Originally posted by: Tiny Fisher on 7/13/2005 3:44:57 PM

Have you ever caught so much fish it almost felt boring?

My buddy from California (also a NAFC member) came to visit me in Iowa. We decided to go camping at Lake Redrock and take in some fishing. We ended up near the spillway and started fishing. As soon as we casted out, nibble, bite, FISH ON!!. Some pretty decent size Bass. We thought that was lucky to catch a fish so fast, but this went on for hours. We were catching and releasing every 5 minutes pretty much. After about an hour, I turned to my buddy and said "Man, I need to take a break."

Within a 2 hour period we must have each caught about 50 Bass each. Even with me taking a break. Fun experience......

Tiny

Originally posted by: JESSE on 7/13/2005 6:18:40 PM

HI THERE I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE FIRST TIME I TOOK MY GRANDAUTHER FISHING SHE LOVED IT SHES ALWAYS ASKING WHEN ARE WE GOING AGAIN SHE 6 YRS. ALSO SHE DOES NOT LET ME PUT STINKBAITS ON HER HOOK SHE SAYS ITS NASTY SMELLING SHE MAKES ME PUT GUMMIE BEARS ON HER HOOK. SHE SAYS THAT TASTE GOOD. HAS NOT CAUGHT A FISH YET BUT SHE WONT PUT STINKBAIT ON HOOK OR WORMS. SHES MY FISHING BUDDY.

Originally posted by: dawsonb on 7/14/2005 9:59:21 AM

You might have her put that gummy on a very small treble hook and put it to the bottom. I suspect that carp might like them, but not for sure. She would be hooked for life if she caught a carp on a gummy worm. Thats a story I hope to hear soon! LOL

Originally posted by: Bassmaster624 on 7/15/2005 11:37:17 AM

is it me or in the packet that was givin to us before we were members say that if our story was published we would be givin $100.

Originally posted by: blank on 7/29/2005 7:01:36 PM

umm well i do most of my fishing on resivors,and lakes and the hudson river well i was on the hudson on my uncles boat and we were havng not good luck all day as a matter of fact the day before we got stuck two miles from our boat launch because our battery had been stored in a basement all winter and well i thought i got my line stuck in the leaves so i pulled and then out of the leaves comes a big pickeral biting on my line and it took me a while to get it in but i eventually got it in and as i went to unhook it it wiggled off and bounced back into the hudson and took my hook but ill never forget my fishing trip

Originally posted by: outfishin on 8/5/2005 12:46:46 PM

All week my fishing partner Paul and myself were plotting our fishng tacktics for a great pre-spawn lake. It's May of 2005 about 20min to 6:00am. The sun is just creeping up over the trees, the morning fog blankets the 3 miles of shore line. The sky is gray and the air is crisp. Jackpot - top water for smallies is my favorite technique for those little monsters. As we put the boat in the water our rods engaged with our favorite top water lures, I drop the trolling motor and we make our way to our favorite staritng spot. We let sail our first casts on our 7' shimano rods into the dense fog and begin poping in a cadence that we have done l000 times before. POP-POP then a large swoosh and splash. We knew right away its a large fish for this lake. Its a large smallie about 5-6lbs. It has my lure perfectly engaged in the corner of the mouth, it fights all the way to the boat. I finally get it to the boat, I reach out with excitment to lip the fish, and my index finges brushes her lip and she gives one last thrash, snapping my monofiliment and takes my favorite lure (and most expensive lure). Paul precedes to say that was a nice fish to bad, and all I can think about is that she took my best lure. Well we continue to fish our usual spots and had a great day with some large fish but none as big as the one that got away. I know, I know, so what we all lose fish and lures. But here's where it gets really good. On our way back I we couldn't pass by without trying to throw one last cast in the spot of the crime. By that time it was late morning the sun was high and after about 4 casts Paul turns to me and says "Hey isn't that your lure in the water over their". It sure was, and it was swimming right toward the bank. Sure enough, Paul with his lucky Senko makes a long cast and get's railed. All's well that ends well, she was ever bit of 5lbs and my lure was perfectly positioned in the corner of her mouth.

