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2019 WV Catfish

Started by WV Sawmiller, May 14, 2019, 10:36:55 PM

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WV Sawmiller

   Figured I'd just put this in as a thread and update it through the summer as the occasions occur.

 An unexpected weather changing in October caught me without replenishing my catfish supply. I'd given everything I caught away as I caught it thinking I will stock up on my next trip. Weather and work cooperated for a few days catfishing but the bait are less so. I set several minnow traps in the creek in the front yard yesterday but the water is up a bit and the minnows and chubs aren't restricted to just the deep holes which is more ideal bait catching conditions. I only caught about 3 dozen and even kept a small crawfish or two. I crush the bigger ones and put them back in the trap for bait as I have poor results for catfish on big crawfish. I loaded Sampson, my catfish hound, up in the boat today and we hit the landing at Bluestone Lake 8.5 miles away and tried our rockpile where we normally catch lots of small sunfish and bluegills for bait. Today it was windy and very cool and I only caught 8-9 so I crossed the lake to get away from the wind. I drifted up to a big hickory log I was going to put a dropline/bushhook on. I hooked a decent crappie on my bait pole but the #10 cricket hook did not have enough bite to land him so I swapped poles to one with a #4 hook and put a small minnow on. I landed a 1-1.25 lb crappie but my time was getting short so I put my first line out with him on for bait. If something gets him it should be a good one. If not I will take him home and eat him.

 I put out about 40 more hooks till I ran out of bait so I checked the lines and had one 4 lb and one 9.5 lb channel cat and about a 3/4 lb crappie on one line. I just rehooked the crappie and put him back in the same spot. I'll go ahead and take up my lines in the morning and try again when bait is more available. I could buy some big minnows or goldfish but that would be sort of like buying lumber. Catching the fish on my own bait is have the battle. We have enough fillets now to feed us several meals and hopefully I'll have several more in the morning as they bite much better after dark most of the time. We will see.


 Poor location for the photo with the shadow. 9.5 & 4 lb channel cats.


 Probably close to 10 lbs of catfish fillets from those 2.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WV Sawmiller

   Okay I left the house at 0638 and had the boat unloaded at the landing by 0700. I have gotten that down to a pretty quick routine.

   My 1lb crappie had escaped or gotten eaten. The hook was on an underwater limb. I had another hook hung on a log under the water. I had to cut it and lost the lead and hook. Could have been a catfish or maybe just an active bait got it hung. My 3/4 lb crappie was still on the line so brought him home for lunch. I had one 3.5 lb channel cat and one nearly 4 lb blue cat. I'd rather not catch our blues as only ones with any restrictions - 2 per day limit and 24" minimum. This one was about 26-27 inches long. My next to last hook had a 17.5 lb flathead so I still had a decent mess and will likely have a fish fry here later this month or next month. We meet monthly somewhere and I try to host a fish fry 1-2 times a year. We always have a great time at it.

    I'll try again in a week or so and hopefully the bait will cooperate and I can stock up some more.

My 18' Johnboat, 25 HP Evinrude & 13 lb Catfish hound Sampson. He had a great time trying to tear up every catfish we landed today.


 Our morning catch - about 25 lbs total. Biggest is 17.5 lb flathead.


 A big pan full of catfish fillets and one crappie. Probably 17-18 lbs of fish. ready for the corn meal and corn oil.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

btulloh

What time should I be there for dinner? 
HM126

WV Sawmiller

    Just let me know when you will be in the area and I'll put the water for the grits on the stove, put the baked beans in the oven, grate the cabbage for the cole slaw and start heating up the grease. :D You'll have to make your own hushpuppies though as that is not my forte. :(
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Chuck White

Nice mess of filets!  digin_2
~Chuck~  Cooks Cat Claw sharpener and single tooth setter.  2018 Chevy Silverado and 2021 Subaru Ascent.
With basic mechanical skills and the ability to read you can maintain a Woodmizer  LT40!

WDH

OK, I will make the hushpuppies. 
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

WV Sawmiller

    Great. I'll get a bag of boiled peanuts out of the freezer so we can have authentic southern hors d'oeuvres while we wait for the fish and hushpuppies to fry. 
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

thecfarm

Just fish for me.  ;D  Fun to read your fish stories.  Sampson has a good time I see.
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

WDH

Ray,

Just because hushpuppies are made from cornmeal, they are nothing like grits. 
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

WV Sawmiller

   That's right - they are better. Well, maybe not better but just as good in a little different kind of way.

   I got my new Lowrance depth finder yesterday and today's goal is to install it.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

thecfarm

Well I never had hushpuppies so would have to try them. As long as I don't have to mix it with something to make it taste good :D ,I will give it a try.
But the beans you can have. Might eat a little,but hate to take up space for the meat. ;D   We had beans just about every Saturday. That brown bread I still like. But most times pass the beans on to the person beside me.
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

btulloh

I'm betting you would like hushpuppies. A little butter just takes 'em up a notch.

We could have a hushpuppie cookoff.
HM126

WV Sawmiller

   I have never in my whole life heard of butter on hushpuppies. :o  Are you one of those who puts sugar on your grits too? ::)

   My wife cooked the first mess of catfish last night along with the crappie. She about burned one side of him to a crisp but the other was perfect. Cole slaw, baked beans (with little cross cut hot dogs in them) and well done tater tots. We had a young friend came over who does our IT work. He took most of the leftovers home for his dad.

   Maybe we should meet at Poston's place for the hushpuppy challenge as he looks to be about half way from Danny to you. I can bring the fish because you have to have the fish flavor in the grease.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

btulloh

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on May 17, 2019, 07:48:01 AMAre you one of those who puts sugar on your grits too?


:D:D:D  Sugar on grits!!  :D:D   Blechhhhhhh!!!

Butter may be unusual and unnecessary, but sometimes it happens.  Restaurants bring butter sometimes with the order of hushpuppies.  

See y'all at the Poston Hushpuppie Project. :D 
HM126

WDH

Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

WV Sawmiller

Quote from: btulloh on May 17, 2019, 08:07:26 AM
Quote from: WV Sawmiller on May 17, 2019, 07:48:01 AMAre you one of those who puts sugar on your grits too?


:D:D:D  Sugar on grits!!  :D:D   Blechhhhhhh!!!

Butter may be unusual and unnecessary, but sometimes it happens.  Restaurants bring butter sometimes with the order of hushpuppies.  

See y'all at the Poston Hushpuppie Project. :D
They brought the butter to put on your grits. :D If you order in a real classy restaurant down south they already have the butter in the grits and the extra butter is for the biscuits.
Quote from: WDH on May 17, 2019, 08:08:53 AM
I am in.
We might ought to ask the host and figure how many are coming so we have enough fish and you know how much hushpuppy batter to mix up.


Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WV Sawmiller

  I am worn out and Sampson is hoarse. We put out lines last night. I ran them one time after dark. I had 7 fish that weighed 38 lbs total. The biggest was about 10 lbs. I lost one on the same line I caught the 17.5 lb fish on last week. I got to him about 8:30 pm and the line was raring. He looked like a Troy Landry Tree Shaker pulling the limber limb completely under water. Just as I reached for the line it was like an evil Djinn untied it and I watched the pink flagging with my name on it I use for markers sliding underwater. I am sure it was operator error and just a poorly tied knot but why did he have to wait till I was 3' away to watch it? I have lost a lot of fish and they were all big ones - that's my story and I'm sticking to it! :D


 Top 3 weighed 25 lbs, other 4 weight 13 total. I staked them out in the creek overnight to clean today.

  I went back this morning and had 11 more fish plus a 2 lb blue that was undersized per state regs so he is back in the lake. Total 74 lbs including a 22 lb flathead.



 11 fish.


 Smallest 7 fish - 27 lbs total


 Largest fish - 22 lb flathead



 78 lbs of fish yielded a 5 gallon bucket full of fillets - 42 lbs of boneless fillets. 20 more lbs of fillets off the first 38 lbs so 62 lbs total. I see fish fries ahead.

  I cleaned fish till 2:00 pm. I saw a couple there about 5:30 pm running a trotline and I watched them take fish off what looked like 5-6 hooks in a row. All looked to be about 4-5 lbs. I don't know how many total they caught. They caught their fish on the bottom in 20+ feet of water on shiners. Most of mine were in the top 2' on minnows and small bream.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Magicman

Sampson is doing well, and you ain't doing bad yourself.  ;D

A Grandson sent me this picture of him with his largest from this past weekend.


 
50 pounds caught on a trotline baited with Catalpa worms.  :o
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

tule peak timber

Fishing envy....Don't get me started 8) 8) 8) 8)
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WDH

Are big ones like the 50 pounder fit to eat?
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

doc henderson

He looks just like Tule, ....and the grandson looks like magic man ... 60 years ago!!!   ;D
i am no fish expert but most things coated in beer and breading and deep fat fried taste pretty good.  
Timber king 2000, 277c track loader, PJ 32 foot gooseneck, 1976 F700 state dump truck, JD 850 tractor.  2007 Chevy 3500HD dually, home built log splitter 18 horse 28 gpm with 5 inch cylinder and 32 inch split range with conveyor powered by a 12 volt tarp motor

Andries

Loving these fishing stories.
My wife and I are going next weekend to our favourite lake - to see if the ice has melted off yet.  ;)
 

Quote from: btulloh on May 17, 2019, 08:07:26 AM
Quote from: WV Sawmiller on May 17, 2019, 07:48:01 AMAre you one of those who puts sugar on your grits too? 
:D:D:D  Sugar on grits!!  :D:D   Blechhhhhhh!!! 

See y'all at the Poston Hushpuppie Project. :D
Road trip - I'm in too!!

LT40G25
Ford 545D loader
Stihl chainsaws

tule peak timber

Quote from: Andries on May 21, 2019, 09:22:57 PM
Loving these fishing stories.
My wife and I are going next weekend to our favourite lake - to see if the ice has melted off yet.  ;)


Quote from: btulloh on May 17, 2019, 08:07:26 AM
Quote from: WV Sawmiller on May 17, 2019, 07:48:01 AMAre you one of those who puts sugar on your grits too?
:D:D:D  Sugar on grits!!  :D:D   Blechhhhhhh!!!

See y'all at the Poston Hushpuppie Project. :D
Road trip - I'm in too!!
Stay away from my brook trout !!!!!!!!!
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

Andries

Quote from: tule peak timber on May 21, 2019, 09:36:15 PM
Quote from: Andries on May 21, 2019, 09:22:57 PM
Loving these fishing stories.
My wife and I are going next weekend to our favourite lake - to see if the ice has melted off yet.  ;)


Quote from: btulloh on May 17, 2019, 08:07:26 AM
Quote from: WV Sawmiller on May 17, 2019, 07:48:01 AMAre you one of those who puts sugar on your grits too?
:D:D:D  Sugar on grits!!  :D:D   Blechhhhhhh!!!

See y'all at the Poston Hushpuppie Project. :D
Road trip - I'm in too!!
Stay away from my brook trout !!!!!!!!!
Rest easy Rob - I'll stay away from that World Record beauty in Nipigon.
They are clever rascals though. . . . 
LT40G25
Ford 545D loader
Stihl chainsaws

WV Sawmiller

Rob,

  I assume you are not warning me about those brook trout. You know if I had them I'd put them on for bait. :D

Danny,

  I don't know about how 50 lb channel and blue cats taste but flatheads stay tender when they are close to that size or bigger.

  I got back to the lake about 5:30 pm and fished for bait till nearly dark then started baiting and checking my lines. I had a 7-8 lb channel on one hook and another at the end of my lines about the same size. On the way back I had a 23 lb flathead on the same hook I caught the first channel. I picked up 2 more flaheads. Total weight 61 lbs for 5 fish. I have them cooling their heels in the creek in my front yard and will clean them tomorrow. No pictures tonight but I'll get some tomorrow plus I still have to check the lines about daylight again. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. I am pretty good at skinning and filleting catfish but based on my speed I don't have people knocking on my doors to hire me as a fish monger.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WDH

Sawin' and skinnin'.  Sawin' and skinnin'.
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

tule peak timber

Here's to tight lines 8) 8) 8)
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

terrifictimbersllc

Wife is outfishing me this week.  Moosehead Lake, Maine.  44 degrees in the lake at the Moose river outlet, Rockwood.  Of course I had to drive the boat and think about sawing so it wasn't fair. 

We are back tomorrow.  Sawing for one select customer on Friday.



DJ Hoover, Terrific Timbers LLC,  Mystic CT Woodmizer Million Board Foot Club member. 2019 LT70 Super Wide 55 Yanmar,  LogRite fetching arch, WM BMS250 sharpener/BMT250 setter.  2001 F350 7.3L PSD 6 spd manual ZF 4x4 Crew Cab Long Bed

tule peak timber

persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WV Sawmiller

   Okay - a real long day. Got up and left about 0615, got to the lake and boat unloaded/launched by about 0640, ran my lines and finished at 0731. Sampson was hoarse as we caught 12 fish that weighed in at 77 lbs. My evil Djinn was back and as I reached for a hard shaking line it untied and I even brushed the flagging as it went down. Maybe I need to go to remedial Boy Scout knot tying classes if Doc Henderson can squeeze me in. ::)

I rushed back, loaded the boat and home about 0800 and started skinning catfish around 0830. I finished skinning 138 lbs of fish about 11:15 and put them on ice in 2 coolers. Just skinned and gutted - not fillets yet. My wife was cutting up and packaging the 62 lbs of fillets from the day before. We leave them in the spare refer overnight to chill so they cut up easier. While I was skinning fish my busybody neighbor friend stopped by to see what I'd caught. I offered him a mess of fish and told him to go see Becky at the house  and she'd get him an old ice cream bucket or two. He said "I just happen to have a ziplock bag here in my pocket" and he pulled out a gallon bag which we filled for him.

