Anyone been out lately?

[Flatheadmaniac]

Im heading out Weds. & Thurs. afternoon to try to get my Dec. smallie, only need one this month to complete my quest of a brownbass each month this year!
With the ice finally melted off, the streams will be up flowing pretty good(plus with this rain), so finding them will be easy..will they bite?..probably, but i got to get out there to find out.
Good luck to any one that ventures out this week,
Scott

[getinjiggy]

Where do you normally fish for winter smallies? I havent tryed fishing for them this late in the year! Do you fly fish or jig What do you prefer? Glenn

[Flatheadmaniac]

I mostly fish smaller streams in central ohio(sorry but the Smallmouth Alliance guys asked me NOT to post where on the net).

Baits for this time of the year depend on a lot like water conditions and temps. I personally like high water with consistant day/night temps for atleast 3-5 days in a row. But each guy has his own favorites.

Where?.... find the deep wintering holes is the first key....

A lot of guys prefer very slow crawling hair-jigs, some prefer rubber baits like tubes and the magic "senko".
I on the other hand like to CATCH fish during these tough times and stick to "natural" baits that smallies feed on during winter.
Bites are sometimes very tough, but the pay off is most of the time a very big smallmouth. All of my 20"+ smallies have come from the months of oct.-march

For a great source on stream smallmouth bass fishing check out www.riversmallies.com or my web site in my signature "Smallie Chasers Association".

[crappielooker]

yes.. i went out today.. caught nothin but ice.. hoping that tomorrow will be different ..i havent try the soft jerkbait yet and will give that a go tomorrow.senko did not produced today..it was not the day for them..i guess.... lets hope the weather holds up..

[Flatheadmaniac]

I hear ya...going to be rain/freezin rain tonight through morning..then suposed to be in the 50's by afternoon.
All i need is for the ice to be off the streams to catch them, last trip there was lots of ice..couldnt get a bait to where the fish were:( .
Good luck to ya,
Scott

[crappielooker]

i can handle the ice on the guides.. but ice on the line roller is hell..i dont enjoy the line twist. also i didnt see any baitfish at all..if i locate those little suckers.. i be set..:cool:

[Dave_E]

I haven't been out in the past 2 weeks. I was steelheading on the Rocky.

I have 2 weeks of vacation coming up. I will definitely head up to the tribs and try to catch something. A guy I work with went Sunday and caught 13 steelhead and 2 salmon. His brother caught 9 steelhead. He brought the pictures to work yesterday. I may have to get some info from him.

[Flatheadmaniac]

Man that sounds like they had a blast...im still going t try for my first steelhead out of a stream during my 2 weeks off at x-mas time this year.
I did go out today(12-18-02) and i not only finished my quest to catch a smallie each month this year, but the last one of this season was 20"..guess im ending this year on a good note.
I caught two smallies today in a few hours one 20" and one 17", that puts my way over 300 smallies for 2002.
Scott

[flathunter]

It figures I got ten days off work comming up soon, probably be cold and wet:(

[Flatheadmaniac]

I also have 12 days off for x-mas and after looking at the forecast it is ging to be a cold one this year....cant believe that last Dec. i was still fishing in a tee shirt and caught smallmouths consistantly until my last trip of 2001 on Dec. 23rd..then started again Jan. 9th.
Jack get ahold of me and we will meet up for some channel cat action IF everything isnt frozen over and temps at sub-zero...lol

I want to hit a spot that i heard about before where a very few older gents catch some big channel cats(up to 20lbs) during the winter. I'll scout it out and let ya know what i find.
I was at that same water they fish last winter, i was catching lots of whitebass very early in the year(with some days producing up to 80 WB a day), i saw these two older gents but didnt know at that time they were catching channel cats...sure wish i would have known back then:(
Sure hope this cold weather tapers off after Jan.???:confused:

[Wise1]

How do you join the Smallmouth Alliance !!! That sounds really cool !!

How much does it cost?

Do they have a website?

How about a clubhouse somewheres?

Do I get a decal for my car window?

Do they have monthly meetings?

Do I get a news letter letting me in on all the secret spots and special smallmouth lures?

Sounds like a terrific alliance man !!! Count me in !!!!