Originally posted by: militaryman on 8/9/2005 7:00:03 PM

I decided that a trip down the clarion river was a great way to pass some time so i borrow a friends canoe and head out.I guess it's about 20 minutes into my trip and i get this big hit so i set the hook my rod tip is almost touching my hand i look down and find out i have just landed a coleman cooler.I've never laughed so hard in my life.

Originally posted by: BigJoeyV on 8/10/2005 5:06:03 AM

Excalibur

As a thirteen year old boy, I still had the luxury of having summers off from school and all the time in the world to fish. There was a pond a short fifteen minute bike ride from our house and most summers 4 out of five days were spent dragging lures or worms through it's water. This particular summer, just a few days after school let out, I was on the pond, bottom fishing nightcrawlers for stocked channel cat. It had been a slow day so I decided to hop on my bike and head home to the pool. As I reeled in for the last time, the hook got hung up on the bottom. I tugged left and right, mumbling about my misfortune until the snag gave way and the reel began to turn again. However, there was something coming in with it. When I pulled the line in, I found my hook imbedded in the cork handle of a fishing rod and reel combo. Thrilled I rushed home and cleaned the pond scum off of it. When the garden hose had done it's trick I began to study my surprise treasure. It was a black 5'6" two piece rod with no make or manufacturer listed. The reel was also black and again void of any information. I removed the old line and replaced it with new 8lb test. From that day forward, that rod went everywhere I did if fishing was a possibility. I caught more fish that summer than I ever had in my young life. The list included a 23" largemouth, a 27" channel cat, and too many smaller fish to mention. I even took it on vmy family vacation and pulled a 20" seatrout out of the Atlantic on it. For whatever reason, fish came fast and furious to any hook or lure attached to that combo. My friends and I began to call the unmarked rod Excalibur because it came from a lake and seemed to contain fish catching magic.
Every fishing trip with that rod yielded positive results and brought a smile to my face. Until that Labor day. I knew that my summer vaction was down to hours so I went back to my trusty pond for a few more casts before the dark cloud of a school year came over me. The fishing was excellent, so good in fact that my dozen nightcrawlers were nearly gone within a half hour. So I threaded my last worm on to the hook, sat the rod down and slipped up the bank to start turning over rocks for some more bait. That's when it happened. I hear a rustling near the water and glanced up from the worm hunt. Excalibur was get hit and being dragged quickly toward the water. I leapt toward the rod and reached out only to see the cork handle slip below the surface and out of view. Excalibur had gone home. I spent a lot of evenings that fall dragging treble hooks along the bottom of that pond, but never managed to hook back on to the magical rod. Sometimes when I go back to my home town to visit my folks I still think about trying one more time to catch it. I've not since caught fish like I did that summer and I doubt I ever will, but I'll always have the memories and my firends and I will alawys have our own Legend of Excaliber.

Originally posted by: fish_the_miss on 8/10/2005 6:50:04 AM

What a great story BigJoey. Everyone goes on a treasure hunt when they're a kid and it sounds like you actually found your treasure one summer. Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by BigJoeyV:
Excalibur

As a thirteen year old boy, I still had the luxury of having summers off from school and all the time in the world to fish. There was a pond a short fifteen minute bike ride from our house and most summers 4 out of five days were spent dragging lures or worms through it's water. This particular summer, just a few days after school let out, I was on the pond, bottom fishing nightcrawlers for stocked channel cat. It had been a slow day so I decided to hop on my bike and head home to the pool. As I reeled in for the last time, the hook got hung up on the bottom. I tugged left and right, mumbling about my misfortune until the snag gave way and the reel began to turn again. However, there was something coming in with it. When I pulled the line in, I found my hook imbedded in the cork handle of a fishing rod and reel combo. Thrilled I rushed home and cleaned the pond scum off of it. When the garden hose had done it's trick I began to study my surprise treasure. It was a black 5'6" two piece rod with no make or manufacturer listed. The reel was also black and again void of any information. I removed the old line and replaced it with new 8lb test. From that day forward, that rod went everywhere I did if fishing was a possibility. I caught more fish that summer than I ever had in my young life. The list included a 23" largemouth, a 27" channel cat, and too many smaller fish to mention. I even took it on vmy family vacation and pulled a 20" seatrout out of the Atlantic on it. For whatever reason, fish came fast and furious to any hook or lure attached to that combo. My friends and I began to call the unmarked rod Excalibur because it came from a lake and seemed to contain fish catching magic.
Every fishing trip with that rod yielded positive results and brought a smile to my face. Until that Labor day. I knew that my summer vaction was down to hours so I went back to my trusty pond for a few more casts before the dark cloud of a school year came over me. The fishing was excellent, so good in fact that my dozen nightcrawlers were nearly gone within a half hour. So I threaded my last worm on to the hook, sat the rod down and slipped up the bank to start turning over rocks for some more bait. That's when it happened. I hear a rustling near the water and glanced up from the worm hunt. Excalibur was get hit and being dragged quickly toward the water. I leapt toward the rod and reached out only to see the cork handle slip below the surface and out of view. Excalibur had gone home. I spent a lot of evenings that fall dragging treble hooks along the bottom of that pond, but never managed to hook back on to the magical rod. Sometimes when I go back to my home town to visit my folks I still think about trying one more time to catch it. I've not since caught fish like I did that summer and I doubt I ever will, but I'll always have the memories and my firends and I will alawys have our own Legend of Excaliber.

