2023 Fishing Goals

[Johnsfolly]

3 hours ago, FishnDave said:

What IS the right gear for ribbonfish?

Ah.  I found some good info here:

https://fishtalkmag.com/blog/how-catch-ribbonfish

 

Thanks Dave. I have read that article before. At night it's a lot about lights and glowsticks. Then bait. They can be picky at least for me. 

[Carl1969]

Not sure I want to even think about goals after this past year. Even having bought a small, used boat, each fish my wife & I caught this year cost us roughly $1100 a piece & not a keeper among them. I'd be over the moon just to catch a couple fish suppers, but at this point I don't know if I'm stupid & doing it wrong, or just have horrible luck.

[BilletHead]

18 minutes ago, Carl1969 said:

Not sure I want to even think about goals after this past year. Even having bought a small, used boat, each fish my wife & I caught this year cost us roughly $1100 a piece & not a keeper among them. I'd be over the moon just to catch a couple fish suppers, but at this point I don't know if I'm stupid & doing it wrong, or just have horrible luck.

                If we have a normal Spring Carl, I will try to help you. That or deliver fish for you to clean 🤪. Would rather you catch your own. Might need you to fill out paperwork with lawyer to keep anything I tell you top secret and under your hat.

[Johnsfolly]

11 hours ago, Carl1969 said:

doing it wrong,

or just have horrible luck.

Maybe you are doing some things wrong or at least not as right as they can be.

I definitely feel that there is some bad luck against you.

Don't give up or even look at the success of others on this forum as a means to down grade your efforts. Most folks on here have been fishing these lakes and rivers for years. To combat the first part, reach out to some of the guys to fish either in your boat or on theirs. Many would be willing to show you a few tricks that will help you. Definitely take Marty up on his offer!

Then try and use those techniques on your home lakes.

If no luck there, I can give you pointers and a lake that you can get onto a bunch of crappie from the bank. You may not want the drive.

Good luck!

[rps]

On 12/30/2022 at 9:06 PM, Carl1969 said:

Not sure I want to even think about goals after this past year. Even having bought a small, used boat, each fish my wife & I caught this year cost us roughly $1100 a piece & not a keeper among them. I'd be over the moon just to catch a couple fish suppers, but at this point I don't know if I'm stupid & doing it wrong, or just have horrible luck.

Put a 3/8 ounce slip sinker on your line, then tie on a small barrel swivel. Tie on a 18 - 24" length of line to the other end of the swivel. Slide on a float bead (I use chartreuse), then tie on a #6 octopus hook. Look up Lindy Rig to see one.

Once out on the water, nose hook a night crawler and gentle cast behind the boat. Use the wind, a trolling motor, or oars to SLOWLY move the the rig along the bottom. Fish the long gravel points or inside bends of the channel. Something edible will eat it.

[netboy]

[Johnsfolly]

On 12/29/2022 at 10:14 AM, Johnsfolly said:

Not going to step on toes on other threads. Posting my annual Fishing goals list for 2023.

Ribbonfish

Lifer Bullhead / madtom - snail or spotted / tadpole, etc.

2 Swamp Lifers - e.g., banded sunfish, pirate perch

4 Darters; 1 from MD (Rainbow) and 3 Lifers -

4 Lifer minnows - inland silverside, mimic shiner, silverjaw, etc.

Emerald Shiner

15 Lifers in 2023

Atlantic Herring

Emerald Shiner

Catch at least one Fish in New State or previous State w/o Photo

Been working on this. Just got home from a few days in Tenn. I fished a lot, but weather, i.e., heavy rain, and some access issues affected catching lifers. Did end up with one lifer minnow. Can't wait for spring water temps.

Emerald Shiner - caught a few took photos of the nicer ones. 

Posted these Atlantic herring in a previous posting.

[Ham]

Quarter Pole Update:

a paltry 373 fish caught on 25 fishing days . Way off pace for 3K, but not alarmed yet. I did zero already so nothing to worry about going forward.

I did get my first Northern Snakehead on fly. Kinda proud of that. 
 

55 species on hook and line. 6 Lifers.

25 Species on fly. 4 Flyfers. 

[FishnDave]

1 hour ago, Ham said:

Quarter Pole Update:

a paltry 373 fish caught on 25 fishing days . Way off pace for 3K, but not alarmed yet. I did zero already so nothing to worry about going forward.

I did get my first Northern Snakehead on fly. Kinda proud of that. 
 

55 species on hook and line. 6 Lifers.

25 Species on fly. 4 Flyfers. 

I'll make you feel great about your 2023 accomplishments so far, @Ham !

As best as I can tell, I've caught 236 fish on 15 fishing days.  I believe I zero'd at least three times.

27 species on fly. 1 Flyfer (spotted gar).  Really educated guessing here, but I'd feel comfortable saying I've caught 37 fish so far that measured at least 18" long.

[Ham]

If y’all don’t know, Dave is wrecking the Bowfin on fly this year. I don’t jump through the fly rod hoops FULL Time so it’s easier for me on numbers and species. 
I’ll be alright. I ain’t mad at myself (yet).