watermen

There is a sizeable commercial fishery for carp and buffalo that still goes on in southern Minn and WI. The guy I know that does it seines them in fall or through the ice and live trucks them to New York. The carp go for 60-80 cents a pound and the buffalo for more than a buck. There are several million pounds sold commercially between these two states. I know that the hacidics still make gafiltafish out of them, but somebody must think they're good eating.

Thanks for report on walleye, still waiting for winter fis must think it's spring!!

You'd have to be more specific as to your interests, salmon vs trout. The boss on here is very adept and gaining alot of varied experience on the Naknek region. I here he's finally going in Sept. for the big bows and soon will be up in april for the really hot fishing with all the honyaks doing boat work. There are alot of options for your price range in varying degrees of comfort. Timing is everything with anadramous fish make sure you book at the right time. My favorite of the bristol bay watershed is the togiak system. Bigger and more fish with less people as of 6 or 7 years ago. Good luck in your quest and let me know if I can help you with timing or other crucial elements. It's a fun trip. Good luck

send her up to naknek. Think of how easy it would be to run the rapids then sell her to Phil at charleys he'd love to have a rig like that

Figured some of you northern boys that are transplanted like me would get a kick out of these pics. Got back last night cause got a report a new slough opened up with jumbos. Fished wed and thursday. limits of 11-14 inchers 50 degrees wit open water in the middle of the slough. Best overall size of fish I've ever seen even when I lived there in the late 90's and 2000. Lots of walters too but we just fished perch. Open water jigging in jamestown in january wow. My 72 year old dad in pic with his biggest perch to date.

non secret recipe would be greatly appreciated have to make room in freezer for beef and am going to breast some previously plucked birds. 3 times the work but was going to use deer recipe, might be alittle tough so would appreciate any tips. new bradley is idiot proof on smoking part.

Logically some, to know for sure the next time your driving through rolla take the E exit north 1 mile and stop in at the conservation office at the road split and the kid that does all the shocking stocking and surveys for the area works in the back office on the right. Pat is the front desk lady and they are both nice people. He knows all the area streams and they're limitations. You would then have a sure answer to your question and some hints on where the best fishing areas are locally. His shocking records would answer your questions for sure.

tundra swan is likely what you saw. I have seen them in the area, and though not ususally alone there is a season on them to the states north and west of here. They have a call similar to a goose ,but more like a spec or snow goose. Not uncommon at all in some locals.

Glad you guys got into the feeder kings. I spent 14 years on the rock and always saw good silvers in october just not the main push. What the locals don't tell you is the weather is mild by Alaska standards, but 3 hours of daylight and cold with ocean humidity is cold kinda like here with the heat and a dew point of 75. Tell the boys to run you out to saltery one day on the bikes it's a cool ride. The guy that owns the point in kalsin is named dave tell him guff said you need a day on the bikes. Hes a good minn boy and loves to talk humting and fishing.

glad you had fun Phil, Was good to see you stirring around charley's. Miss Kodiak this time of year, Just not alot of fun after 1st of October. Whales are getting thick and everywhere most years. Haven't been back in 2 years, was curious how the silver trolling worked out and if you got into any of them?

Due to no snow and little rain the Bristol Bay watershed has low water conditions in most of the rivers. It's raining right now, but I guess it is lower than anyone has ever seen, This may change, but for all you guys booking trips to the area, you might want to go later. The good rainbow fishing of spring is over and the salmon will stage longer in the ocean at the mouths of the rivers waiting for water. They'll all run the first big storm with wind and rain. The later trips in july will usually produce more fish of all species. Have fun if you go and good luck, look me up if your up there.

caught 3 and lost 2 on a crank last night, suprised they were still there. did not try below spring, but they might be stacked up. Bass were in the perch water last night and the trout were in the fast stuff in the shade. only fished an hour while the kids swam so could be good if a guy put his legs in gear. Will be done for awhile gone to alaska for 7 weeks on weds, too hot here and get to chase some horses for awhile. Get a couple hours every evening to chase them measured in pounds. Have a good summer!!

those are nice bugs!!!!

Fished below white ribbon area and below mill creek inflow early this morning. River is flowing good , but is a little high and green enough to fish ok. 10 year old caught more on live crawdads than I did with rebel imitation. River has changed again between trout early and latest floods. Biggest fish was about 14 in. lots of 10-12s and several largemouth which is unusual. wading season is on, we had to sit in the water alot to cool off, just like july allready. Had my morning bath and caught fish, maybe 15 total with only one goggleye.