I rushed in and showered and changed and went to a monthly luncheon for my wife and her retired teacher friends. We took another mess of fish to our IT friend along the way.

  I guess we got back about 2:00 pm and I filleted off 33 lbs of fish for my housecleaner to take for her church to have a fish fry. I try to do that for her every year or so. I told her 33 lbs will feed 100 Baptists and that is not enough they better check the congregation rolls again for ringers from other denominations. :D

 I still have an ice chest full waiting to fillet on ice but they will keep good till in the morning. I went back to the lake about 5:00 pm and down near the dam and caught 50-60 little bream for bait by about 7:30 pm. I heard a pontoon boat across the lake having trouble cranking so went to check to see if they needed a ride or a tow and found it was my dental assistant and her husband. They said their boat wasn't idling well but it was running enough to get them home so I left. There were no other boats in sight of them and I'd hate to see anyone stranded like that.

 I baited my lines and picked up 4 channel and blue cats that weighed total around 12-15 lbs I guess. I finished baiting in the dark and checked the lines, replaced a couple of missing bait but no more fish. I did see several deer in the park along the lake and even spotted a family of 4 otters on the bank. They may not help my fishing but I love to watch them.

 I will probably take up my lines in the morning and maybe put them out again in a week or so when the granddaughters are out of school to help.


 5 fish, 61 lbs, biggest is 23 lbs from Tuesday night. I parked them in the creek in the front yard overnight and all were raring to go when I skinned them today.


 12 fish Wednesday morning. 77 lbs total. Biggest about 13-14 lbs. Total for 2 nights fishing is 35 fish and 250 lbs.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

fishpharmer

WV sawmiller, I am a little envious.  Ran lines like that when I was in high school, fun times. 

Are you seeing eggs in any of those fish? Or they spawned out already?
Built my own band mill with the help of Forestry Forum. 
Lucas 618 with 50" slabber
WoodmizerLT-40 Super Hydraulic
Deere 5065E mfwd w/553 loader

The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work. --Tom A. Edison

WV Sawmiller

PFarmer,

  Many of these fish are full of roe. I never tried eating catfish roe but we like it from the bream and crappie and such we catch. They have not spawned out yet.

All,

 Okay, another long day. Left the house before 0600 and stopped to get gas for the boat. I use 2 plastic 6 gallon tanks and when one gets low I switch on the fly. Six gallon tanks work great as a pint of mixing oil yields the 50:1 mix my motor uses. In the winter I take my leftover outboard gas and use it in my chainsaw then start with a fresh batch in the spring.

I took up my lines today. I had 8 fish that weighed 57 lbs total. The biggest was a 13 lb flathead on the same line I got a 23 lb flathead 2 days ago. There was also a small sycamore where I had lines on 2 different limbs and I doubled up on it today and yesterday. Those spots are what my grandpa used to call his "Smokehouses" because it was where he went to get his meat.


 Here are the 4 fish from last night. They weighed 21 lbs total. They were very feisty when I went to clean them.


 Here is them tied out. You can see one of my minnow traps in the background. Everybody needs a good flowing creek in their front yard.


 Here is a shot of my outboard with a "Dolphin fin" supposed to help it plane out quicker and a River Runner guard that "sometimes" hits the rocks and  underwater obstacles before the prop. Seems like it was painted too when I bought and installed it. That 's another one of those things that require customization (No comments necessary there Danny >:( :D).


 This morning's catch - 8 fish 57 lbs. They have all been well chastened and kept in line by Sampson.


 Before cleaning today's catch I filleted yesterday's catch - 38 lbs + 33 lbs for the housecleaner church fish fry from 138 lbs live weight.


 One of my Smokehouses where I caught a 23 lb and a 13 lb flathead and at least one 10 lb channel this trip. That sycamore limb is about 1/2" in diameter where the line is tied so it makes for an exciting sight when there is an active fish on it like now. That limb started about 4-5 ft above the water and he'd pull it completely under water at times.

  I skinned and filleted today's and last nights catch. Had another 38 lbs of fillets plus a couple lbs off a mid sized flathead my wife came and got directly off the cutting board which we had about half of him with grits and cole slaw for lunch - he was very good!

 I washed the boat good and emptied out the dead limbs and leaves and other trash I picked up on this trip and it is back in the shed ready for the next trip. I'll take a break for a few days and let my battered body, especially my hands heal up. Sliding cuts from catfish fins, gills and teeth plus nicks from my skinning and fillet knives and hooks, mixed with fish blood and lake water take their toll. Total catch for 3 nights = 328 lbs. Total number of fish = 47. Biggest fish 23 and 22 lb flatheads. Smallest exceeded 2 lbs. Average weight = approximately 7 lbs

 Lessons learned and remembered this trip include:

1. Water entering into the boat when it is launched with no stern plug installed comes in the boat much faster than it goes out.
2. Limber green limbs are preferred for hanging bushhooks/limblines over vines. Vines may be used if that is the only thing to access the spot you want to fish. Poison ivy vines work but are less preferred to things like grape vines. Its better to check those leaves closely before tying rather than when you are taking them up.
3. Skinning and gutting all the fish first then filleting all of them works better for me than completely processing each fish in turn.
4. When cleaning fish and game outside where biting insects are a problem it probably works better if you put your skinning/fillet knife down before you swat that deer fly on your ear.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WDH

Howard,

Down here, those plugs work better if they are inserted. 
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

WV Sawmiller

Danny,

   Yeah, its funny how that physics thing works. :D I thought about inventing an idiot proof stern plug hinged on the bottom of the boat then floats up and seals the hole when you put the boat in the water. At least this time I remembered quickly, jumped in and put it in then took off and got the boat on plane and drained most of it out. 
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WDH

A man has to be agile at times. 
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

WV Sawmiller

Danny,

   Being agile comes in real handy sometimes when cutting a big tree too! ;)

    My wife is putting the last of the fish in vacuum bags now. I gave a gallon bucket full to my son's MIL this morning and to a neighbor this afternoon. We stopped by Lowes and bought a replacement downstairs refrigerator. I borrowed one from my son while my old one is sick. Still trying to decide whether to fix or scrap it. its a 40 y/o Hotpoint but sure is handy for fish and making corned venison and such.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Andries

