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2011 fishing recap

by , Posted to on 01/28/2012 01:17 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/26/2009
Location: ND
On another fishing forum I frequent, the members like to put together a "my year in review" sort of threads full of pictures & misc. details about their past year of fishing.  I'll try it here and see if it catches on.

2011 threw me some crusty curve balls when it came to life in general, but the fishing was stellar.  A few weeks after christmas I usually start ice fishing with whatever toy or toys I bought from scheels with the pile of gift cards I usually get from random family members.  This year I got the clam command post and so far its been worth every penny.


plenty of room for the kids to keep themselves busy if the fishing gets slow. 



It was a good year for perch, but I couldn't find any jumbos like the year before.



The east end of lake sakakawea produced a few nice limits of walleyes, and also an unusual amount of larger than average sakakawea perch



And of course one cant get to caught up on the ice without making a feb-march run down to the wingwalls




In March I drove down to Kansas to visit my brother and chase some monster blue cats in Milford Resevoir.


Gizzard shad was the bait of choice for big blues, we had to use cast nets to catch them and they weren't schooled up this early in the year so we spent many hours throwing heavy nets getting soaking wet only to catch 1 here and there for bait.

My first blue cat was what my brother refers to as a pinky, which indeed have alot of pink on them

We caught several blue and channel cats that week, the biggest I caught was maybe 25lbs but and my brother caught a couple of hogs up into the 30s maybe even 40+.


forgot to mention we caught alot of wipers as well (hybrid stripper / white bass)











In april I started catching chubs for the start of my pike season

and they worked






Even got some stunning green male walleyes on some smaller chubs.





Lake darling in may was hot and it was evident there was plenty of food in the system.

as was the grano bridge from shore


After numerous trips to lake darling the kids and I started going to Ft. Stevenson on the weekends to fish off shore, a little luck fell on me one of those days and I caught my first shorthead redhorse on a crawler lindy.  Sounds strange to many of you but this was one of my biggest highlights of the year.



And of course, when you deadstic worms you can plan on letting the kids reel in plenty of the plain ol' white suckers.


and even more of these




Drum with their troglodyte neanderthal strenth almost made off with a few of the rods






Between the fun fish, we even caught a few of these, if I remember correctly we even took home a few limits on some good days in june and july from the shore at Ft. Stevenson.  still wish I took more pictures, never enough pictures when the kids are out.


The kids got a look at their first mirrored carp and thought it was pretty neat, then a guy came down from the parking lot and tried explaining to me & the kids that carp are "trash" fish and told us we should be fishing for walleyes and as he was offering me some tips on how to catch them, the 3 year old decides to drag the stringer full of walleyes out to pet them.  The look on the guys face was priceless, he'd been on the lake all day and we've been under the shade tree next to the boatramp.


Lots of small smallies to tend to on baited lines.


We did take one trip out to metigoshe to hang out at aunt & uncles cabin and pull monster gills out from under the docks


The tailrace finally slowed down its flow enough in August to be re-opened to fishing and it was time to scratch my itch.


Limits of pig walleyes came with ease


accidentaly stuck a hook into several of these, which were all released very quickly unharmed, a few after a quick picture and the rest released at boatside.

Even did well on the rocks dodging big waves on the greased rocks from the still high flows

crankin, jiggin, baitin, didn't matter this year


Lots of other fish species were abundant in the tailrace from the high flows too.  Ciscos were easily taken on hook & line, Really wanna try for a whopper cisco on a fly rod in the spring.

The kids had a blast fishing & playing on the beaches around the boatramp.  Plenty of pike to keep things interesting too.

and alot of these the hit a jig and fight like a 12lb walleye until you see the silver let down.


