MyFishFinder Forum
MFF US Northeast => New York => Topic started by: myemmy on Mar 27, 2020, 10:37 AM
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Is it too early for bullheads,? Ice is out of most lakes ???
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I was wondering the same thing. Usually its mid April here, but with this messed up weather everything has been early. I had bluebirds at my house 3 weeks ago. I think I'm going to try for bullhead this weekend.
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It should be close depending on the body of water .....I generally go by when I hear the spring peepers but thats not foolproof obviously. No peepers at my house yet .... The bluebirds have been around our yard at various times all winter this year.
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Peep frogs have been here for a week or so. I'm a ways up the creek from the river so it takes a while for the bullhead to make it this far. I missed the big run last year. Still caught a few.
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Never too early to try. I'll be hitting my favorite pond next week. Water's still pretty cold. But, I've been spring bullhead fishing for more than 60 years....rights of spring for me.
Rg
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might be a few bullheads biting ....... going to get alot better ;D
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They were getting a few at a local hole. Been dead since the last cool down I'm told. One good warm rain will light 'em up.
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I fished a couple hours last night and didn't have any luck. Maybe this rain on the way tonight will get them interested
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I went out last friday and caught 24 lakers and then another 18 lakers on sunday before the wind blew me off the water.
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How did we go from bullheads to lakers ????? :o
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How did we go from bullheads to lakers ????? :o
Prob means laker bullhead not the yellow bellies
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Caught a dozen Sunday afternoon ahead of the storm.
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Prob means laker bullhead not the yellow bellies
Oh, that must be a regional thing - never heard them called that before - haha Thanks
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mud guzzlers 😉
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lakers are big bullheads .....
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Yes sorry for any confusion. Lakers I mean the bigger bullheads from Lake Ontario and not the smaller sweeter river bullheads. Headed back out tonight to fill buckets. Giving away to families in need that are outta work and need food for their table. I'm fortune enough to still have to work but am always looking to help others less fortunate. Tight lines guys
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Your a credit to those who call themselves fishermen. Tons of good karma coming your way.
Good luck tonight.
Rg.
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Very nice iceman
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Yes sorry for any confusion. Lakers I mean the bigger bullheads from Lake Ontario and not the smaller sweeter river bullheads. Headed back out tonight to fill buckets. Giving away to families in need that are outta work and need food for their table. I'm fortune enough to still have to work but am always looking to help others less fortunate. Tight lines guys
Outstanding !!! :thumbup_smilie:
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Way to help out your neighbors iceman. Has anyone found any mudsuckers inland a ways yet? I've tried all week and they don't seem to be in this far yet. I am a ways up the creek from the river though
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Yes sorry for any confusion. Lakers I mean the bigger bullheads from Lake Ontario and not the smaller sweeter river bullheads. Headed back out tonight to fill buckets. Giving away to families in need that are outta work and need food for their table. I'm fortune enough to still have to work but am always looking to help others less fortunate. Tight lines guys
That a good dead sir I cant keep fish at my house long enough to give anyway as 4 kids and the wife like them as much as I do
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VERY NICE ICEMEN
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There's some bullhead out there.
(https://i.postimg.cc/XZPfnKqy/IMG-3269.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XZPfnKqy)
Got these between 11 and 2. Think I'll go a bit earlier tomorrow.
Rg
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Those will be good eats RG
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Yeah man!
A few big ones but mostly 10-12". Gonna gift a batch to my neighbor who just lost his job. Worked in a cabinet shop that closed....permanently.
Rg
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Sweet Bob.
I love bullhead.
And I haven’t fish for them in many years.
Maybe I’ll head out for some this week some day.
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Love bullhead fishing Mac. Almost as much as bullhead eating👍
The pond I fish is part of a chain of 3 large ponds. There's a pretty good flow of water through it even though it's only 3-4' deep. It has always produced for me. I've taken to fishing it a bit differently. Normally I would use either a slip sinker or tight line rig. This pond sits east to west and almost always has a cross breeze. I'm not a fan of plunking a bait on the bottom of a silty pond so I used to fish it tight line....bottom sinker and hooks up the line. Hard to see a subtle bite in a cross wind.