[Flatheadmaniac]

I guess ya get all kinds on these public message boards:rolleyes:

The Smallmouth Alliance IS a real group and NO i dont belong to them..i stand for the same things us them like protecting our streams from over harvest, strictor regs. for smalmouth(they helped pass the law a few years ago on a local stream).
They do have a club, i dont have that info for ya..they do have decals and do have meetings.
I used to belong to another forum and used to post where & how but was sent about 10 private messages and e-mails asking me NOT to give out that info. because these fish can be over harvested very easily by those who dont practice catch & release like i do....i agreed, end of story,
Thanks,
Scott

[j_blocker]

I have also been asked to keep it to myself about the maumee before.

Jason

[Flatheadmaniac]

I sure understand, when i first got on the net i had lots of pics. and storys and couldnt help myself...but after i was asked to PLEASE not give out areas and was explain very well why...it hit me and i totally agreed.
These type of message boards are very common now for our state and there are a TON of guys that dont join just "lurk" trying to find out where everyones catching..thats ok, but the ones looking to fill thier freezer full of fish from your spots are the ones i worry about.
Some guys that are experienced in fishing "get it" others find it stupid that we dont post ALL the info....and thats ok, everyone entitled to thier opinions! some day they'll learn!
Good fishing to all,
Scott

[Wise1]

I was hoping I could join with that Alliance thing!! I just want to make some new buddies and find some great new spots ...You know .............I wonder If I could get a Decal anyway ( for my Window).........I like Decals and stuff.

Oh well..........Good fishin'

[j_blocker]

And since then i have kept it to myself, it only makes sense.
One of these days i'm gonna make up a great "fake" post and for the report, ask all who view it to reply, even if its there fifth reply, I'd like to know really how many lurkers there are out there. I would like to see a 1:1 ratio of views to posts


Jason

[Flatheadmaniac]

ive been around enough forums to know when someones trying to fool around..this is a FISHING forum.. NOT the GFO, Jacks or my message forum, thanks
Scott

[Flatheadmaniac]

I bet you'd be amazed at the # of lurkers...just look sometim on the GFO at the amount of guests per day..they never join..just come to find out where to fill a stringer. This forum will be the same after the word about it gets out.
Scott

[j_blocker]

I'm doin it on the NW page

Jason

[MISFIT]

didn't take long to get 11 views,but 8 were mine:rolleyes: :D

[j_blocker]

you are a funny man, and yet i can't tell if your serious

Jason

[MISFIT]

a little of both;) just kinda makin' a point.lots of people view these boards and members/non members alike will read posts for various reasons.not everyone(yes,i'm sure there are some) is out to find every hotspot,then run out and try to clean all the fish out of them.i don't think there's a conspiracy in the works.myself,like many others,just enjoy reading what others are doing,and will never have any use for lots of the info.i read just about every post in every forum here and "next door",cause besides the info that i do get and give,i simply enjoy hearing of others experiences and it it's lots more entertaining than that silly boob tube,during those long days around the house.:)

ps....and like myself,lots of people will view a thread more than once,when there are new replies,just to keep up with it.

[j_blocker]

thanks rick

Jason

[mrfish/OH]

Been on the Ohio & at Brookville so far. Rain kept me busy with other stuff today. I'll be hitting it Sunday & Monday, weather permitting. Snow & ice on the ramps kills the boat, but I can fish from the bank at several places. I don't fish in the cold rain either, warm rain, no problem. I have to have some side curtains altered for my bimini top, then I'll try so cold, wet conditions.

[Ðe§perado™]

People come here and other forums to find out about where fish are biting. I think if your fishing an area like the river or a lake let them know you getting fish there. you don't have to tell a specfic spot. I know fo some people that even threaten people if they come near there so called spot or even tear up people stuff to stop them. Just give a general area to help some out. Just my opinion.