Originally posted by: little basser on 8/16/2005 9:41:55 AM

This weekend I went to a friends cabin in Dassel, MN. His cabin is on Lake Washington, where there are supposedly no fish. I had to test the lake anyways, being the die- hard fisherman that I am. The first day on the lake, we took the canoe out into a quiet bay and I caught about a 5 inch bluegill. sadly, that was at 10:00 a.m and we had no more action that day. The next morning we caught a few bass, (the largest weighing in at 3 1/2 lbs), and decided to go out in the canoe again. We were working a shoreline consisting of several overhanging trees when a huge bass suddenly ripped through the water and slammed my Mepps Aglia. as soon as it felt the pressure of my rod, it took off into the trees, and I thought that i had no chance of landing it. I tried to force it back out of the trees and my drag was screaming like crazy. I yelled to my friend to get the net, but he couldn't see the fish. The monster took off to the front of the canoe, where he was sitting, and shot under it. My friend then saw the line and grabbed it. He tossed it in the net , and his eyes got huge. The bass ended up being 24 1/2 inches, my biggest largemouth!!!

Originally posted by: natey on 8/16/2005 7:34:19 PM

One day i went to bass pro shops (first time) and i got my first baitcasting reel. as i was getting my 59 dollar daiwa procaster reel a fisherman comes up to the desk asks to see this reel that costs 400$ and asked for 2. and bought 10 bass pro shop graphite rod at 55$ each
my jaw dropped
byeii!!!

Originally posted by: The Salmon Slayer on 8/30/2005 5:57:39 PM

Hello

I finally got around to exploring the NAFC message boards. I just returned from a trip fishing for Atlantic Salmon in New Brunswick Canada. I submitted one of the Atlantic salmon I caught and released in this years NAFC "Catch and Release" contest. This was the last salmon I needed to catch for the IGFA "Royal Salmon Slam Club". I have recently submitted the entry with my documentation to the IGFA. I would like to share my story with other members.

I am in the U.S. Army currently stationed at Fort Campbell, KY with the 101st Screaming Eagles. I will be retiring this December with 22 years of active duty service. My wonderful wife and two daughters moved back to North Pole, Alaska in May to purchase a house, start a new a job, and begin school. I will be catching up with them in mid October in conjunction with my authorized transition leave.

Salmon and trout fishing is a fairly new sport for me. I began what is now my passion only a short 5 years ago. I first arrived to Alaska in 1987 due to orders for the Army assigning me to Fort Richardson, located just outside of Anchorage. Never had a second thought about fishing, I was more worried about soldiering and girls. I soon met a beautiful Alaskan girl, married, and left the "Great Land" for a Drill Sergeant duty in South Carolina in 1992. Never thinking of returning except to visit her family.

As fate would have it, in 2000 I recieved orders to return to Alaska, this time Fort Wainwright, adjacent to Fairbanks. I can still remeber telling my wife "maybe I could catch one of those big salmon fish this time". Boy, was that an understatement.

Between having family events, military deployments, field exercises, and more Army training. I finally purchased a salmon rod, reel, and terminal tackle for chinooks and decided to take a weekend to try my luck at a big king. I was a little older now, and chasing girls was out of the question.