So I started placing a fairly large round foam bobber at about the total depth of the water, 3-4' up the line. I found it keeps the bait off the bottom and i can see the bite no problem. No worries about cross winds either. Just leave the line slack.
I'm only fishing 15-20 yards away from shore. Makes things simple.
Rg
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Love bullhead fishing Mac. Almost as much as bullhead eating👍
The pond I fish is part of a chain of 3 large ponds. There's a pretty good flow of water through it even though it's only 3-4' deep. It has always produced for me. I've taken to fishing it a bit differently. Normally I would use either a slip sinker or tight line rig. This pond sits east to west and almost always has a cross breeze. I'm not a fan of plunking a bait on the bottom of a silty pond so I used to fish it tight line....bottom sinker and hooks up the line. Hard to see a subtle bite in a cross wind.
So I started placing a fairly large round foam bobber at about the total depth of the water, 3-4' up the line. I found it keeps the bait off the bottom and i can see the bite no problem. No worries about cross winds either. Just leave the line slack.
I'm only fishing 15-20 yards away from shore. Makes things simple.
Rg
I talked to a guy fishing that very rig last week. It was working well for him.
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Nice bullheads Bob..
The other red meat.. ;D
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Went today and only got 2. Ya just never know unless you go.
Still, fish fry in a little while👍
Rg
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bullheads it's whats for diner ;D
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bullhead gumbo
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Or an afternoon snack.
(https://i.postimg.cc/67DNnkCS/IMG-3276.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/67DNnkCS)
Dang they were delicious......all 5 of them.
Rg
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Looks sweet Bob. Just wondering what method you used to clean them?
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Same way I've cleaned them for 60 years. Hold them by the head with fingers behind the pectorals and the dorsal on top. Cut through the skin (just the skin) all the way around the body just in front of the dorsal. Make a v-cut around the dorsal.
With pliers, grab the skin and peel it off to the tail. It pretty much just turns inside out. After removing the skin, twist the head off. Most of the guts , the dorsal and the pectorals usually come with it. If necessary, cut the pectorals off. With your thumb. Push out the liver and any remaining guts. Rinse and then soak in cold water to remove blood. I like to rinse/soak them a few times. Takes less than a minute to clean them.
The other thing I do is put them in a cooler of fresh water when I bring them home. I change it a couple times. Flushes them out and makes them taste better.....at least I think it does.
Rg
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Try this sometime guys, really makes short work of em ;)
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Looks like a good way to slice your thumb off. I suppose you could wear a kevelar glove, but that would sure get nasty quick.
But , I'll give it a try.
Rg
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Looks like a good way to slice your thumb off. I suppose you could wear a kevelar glove, but that would sure get nasty quick.
But , I'll give it a try.
Rg
Once you pop the spine, grab it with pliers instead and shuck them out.
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&t=124s
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Looks like a good way to slice your thumb off. I suppose you could wear a kevelar glove, but that would sure get nasty quick.
But , I'll give it a try.
Rg
I've never managed to, and I usually don't do the big ones that way. Be careful of course, but that goes with anything when using a knife.
My knives are really sharp...really....really sharp.but....I'll still give it a try. Never too old to learn....not yet anyway.
Rg
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I use similar method. I take fillet knife and make single slice from the dorsal to the tail just through the skin. Then take knife and cut from just behind dorsal spine toward head. Grab the fish by the head and snap down exposing spine. Either grab with fingers or pliers and pull. You have head and internals in one hand and a clean fish in the other.
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I should mention, you aren't using the knife with the blade at a 90 to the thumb, its more angled to the tail of the fish just enough so there's friction on the back bone to create a pinch. And as you saw if it slips, let go. Heck, I got a bigger cut on my index finger from a gill plate on a Seed right now than I've ever gotten from doing thousands of bullhead like that. The pliers work fine, but its one more thing to clean and slows it down a bit. Would totaly eliminate the risk....