[mrfish/OH]

After I posted I was on this page. Lurkers ?? I think it's hard to determine, and I don't think it matters. I'm sure alot of people read the posts & either don't feel they anything to add, or they just rather wouldn't. Like Miss Fit ( and he's getting fitter from what I hear) said.....not a conspiracy. I like to come back & view the continuation of a thread, I don't feel I need to comment on every one, or everytime I review additional comments/information. Isn't that the point? The forums are to share information in public on the internet? Otherwise, send emails, or have a private forum. I've been to those other forums too. Some are good......some not so good. ;) It's nice to see posted what you actually wrote.
There's also a buddys list here, and at another good forum, you can simply send a message to all of them at once if you want to send private info ( spots, etc)
There's also another senario...."Lurkers" can be members incognito too.
Hey Misfit, have you had toad's boat out yet ? It sure looks like it will get the job done. Looks like a fun year ahead. I can't wait for the Erie trip, I told my wife I was taking July 7th off.....she looked at me like I was crazy !!
Yes......Ðe§perado™ I remember someone threatining that he dumped a 10# bucket of roofing nails at a public spot where he fished *LOL*

[j_blocker]

I don't think that there is a conspiracy or anyhting, I just wanted to know how many "lurkers" read the posts. I just wanted to see hom many people that were members and that contributed to the site.




Jason

[bill_gfish]

I don't have any secret spots to worry about giving out, oh wait yes I do getinjiggy showed me one. That is where I draw the line. I think if someone shows you a spot then you shouldn't give it out but if you have a spot you found and want to share it then no one should say a thing about it. But that is just my oppinion.

I just want fish and have fun doing it, that is pretty much all I know, well that and I like to meet new people to fish with and learn to fish for dif. species.

Bill

[bill_gfish]

I got off the point of the post a little.

Me and glenn/ getinjiggy went sunday morning to do a little crappie fishing in a non ice area. Threw in, crappie first cast, got about 8 or so crappie in 20 min. and then nothing, I mean nothing. Had to put a ice jig on to get a blue gill to bite. Decided to go to the lake and drill a couple of holes and still nothing. Didn't stay long there and called it a day.

Bill

[MISFIT]

yeah,he did let me board it once before he parked it,LOL.it's a nice ride.plenty of goodies,nice top to keep my head from burning or gettin wet:D he said if i'm good,he might bring me down to the river this year :cool: :D

[mrfish/OH]

That would be great........let me post some secret spots for you guys to fish !!
Hit the dropoffs & mouths of creeks between Markland & 5 miles above Meldahl !!;) ;)
Hey Jason, a buddy of mine posted about a spot, just to test, and sure enough there was about a half dozen cars parked there the next day. He just mentioned a creek he passes on his way to the real spot just to see !! That was pretty funny...:D

[Wise1]

I'd like to respectively inquire on how a fisherman joins the Smallmouth Alliance previously mentioned in this thread.


Heck, I have lots of killer Smallie waters in my own corner of Ohio, But I sure would like to test my secret bait on them small mouth alliance spots............Those Smallies really tug your line and are a blast.
Everyone that lives in my area and fishes for the Brown Bass know where to go around here.....Its elemantary if you know the fish...............Thats why I'd like to check out the Alliance......Its gotta be good. Plus I want a decal for my window. That would be way cool...................

Whattya say MrFish? Man that 62 pound Blue is one bad fish.......I would have loved to see that one in person.............beats my 52 # shovel last summer........way to go!!!

[mrfish/OH]

I don't fish too much for the smallies. Don't know much about the alliance. We can catch baitfish in the river that are fun. I would like to do some streamfishing for the smallies, but I just don't have time. I have to admit they are a tasty fish, especially cooked Chinese style. But since my favorite cook went back home about 8 years ago, I haven't harvested any. Funny thing is, he was a lawyer there, but a cook here.
I'm looking forward to catching some good blues this winter, and if the river doesn't flood bad this spring, I hope to land some nice stripes.

[cwcarper]

I don't think there are as many people checking the boards solely for new spots to clean out as some people think. But...it would only take a couple of these type of people to ruin some places. Plus, word spreads quickly, on or off the net.

[getinjiggy]

Hey Ive got a few nice honey holes for smallies too. I dont like to post smallie spots for one reason only, there too hard to come by. I dont think DNR stocks those bronzebacks in state owned waters so if they are in there they have been breed there. I know of some wintering holes they go to, and also know smallies will travel up to 40 miles up or downstream to get to there wintering hole! I dont keep smallies but I will most other fish! Too many people are taking undersized fish or just load up a basket. I have seen this alot wading the places I go around here! Glenn

[mrfish/OH]

Cold, windy, fast current, the wind was strong enough to override the current. 2-3' rollers....Ohio River. I jokingly said all we caught was pneumonia !!:o

[flathunter]

Gonna be in the 50's monday I will probably go out..Might be my last time out till early spring?