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on May 23, 2019, 09:33:31 PM. . . . At least this time I remembered quickly, jumped in and put it in then took off and got the boat on plane and drained most of it out.
My version of this is that I realize whats going on too late. By the time the hole is corked and the motor is started, there's a flood of water around my ankles. 
Trying to get the boat up on a plane only makes the front end point to the sky, and gets me a wet keester.
Family, all of'em, think I'm a laugh riot.  :(  :D
LT40G25
Ford 545D loader
Stihl chainsaws

WV Sawmiller

   Stern plugs in boats are like side supports and toe boards on sawmills - you never forget to put one in unless there is a crowd to watch like when you saw into a side support or leave the toe board up and make long wedges. And the bigger the crowd the more likely it will occur.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

doc henderson

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on May 23, 2019, 09:33:31 PM
Danny,

  Yeah, its funny how that physics thing works. :D I thought about inventing an idiot proof stern plug hinged on the bottom of the boat then floats up and seals the hole when you put the boat in the water. At least this time I remembered quickly, jumped in and put it in then took off and got the boat on plane and drained most of it out.
i think they tried that but the idiots sat in the wrong spot and the plug went into  the wrong hole...???!!!   :D :D :D  sorry.
Timber king 2000, 277c track loader, PJ 32 foot gooseneck, 1976 F700 state dump truck, JD 850 tractor.  2007 Chevy 3500HD dually, home built log splitter 18 horse 28 gpm with 5 inch cylinder and 32 inch split range with conveyor powered by a 12 volt tarp motor

Chuck White

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on May 23, 2019, 09:33:31 PM
Danny,

  Yeah, its funny how that physics thing works. :D I thought about inventing an idiot proof stern plug hinged on the bottom of the boat then floats up and seals the hole when you put the boat in the water. At least this time I remembered quickly, jumped in and put it in then took off and got the boat on plane and drained most of it out.
I did that once, back when I was stationed in Alaska!
A friend and I were launching my 12 foot inflatable in the surf down at Anchor Point and mis-guessed the timing of the surf!
The next thing that happened was the surf FILLED the boat and soaked us.  Point to remember: if an inflatable is still inflated, it won't sink!
My friend went back to the beach/shore (only 6 feet from where we were) and I just jumped in and got out beyond the breakers and ran the boat back and forth (parallel with the shoreline) until it was empty. 
The inflatable doesn't have a plug, it has a flap that closes with the water pressure against it and opens during operation to allow the water in the boat to exit!
We learned something that day!  ;)
~Chuck~  Cooks Cat Claw sharpener and single tooth setter.  2018 Chevy Silverado and 2021 Subaru Ascent.
With basic mechanical skills and the ability to read you can maintain a Woodmizer  LT40!

doc henderson

many sailboats that are designed to swamp and easily right themselves have a special plug with a string so the water can go out when up to speed by venturi action
Timber king 2000, 277c track loader, PJ 32 foot gooseneck, 1976 F700 state dump truck, JD 850 tractor.  2007 Chevy 3500HD dually, home built log splitter 18 horse 28 gpm with 5 inch cylinder and 32 inch split range with conveyor powered by a 12 volt tarp motor

WV Sawmiller

    Don't the fish escape from the live well when that happens? :D And I guess you better have all the gear tied down. ???
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

Quote from: doc henderson on May 24, 2019, 07:21:42 PM
many sailboats that are designed to swamp and easily right themselves have a special plug with a sting so the water can go out when up to speed by venturi action
I don't want to be on a boat that small !
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

doc henderson

It is the fish pulling the boat!  i guess if you are being chased by a shark, then yes, "I think you are going to need a bigger boat".   :D  or as the capim said, "rather be swimmin with bow legged women".   :D   8)
Timber king 2000, 277c track loader, PJ 32 foot gooseneck, 1976 F700 state dump truck, JD 850 tractor.  2007 Chevy 3500HD dually, home built log splitter 18 horse 28 gpm with 5 inch cylinder and 32 inch split range with conveyor powered by a 12 volt tarp motor

tule peak timber

persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WV Sawmiller

TPT,

  Did you notice if that fish had a bush hook with a name tag made of pink flagging ribbon with my name on it? It looks like one of the two who stole my lines this trip. Either that or he was running away from them. :D


 The line looked like this one.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

WV, No ...this fish was trailing 5 miles of stainless steel cable.
  Do you guys have otters or other critters gloming onto your fish ?
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WV Sawmiller

TPT,

  I don''t know of an otter ever stealing a fish or bait from me. I did find the biggest mink I have ever seen 2 years ago on the bank with about a 3 lb channel cat still attached to the line. He had started to chew the fishes chin when we got there and chased him off. The fish was about 6' up on the bank and still quite lively so the mink had just gotten to him. Last season I had one line that was pulled up on the bank twice and the bait fish was missing both times apparently from another mink. Usually the fish I catch are too big for a mink to handle. I have not found heads or anything left on a line that looked like an otter had gotten to them? I have in the past had limbs chewed off by beavers taking my line with them but that was just luck of the draw the beaver picked that limb to eat as the beavers don't eat or bother the fish.

   I used to occasionally get a big snapping turtle hung on my line but that was mostly them stealing my cut or live bait or rarely a catfish. Often they would be foul hooked in the foot or shell. I have not even caught one of them in a couple years. I once had a big water snake tail walking like a big bass trying to shake a small dead bream off one of my lines. Fortunately he was not hooked and fled when I arrived so I did not have to try to unhook him. I don't like them but he was not doing anything un snake like.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

OR.........You are simply hooking fish too big for your gear.
        Please keep the pics coming as I really enjoy anything fish. Your buckets of filets have me drooling like Pavlov's puppy. 8) 8)
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WV Sawmiller

TPT,

  No, the fish I lost this time were not too big for my gear. It was simple operator error when I tied the special quick release knot my old mentor taught me to use to the limb. I probably just needed to snug it just a hair more to tighten the knot a little more.

   I need to see if I can find a real small circle hooks for my bait catching. I lose 15-20 % of my bait by them swallowing the hook and killing them unhooking them. A dead bait is near worthless in my type fishing.

