stephenjay
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"Fish are too valuable to only catch once" - Lee Wulff
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Post by stephenjay on Jul 4, 2006 22:40:28 GMT -6
Just came back from fishing the main channel. Started out by locking my keys in the truck along with my backpack with all flies and lines in it. Had to use the zonker on a floating line until I found someone who would lend me his or her cell phone so I could call Rhonda to drive out and unlock the truck.
Worth it though. Once I got set up and the sun went down, I had an excellent night, and I may have out performed all the b**t and jig folks there tonight. At one point, a b**t fisherman asked me what I was using, because (as he said) I was the one catching all the fish. I gave him one of my perch patterns and explained how to fish it on his spinner gear.
All told, 1 pike in the 18" range, 2 goldeye/mooneye, 2 16+" saugers, 3 16+" walleye, and probably at least a dozen saugers and walleye under the 12" range. That's over 20 fish and 4 different species. I have had a relatively good summer so far, including a 35" pike up at the Shellmouth dam, but this was a great night.
Most of the fish were caught within 20' of the shore. I was using a floating line with about 8 or 9' of leader/tippet, and clouser like flies for most of the fish caught (green over white or yellow, the white ones with crystal chenille body).
I stopped at about 10:30, but I think the action was still building. Towards the end (you know, when you are making deals with yourself as to when you will leave) I decided that after catching a really nice looking walleye at about 17", that I would end the night on that fish. So I cast out and reel in my line so it lays nice on the spool, and caught another juvenile sauger without paying attention or really trying. What a night.
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Post by SK Justin on Jul 4, 2006 23:15:04 GMT -6
Sounds like a good time. Hopefully the fish are cooperating when I make it up that way (probably in August). I was at the Shellmouth Dam lastnight, and caught some decent walleye, a nice perch, and a 32" carp. One older guy though caught a 48" pike on a nightcrawler of all things. I sure would have liked to catch that beast myself, but it's probably better than I didn't. It would have likely destroyed my 6/7 weight (not that the carp was a slouch either).
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Jul 5, 2006 9:02:29 GMT -6
With all the "the cats aren't biting" talk it is easy to forget that there are a tonne of other fish there.
Good report.
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Post by Dale Martens on Jul 5, 2006 12:50:53 GMT -6
16" sauger are NICE sauger!!!
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stephenjay
Moderator
"Fish are too valuable to only catch once" - Lee Wulff
Posts: 677
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Post by stephenjay on Jul 6, 2006 6:09:24 GMT -6
Re catfish not biting. I was talking to a bait fisherman on Tuesday, and we were noting that the shear number of goldeye in the river these days, and wondering if that was what was keeping the cat action light. If the cats can just site idle and pick up fish that come right to them, it is unlikely they will move for dead bait.
Given this theory, it might be better when the water drops enough to wade out to the little island/ridge in the main channel and fish the holes and drop-offs around it. On Tuesday, the island was just starting to show above the water.
JJP: I was up in that area for the trout festival, and that is when I caught that pike. I also saw a 4 footer, and one of the guys I was with (Kim aka fishinmusician) saw one even larger. They also saw some quite large carp in the resivoir as well. Where was your carp? When we were there, the control structure wasn't working, so the water was going over the overflow, and that channel is where the pike were for us. I didn't take the time to try the other channels, unfortunately.
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Post by scaleson on Jul 6, 2006 9:26:06 GMT -6
thanks for the headsup on the action this week
the past weeks at the floodway were slow so i hesitated to return for a while
last night (wed) the action was good after the quality individual (who insisted on wading out in shorts and casting a large water slapping spoon behind me) moved back to shore.......may be the back cast was starting to bother him
the goldeye took just about evey fly from 8pm to 9:30 then I moved to calf deep water and caught a 17" cat in excellent condition and ended the evening thereafter
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Post by SK Justin on Jul 6, 2006 12:52:01 GMT -6
JJP: I was up in that area for the trout festival, and that is when I caught that pike. I also saw a 4 footer, and one of the guys I was with (Kim aka fishinmusician) saw one even larger. They also saw some quite large carp in the resivoir as well. Where was your carp? When we were there, the control structure wasn't working, so the water was going over the overflow, and that channel is where the pike were for us. I didn't take the time to try the other channels, unfortunately. They were not releasing water out of the regular outflow since before the fishing season started. Both the river and reservoir levels were very high. Back on opening weekend the walleye fishing was phenomenal below the overflow. In two evenings I caught an easy 80 walleye, most ranging from 18" - 23", on flies. Since then it has slowed for walleye (not surprisingly there has been a ton of harvest on them - all sizes ), but the carp now make relatively easy targets (before, the walleye would grab your fly before anything else had a chance). When I was there on the past weekend they had started releasing water out of the regular outflow, but I prefer the overflow for wading and fishing, and that is where I caught the carp. As for the reservoir carp... I've got a couple of locations to give a try. I've seen fish that had to be 40+ pounds at the Saskatchewan end.
