Flyfishing On The Dark Side

[snagged in outlet 3]

Nah, in this case it's short man syndrome mixed with a large dose of pessimism realism...

Don't those two things ultimately result in a lack of female companionship?

BTW, just doggin you Eric. when Jim and I catch them we pile em on the bank for the scavengers...

Pete

[eric1978]

No worries Pete. I AM angry! And those who know me know why! Kidding...I just need to get out for a trip, that's all.

Nice to see you around Ronnie. Flush.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I hear ya. I just got back and I'm ready to go again.

I have a trip planned in late March to Taney but I'll probably go to Mountain Home again before then.

Headed to Mr Lucky's for a beer later today...

Pete

[Outside Bend]

when Jim and I catch them we pile em on the bank for the scavengers...

Gosh, what a waste. I bet you even stick your fingers behind their gill plates!

Cool read Jeff, thanks for sharing. You caught those bigheads on the clouser minnow too? There thick in a few Missouri River tributaries here around Columbia, and I've been thinking about tackling them this spring.

I've eaten them, and would honestly prefer bigheads or silvers over pellet-fed hatchery trout any day, no matter how much you dock 'em up with lemon or butter or garlic. Ugly as sin though.

[snagged in outlet 3]

When we start getting into the big heads it seems the hybrids leave the area.

Did you clean and cook them yourself OB?

They will kill a fly in the spring. Call me I'll go. I won't eat em though...

Pete

[jim laing]

These fish were taken on fly and I'm pretty sure they were eaten...

[jim laing]

Recognize this trout bum?

[Outside Bend]

When we start getting into the big heads it seems the hybrids leave the area.

Did you clean and cook them yourself OB?

They will kill a fly in the spring. Call me I'll go. I won't eat em though...

Pete

I didn't clean them, and from what I've heard it's a little tough to keep the bones out of the fillets until you get the hang of it. I've also heard of folks slicing them as you would ribs and frying them that way- the bones are large enough to be noticeable. And smoked, and canned, and... The biggest thing is to get all the red meat off the sides of the fillet.

If I'm in town, I'll let you know!

[David Unnerstall]

Please, people, catch and eat these fish!

[HighPlainsFlyFisher]

Good to see that there are a few others on here who like catching roughfish on the fly. As far as eating them...I don't know , it took me 30 minutes just to get the fish smell off my hands at the end of the day. Not much different than a spoonbill I guess and lots of people love them. Last year a buddy of mine asked the local warden what to do with the things , knowing that they are an invasive species , he said take em out obviously but at the same time told him not to dispose of them within sight of anyone because if caught it would still elicit a citation for wanton waste (not a cheap fine I've heard). I'm assuming a warden in a mood that day could also write you up for just ripping out gills and putting them back in the water? Hopefully those laws will change, or already have , it's tough to get people to remove big smelly fish when they have to find a spot to dispose of them. I do my part to thin em out that's for sure , but I can tell you I'm always looking over my shoulder when I do.

Soon as the ice is off the lakes around here I'll be out chasing commons around the flats anyway , won't have to worry about what to do with those when I catch em.

Jeff

http://highplainsflyfisher.blogspot.com/