   When I was stationed in Albany Ga I'd put out trotlines for big alligator snapping turtles. I'd butcher them and we ate them regularly. I think they yielded about 50% of live weight in meat. I've had big ones (75 lbs or so) bite through the shank of an 8/0 stainless steel hook. Big softshells tasted better but were harder to catch and keep alive.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

Man... You are making me hungry!
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

doc henderson

when my kids were little, we would go fishing.  Monique was the fisher girl and William would find other things to do.  We had caught about 3 fish and had them on a stringer, and Wil was playing with the night crawlers. He called me over with his hand in the water, saying"dad there is a snake over here".  I assumed he meant the night crawler.  There was a 3 foot water snake latched onto the side of one of our fish.  pulled out the stringer and walked up the bank to see if others could help identify.  it stayed on the fish until i got back by the waters edge and it released and dropped back into the lake.  They were about 6 and 4 t the time, now 20 and 18, Wil just grad. HS and Monique has graduated from comm. college and on to a 4 year school.  Might be time to go fishing for old time sake.  @tule peak timber makes you a little less hungry seeing a snake latched on your supper, course you prob. would have eaten the snake.   :) digin_2 smiley_beertoast
Timber king 2000, 277c track loader, PJ 32 foot gooseneck, 1976 F700 state dump truck, JD 850 tractor.  2007 Chevy 3500HD dually, home built log splitter 18 horse 28 gpm with 5 inch cylinder and 32 inch split range with conveyor powered by a 12 volt tarp motor

WV Sawmiller

   My biggest problem with snakes here in WV is small water snakes getting into my minnow traps and drowning. I don't know how many of my minnows they ate before they died as I don't conduct autopsies on them. If alive I release them. They are a nuisance but just doing what comes natural. I don't even kill the poisonous ones around here now unless they are around some place with people, especially kids, or pets. I killed my share and more as a kid and we had some nasty ones growing up - moccasins, rattlesnakes, copperheads, and coral snakes. I even stopped my local guide from killing a black mamba in Ethiopia on a trip there as we were not near any villages. In Ecuador we were going to relocate a big/20' anaconda from near a shaman's village as they had killed one there the year before and they did have small kids and poultry and goats and such but when we stopped on our return trip to move her she was gone.

   I grew up in N. Fla and we'd sometimes pull up a stringer of fish to find a big alligator snapping turtle eating on them or a big gar would be towing you around. Gators are more common there now and they may become an issue but were no problem when I was growing up. I have heard of people float fishing in a big inner tube being towed by gators till they could cut the stringer. That would get my attention real quick!
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

caveman

WV, I am enjoying the fish tales and pics too.  I used to fish up to 200 days a year but it seems like it has been 200 days since I have been fishing.  Do you use a dehooker?  I never did until it was required to have one on the boat in Florida's coastal waters.  I made a few with a coil on the end and added a handle on the other end (the wire or steel rod is matched to the size of fish).  They are the berries for removing SW catfish as well as others. My choice for circle hooks are those made by owner.  

Gators- I saw one that had been hit by a car about a half a mile from my house this morning on U.S. HW 98.  Also, when I was in high school, I was wading a nearby lake flipping in the cat tails for bass one late afternoon.  The water was a little over waist deep and I had a stringer of seven or eight bass tied around my waist.  Darkness had caught me quite a ways from shore when I heard a commotion in the cat tails several feet away-no doubt a sizable springtime gator.  I got low in the water to try to move furtively while reluctantly releasing a pretty respectable stringer of bass.  The 300-400 feet between where I was and the bank still gives me the eebie jeebies when I think about that walk (wade) in the dark.  On more than one occasion, Jmoore and I quickly hopped up on the end of someone's dock to get some separation between us an aggressive gator while wade fishing Lake Gibson.  
Caveman

WV Sawmiller

Cavey,

  I almost never need a de-hooker now that I have started using circle hooks. Of the 4 dozen fish I caught during this trip only one little 4-5 lb flathead had swallowed the hook. I often have to use my leatherman pliers to pull a hook out of the boney jaws of a fish. Back when I used a J style hook I'd say at least 50% swallowed the hook. I looked yesterday for some small circle hooks for bait catching but about a number 4 or 2 was the smallest they had. I will check with Bar Pro or Cabelas the next time I go to Charlotte or some place where they have one.

   The gators were pretty rare in N. Fla when I was coming up but are more common now. We'd see a few on the Suwannee River when we'd fish don't there where Dad was raised. Grandpa was one of the early Game Wardens in Fla and was a plume and gator hunter prior to that. He knew all the illegal hunters because he had hunted with them all his life. Although back then it was mostly legal to hunt them.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

Offshore thieves were killer whales, sea lions, birds, and sixgill sharks. Near shore and surface longlining we dealt with seals and birds. The pic below is a short set line coming out of 250 fathoms, check out the bulging eyes. With proper care I delivered slowly beating hearts into the LA market 2 days later. Fresh fish !

 
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WV Sawmiller

TPT,

   Are those snapper or rockfish or what? Looks like one on every hook as far as I can see. 

   I have trotlines but have not used them in several years because the limblines/bushhooks are working well. We used to have problems on the Suwannee River with fish thieves seeing a shaking limb then they'd come over, throw the fish in the boat and cut the line off. Sometimes I have a disgruntled bass fisherman or such cut off a few hooks but I don't seem to be having and significant fish theft issues. Trotlines can be real productive as yours with a lot of fish caught in a small area but you can sure get hurt with them too. Several times I've had boaters come by and cut mine with their prop while I was working it so I have to keep enough weight on to keep it several feet under water even when working it. Several times I've had to just throw it back and start over because of thoughtless or careless boaters. I try to put my lines out on Monday-Thursday and take them up before the weekends so I don't interfere with pleasure boaters and other fishermen. My lines are so close to shore now they are never a threat to skiers or tubers or such.

    We just got back from a photo outing up there my wife scheduled with her mentee. He has been with us before. We only saw one blue heron and usually we'd see dozens. One far off eagle and usually 6-10 of them and only 2 ospreys. Maybe it is too early for the blue herons. They did get pictures of this one catching crawfish and minnows which is always neat. The photographed one old doe browsing in the weeds on the bank but none in the water today. We saw one otter but not able to photograph him. They are rare enough it is a real treat to see one. Most boaters and fishermen here have never seen one. Of course hey also don't know about the little green herons which are very common and very photogenic - they look like grumpy old men to me. Anyway we had a good time so that is what matters.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

WV, these are Blackgill rockfish, a species I pursued incessantly in the 80-90's. Fish in the pic are typically 80 years old. A hook every 3 feet, miles of line....
  Your fishing etiquette sounds like you are a gentleman, and smart ! :)
  Please keep your fishing- catching chronicles up to date.  I have more salt in my blood than sawdust !
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WV Sawmiller

TPT,

   Man that is some old fish. I had no idea any fish lived to that age. I went fishing one day with my BIL in Alaska and we caught a few rockfish of some species that looked similar to those. We sure didn't catch as many as you did. As I remember they were pretty good eating.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

Probably Golden Eye. This pic is from SE Alaska, we filled the boat with these guys . Big circle hooks,bait the size of golf balls, 3/8 inch mainline, and weather, oh the weather !