I pounded the water for three days with no salmon on my line. I returned to work after the weekend to tell my war stories about fishing for salmon with no success. I finally consulted a co-worker for help, he had previously showed me his great success of fishing from his kodak memories. He eagerly took me down to the sporting goods store to selected proper lures and went over techniques of targeting the kings. Armed with my new ammunition I set out to try again the next weekend.

Montana Creek is about 100 miles north of Anchorage. This tributary of the Susitna River has a good run of spawning chinooks every summer. Wading at the mouth and casting my new found plan of attack, I can still feel the unmistakable hit on my lure, and after setting the hook, feeling the power of the salmon vibrate and bow all 8 1/2 feet of my fishing pole. I can still hear the line screaming off the reel as my first chinook took off. Although it wasnt the fifty pounder I was after, it was still a trophy to me. The feeling of anticipating every cast and landing the salmon myself started what my wife now calls an obsession, and I call a passion.

When I returned from the weekend and tell of my great success to the man that helped me out he said to me, "pass it along" help others share in the enjoyment. He also told me about being a good steward of the sport, "don't harvest what you won't eat" stressing the importance of individual conservation efforts. "I want my kids, and their kids to have the same rivers to fish later on". Then he asked me about getting my Alaskan Salmon Grand Slam. "You have to catch all 5 species in 5 seperate waters, all in one summer". Thats all it took for me to get started. I knew being a novice angler, and without the aid of a professional guide, catching each one of the Alaskan salmon (chinook, pink, chum, sockeye, and coho)on five different rivers would not be easy.

Amazingly, I achieved the Grand Slam the first year I tried it in 2002. Between all the events going on that year I look back and still can't believe I did it. The sockeye almost got away, but that's another story. Army life is demanding enough with seperations for deployments and training exercises. Add in all the other activities of having to daughters and a wife and volunteer stuff it was not an easy accomplishment. I matched it in 2003 also.

I eventually recieved orders to leave Alaska in 2003 for Fort Campbell. I ran into an old buddy and was sharing my new found love of salmon fishing in Alaska. Like in most assignments you end up running into someome you crossed paths with previously eventually. He asked me if I qualified for the International Game Fish Asssociation (IGFA) Royal Salmon Slam Club. He is a big Bass fishing guru and was already a memebr of the IGFA Royal Bass Slam Club. I did some research and found out I still needed one more species, the Atlantic salmon.

Having plenty of days of leave, I sat down and made plans to go to New Brunswick, Canada to complete the Royal Salmon Slam. I decided on going to the Mirimachi River, after looking over the internet for months. The down side was that there is no self guided fishing and I could only afford about five days if I tent camped and maintained a diet of pop-tarts and water (thank goodness for all the Army training). I submitted my leave for August and it was approved. My family had already departed in May for Alaska to prepare for our upcoming transition to civilian life (where else does a salmon fishing dude retire?). I figured with my family gone, and being a devoted husband and father, that girl chasing is out of the question, I packed my jeep and set off 1600 miles to New Brunswick, Canada.

I could not have picked a worse time to go. I arrived to find the heat was up and the salmon were not active. I was In between the spring run going out to the salt water, and the fall run returning to spawn. Two days of fishing left me with a doughnut. On the evening of the second night, just after I zipped the door on the tent and began wondering if I was going to catch the elusive Atlantic salmon, it started to storm. Thunder, lighting, wind and heavy drops of rain pounded and shooked my little tent for what seemed like 7 hours. When I finally unzipped and arose to the morning the storm had passed. My guide looked at me with high hopes the third morning, letting me know rain was good thing because it had cooled down the river and would get the fish moving in.

We actually saw salmon the third day, but no takers for our wet flies. Not until that evening while fishing at the famous Ted Williams Pool on the Mirimachi I felt the take of my fly from the tip of my rod and heard the line burning of my reel. Much like that first king I caught a short 4 years prior. It was my first Atlantic salmon. She put on a great show, tail dancing on the river, a fat hen that measured 36 inches.

I did it! Royal Salmon Slam accomplished, take the picture. I gently removed the hook and released her back to the river. I went on to catch two more salmon in the next two days of fishing, getting one each day. It was a long drive and many hours of fishing for only three salmon but the memories of NB, Canada will last forever!