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Same way I've cleaned them for 60 years. Hold them by the head with fingers behind the pectorals and the dorsal on top. Cut through the skin (just the skin) all the way around the body just in front of the dorsal. Make a v-cut around the dorsal.
With pliers, grab the skin and peel it off to the tail. It pretty much just turns inside out. After removing the skin, twist the head off. Most of the guts , the dorsal and the pectorals usually come with it. If necessary, cut the pectorals off. With your thumb. Push out the liver and any remaining guts. Rinse and then soak in cold water to remove blood. I like to rinse/soak them a few times. Takes less than a minute to clean them.
The other thing I do is put them in a cooler of fresh water when I bring them home. I change it a couple times. Flushes them out and makes them taste better.....at least I think it does.
Rg
Yep - same here !
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Try this sometime guys, really makes short work of em ;)
Nice video buddy. Watched your other ones also :thumbup_smilie:
Looks like Ruger is still kicking?
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He's still limping around Bro.
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Well done Edd
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The bite is strong and steady in Fair Haven at the Park pond. I've fished a couple different spots up there and have brought home 7 five gallon bucket fulls so far for the season and last night had a Doe try her luck against my Rough Country Bumper and needless to say she didn't make it and at 60mph I wasn't gonna attempt to see what was left. But I will say use leeches. I've been out performing guys all around me. Spoke with a guy last night after I filled 1 bucket and he was a federal officer laidoff and drove an 1.5hrs to fish there and he had only caught 2 bullhead and a few dink perch. He made the comment I must be in the hole, I asked him whats his bait which I knew was worms since he's catching the perch and gave him a couple leeches. Long story short when I left I gave him 15 bullhead to start his bucket and left with with about 3 doz leeches so he can take a meal home to his family.
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Way to go Iceman
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The bite is strong and steady in Fair Haven at the Park pond. I've fished a couple different spots up there and have brought home 7 five gallon bucket fulls so far for the season and last night had a Doe try her luck against my Rough Country Bumper and needless to say she didn't make it and at 60mph I wasn't gonna attempt to see what was left. But I will say use leeches. I've been out performing guys all around me. Spoke with a guy last night after I filled 1 bucket and he was a federal officer laidoff and drove an 1.5hrs to fish there and he had only caught 2 bullhead and a few dink perch. He made the comment I must be in the hole, I asked him whats his bait which I knew was worms since he's catching the perch and gave him a couple leeches. Long story short when I left I gave him 15 bullhead to start his bucket and left with with about 3 doz leeches so he can take a meal home to his family.
Very thoughtful of you, nice work!
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got out today on Seneca river ,
Montezuma backside refuse at the carp pool
caught 43 nice eating bullheads
had 8 with my dad for supper
8) nice to get out
ralph
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Iceman,
That is a great gesture and really shows how much you care about others! I hope karma comes back to you 100 fold!
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WAY TO GO ICEMAN GOOD JOB
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Well Karma didn't do me to well monday night. On the way home after giving the gentleman a bunch of bullhead to make sure he had a nice meal for his family and giving him a bunch of free leeches I had a Doe commit suicide. Broadside to my front end. She didn't suffer but ended up denting in my bumper some. But still trying to help others. Met another older gentleman last night up there and spread the wealth of leeches to him and left when the ran started. I just hope that when I pass that I have the showing of love and support at my services that my father did. That's all I'm aiming for is to be half the man my father was. Now if only I can get my boat running I really wanna get out and get some perch because my mother doesn't eat bullhead and I know she wants a fresh fish meal as well. If anyone needs a partner to go some weekend for perch let me know. I'll buy all the minnows.
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Only managed a couple on Monday. Passed on yesterday to get my yard cleaned up. I'll probably try later today. Maybe the rain will wake them up.
Rg
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Needed some social distancing this afternoon when I got from work. Managed 8 in a couple hours. Sun came out and they shut down.
But....it's eight more than I had.