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Post by flyfisheranonymous on Jul 6, 2006 13:23:58 GMT -6
Just got back from Lockport at 12:30 today. Had some really good luck. Tied into 7 Cats mostwere 32-33 inches but did get one at 36" plus. Also took 1 Walleye about 22 inches and 3 Sauger. Still lots of Cats out there if you know where to fish.
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Post by flyfisheranonymous on Jul 20, 2006 9:01:14 GMT -6
Had 3 newbies out for instruction last night. They had a riot. The dad only managed a sauger, his oldest son nada, but his yougest landed his first 2 Cats on the fly rod. The first was approx 24 inches while the second was a whopping 36 incher. His two biggest fish of his life. Once again the Cats were swirling the surface. Got to go out and catch me some.
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Post by darrellmyskiw on Jul 20, 2006 11:39:50 GMT -6
........... did you say surface kitties mmmmms .......
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stephenjay
Moderator
"Fish are too valuable to only catch once" - Lee Wulff
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Post by stephenjay on Jul 20, 2006 20:41:29 GMT -6
I was out again this morning (third time this week) and the water levels are fluctuating greatly. From water up to the bottom of the shelf on Monday night (caught a 30 - 32" bigmouth buffalo), to this Tuesday night: to back up to the concrete shelf again today, but even higher than Monday. Don't know what is going on, but you couldn't see the mid channel island again today, and I wasn't going to try and wade out to find it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2006 18:41:53 GMT -6
Sitting here in the "dial-up boonies", with not alot of action on the Wpg River (at least I'm not finding it), this Lockport thread is making me wish for the end of my holidays so I can get back to the city!
Stephen: what you are probably seeing is the wind-tide effect from Lake Winnipeg. On a south wind the south basin drops and the river can drain down about a foot or so. On a north wind, the water piles up and the river backs up all the way to Lockport.This year, with all the winds we've been experiencing, it would be especially pronounced. In my limited experience, I've had better luck on the north wind....TIM
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Post by flyfisheranonymous on Aug 1, 2006 22:05:30 GMT -6
Well we did get out tonight. Stu 3 Sauger, Tim nada, Stephen drum, sauger and something else. I forget. Kevin my son who I'm not going to take fishing anymore had 8 hits FIVE CATS on and he lost every one. He hasn't landed a big cat yet but had one take him into his backing tonight then he lost it when it was only 10 ft away. BUMMER!!!!! Oh well next time.
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stephenjay
Moderator
"Fish are too valuable to only catch once" - Lee Wulff
Posts: 677
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Post by stephenjay on Aug 2, 2006 9:21:50 GMT -6
Drum, two sauger, and a baby pike. A good night with good company.
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Post by darrellmyskiw on Aug 8, 2006 8:05:56 GMT -6
Well - a week off and got out - if even at Lockport. I was kicked out last Tues morning - told to go fishing ........ so I did. Started down from the gates a bit, and worked my way down to the floodway outlet. In the 1st 10 minutes I rolled a junior kitty for about 15 seconds - gone. I had something (sauger by the hits) taunting me - - - all in all looking up. ................ Then .......... nada - nada - est a muis nada. Floodway outlet ............ aw heck, time to go get the van and move it over, I'll scour this area. I get back, and in 5 minutes pulled in a pike - about 20 incher. Then thought to work the seams - WHAMMO ! ! ! ..... el-gonzo ............... sleeping and watching the cormorant and sea gull go at it ................. one H of a huge pike that was ........... try it again .......... nada ............ about 10 minutes later, some Albertans come down to set up into the river - just as WHAMMO - surface rolling - head shaking - el gonzo too .......... SH#T that's one huge fish ! ! ! noted one of the Albertan's .......... well, twice, this time bit off ......... give him a rest. After working the river about 15 minutes, I try it again, figguring - naw - can't - BANG - ROLL - gone ............ yup - bit off again............. ^$#@(%&*)#@$ - time for lunch. I got back in time to see another FFer - seems he was working just below the spillway for somethin or other. Chatted an bit before heading back. Was able to see RandyH tag this little hammer Another pike for me later, just before leaving This one dragging a rusted old hook and spider wire under that gloop. Now ......................... HOW THE HE ! ! DO YOU TIE UP / MAKE WIRE LEADERS FOR PIKE[/b] .................. For the life of me, I've never tagged a pike that size even in my previous fishing life (and I used to chase them). But this beast had a nice white belly on her as wide as my hand is tall - OY ! Other than that - no tying over tha past week and a bit ............. some lawn casting ............. about 2 and a half gallons of beat borscht ............. and copious down-time with the boys .................. it was sooooo good, I think I'll have to do it again next week ........... ;D
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Post by flyfisheranonymous on Aug 8, 2006 9:04:46 GMT -6
Give me a call and I'll show you how to tie them up.
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Aug 8, 2006 9:36:52 GMT -6
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2006 14:52:24 GMT -6
The leader illustration Robert linked to has worked very well for me (again, thanks Stu!). I have used coated Mason wIre and seven strand wire (uncoated) and the former works much better. I find the uncoated wire really kinks up.