Was fortunate enough to meet up with my old fishing buddy Mike, who I think logged more hours in and on that tailrace than any one I know, well, untill we grew up got married  had kids and jobs we had to be responsible at.  been awhile since we had a 3 or 4 day bender at the tailrace passing out on the rocks or the concrete from fattigue.






again, the walleye fishing was epic.




caught one of my heaviest walleyes, not the longest (only 27") but told myself the next one I get over 30" or over 10lbs goes on the wall.  I've caught way too many nice fish of all species not to have one mounted yet.  Decided to mount this one myself (probably not the smartest idea to learn taxidermy on the biggest fish as the first)


So far she's turning out pretty good, I'm still doing some detail work on tiping scales and adding powder pearls etc etc. and need to clear coat and decide what kind of "scene" to use i.e. driftwood or a plaque.  I'll post a pic when its done, I have learned taxidermists don't get paid near enough for this stuff because I sure as heck wouldn't spend this kind of time on something for a measly 300 bucks.


My brother came up to visit and got to enjoy the tailrace for the first time in nearly 10 years...lets just say he made the most of it.  The original gruesome tailrace twosome was at it again.




went on a few solo missions from the rocks on the east and west shorelines and of course did very well.  By the way that net in this pic is to crankbaits, as sticky traps are to mice.



More ciscos, these things are thick this year.


a beautiful silver chinook.  probably the cleanest looking silver bullet I've ever caught


My buddy caught this 10lb lake trout in the tailrace.  I was more excited then when I got my first nintendo, but he didn't quite understand the signifigance or rarity of his catch and didn't care to pose with this trophy, so I stole the glory.  The only other one I have ever seen was back in 05, a 4lb laker I caught from the wingwalls.

I did however get him to say cheese for his first shovelnose sturgeon, released immediately after photo of course.


My last few trips the last week of december have been to the west shore of the tailrace for dozens of stellar colored sauger and no shortage of whitefish, ciscos, and pike.





2012 is starting out slow on the ice but I think it's going to turn out better than the last.  I've set a few goals for this season.  If I make just one of them I'll be happy.  Catch a Blue sucker from the missouri, catch a 7'+ shark from the beach, catch a 30"+ bull redfish from the beach, catch a longnose gar and an alligator gar, go to minnesota for bowfin, bass, & musky, and of course mail in some more whopper club entries.  Good luck this year, lets see some more 2011 fishing/hunting reviews
There's no such thing as a "trash fish"

gallery  www.flickr.com/photos/paulschumann/sets/72157613556328972/
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 01:57 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 10/16/2009
Location: SD
Awesome post and great pics! The Tailrace was on fire here all fall and into the winter; although much smaller fish. One observation is that in the picture on the tailgate it almost looks like two of the Salmon still have their adipose attatched. The salmon fishing was crazy good here in December on the river; for those who tried it, even though not stocked in the system they were caught. Someone told me that half of the fish they caught still had the adipose attatched and that Montana is the only state that doesn't clip. If this is true those fish must have had a crazy ride down the system. VERY NICE. Just wish that there were good creek chub holes around here; nothing wrong with a little bait envy, when it comes to good bait.

One step at a time...Be careful.

Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 02:32 AM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 10/23/2007
Location: ND
First off I am uber jealous.  I have to vote for your post MSA as the best post on this site in years.  Thank you and I have to say I wish I had taken more pics but it is a little hard when you fish alone most of the time.  I to hit the race from shore and it was epic all late summer and fall.  Thank you again for the awesome post.

Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 05:30 AM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 07/14/2009
Location: ND

  That was awesome.  

Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 07:11 AM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/26/2006
Location: ND
 From "A River Runs Through It": You are a fine fisherman.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke

"The time at which I stand before you is full of interest. The eyes of all nations are fixed on our Republic. The event of the existing crisis will be decisive in the opinion of mankind of the practicability of our federal system of government. Great is the stake placed in our hands; great is the responsibility which must rest upon the people of the United States. Let us realize the importance of the attitude in which we stand before the world. Let us exercise forbearance and firmness. Let us extricate our country from the dangers which surround it and learn wisdom from the lessons they inculcate."


-Andrew Jackson, 2nd Inaugural address, 1833
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 07:18 AM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND
What a post, I only wish I had even a small fraction of pictures to counter the year you had. Between the Minot flood, another busy year at work, and trying to finish the house, I can honostly say that my fishing was mediocre at best. It didn't help that I didn't hardly catch my first walleye of the year untill July 15th!
 