Rg
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I was out again. Ran into an older man that I met tuesday night and he set up along side me. He and I were pulling them in hand over fist while guys to the left of me and right of him were just watching. I had given him about 3 doz leeches on tuesday and that's what he used per my advice and we had a blast. Everyone around was using worms and struggling to keep the dink perch and bowfin off their hooks. He took away 1 bucket and I took 2 last night. Now time to take a few days off with the upcoming wind. Tight lines everyone
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I use leeches when fishing for kitties on The Catt to keep the smaller fish from picking the hook clean.
They don't bother with the leech and cats love them.
Also smallies and walleyes love them too so I get an occasional bonus fish
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Cleaned a dozen yesterday. Taking them in to one of my coworkers. Poor guy is in his 60's, had a hip,replacement last year and is waiting for surgery to have his other hip replaced as well. He's almost at the point where he is unable to walk and has no idea when he might be scheduled again.
With all that, he's still one of the friendliest individuals you'd ever meet.
Probably won't get out again till Sunday with this lousy weather.
Rg
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RG I’m sure he will appreciate it
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good man Bob.
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He was thankful. Just wish I could sit around with him, have a couple beers and a fish fry. Can't happen right now.
Rg
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Soon rg.... it will get back to normal. I have faith it will.
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Never fished for bullheads intentionally. I did catch a couple through the ice, might try these areas? I made a few double bottom rigs, dug some worms, we'll see... maybe today or this week. Catch'm or not, it's fishing! ;D
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I'm getting ready to go in just a bit. Not much I like better than sitting on the bank catching bullhead.
Rg
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I'm getting ready to go in just a bit. Not much I like better than sitting on the bank catching bullhead.
Rg
Good Luck! May try to get out for little while this afternoon myself.
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Got the big skunk this afternoon. Not a nibble. Hate east winds.
Rg
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The bite is strong and steady in Fair Haven at the Park pond. I've fished a couple different spots up there and have brought home 7 five gallon bucket fulls so far for the season and last night had a Doe try her luck against my Rough Country Bumper and needless to say she didn't make it and at 60mph I wasn't gonna attempt to see what was left. But I will say use leeches. I've been out performing guys all around me. Spoke with a guy last night after I filled 1 bucket and he was a federal officer laidoff and drove an 1.5hrs to fish there and he had only caught 2 bullhead and a few dink perch. He made the comment I must be in the hole, I asked him whats his bait which I knew was worms since he's catching the perch and gave him a couple leeches. Long story short when I left I gave him 15 bullhead to start his bucket and left with with about 3 doz leeches so he can take a meal home to his family.
Well done Iceman!
Do you trap your own leeches?
I was thinking about trying a piece of liver in a metal coffee can (if I can find one) with the top squashed down.
Anyone ever catch their own leeches?
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Well done Iceman!
Do you trap your own leeches?
I was thinking about trying a piece of liver in a metal coffee can (if I can find one) with the top squashed down.
Anyone ever catch their own leeches?
I use to as a kid we would put a pie pan folded in half with a piece of liver in the creek pull it out really early in the morning and have a ton of leeches
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The bite is still strong. Filled another bucket using what dead leeches I have left. Gonna try 1 more night tonight before I pick up a fresh lb of leeches this weekend. I don't trap them but am looking for waters to try and trap my own. This is getting costly lol. I buy from a guy in farmington that traps them.
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Been to three of my old Bullhead spots in the past week and a half......nary a hit!
SeanP
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You're not alone on that SeanP. I've been checking the creek just about everyday. They aren't running here yet. I checked last years run and they started getting here around the 12th. Really got ramped up the following week. So it should be soon.
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My bullhead pond shut down with the cold temps. It'll come back next week.
Rg
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Have any of you guys tried to freeze bullhead? I've always eaten them fresh and given away the extra. Would be nice to put some up to enjoy later if possible.
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Always! I gifted friends with some from last spring and had a few for dinner last night. They keep very well.
I used to vacuum PAC them, but double wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in a freezer bag they keep just fine. I prefer to freeze most fish before I eat them. Kind of a habit from making pickled fish. It eliminates all possibility of parasites.