Hope you enjoy my take. If you would like pictures, email me.

I do not consider myself an expert in anyway, just very lucky. If anyone needs help on fishing for Alaska salmon let me know, so I can pass it along. Check out our salmon fishing club WEB Site at http://www.salmonslayers.com

God bless all the service members and their families serving overseas, Godspeed, see you on the river. Fish On!!

SFC Dennis Musgraves
1931 Christine Drive
North Pole, Alaska 99705

Originally posted by: LIPRIPPER on 9/2/2005 2:20:02 PM

Great story Dennis and it makes me want to go up there too. Alaska is just about the only State I havn't been to yet but I am saving my pennies to make a trip up there next year to visit Silver Salmon so maybe we can all get to get together then sinc ya'll both live in North Pole Alaska <!--graemlin::cool:-->

Originally posted by: chaka bake on 9/11/2005 5:48:59 AM

out on ft smallwood park in maryland i was fishin my homemade bait for cats suddenly i got a bite it bent my rod about 30-40 degrees i reeled in a monster 45lbs blue catfish i took my breath clear out to see that beast bu when i was unhooking it i discoverd that the big blue had eaten a smaller bull cat that weighed less than a pound.

Originally posted by: twofinns on 9/11/2005 3:52:14 PM

small mouth bass fish at its best in north part of arizona
My brother and I took a trip up to the north part of arizona to a river (Black river) where a friend had told me you could catch 100 + fish a day. Well it takes a 4x4 to get there but, let me tell u, what a blast.We caught 100 plus a day. Fish size from small to 4 to 5 lbs. what a fight these fish are and the fun we had there. Sorry no pictures where taken (next time)
Short story
Twofinns

Originally posted by: Frogman2 on 9/18/2005 3:56:21 AM

It may be a year later, but I'm going for it!! Don't miss an issue for upcoming exciting and true stories!!

