brownieman

I fillet everything...kids never cared for bones. I will just head gut and cook em if someone wants some like that...cook em hard and the tails are kinda like fish chips. I broil most my trout and they fillet very easy...small rib bones.

I agree Laker, On the smaller baits you will catch anything and everything, even chubs and minnows. Only difference I can see is using the larger baits keeps alot of the dinks off...if I hook a dink he generally has a quick trip in, most of the time I will jerk my bait away from them if I can. Sometimes their a little faster than me though, lol.

Sounds like there are a few numbers and there is some spawning action going on. Smallies have such a slow growth rate I'd say they are bait fish for several years to a big brownie, spot, bow...anything that will feed on a smaller fish. No doubt they will tolerate the colder water temps and the ones that are there look to be healthy, pretty fish. My thoughts is that they are food for several years and not many reach maturity. Trout do like eggs and have to eat their fair share I would think, don't know.. Sure would be nice if there were good numbers in the lake...I can just see where the ones that are there have had somewhat of a touph life, lol. I don't know the lake real well and am just speculating...right or wrong I don't know, just thinkin about it.

I agree with ya tech...kind of depends on the kind of fishing you're doing I guess. If they are biting soft or you're tight lining a sensitive tip does help...I just don't fish like that much and when I do I just watch my line, float, whatever closely. Generally the kind of fishing I do there is no doubt when you get a hit...they generally slam it.

JMO...I can't see dropping a bunch of money on a rod. I have a couple of high dollar rods and they produce no more fish than my cheaper ones. I have seen the guys up at Truman spend upwards of 500 bucks on rods because some rod builder has put a bunch of fancy wrap on them, pretty yeah...but matters not one bit when it comes to catching fish. I have a beautiful Browning rod that is made for the type fishing I do on the Current...I still use my old $30 Ugly Stik. Can't remember ever losing a fish due to rod failure. There used to be a huge brown on the current that I used one of my Off Shore rods and 20 lb. test...he lived by a big rootwad and was notorious for hanging people up in the rootwad...never hooked him on that heavy set up but if I would have he was gonna have to beat the heavy tackle. Someone we heard caught one where this fish was...pushed 16 lbs. and was probably him cause none of us ever saw him since that time. Oh well...can't win em all...lucky to win any, lol

This is very true...even a better bigger meal for real large male brown is a 12, 14" bow. Not so much the females but the huge browns have a big enouph mouth to get one down. That's why we all say...big bait = big fish...proven many times over. The big ole boys are lazy, they would much rather expend a small amout of energy eating one big meal as to chase a bunch of little bait around...this is what makes muskey hard to catch...they don't feed often but when they do it's big meals.

Gavin is right on with his info...most trout are scavengers by nature and don't think twice about eating fish guts. Back when I bait fished alot I always caught a few smallies on live minnows but always used dead minnows for trout...rarely would they take a live minnow.

He never sold the patent, was working on another plug patent upon his death. He also made flies, poppers and jigs of which he sold on Dealers Cards around the local lakes. Couple of pics of a variety of 'Jaw Breakers' and a dealer card with stuff he made.

Thr river should be in good shape...snow melt generally will put just a small rise on the water and give it a little color. Bcamp is far up enouph that the water is small anyway. What JD stated is a good short trip and you'll be fishing upstream which is also good. My fishing method has always worked better upstream...I can see where fly fishing (from observing wrench) works well fishing downstream...seems as if it's easier to get a good drift on your files. The main difference I noted between my style and fly fishing is I generally catch nice fish right where one has to stand while fly fishing due to the backcast. I stay completely outta the water when I can...next to impossible with a fly rod in most places.

Thanks guys, Here's a pic of the 'Jawbreakers', original containers...a small one and a large one. Kind of neat... I have the original U.S. Patent and all associated paperwork, the machine which was made by a local blacksmith that shaped the plugs...my dad is 82 and he painted most of the jawbreakers when he was young. I have a ton of fond memories from my grandads bait shop.

Thanks KRR, Figured there was one but never knew for sure...satisfies my curiosity. Good find....

Good for you DaddyO, I think a decent boss is harder to find than a decent employee...sounds like you have earned the respect of yours...that is worth alot...kudos for you.

Forgot to mention, Fill the bottom of your container with 2 or 3 inches of creek gravel...this will ensure good drainage, keep the drain holes from getting plugged up and help avoid root rot. Make sure your gravel and soil are sterile also...most store bought will be sterile and you can spread your gravel out and let the sun sterilize it or wash it. If you want your soil to drain well mix some sand and a little gravel with it...you can get it from any gravel/sand bar and the sun will sterilize sand 2" deep. I enjoy talking about gardening and plants having worked in a greenhouse setting for several years, several times. Plants in containers have one advantage to earthen plants...if they pick up a disease it's much easier to flush the soil in a container as opposed to the ground. Pepper plants do well like this also if ya like any kind of peppers. enjoy...spring is just around the corner, plantin time is near...

There's been a couple hundred views... Has anyone ever seen a heated rod, if not, do you think there would be a market for them ? Seems to me in parts of the world that have frigid climates and for winter fishing in cold weather anywhere there would be a market...surely there is such a rod made ??