My year started with two weekends at pick City in early june which resulted in all be getting skunked! Spent the 4th of July at Beulah Bay and had another really tough weekend. At this point I was getting frustrated with them damn walleyes. The flood waters in minot began to receed and before I knew it july was gone. Was able to spend a week at Indian hills during the first week of august and was able to come in every day with a a decent wet well of fish but never knocked em dead. Fished Van Hook the next weekend with similar results however the fish were a little better size (21-23 inches) . The following weekend, my father-in-law and I hit the Bite Me Invite held at Indian hills and although we placed right in the middle of the pack, we manage a nice mixed bag of fish that include a number of 14-16 walleyes, a few pike, a few perch, a number of small mouth bass and a cat fish. Our birthdays are one day apart and the Bite Me Invite always lands on that weekend, it's a great way to spend our birthday! After this, I think I only made it out one more time as I still had decks & sheds to build, yardwork to finish (and still isn't done), and a number of people to help with flooded homes. To anyone that doesn't want to give up a summer or two, never build a house and pray that nobody you know has to go through a flood!

If I have any say in the matter, this year will be much different!
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 08:03 AM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 10/24/2010
Location: nd
nice fish man, i was lookin thru your pics on flickr,  u got some real flippin pigs there.  good job man!

Never argue with an idiot.... they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 08:29 AM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/26/2009
Location: ND
PikePits Said:
Awesome post and great pics! The Tailrace was on fire here all fall and into the winter; although much smaller fish. One observation is that in the picture on the tailgate it almost looks like two of the Salmon still have their adipose attatched. The salmon fishing was crazy good here in December on the river; for those who tried it, even though not stocked in the system they were caught. Someone told me that half of the fish they caught still had the adipose attatched and that Montana is the only state that doesn't clip. If this is true those fish must have had a crazy ride down the system. VERY NICE. Just wish that there were good creek chub holes around here; nothing wrong with a little bait envy, when it comes to good bait.
Thanks for the comments guys, as for the adipose clipping.  I have caught salmon in the tailrace just about every year since the early 90's and I havn't seen one without an adipose fin yet.  If I think about it, clipping the adipose fin of every individual fingerling stocked (hundreds of thousands) would take years by a small army of mexicans armed with scissors.  I don't know where that adipose clipping story started but it's never been done to any of the tailrace salmon I have caught.

Where do you live? I can tell you where theres chubs, they're easier to catch than bullheads.
I wish I had taken more pics but it is a little hard when you fish alone most of the time
Most digital cameras have a timer setting of 3 to 10 seconds on them.  get a small tripod at walmart and set the camera up, set the timer, then stand in front of it with a huge smile on your face like I do.  Many of these pics are taken that way. 
There's no such thing as a "trash fish"

gallery  www.flickr.com/photos/paulschumann/sets/72157613556328972/
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 08:38 AM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 07/10/2010
Location: ND
Great post and nice pictures! You are a dedicated father and fisherman, good work.

I too am guilty of not taking the camera in the boat or on the ice. I never have it with.
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 09:02 AM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/24/2004
Location: ND
Wow --- what a year --- wish mine could of been as good - more time in 2012---
 
nice pics / nice fish!!!


So multi --- what your saying is its worth a trip to the east end of sak this year.   Last year i hit beaver area and caught nothing but littlens for eyeballs and a bunch of perch. 
Stay thirsty my friends
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 09:27 AM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/26/2009
Location: ND

So multi --- what your saying is its worth a trip to the east end of sak this year.   Last year i hit beaver area and caught nothing but littlens for eyeballs and a bunch of perch

You bet, but then again I may be biased since I'm and east ender anyway.  My go to spots are 15 to 18 foot humps or flats next to deep water.  I think the secret is moving around.  I've learned not to just sit there putting up with few or little fish waiting for a possible "evening bite".
There's no such thing as a "trash fish"

gallery  www.flickr.com/photos/paulschumann/sets/72157613556328972/
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 10:37 AM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/08/2011
Location: nd
Great post!
Curious how many days a year  you fish and if you keep any kind of fishing log?
Also thanks for the tailrace advice this last fall it helped a ton. It is definately a different kind of fishing and I would have been lost without it.
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 12:26 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/30/2007
Location: ND
Awesome!