 
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

Chuck White

Wow, that's deep, if I remember a fathom is 6 feet, so 1,500 feet, no wonder their eyes were bulging!

Nice catch!

I used to fish Halibut off of Anchor Point, Alaska in 65-115 feet depth!
~Chuck~  Cooks Cat Claw sharpener and single tooth setter.  2018 Chevy Silverado and 2021 Subaru Ascent.
With basic mechanical skills and the ability to read you can maintain a Woodmizer  LT40!

doc henderson

we used to catch flatheads in 5 feet of water in ks, just for the halibut!!!   :D :D :D
Timber king 2000, 277c track loader, PJ 32 foot gooseneck, 1976 F700 state dump truck, JD 850 tractor.  2007 Chevy 3500HD dually, home built log splitter 18 horse 28 gpm with 5 inch cylinder and 32 inch split range with conveyor powered by a 12 volt tarp motor

tule peak timber

In  Alaska generally from 50 -250 fathoms. In Southern California  from the surface for shark, and down to 500 + fathoms for Sablefish. Different gear of course. It takes a long time for a hydraulic hauler to crank out of 3000 feet.
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WV Sawmiller

   I took Johhny, my old neighbor (The one with the ziplock bag) out yesterday and put out some lines. He said he wanted to see how it was done. I had enough bait caught by the granddaughters over the weekend to get started. After putting out lines we went and caught a few more then checked the lines right at and just after dark. I put about lines with most of lines out in the main lake and a few on the Bluestone River. Last night we had one 5 lb channel cat on one of the last hooks. I tied him out in the creek overnight. This morning I went out and checked them alone and had 5 channel and 2 blue cats on the Bluestone side which was about one fish for every 4 hooks or so. When I went back to the main lake I did not have a single fish and many lines still had baits on them so either I had some help running my lines or they just did not bite there for some reason. Total catch was about 43 lbs and biggest was about an 8.5 channel cat. Total yield was a little over 26 lbs of boneless fillets which, if I were planning a fish fry, would feed about 75 people.

 When I started cleaning fish I could hear an old turkey hen up at the upper side of the pasture raising sand. I guess she has a nest up there and something got too close to it. By the time I was nearly done I could hear her on the other side of the cross fence going Tuk, Tuk, Tuk. I think it is too early for her to have poults so I don't know who she was calling to.

 I'll go back and catch bait and bait up tonight then we will take up the lines tomorrow as we have some bad weather headed our way.


 Total catch 8 fish, 43 lbs -about 5.5 lb average.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

Wonderful, and I love the guard dog !
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WDH

Those seem to be the perfect eating size.
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

WV Sawmiller

   I baited up this evening and checked after dark to make sure all lines were baited with a fresh, live bait. Picked up 3 small cats that probably weigh 12-13 lbs total. One blue and two channels. They were all properly barked at by Sampson. A big old doe walked about 20' from us while we were catching bait. He watched but did not bark at her. I did not see a fawn with her. Mr. Johnny is supposed to go with me in the morning to take up lines so I hope he can watch some shaking limbs.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WV Sawmiller

   Okay, I got up and Mr. Johnny was already here waiting. We unloaded all the excess stuff we did not need such as poles, fly rods, bait buckets, catfish tote, etc since we were not going to be fishing for bait and could use the live well for our fish. We got to the lake about 6:40 or so and crossed the lake and started taking up lines. I'd untie them and Johnny would wind them for me. Pretty slow going as we only caught 2 in the main lake but they were nice fish. The first turned out to be a 33 lb flathead. I first estimated 20 lbs or better but when I took him out of the boat I realized I was off. He was 45 inches long and did not fit well in the live well. The second fish was a really pretty 10 lb channel cat. Finished collecting lines in the lake and moved over to the Bluestone river side and picked up another 10 lb flathead and an 8-9 lb channel cat. Total for the morning 4 fish for 61 lbs. I'll take that average any day. We got home just before the rain set in and I cleaned fish for a couple of hours. Johnny took the 26 lbs of fillets from yesterday to distribute to various family members. One brother said he wanted fish but wanted him to cook them as he said he does not know how to cook fish. That's an ingenious idea especially since it worked. Becky is cooking the belly off the 10 lb flathead right now for lunch along with 5-6 little bream I caught last week with the granddaughters. Sampson did good and pretty brave to be barking at the 33 lb flathead that could eat him but I guess he figured as long as I was there he could be a vicious dog.


 Old doe from yesterday while we caught bait. she was about 20' away and no alarm at all. She looks to be nursing a fawn from this shot.


 Johnny & Me and Sampson with 33 lb flahead. 45 inches from his chin to the tip of his tail.

 Rest of the fish. Bottom 3 from this morning weighed 28.5 lbs. Top 3 spent the night in my creek -13 lbs for the 3 of them from last night.


 The best view of a catfish (okay and one bream) on the whole thread!
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

thecfarm

Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

tule peak timber

Looking good-you are making me hungry ! 8)
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WV Sawmiller

     Well, I am stuffed! I ate 4 bream and one little piece of catfish just to say I tried some out of this batch. A big old bluegill is still my favorite eating fish and these were cooked just right. There is enough left over for us to have another feed and the housekeeper ate lunch with us and took a plate home with her too. She was bragging how good these were and says she likes channel cat but doesn't care for mud cats (Flatheads). I hate to tell her all she ate today was the belly off a 10 lb flathead. 












Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

Belly's and heads, the best parts of the fish!
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WV Sawmiller

   Yes and up till a few years ago I never knew to salvage the meat off the heads. I have started calling them "cheeks" like halibut cheeks and such. I guess that is a more socially acceptable term. Dad used to stay at various fish camps on the Suwannee River and a lady ran one who used to like to get the heads off his big blue and channel cats and she'd skin them out to get the meat to make fish chowder or gumbo. We never knew how much meat we were leaving. When I fillet a fish I rip the belly open during cleaning then I fillet off the 2 sides of the belly then the 2 fillets off the sides. What I have noticed this time is it is easier to cut the belly fillets off the flathead catfish and it is easier to fillet the sides off a channel or blue cat.
Quote from: thecfarm on June 05, 2019, 01:34:55 PMGood size fish!!!!
cfarm,

  Yeah I am real proud of him. It has been several years since I caught one this big and I have only caught one bigger - a 35 lb fish several years ago. I hear people talk about catching 60-70 lb fish around here and I am confident they are there (I had one eating on a 5 lb flathead on one of my lines when I checked it 2-3 years ago - he was not hooked, just under the water swallowing my fish when we pulled on the line. When they do that they skin him just like I do when cleaning one and you will sometimes pull up a perfectly skinned carcass.) but I have not seen anyone with one even this big. I guess the real successful fishermen don't really talk about where and how they catch them.  I am the oddball and will even show people which limb I caught one on and show them where and how to catch bait and such to go catch them. I was telling Johnny I know some places are better to catch catfish around here but I have caught fish every place I tried so if go down to the lake and find someone has already staked out my spot I'll move to another, maybe better, one.

