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missmolly
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The last time I went fishing, I intended to do what you do, but it was windy and hard to control the boat and land fish, so they went unused. However, I like the idea.
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nofish
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Most of the time when Im fishing the only fish I count is the first one. When fishing with friends or family we usually place a $1 wager on whoever catches the first fish. That first fish becomes a big deal. Any fish after that is just another fish not worthy of counting.
The only time counting really makes sense for my fishing in in the winter when we're catching crappie or bluegill. One of my fishing buddies actually has a great counter bucket. The lid of the bucket has a seat to sit on and then a little trap door in the lid you can use to drop fish into the bucket. Each time the trap door opens for a fish to be put in it trips a counter and tracks the number of fish that went in. So throughout a day of fishing you never need to open the bucket to count the fish, just look down at the counter on the lid.
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timatkn
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Jackfish: "timatkn: "So basically we are all saying we don’t catch that many fish so we feel better about ourselves by not counting. :)"
Tim.... ouch. Maybe... maybe not."
Ha... probably not be true, but when you read all of our posts...looks that way :)
Just thought it was funny!
T
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nooneuno
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229 smallies and no walleye? Were you fishing in the Bdub or a sewer treatment plant?
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bobbernumber3
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MagicPaddler: "walllee: "No"
+1"
+1... it's an experience, not a competition. I'd go to a different lake if I caught that many bass.
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The Great Outdoors
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nooneuno: "229 smallies and no walleye? Were you fishing in the Bdub or a sewer treatment plant?"
Sounds like a person that only uses crank baits!!! Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!! :)
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Oldtown13
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I'm not sure I've ever caught enough that I couldn't remember within several fish.
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PikeEatPike
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Nope, the wife just says it's time to quit when her arms are tired and she can't reel more in. No need to keep track.
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cyclones30
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I could see maybe during ice fishing.....but not open water unless in a boat just bored trolling along. Canoe? Nope...if my morning number is 22 or 41 I don't really care as long as it was fun. (and you're fishing, it should be fun anyway)
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yogi59weedr
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How does one catch 229 sm, seven lakers and 71 pike and no walleye?
I'd braze some hooks on those counters.
I'd then throw them in the water and forget to tie them on.
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barehook
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Savage Voyageur: "To your question, I don’t count fish I catch. I see no reason to count fish.
As far as no Walleye, I would be looking for a different lake. "
By and large I'm a 'don't count' person, just revel in the experience of fishing.
But once in a while I wonder if I shouldn't do a 'liar check' on myself. I come home telling friends, "we must have caught [insert huge number here], and then I wonder, "hmmm, was that really true??? LOL
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timatkn
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Funny story, we fish Truman Lake for Crappies and in an Effort to figure out the pattern and location from year to year depending on conditions my Dad purchased fish counters for everyone. Often it seemed memories of where and how many get blended form year to year. First day he hands them out and they end up being line counters :) So no we have never done this :) We gave up...but I get the reasoning.
T
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timatkn
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So basically we are all saying we don’t catch that many fish so we feel better about ourselves by not counting :)
T
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mgraber
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How in the world is it possible to catch that many fish and no walleyes? That might be the most impressive thing about your numbers. That would probably be hard to duplicate! Years ago I was somewhat of a score keeper, but now days I rarely care. As others have said, I just try to have fun and catch a lot of fish. I tend to fish a lot harder when they are not biting than when they are. If they are really active, I might catch 50-60 fish In a few hours and just feel like it was a good day and stop before I burn out. If the bite is tough, I might work from morning to night just to get 10 fish, which is equally satisfying because of the challenge of "figuring it out". When I was younger it was all about numbers and size and there was no such thing as burning out. There is no right and wrong, just make sure it is fun. I still enjoy hearing others accomplishments even though I usually do not count, measure, or weigh anymore. Occasionally , though, I still do!
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Jaywalker
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I count the number of fish that go into the frying pan. That's a pretty easy count, so no counter needed.
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missmolly
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skeeter2025: "does anyone else keep track of the numbers of fish they catch? i bring 4 fish counters 1 each for smallies, walleyes, lakers, and pike. last year no walleye ,229 smallmouth, 5 lakers, and 71 pike. looking to beat those totals in 2 weeks. the thumb was really tore up at the end of the trip last year. always a good sign!"