Without Hunters, Wildlife Becomes Your Next Hood Ornament! 

Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 2:21 PM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/16/2001
Location: ND
 Fantasticpost and pics!
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 2:42 PM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/23/2011
Location: ND
hit and miss, from 37 white bass at ashtabula to sakawea football walleyes far back in the bays when the lake was at 1854 feet, 24 northern between 4 and 10 pounds at the tailrace, plus several northern from the turtle river. while the outings at casstleton and the red and sheyenne were mostly misses, it seems I caught more cats and members of the perch family while using angle worms than by using cut goldeye and sucker, but I almost had a 15 pound cat from the rush river using a live frog.......
the game and fish sould put SM bass in aroda dams do to the high numbers of crayfish and the rocks.
free thinker = no thinker
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 3:14 PM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/09/2004
Location: Sa
 Great post MSA! 

I'll have to take some time and put one of these together when I get a chance. 

Those tailrace walleye have something in common with every tailrace walleye I've pulled out of there the past couple years..... FAT.

Thanks for taking the time, good fishing to ya.
J
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 4:09 PM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/26/2009
Location: ND
CRB Said:
Great post!
Curious how many days a year  you fish and if you keep any kind of fishing log?
Also thanks for the tailrace advice this last fall it helped a ton. It is definately a different kind of fishing and I would have been lost without it.
I try to go at least once a week, if not twice and spend one or two full weeks a year out of state fishing.  no log, thought about it, but I have a hard enough time remembering to take a picture, much less write down date time lure weather temp clarity etc etc.

Just got back actually, smelling like skunk and defeat.  I hit 3 different lakes, and burned two tanks in the auger and hardly caught anything, couple dink perch and a baby bluegill.
There's no such thing as a "trash fish"

gallery  www.flickr.com/photos/paulschumann/sets/72157613556328972/
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 4:12 PM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/14/2010
Location: nd
2011 was another great year of fishing for me, Didn't make it out until May 13 because of flooding but started off with the first fish of the year being a 33 inch Northern. Spent a lot of hours on the Sheyenne this year and it really paid off. Caught  my biggest Smallmouth ever 4lbs and it kept getting better. Caught loads of smallmouth bass, walleyes and Northerns. Caught a couple hundred perch and white bass on ashtabula. Lots of channel cats down in Fort Ransom, and quite a few northerns out of  twin lakes. Lots of gills in Minnesota too. Had a great year and started off 2012 with a 5lb Northern caught in OPEN Water january 14th in the sheyenne.
If everyone focused on the important things in life the world would have a shortage of fishing poles.
Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/28/2012 6:11 PM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/05/2009
Location: ND
 Mother of god...........Epic post sir.



Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/29/2012 03:58 AM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/09/2007
Location: ND
Awesome post MSA!!!!  While I don't fish near as much as you I will add some of my own pictures from 2011.

My first fishing trip after getting back from Afghan early last year.  A buddy, my little brother, and I went down to Pierre to see the water going through the damn and do a little fishing.





A few more pictures from back home on Oahe;




Red River;



New Red River cat fishing boat;



Random culvert full of water with this last years flooding.  Was full of little pike;




In late Oct the girlfriend and I went on a fishing trip with jig-em-up-josh and had an absolute blast fishing with him.  The girlfriend out fished me and got a fish for the wall!







Some sauger action through the ice on the Red;



In closing I have decided there just isn't enough time for a guy to do everything he enjoys.  In 2012 I hope to get out fishing more and to take plenty more pictures.  Definitely plan on fishing the Red more often.  I feel quite stupid for not taking advantage of it in the past years.  Enjoy!

 -}}}}}--------------->>>

Re: 2011 fishing recap
by on 01/29/2012 07:34 AM | Reply #20 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/26/2009
Location: ND
Thats awesome. Man, why havn't I fished the red river yet?  i kick myself everytime I see pics of those slob cats & walleyes on here.
There's no such thing as a "trash fish"

gallery  www.flickr.com/photos/paulschumann/sets/72157613556328972/
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Posted On: 01/28/2012 01:17 AM
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Tags: fishing, year, 0, recap, i'll, pictures, full, members, together, threads
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