomorrow through Friday to give the eyeballs a go.

A couple Dale Hollow winter smallies.

Dale Hollow.......famous fishery. Nice ones in a beautiful place. Having fun with your new toy? Is it doing what you ask? Looks cold........what are you catching them on? I'm thinking float n fly.

It's been more than 10 years since I have been to Dale Hollow, some smallmouth monsters down there. Thanks for sharing your pictures!

carmike: "I got up to Mille Lacs for the first time today...tossed some 10'' suckers on tip-ups fishing for big pike. Caught one smallish pike and one decent (26'') eye...Nothing special, but man it was nice to be on the ice again.


Going back up tomorrow through Friday to give the eyeballs a go. "

O.T. seen 2 pics of monster pike out of mille lacs last week a 44" and a 41 1/2" and they were FAT ! carmike what kind of tip up you use where a 10" sucker doesnt trip it off ? we almost always put down a 8"-10" sucker everytime we go out on the ice on waconia(my local lake) go big or go home ;)

mastertangler: "Dale Hollow.......famous fishery. Nice ones in a beautiful place. Having fun with your new toy? Is it doing what you ask? Looks cold........what are you catching them on? I'm thinking float n fly. "

1). The trolling motor is freakin awesome. ON a day that I'd normally struggle, I was able to dial in the motor, and have it do the work while I concentrated on FISHING. I out fished Eddie M. 10 - 0 , which is uncommon on a "struggle" day.

2). Did I mention the motor is awesome. IN the wind, the motor is the cats meow, and I'd gladly pay double, triple what I paid. It is THAT GOOD.

3). Yea, the motor is awesome.

4). Float and Fly early and then chase shade to throw it a little more, the move onto Jigs on rocky black shale areas, or swimbaits and grass jigs, on the red clay rounds, and grass flats.........

5). It was pretty damn cold starting off, but then got better during the middle of the day. I usually no longer fish if the highs are not going to be in the 40's or so. I don't mind lows in the teens, because I KNOW by mid day it will be warmer. If the forecast calls for lows in the 30's and falling temps, I hate those days.

Best fishing days at Dale are overcast days with water temps and air temps within 3-4 degrees of each other.

QueticoMike: "It's been more than 10 years since I have been to Dale Hollow, some smallmouth monsters down there. Thanks for sharing your pictures!"

Look me up sometime. I fish all year long, and I'd love for you to share a boat........

Dale in December and Jan are AWESOME. I had a buddy catch 22 a few weeks ago........and they were all slot fish with 3 overs in 2 days.

An over is 21 inches.........a slot is 16-21. We generally catch lots of upper slots these days, as they had a huge kill 5-6 years ago and the fishery is just getting back to normal.

Imagine catching 20 3-4 lb fish all day. :)

Later,

Geo

mastertangler: "Dale Hollow.......famous fishery. Nice ones in a beautiful place. Having fun with your new toy? Is it doing what you ask? Looks cold........what are you catching them on? I'm thinking float n fly. "

Like I told QueticoMike........

Look me up someday......I go all the time. Usually end in Feb, but then start up again in March .

Once Mid March moves in though, I switch to KY and Barkley Lake........I have 8 weekends scheduled at KY lake this year, and plan on renting a cabin at KY lake for 5 weeks from Mid April to First of June, if my wife lets me.

Later,

Geo

This is from last year...........I didn't rent the cabin this year.......Boo :(:( .

Dale Hollow....22 days on the water

Caught a few smallmouth and a couple of largemouth today. Nothing big, but good for late December :)

This is a big pike for my river down here in Ohio.....first day of winter :)

Waubay SD. last weekend
No, those weren't all mine. There were 6 of us.

Captn Tony: "


Waubay SD. last weekend
No, those weren't all mine. There were 6 of us."

Nice haul......Those are some BIG perch.

Captn Tony: "


Waubay SD. last weekend
No, those weren't all mine. There were 6 of us."

O.M.G.

Captn Tony: "


Waubay SD. last weekend
No, those weren't all mine. There were 6 of us."

Thanks for sharing! Nice haul!

Fish fry

yogi59weedr: "Fish fry"

You betcha

I went to Dale Hollow this past week.........got home day after Christmas, and then went Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat........it was some of the coldest weather I've fished in. Started at 11 degrees and didn't get above 25.....WOW.

Here are a few pics.