They grow fine in buckets. I've grown em in all sorts of things. Larger the pot the better it does of course...that being said don't use black pots if ya can...they get much warmer and tend to dry out quicker. Put a good soil mix in the container and make sure it has ample drainage holes and they will do fine. Just for a snack plant so to speak I generally plant a couple 'Sweet 100s' cherry tomatoes on my deck...cherrys are good in salads too. Either mix your soil so it has some nutrients in it...if not use triple 20...just don't care for the chemicals myself. Something I have done cause once the plants get a lg. root system they dry the containers out fast is use 'Extra Sorb'...sold under variuos names, little pellets that absorb water and release it back into the soil slowly...they do help with watering. Good luck and you'll see it works fine...

Brownie, you are EVIL for suggesting that I take a day off work to go fishing - I have never done that. The 'Evil Brownieman'...I like it. I'm SURE you would NEVER do something like that pat, lol

Paddlefish being actually caught is very rare...they feed on plankton souly swimming around with mouths open gathering plankton which is filtered through the gills making them next to impossible to actually catch. Grabbing season is when everyone gears up to snag them. I know when I'm fishing below Truman Dam they are a pain in the butt when your fishing for whites, hybrids, etc. Sometimes they are so thick in there you can feel your lure bumping off of them along with gar. When the birds are surfacing blowing shad sometimes it lasts for just a few minutes...no ryme or reason...if you accidentaly snag a paddlefish they are generally big and take a while to get in...if they are running water they will either spool you or you have to work them down to get em in...some guys just cut their line to avoid this so they can stay after the birds. I don't fish for them myself but I know there are good numbers of them below Bagnell and Truman Dams. I'm sure someone besides myself can give you more and better info than I can. As a rule, I would say when season opens on them most have no eggs... season being set up around the spawn. good luck

OTF, If you are refering to the strech down behind the raceways and lodge there are 2 or 3 stocking points along there. I believe there are a total of 27 stocking points in the park that are (suppose to be) used every night...IF the staff does their job.

I don't mean to be negative...I enjoy nothing better than a fresh mess of fish. Smallies are different though, when I was younger I kept some too. With their numbers waining and due to the exceptionally slow growth rate they have I just can't help to feel there are always some pan fish or stockers, something besides smallies to stink some grease. I'd rather see someone keep a 10 lb. trout than a smallie...especially on Taney where it appears there are not many. At least trout get supplemental stockings to ensure they are plentiful, smallies are just on their own and I feel they need all the help they can get. I still would like to see the almighty mdc put forth some effort towards smallie restoration, they stepped on their weiners when they reintroduced otters in certain areas more than others...looks like to me they would put a little effort into helping the population in areas where it is apparant the otters have done some damage. JMO...but they could use any help they can get.

Are you guys calling cardiac the 1st access where you walk for a bit down a long gradual incline and suicide the bluff at the end of the road...they were always just one in the same to me both being the bluff. If pats off I figured he would post up on this one and maybe head that way...I would think about it if all you fly heads wouldn't cuss my a$$, lol.

Ditto wrench

Howdy Lee, There is always room for some walleye expertise on the forum...sounds like you have had years of experience, no better teacher my friend. Maybe you can enlighten some on here (including myself) on how to stink some grease with those tasty morsels. Welcome

I won't bore anyone with the history of all this.. In short my grandfather patented a plug back in the fifties...the plug was noted for catching walleye. This is an ad telling about his 'New Plug' showing 2 walleye caught below Powersite on his 'Jawbreaker'...this was back in the early 50s. Thought I would share...I hope it is of interest to some.

Glad you had a good trip...think the weather caught several people off guard. We had around 8 " in the Montauk area...most I heard of was 13" at Edgar Springs. Little episodes like you had with the older fellow...all the more reason I've always enjoyed just watching the circus from the comfort of my truck, lol.

Otf, that's what I have always done...rod dipping I guess. Gavin, I hear ya buddy, I too have dunked a reel by accident in frigid weather and froze reels up solid. Didn't know what else to do short of walking back to the truck for a back up reel so I have built a little fire and thawed my reel out enouph to get it going again, a hassle but the reel did thaw and I didn't mind the fire myself. Once my brother in law and I were fishing...air temp about 15, he had not waded rivers much and went down around a root wad, totally submersed. We were several miles from the truck so I got a fire going, he stripped down and I gave him my outer layer and dried his clothes around the fire...took quite awhile and put kind of a damper on our trip but it had to be done. Back when I fished alot in frigid temps I always toted along some matches, firestarter, string, etc. in a water tight container just in case I took an unexpected swim. If you're not close to your rig a guy could be in real trouble fishing when it's super cold. The time I am refering to, by the time he got stripped down his clothes were froze stiff as a board, if I had not been with him, well, he would have been in serious trouble. In my life I have built many a little fire just to knock the chill off and thaw my hands out a little, sure feels good on a frigid day. Thanks for the tips guys...Suzie Chapstick would be proud, lol.