  Actually this one was pretty easy. The limb was shaking, I eased up beside it and eased my net deep under water and got hold of the line and guided him towards my big net and he swam right in and I lifted him in the boat before he ever knew he was in a net. No fuss - no muss, just the way it is supposed to work. No big drama fighting  and likely losing him.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WV Sawmiller

   Well, not really catfish and no pictures because I found my battery in my camera had died (Probably time for a new one as not holding a charge very long any more) but my mom who is visiting from N. Fla and I went out for 5-6 hours today fishing for bream. I actually had to break down and buy bait as my stock of nightcrawlers had converted to dirt and it was too dry last night to catch some more. We got to the lake and found a massive May Fly hatch. The hulls were so thick just trying to get a hook through them was like tossing a rubber worm in a patch of floating grass. We caught a few bluegills then I motored up to Bull Falls where there is more current. We caught a nice mess bream including several half to 3/4 lb fish which are not that common here. We were just using lightweight fiberglass poles and a big bluegill on one is lots of fun to catch.  I tried mealworms then discovered the nightcrawlers were better preferred. I think we caught about 3 dozen but got home with 23 because I rather than opening and closing the live well for every fish I was using a collapsible fish basket and bumped  the loop I had around the boat, knocked it loose and sunk them in about 35' of water. Anyway it was great to spend the time with my 89 y/o mom doing what she loves to do and watching the sights along the lake and river. We actually ended up with a nice mess of fish.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

tule peak timber

Super, even without pics !
persistence personified - never let up , never let down

WV Sawmiller

 

 
   Well, a moderately pitiful catch but actually there is still a decent mess of fish there for me and my wife with one small bass and 5 bream (2 bluegills and 3 redbellies) and we did have a real good time. The three local granddaughters 13, 11 & 7 spent the night here last night after their our DIL took them to our local state park to the indoor pool. We took advantage of the recent cooler weather and the younger girls and I picked up a few limbs in and around the yard and had a small fire at the lot and cooked hot dogs and made smores and had a real good time. 

   This morning I got up and about 9:30 a.m. Abbie, 11, and Molly, 7, and I went to our local lake. The water was up from the recent rain so I went up above the main lake to fish for bluegills. My first smokehouse, a bunch of bream beds at the mouth of a small run-off, was a dud with only one little throwback for Abbie. My next spot yielded 2-3 bluegills and redbellies. Abbie wanted to learn to use a spinning rod so I started her on a Zebco #11 ultralight with a jig spinner with a piece of a nightcrawler instead of a plastic grub tail on the  jig. This rig was pretty forgiving about getting hung up and a good starting lure for Abbie to learn on. I switched from a pole to the same. We were making short casts to the bank under trees . I picked up a couple more bream and a small bass which really put on a show on that light rig. Abbie actually did pretty well for her first try using a spinning rod although she did not catch any fish. She was still having a good time. Molly got bored and mostly played with the fish in the live well. She really thinks the redbellies are pretty. About noon we headed back. Molly came back and wanted to drive the boat so I cranked it and handed her the tiller while I sat there beside her just in case. I only let her run us aground one time and that was at slow speed so she had fun doing that.

    The wildlife was back on the lake and we saw 2 young bald eagles first then an adult one overlooking a shallow backwater cove. We spotted 5-6 ospreys and a couple dozen blue herons which have been gone from the lake all summer till now. We saw 3 white herons, several little green herons, a cormorant, many Canada geese, some ducks, etc. The birds were not alarmed and we got within 30 yards of eagles and herons and one osprey. A spike buck walked out on the bank about 30' from us and watched a while and a mink ran up the bank to within 10-12 feet of us. 

    Again, a pretty poor catch of fish but adequate for a decent meal for the two of us and a priceless day on the water with my granddaughters.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

thecfarm

I would of enjoyed that too!!!
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

WV Sawmiller

   I took the wife out yesterday for the first fishing trip of the year for her and conditions were worse but we had a great time observing and taking pictures of the wildlife including the old doe feeding on submerged grass shown in my other thread. On earlier photo trips the herons and many of the eagles were absent but they are back in plenty now and the most ospreys we have ever seen. We came home and had the bream and bass for lunch. I liked the bream and Becky liked the bass so it worked great for both of us. Now I need to schedule another trip for Abbie to practice her rod & reel use and get her hooked on using a fly rod too.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WV Sawmiller

   My son advised their church annual fish fry is 3 weeks off and I generally supply the fish. Rather than break into our stock packaged for the 2 of us I figured I'd just go catch some more. Put minnow traps out and got 70-80 minnows and put out 39 hooks yesterday afternoon then went and caught 60 or so little bream for bait. I rebaited the hooks adding a bream to each. I picked up 2 small channel cats before dark. I fished another hour or so till dark then check one time in the dark. I picked up 2 more fish including an 18 lb flathead and a 7 lb channel. Total for the afternoon 4 fish at 28.5 lbs.

   I returned this morning with my wife and her photo mentee. Checked and took up lines with 6 more fish,biggest 11 lb flathead. Total today 6 fish 38.5 lbs. Total for the trip 10 fish, 67 lbs or about 1 fish for every 4 lines out. 

   I staked out the fish and we motored upstream a few hours seeing young but no adult bald eagles, several ospreys including one who seems to have stake out a particular treetop as he has been there last 4 trips I was up there, several kingfishers, white/blue/little green herons, and a couple of anhingas, a bedded down fawn on an island with doe walking in the willows. Nice day but nothing spectacular compared to most trips.

   I came home and cleaned fish. Took me 2 hour and 10 minutes to clean and fillet them so I will likely never have a career as a fish monger. Total yield about 36 lbs of fillets which is plenty for the fish fry and enough left over for friends or another small church fish fry. Oh yeah, and we cooked the smallest fish for lunch and Becky said was best she has eaten. Maybe because straight from the river to the cleaning station to the skillet. 

    One odd thing last night was I found several hooks with the bream knocked off but the minnow still on the hook. I don't know how a fish removed one without the other. ???

    I may put lines out after Labor Day and outfit some other folks. We will see how work and weather work out.
 

