Any other Chordians getting the fishing bug? (Page 1 of 2)

Oh, you bet.  We're still coming down out of flood zone from the heavy rains a little over a week ago.  I'd like to get out but it's just not safe yet.  I suppose I could go fish a lake instead of a river, but then I'd be fishing a lake.

- Zurf

bswyers - Do you fish the Clarion River?  When I was a boy, it was too polluted and wouldn't sustain fish in a lot of sections (though it was still pretty).  Is it sustaining fish well now?  It looks like what ought to be a great smallmouth bass river.  Has the trout fishery up that way picked up? 

My folks were from Ridgway, so I spent a lot of my youthful summers and weekends tramping around up there.  I recall some big quarry between Ridgway and St. Marys that had some huge bass, plus lots of fun fishing below the spillway at Kinzua. 

You can't beat the deal you got on the boats.  Just can't.  If you added a zero to the end it would STILL be a great deal.  Shallow water for fiberglass boat, but Kinzua will be fine. 

- Zurf

Took my 6 year old fishing in mid Feb to our local regional park. $15 to get in and fish.(Well spent money, NOT) No body was catchin anything. I saw maybe 5 trout on stringers. Bluegill weren't even biting. We left there and went to a local park that has 2 little ponds. Saw some 12 -15 inch Bass I want to catch there, they weren't biting either. I was very surprised. I can't remember a time when I didn't catch anything. To keep my son entertained I ususally rig up a cane pole and help him catch little Bluegill and Warmouth. But there was nothing to be had on that trip. He did have fun casting his Spiderman pole that his grandpa bought him. Weather's warming up so we'll go again soon.

Papa, those sturgeon look nice. That's a good size to catch. Any bigger and it would be work instead of fun. By the looks of how all 3 of you are dressed I would say that the weather wouldn't agree with me. Don't like the cold.

Hi all,
    Yep-got the bug bad Pix! Got a boat last year and since we can get to a launch and be in the water
    in about 15 min. it can be hard to resist. Z-- I don't think you would like the winters here even tho
    for the most part they are mild but the summers are very nice. We caught alot of fish that day.
    Thru back shakers(fish too small to keep legally) and keepers, waiting for the "biggin". BTW.....
    they can also be too big to keep. Lots of do's and don'ts in the fishing regs.

     Yea Mek, those "giant" ones are very dangerous!! LOL Lucky these are bottom feeders. They do have
     sharp spine-like sides tho. Hope you get a chance to fish more with your family, it's good for you, and
     thanks again for the help.

     I grew up in the Ohio Valley area and western Pa.,Warren, and others, Dad worked constuction so we
     moved alot. Rememer fishing for "cats" in the Ohio River. Couldn't eat them because of the polution.
     Zurf--- I remember fishing the spill-way of the Kinzua Dam. Dad caught a nice musky there. That was
     so long ago. Wonder how the fishing is there now? Really miss cat fishing. If I go up river from here
     around 40 miles there are cats to be caught. This years salmon run is suppose to be the best run since
     the 1940's. Awsome! Hope they can figuere out how to keep the sea lions from ruining the run!!

     But for now it's walley time. I'm just now learning how to fish the river for them. Would appreciate any
     advice from other walley anglers.            Mike

With my new position in South Carolina, I found a little lake cottage to rent. It's an old cottage but quite charming with crooked hardwood floors and a great back porch. I spend most evenings on the porch strumming and watching the lake. Last weekend, I went out tackle shopping and am looking forward to throwing a line out and seeing what bites. I'm sure crappie will be abundant, maybe some large mouth. I'm strictly a live bait bobber type fisherman. Enjoying some cold beers on the dock on a beautiful afternoon is fine with me. If a fish bites, that's just an added bonus.

Well Zurf, the Clarion has cleaned up nicely and now has portions designated as a wild and scenic river. Actually a good portion of that area is from the Ridgway and Johnsonburg area. Here in Clarion County trout are abundant as are perch,walleye,bass,catfish and different pan fish. I'm within a 45 minute drive of several stocked lakes and about 15 minutes from a river launch. We also have a lot near the main lake at the Pymutuning Reservoir. Great walleye fishing. It's amazing that you and papaguitar are both familiar with my area. If you guys or anyone else are up this way give me a hollar and we'll see about catching us a fish fry and ending the day with some beers and guitars

What are you doing in July?  We're planning a birthday party for my father up that way and are planning to camp ... somewhere.  Even if we can't work in the fishing, I'd at least like to shake some hands and play some guitar around a campfire.   Though I think my Dad would enjoy a fishing trip in my canoe. 

- Zurf

Great photo Papaguitar. My god id love to reel in something that big.. I think the biggest i ever caught was maybe 5 lbs trout. I helped reel in a salmon one time. Near pulled the arms offa me.
I did some sea fishing last year  for mackeral which where delish to eat.. i enjoyed it but much prefer flyfishing.. My son ties his own flies so hopefully ill get time this year to try some new ones of his.
Theres nothing better in life on a  good evening, then to wade and watch the flow of the river, let your thoughts meander with the sounds of nature. The beauty of human and natural energy in motion.
Nothing bettter sir in my book
Tight Lines always to you and yours.
Old Doll.

Old Doll -

If you ever get around to it, I'd love to see some photos of the flies your son ties. 

bswyers -

I'll see what my sister has worked out for Dad.  She's just started a new job over in Scranton, so may not have the leave accumulated to do what she had planned.  I may take the family up there for a long weekend anyway.  See where their family landed when they came from the "Old World." 

- Zurf

I caught more salmon than I can count on the fly rod last summer.  It is fun.  I think it took a full four months for the smile to fade even a little. 

The trout weren't all that small either - but not five pounds.

Even some "small" pike on the fly.  I didn't run a tape on this one.  I was up above my waist in his environment and between holding my rod and holding the camera and having someone hold the fish, running a tape was more than I could coordinate. I'd guess 26" or so.  We caught some up to a yard long.   

That salmon was way upriver in full spawning mode.  On it's way from the sea, that salmon went through a substantial physical change.  It started out chrome colored.  There was no humped back.  It's mouth was shaped like that of a trout.  Between sea and spawning river (I caught it just as it was entering the spawning river and returned it unharmed except for having a pierced lip and a bizarre story of abduction by aliens) its head turned green, it's body red, its mouth extended and hooked, and it grew a big hump on its back.  I am SO glad that humans do not go through such a transformation to spawn.  It died a week or two after that picture was taken - exhausted from the spawn and its life's duty done.  When it died, its body fed a bear.  Or the flesh began to peel off in the river and trout, dolly varden, and char gorged themselves full to build up a fat layer to allow it to survive the long cold winter's near hibernation.  Nature is awesome in its simplicity - and to some extent brutality. 

I'm off to check those pictures.

Edit to add: Handsome boy and handsome fish.  I like the smile!

- Zurf