spidercrab

while visiting my #3 son in PA we found the time to make some casts in a local stream. it was a nice little area right off one of the highways. a beautiful day for fishing. just being outdoors taking in the scenery and spending some quality time with my son was great. catching a nice brookie made it complete.

I had one of those ideal fishing trips today. Couldn't even finish setting my first trap when I got a hit. The line was literally ripped from my hand. I hooked and landed the fish, a pickerel, which would be my largest of the day. Every trap thereafter would pop having just set it down. What a freaky thing, but good. I caught a total of 6 large pickerel, which I was able to document 5. The sixth got away from me when I tried washing him off in the hole for a clean pic. Oh well. (4/5 more were released for not making the grade. Actually lost count. Not a bad thing!) I also landed a nice largemouth to break things up. Overall, probably the best day of ice fishing this old geezer has had.

a very productive day in the early part of Jan. caught over 10 fish, all pickerel. had a breakoff though. something of size. really couldn't gain much. could definitely feel the weight. northern pike were stocked a few years back so i'm guessin' what it could have been. since then i've moved up to a heavier leader material. using 20# fluro with a number 3 circle hook. a good time was had by all (me) ha.

caught a nice striper there using my med weight fresh water outfit. was casting a yo-zuri crystal minnow and got a monster strike. basically caught me, not the other way around. took 40 minutes to get a handle and coax him to the rocks. thankfully it was slack tide. i was physically and emotionally exhausted. weighed out at 26lb and 42in. i was entered in the striper cup sponsored by 'on the water' mag and had it registered at red top bait. thought at least i'd have a chance at the weekly shore prize. nope. somebody entered a 28lber. oh well. just was bummed i had to take it. i'm a die hard catch & release. definitely a trip to remember.

Went ice fishing today. There were two people already set up when I got there. I put out my tip-ups and got ready for action. Fishing was pretty steady with a white perch to "break the ice". We were all catching pickerel, nothing of real size. The lady that was there went to attend to a flag and proceeded to land a real nice pick. We weighed it at 5lb. 7oz. with a 28in. length! Damn! What a nice fish! Got pictures. I also landed a 23incher at the same time and noticed a red line coming out of it's mouth. The damn thing had a hook lodged deep in it's throat. Appears to have broke off someone's line. It was a mono type line so not sure if it was caught ice fishing. It was very healthy and took my bait with no problem. I managed to pry open his mouth and got a hold of the hook with my pliers. With a quick turn I got it out. Bet he was happy as I slid him back through the hole. Weird!!