Rich, I've fished a similar lake for decades. It's got lots of bass, which are hard on your thumb, and nearly no walleye. The rare walleye tends to run too heavy to eat, 24" to 26", so I eat pike. There are some cabbage beds where I stop on the way back to camp to catch a pike for lunch. This lake also has muskies, but they're very rare and the one time I hooked one, it destroyed my F13 Rapala, pulling its metal spine out of the body.
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Jackfish
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Seen on a bumper sticker : “All fishermen are liars except you and me, and sometimes I wonder about you.” :)
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PapaBear1975
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I'm not much for keeping "score"...I just enjoy what little time I do get to go fishing, that's more important than keeping count. If I go on a BW trip and get to have fish at least one meal while I am there...I am happy.
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nofish
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timatkn: "Jackfish: "timatkn: "So basically we are all saying we don’t catch that many fish so we feel better about ourselves by not counting. :)"
Tim.... ouch. Maybe... maybe not."
Ha... probably not be true, but when you read all of our posts...looks that way :)
Just thought it was funny!
T"
With a name like Nofish you think it aint true?
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Coppernuts
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I read an article once in the Boundary Waters Journal and all the guy kept talking about was catching hundreds of smallmouth. 202 in one lake 146 in another, blah blah blah. He talked about hitting them on their spawning beds and just cleaning up. Then he had the audacity to ask that no one eat this beautiful fish as to protect this trophy environment...
Nevermind the fact that he was doing far greater damage to the fishery than me catching and eating a few smallies when the walleye aren't biting.
What a d-bag. I've been anti-fish counter ever since.
The exception would be when ice fishing panfish; obviously you don't want to go over the limit and when things get frantic they can add up fast.
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Mnpat
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I only count when there is a bet. Loser buys or cooks dinner. It’s a great way to get my buddy from Illinois to buy dinner every time.
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Jackfish
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timatkn: "So basically we are all saying we don’t catch that many fish so we feel better about ourselves by not counting. :)"
Tim.... ouch. Maybe... maybe not.
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Savage Voyageur
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To your question, I don’t count fish I catch. I see no reason to count fish.
As far as no Walleye, I would be looking for a different lake.
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skeeter2025
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Does anyone else keep track of the numbers of fish they catch? I bring four fish counters, one each for smallies, walleyes, lakers, and pike. Last year, no walleye, 229 smallmouth, five lakers, and 71 pike. Looking to beat those totals in two weeks. The thumb was really tore up at the end of the trip last year. Always a good sign!
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walllee
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No
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MagicPaddler
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walllee: "No"
+1
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WIMike
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I used to count fish but stopped because I felt disappointed if I didn’t catch a certain number. Now I try to simply enjoy the whole experience and not put so much emphasis on numbers. Saw an otter and a snapping turtle on a recent outing and that was worth more than catching 20 fish.
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nctry
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I just use my stringer. I get one on I quit and go eat. I’d be too depressed catching that many smallies and no wallies.
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Pinetree
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WIMike: "I used to count fish but stopped because I felt disappointed if I didn’t catch a certain number. Now I try to simply enjoy the whole experience and not put so much emphasis on numbers. Saw an otter and a snapping turtle on a recent outing and that was worth more than catching 20 fish. "
I agree 100%.
I too have kept score on lake trout and smallmouth bass in the pass sometimes,trying to catch a certain number or run the score up. I think it takes away enjoyment in many ways and you get into a numbers game as maybe the most important thing on a trip. I think you star missing things. Also can a numbers game get in the way of when it may be a time to take a break from catch and release because for some reason mortality of fish is creeping up? Just a question,sometimes it is best to slow down.
Now that said I also like to catch a lot of fish.
I am not criticizing anyone. To each his own enjoyment and pleasure and I am sure all above care for the wealthfare of the fish.
I get more enjoyment jumping to different lakes just to see what is in them,than maybe moving to the next lake.
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CityFisher74
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barehook: "Savage Voyageur: "To your question, I don’t count fish I catch. I see no reason to count fish.
As far as no Walleye, I would be looking for a different lake. "
By and large I'm a 'don't count' person, just revel in the experience of fishing.
But once in a while I wonder if I shouldn't do a 'liar check' on myself. I come home telling friends, "we must have caught [insert huge number here], and then I wonder, "hmmm, was that really true??? LOL "
No point in counting in my opinion, for this exact reason. Not only do I not care how many I catch, but the people I tell won't believe it anyways. I gave up giving specifics because people don't really care. If they do happen to care, just say the fishing was either great, good or not good. That's plenty of intel.
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Pinetree
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The only important time to count correctly is like pan fishing and the Game Warden comes around.
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