River is getting into shape to fish. Was swimming with kids this evening and it is down to 5' on jerome gauge and barring another huge storm it will be very fishable and floatable this weekend. A little murky but green enough to fish this coming weekend I would imagine. It's falling steady and 3-4 ft is where we usually do best. Have not wet a line in it so cant give a report.

can't be anymore crowded than last weekend I would think, don't know for sure. I was down at the in-laws last weekend and fished the black on sunday and current on monday. I fished a long 9 1/2 six weight with amnesia line and chucked and ducked with big black wooly buggers and black stone flies I hadn't used since michigan. Tons of cicadas here and there and lots in the water with the wind, fishing was ok but I fished the deep holes and used big water technique. nothing over 15 inches for me, but the evenings were pleasant and the cicadas tone down by then. They are annoying at times loud!!! Good luck this weekend there's ;ot s of cicadas for the floating line guys.

there's some out the back gate of the fort down J hwy. Most of the guys that get them trap them with spring loaded cattle panels after baiting them. other than that it's a dog deal close here as far as I've heard. Not great numbers of hogs, I think the acorn crop failures the last few years hurt as well. Very closed bunnch that use hounds. Maybe somebody else can give you better insight where you can find huntable numbers MDC is trying to eradicate what there is now.

I was down in Fort Morgan 3 times last winter, nice area. We were doing water survey work for the oil companies and after work we fished the edge of the channel just south of the boat launch about a half mile from the pier next to the launch. We caught lots of reds on the march trip and again last month. One of the local kids told us about it, they travel up the bay along the channel. All you need is a skiff, Also the local shrimp dredger launches at fort morgan twice a day catching live shrimp, not a friendly guy but if you see him he will sell you a bucket full for 5 bucks. Little white glass boat with dooors and nets. All you need is a skiff to get to the channel, it's close to the beach there. Fun place, due to work that's all the time we had in the evenings.

mitch do you fish above or below Mcallister? Oconto is fishing better these days I hear, you should add it to your list, you cross it 22 miles before the menominee on 41 or 141. The cedar is the bomb for numbers a little way into michigan about half way to escanaba. Not as hot in july either, very temperate and pleasant, just skeeters.

Interesting thread and fun, fortunately i've done alot of them. Would definately like to go to the Amazon, I would like to catch a marlin of decent size, either striped or blue. And before I die it's off to newbrunsick to catch an atlantic on a dry. Preferably with a cane rod, borrowed but classic. The menominee and brookies are home waters as was montana and alaska was and still is to a degree. I guess I like to fish. troutbum would be a description of my youth, atleast I'm not alone. The boardman, maple or pidgeon are better hex waters these days and less crowded than the ausable or pere marquette. Most of these are a long weekend drive guys. I found out 3 weeeks ago a good fishing buddy of mine is eaten up with cancer. the moral of the story is go if you have the chance, his bucket is empty at 45, and you only get one bucket. Without getting maudlin there's always fish to catch, go catch them.

Buddy in the medical field called me this morning and evidently the whole newbrn wing of the hospitol was wiped out along with the nursing home end. A very sad deal for the families involved. The death toll is expected to climb they won't let media in due to the gruesomeness of the wreckage. God and mothernature are aweinspiring. flooding and lack of fishing opportunity pales in comparison.

You're not a criminal powerdive you just grew up where deer hunting is a group affair. I put fish together and if I'm seen handing a rod to one of my kids and they reel it in I put it in their limit. It is a unique law, but I saw it enforced last weekend at a troutpark kids fishing day. The guy didn't heed the first warning so he got a ticket in front of his three year old who was excited to reel the fish in she just couldn't cast or hook the fish. I felt sorry for both of them and i'm a by the book kind of guy. I always know I'll have representation though if the bed is empty in the morning I'm assured I'll be bailed out and defended of any alleged transgression. The kids would be sorely missed as well I'm sure. It is just one of those regional differences that doesn't really hold up to alot of thought. Never tried the slow death rig we always just put a wobble glow ahead of the hook and called her good. Have to get some bent hooks nd tr it if they're real finicky. going to sacajewea in 10 days they're starting to get heated up. Keep up the good walleye tips picky fishing is catching on, and it's warm down here.

Zac, If you have too much horsepower try putting the boat in reverse and backtrolling. It will usually slow you down considerably and allows you more finesse control of the boat. Backtrolling was the preferred method before trolling motors. If you are still going to fast hang a trolling sock or even a bucket off the bow and this will help you control the boat and go even slower. It's a poor mans trolling motor, but it works if you need to slow down. I still backtroll alot especially using lindy rigs, which I think are the same as a slow death rig. I don't know for sure though. I tie my own leaders and put a float halfway down the leader and use corkies sometimes. They are biting right now which is the best part. good luck!

Due to good reports I left Rolla at 7 launched and on 3rd point I caught a fish threw a marker and in an hour I sorted through 13-15 seegars for a limit with the biggest being 17 and change. Fished a b/b and spinner with a crawler. Caught bluegill, whitebass, and a couple of little smallies. If the rains hold off friday I'll drive back and give a report, but they are definately easy to catch right now.

Spring was fairly clear on kids day on saturday with the flow high but still below the walkway by about 10 inches the rain had allready fallen so it should keep getting clearer. The other rivers in the area are high and muddy, after just aboout getting fishable. If dry fork is any indication the main river is muddy as well. Did not go look myself. The spring is very fishable and fishing has been good lately. Good luck!