Originally posted by: Ohio93 on 9/20/2005 12:56:22 AM

I have a story needs some follow up here!! I alone have no clue where to start on this subject, but to tell what little facts I do know, to people that I hope will care enough to help resolve this issue. I'd love to see 1 of the "field" columnists dig into this i'm sure there's a very in-depth story to cover here.
I'll have to make a long "story" short here... cause it dates back all the way to 1932!!
Myself born 1971 <!--graemlin::)-->
Growning up my aunt and uncle lived across the road from a Lake aprox. 18 acres named Decker lake. Across the road was a small gravel area to pull off side of the road to park and a lane that you could walk/drive back down to the lake, this being the ONLY point of entry around the whole lake. I learned some of my first fishing basics out here on the bank with my uncle and my father mostly remember catching stringers of bluegills and bass on worms and minnows.
As I got a little older wasn't much into fishing as a teen/young-adult, so trips back to the lake were few and far between...eventualy being maybe 13-14 yrs old not even going to it period. Along with a growing community property is sold, and houses are buildt across the road from my uncle's next to the woods where you enter to get back to the lake.
So now 20 years later I'm like a fishing machine!! Always on the eternal search for a new "fishing hole". How about an "OLD fishing hole".... got me wondering how this old lake my uncle use to take me back to would be now-a-days?? Haven't heard of people fishing this lake for YEARS <!--graemlin::)--> !! Wondering how I can get back in there now <!--graemlin::)-->... last I remember The once gravel lot off the road was now pristine grass and FENCED IN!! The LANE back to the lake was a DRIVEWAY(??!!!??) to a house. NO TRESPASSING sign posted as well!
So I call my uncle up to see whats the deal how I can get back there maybe he knows a neighbor won't care if we cross their property to get back in there, since it APPEARS to be PRIVATE (???) now!! I always thought it was a STATE LAKE!!!
He tells me that "Decker's IS a STATE LAKE and pay NO attention to the NO TRESPASSING signs and walk on back there...walk through the garden he planted in the middle of the causeway if ya have to." "If he comes out harassing you, saying we're trespassing and he's gonna call the law...tell him go ahead and call!" "Before you go over there stop here first and I'll give you a COPY of the agreement FROM the dept. of natural resources! TO: the local sheriff's Dept. <!--graemlin::)-->
Sounds like alot of trouble to go thru for a trip to a PUBLIC lake???!!!
So it's ON now... I get the copy from my uncle, parked in his driveway. Myself and a buddy cross the road into this fellas lane back to his house fishing poles in hand <!--graemlin::)--> tappy tap tap on the door ... no answer... I didn't just want to dis-regard this guys rights as the property owner and take it on myself to cross on through even though i'm holding a paper from DNR says i'm knocking on a door that shouldn't even be here <!--graemlin::)--> so we retreat <!--graemlin::mad:--> ... disgruntled and SO ready to fish, as I've set eyes on the lake for the first time in maybe 25 years when I went back his lane. I thought i'm gonna visit the neighbor next to him see what they think about this situation...doors open cars in driveway....tappy tap tap.. lady comes to the door... we ask politely "whats the deal with the lake back here?? I use to fish here long ago but now there is no way to get back to it? we were wondering ... she cuts me short to say everythings fine stay in her driveway all day if we like cut thru the sideyard there and enjoy the lake... so we do <!--graemlin::eek:-->
Not much luck fishing ...however we were just out on recon mission here to gain some knowledge on the lake. what did we find out? You can't get around to far on foot cause the banks so overgrown alot of the trails to old clearings were just gone dense woods now. With only 1 causeway to the lake.... your not fishing here unless you have a boat ... OH WAIT the causeways tresspassing so unless you know someone with property around the lake you can cross to get a boat in your screwed!!
That was all on saturday late afternoon early evening....came back up from fishing for hour or so tops (my buddy got 1 small Largemouth Bass) and the guys out mowing grass there by my truck we are very thankful to him for his wife letting us cross and he asks how the fishin was so we talk of the bank overgrown no room yadda yadda.. we got a boat but your neighbor ...yadda yada... he says no problem i'm more than welcome to CARRY my boat down there anytime I want heck even offered me to tie it up down there or leave it up behind his barn if i needed to... a genuine nice fellow here.... we get to talking about this problem here and the land... he originally owned both lots... he bought as 1 lot ... turns out he sold part of it to a friend of his to build on... well sum more yadda yadda... this guy had to sell the property ... so the current owner bought the property WAS aware of the easement to the lake, the state has NEVER canceled the easement to the lake therefore the easement remains valid!!
History lesson??... 1932 "The easement provides for public use of a 20 foot strip of land along the banks for fishing only." original land owner Mr. William J. Decker. the lake itself i think it said was called trotters creek and was to be damed off for all the field runoff?? was interesting working on getting a copy of the actual easement agreement we seen/read. like to have it to go along with the DNR letter to the sherriffs office!!
My beef here is seems we have 1 guy trying to STEAL A STATE LAKE!!! My uncle says the dam needs work/repairs because its damaged. Supposedly the lake has been offered by the state, to the people owning property around the lake?? and no takers, i'm geussing they don't want the responsibility of the lake.... or pay to repairs of the dam that need done! but yet don't want the public roaming around the lake?? Changes need to be made here and soon!! this has been an issue and brought to state levels copy I have dates july 3rd 2003! Seen 1 legal paper from starting around 1997!! still nothings been done... I'm going to try everything in my power to see this body of water is returned to its rightful owners...THE PUBLIC!! Please NAFC... i'd like the full story..... <!--graemlin::)-->

Originally posted by: Ohio93 on 9/21/2005 11:02:18 AM

geez figured if ya looking for answers this be the board to post on... maybe i was wrong...no replys in 2-3 days... maybe i posted in the wrong spot?

Originally posted by: PiscMonkey on 9/21/2005 5:52:11 PM

Ohio93! This story should be sent to MUCC and NAFC, it all sounded fine to me. <!--graemlin::)-->

Originally posted by: Ohio93 on 9/21/2005 8:34:44 PM

Thanks monkey... alot easier to tell the story then write it lol ..wasn't sure how it would sound. Can i ask what is MUCC?? ... this really does have to be stopped... a true travesty to a nice lake I can't take it anymore figured i'd take a long shot and post here in hopes 1 of the higher ups would read it and get us the right people to contact to make some changes here!! no luck yet.. but I won't give up...