 


 

 
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WV Sawmiller

  I waited till late afternoon for the worst of the holiday crowd at the lake to leave then went down and caught 70-80 little bream for bait and put out about 50 lines in the Bluestone River side and even a little further up than I have fished with lines before. I checked the lines at/after dark and rebaited several hooks the bass and crappie had stripped. No catfish. Went back at daylight. I did stop to fill my second outboard tank and a guy saw my door sign and asked about my sawing service and took a card so maybe that will pay off. He said he had logs sounded very interested in me coming instead of having to move them to a mill. Anyway I had a moderate catch of 5 fish (Lost another 6-7 channel cat at the boat - I did not want to use my monster net. My old net broke last night after 25-30 years. I will sure miss it. I'll look for a tangle free replacement at Cabelas or BassPro in Charlotte the next time I go there. Hard to find the size I need.) of about 34 lbs. Two flatheads weighed just over 20 lbs together. One had survived a broken back. Earlier this year I had a 2-3 lb channel cat also with a broken back. I guess they had survived a snapping turtle or such as a smaller fish. Only thing I can think of here to do that unless maybe a mink or otter got them. Biggest channel cat I had was just over 6 lbs and smallest about 3 lbs. Total yield was 18 lbs of fillets.


 Note the hunched back on the flathead next to the bench seat. Both of them weighed within a few ounces of each other.

   I'll go back and rebait at dark again and hope for better luck in the am.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

DPatton

Nice flatties WV, I'm kinda jealous because the Missouri River has been out of her banks all year with no access. I don't have a single flathead in the freezer this year.  :-\
TimberKing 1600, 30' gooseneck trailer, Chevy HD2500, Echo Chainsaw, 60" Logrite.

Work isn't so bad when you enjoy what your doing.
D & S Sawmill Services

WV Sawmiller

   Some of the best fishing for catfish especially with bushhooks is when the water is out of its banks. We used to love to set hooks in the backwater.

   I ran my lines this afternoon and had one channel cat about 15 lbs I guess. I have him staked out in the creek for the night and will clean him with tomorrow's catch.

   Back to the broken backed fish I wonder if that could also be caused by eagles and ospreys and such. We have a lot of them here. Maybe they caught the catfish and broke their backs in the process but dropped them before they could eat them. Any other thought or experiences others have had with this would be welcome.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WDH

That broke back catfish was mighty lucky, just like the Auburn Tigers War Eagles Plainsmen or whatever they are called, besides lucky :).
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

WV Sawmiller

Danny,

   Hushpuppy expert or not that was uncalled for. If you have a question about AU football just ask them ducks!



 Seems like I am going downhill. 5 fish that weighed 30 lbs with biggest a 9 lb channel cat. I also had the 10 lb channel staked out in the creek I caught yesterday afternoon. total yield 22 lbs of fillets.

   I have to replace the bolts in my seat before I go back this afternoon as three of the four worked out of the swivel. Kind of awkward to sit like that.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

BradMarks

I love the fish, please send me about 20 lbs!!  And of course the reference to Auburn football and the Ducks (it is capitalized).  I will give Auburn credit for the comeback and say our coach has yet to gain that big game experience that will say: "hey, we're up, 8 minutes to go, maybe we should think about clock management". We snap the ball repeatedly with 10-15 seconds left on play clock, Auburn scores with 9 seconds left :-\.  Kids play the game, but coaches can influence the outcome.

WDH

Howard just picking at you.  Georgia and Auburn go way way back.  War is war ;D. 

Hope you got those bolts replaced so you did not have to sit cattywhompus. 
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

WV Sawmiller

Danny,

   Yes I would not expect any less from an UGA fan. :D I stopped on the way home at our local hardware store and got slightly bigger bolts with fiber nuts so hopefully they never work loose again. Got them installed and it worked great today.

Brad,

   DUCKS - now is that better. :D I did not mean to offend. The way your team played they certainly deserve respect and I hope we see them again at the national championship play-offs. Yes, not playing the clock was very costly and that snafu where they used up 2 timeouts was very costly but they sure made us work for it. You could not ask for better seasoning for a new young quarterback.

    Come on down and I'll fix you up with 20-30 lbs of fillets. Take the southern route and pick up Danny and he can cook up some hushpuppies and we'll have an old fashioned fish fry.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WV Sawmiller

   Had a pretty jinxed day. Only had 3 catfish and one, a 10-12 lb flathead got off at the at the boat. Maybe 7-8 lbs of fillets. The Houdini fish was playing possum and not shaking the line till I checked it and I had already passed it (I check the lines from a moving boat if they are not already moving and go back if one turns out to have a fish on) then when I backed up he got around the motor and my long handled net got in the way. Oh well, maybe he will be back with his big brother tonight. Took Becky up the river and had perfect conditions for pictures with a real cloudy day. She got several pictures of eagles, ospreys and a squirrel with a big green walnut in his mouth. I spotted a young eagle fly off a strange object up in some grass so I motored in to get a closer look. Turned out to be a brown garbage bag but I partially clogged up my water pump and later ran into a mud bank and finished stopping it up so had to stop and let it cool a time or two. Got to the landing and when I got to the highway I had a flat on the trailer. Had a spare so not a big job to change. Called my boat guy and took the motor to him and he blew out the line and it works like a champ again so that was an easy cheap fix. Replaced a trailer bulb that blew sometime since yesterday and bought a new prop as my old one has had a rough life. Boy does that new one make a difference!

    I went down and baited up right at/after dark and will take up my lines tomorrow. The water has dropped about a foot since I started this week and I generally have better luck on rising water. We will see in the morning.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WV Sawmiller

   Ok, I am done with catfishing (at least for the rest of this week :D). I took up my lines this morning. Only had 3 catfish. I did not weigh them but I weighed the fillets and had 10-11 lbs of fillets so I had at least 16-17 lbs I would guess. There were 2 channel cats and a small flathead. One of the channel cats was on the same line Houdini got off of yesterday morning.

  After running my lines my wife and I toured around the lake taking pictures of an hour or so. She got a few good pictures of wild grapes which are getting ripe now. They are very abundant and preferred food for raccoons, squirrels, birds, etc around the lake. We stopped by the local marina for a potty break and to grabs some nabs and a soda and a little green heron was on the dock about 10' from us pretty much demanding we take his picture. A anhinga was perched on a dead tree limb out in the middle of the lake. They are pretty rare around here but we saw tons of them along the cross Fla canal in the Everglades a few years ago. I love to watch them catching fish.

   I spotted several fallen trees from last Fall I guess that are aching to have a minnow or crappie jig dropped on them so that may be on the agenda in the few weeks as time and weather permits.

   I washed out the boat real well and put it up with chargers on the trolling motor and the one to the outboard which is weak and barely starting the motor. I may need to check to see if the alternator is working but the battery is old so that is likely the culprit.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

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