On a related note, a number of people (ffers on the FAOL board and musky anglers (hardware)) that I have chatted with have extolled the virtues of flourocarbon in larger diameters (30# to 50#). One musky nut told me he has never had a break-off using flourocarbon as a leader and a couple of ffers at FAOL had similar glowing reports for pike/musky. I'll stick with wire when I'm going mainly for pike but I'm definitely going to try the flourocarbon on bass outings where pike are also common. Because those are usually clear-water situations, the "invisible" flourocarbon would is an asset, or so I'm told...TIM.
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Aug 9, 2006 8:08:02 GMT -6
another note on that set up... traditional with albright knots the thicker section is looped and the thinner one is wrapped with wire and mono no matter the diameters the wire is looped and the mono is wrapped. When I was 1st shown this (10-15 years ago back east) I was shown a variation. Basically make up a bunch of wire tippets with looped ends in advance. Then you can use the heavy mono and if you still get bite off you make a loop in the mono and do a loop to loop with it and the pre looped wire.
Back then this had to be done with crimps or melting but with todays wire tippets you can just do a duncans, perfection or surgeons loop.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2006 21:56:44 GMT -6
Heres an update for lockport.. . .
Was out there this morning and the saugers are in there pretty good right now. I had alot of long distance releases, however I was able to land about 10 in 2 hours up close to the dam. The island was completely submerged by the way. I guess with the south wind and all, it brought the water up. But didnt see any greenbacks caught today.
By about 9:30. . .the bait anglers had taken over my location so I moved downstream to the floodway exit to try for kitties. I had one on, but lost it right close to me. It was only about 30" but nevertheless still a good fight on a 8wt.
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Post by randyh on Aug 22, 2006 7:56:48 GMT -6
if you don't mind, what was your setup for the catfish?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2006 12:36:23 GMT -6
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Post by SK Justin on Aug 26, 2006 0:44:23 GMT -6
I fished off of the island on the 24th and caught alot of goldeye, and a couple of fingerling sized white bass. I also saw about 5 or 6 combination bigmouth buffalo and quillbacks caught by jig fisherman near the fish ladder.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2006 21:49:12 GMT -6
I got out again tonight, I wanted to try some frog patterns that I tied up last night. So I headed out for an hour. I tied into one cat which took me into my backing (first time ever having a fish do that, kind of scary when all your line is out there) and I had him on for a good 10 mins, than my leader broke. Also, I have now decided that my 8 wt is a bit to little for cats. He was in control the whole time. Ive been eyeing up that streamside elite 10fot 9/10 wt at Wholesale. But I will wait until next year.
First I need new waders, I got mine for free from a forum member last year and they are leaking beyond repair right now.
No other fly fishers out there tonight, but one of the boats out there caught about 6 cats when I was there. So it seems to be picking up a little.
I will try and get out again this week and get my big cat on a fly rod, thats 2 ive lost now in the last week.
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Post by Dale Martens on Aug 27, 2006 6:53:29 GMT -6
I've only seen my backing a few times and I admit to being more than a little nervous each time. That's a $50 knot between the line and the backing....
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2006 10:25:45 GMT -6
I got out Saturday am and managed to land three cats, all big fish. Lost two more. Quit at about 10. Really glad I moved up to the 10', 9/10 wt....
Here's an interesting observation: When I arrived at about 6:00 am there were all kinds of fish tailing in riffles and along current breaks around the reef. The tails looked like drum (black, square, rounded ends) but I could not get a take to save my life, tho I did manage to get one small drum casting nearby in the current. The activity really dropped by sunrise but there were a few fish showing all thru the morning until I left at 10:00am. I knew where they were hanging and I drifted stuff thru but no takes. I know I should have tried nymph patterns, as they may have been suckers (saw a sick quillback floating down the current at one point) but I was mostly focused on the cats.
Any ideas?...TIM
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Aug 28, 2006 12:08:53 GMT -6
I can think of a time Will and I were fishing the Fairford and the tailing Drum were busy all day. We started with what we 'thought' we should use (Clousers) and got sqat but when we switched to big hex patterns then I started getting hook ups.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2006 21:57:14 GMT -6
Sopuck. . .my guess is that they where carp. There where tons of them this morning finning around the surface until about 10. Saw no cats landed by anyone today. . .managed no hook ups with the carp. . except for one foul hooked one that got off. All I managed was one drum. Still fun though. I want to get out to lockport possibly Sunday again and see if I can come up with something that will get those carp if they are still there.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2006 20:50:11 GMT -6
Sized down one of the frog patterns I was using for cats and managed this carp tonight. Didnt see nearly as many swimming around as I did yesterday. But I will be back tomorrow morning.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2006 8:07:25 GMT -6
RE: tailing fish
Normally I agree with the carp ID but these fish had black, sqare tails and, correct me if I'm wrong, carp tails are reddish. As per Robert's post, I wish I had taken the time to try a nymph - hi-vis caddis or something..TIM
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