Rg
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Thanks rg. I was going to try the vacuum sealer on the perch and walleye I caught over this past winter but ended up just freezing in salted water in a good freezer bag like my grandparents taught me.
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I have frozen bullheads and other fish in freezer bags
and covered fish completely with water ,
this is way i have done it for years with no freezer burn
always good eating ::)
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I use to freeze in water, but have been vac packing for many years , no freezer burn and taste just fine , also takes up a lot less room ,
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I use to freeze in water, but have been vac packing for many years , no freezer burn and taste just fine , also takes up a lot less room ,
Same here Fred, can stack a nice pile up without using much space.
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I never get any freezer burn on meat or fish. Just soup ble wrap with plastic wrap and a freezer bag.
Rg
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I never get any freezer burn on meat or fish. Just soup ble wrap with plastic wrap and a freezer bag.
Rg
huh?
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I never get any freezer burn on meat or fish. Just double wrap with plastic wrap and a freezer bag.
Rg
How does double become soup something . I gotta get a keyboard for this thing.
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How does double become soup something . I gotta get a keyboard for this thing.
I actually thought you were trying to type bubble wrap.
;D
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That's an idea!
Rg
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Anyone been out chasing bullhead since the recent cold snap? Might give a new spot a chance tonight, since the forecast won’t get much better until the weekend
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I've tried a couple times over the weekend. They have shut down here. Hope we get a warmup so we get a run going.
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That’s what I’m afraid of, yesterday’s warm up wasn’t even.
But don’t know until you wet a line!
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Never know till you try. I'll be back out trying soon
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I was out picking up a band saw and the north wind was just plain cold. Even with the bright sunshine.
I passed on trying tonight. I mean..it was 26 this morning.
This cold needs to end.
Rg
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High of 43 and snow/rain tomorrow. High of 37 and partly cloudy Wednesday. Staying home wont be that hard the next couple of days. But then it warms up Thursday, high of 48 and mostly cloudy...
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Made it out to the new spot. Managed 4. Very light bite, each one barely set the bells off. Beautiful night and a nice meal came home with me.
Will give it another shot after this cold front passes through.
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I was out picking up a band saw and the north wind was just plain cold. Even with the bright sunshine.
I passed on trying tonight. I mean..it was 26 this morning.
This cold needs to end.
Rg
looks like one more week before the warm up, my first post since retirement, hornpout next week
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Congrats JWhite. Hope you find retirement enjoyable. Go get them bullhead
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Congratulations to you! I'm about to re-retire. Been out for 7 years now. Worked part time at Lowes to pass some time. Been out for a month now due to the current situation. Don't think I'm going back. Kinda of getting used to this again.
Go get those yellow bellies!
Rg
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jwhite6124, Congratulations on your retirement!
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huh?
Double wrap, Mac. Double wrap. But then you couldn't read Buckski either. ;) ;D
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Ha! So it wasn't just me....
Rg
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rgFixit,
Has the bullhead bite resumed yet?
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Double wrap, Mac. Double wrap. But then you couldn't read Buckski either. ;) ;D
He stopped over the other night.
He's doing well Jerry.
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Ha! So it wasn't just me....
Rg
It's always just you bob.
Just ask Trap.
:rotflol: :rotflol: :rotflol:
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rgFixit,
Has the bullhead bite resumed yet?
Certainly weren’t the ideal conditions, but I gave it a shot last night, just to get out. Got the big fat goose egg for my efforts
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I got 6 perch fishing in the canal. Big fat ones. Also got sever l largemouth, white perch, a dozen relly nice perch, a sucker and a bunch of bluegills.
Thw bullhead were taking pieces of cut bit nd worm not more than an inch long. I was fishing very light tackle with 4 lb mono. I lost 4 morw because they werent even hooked.
Headed back in a while.
Rg
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(https://i.postimg.cc/21nKd4my/Screensho-1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/21nKd4my)
Not a bad bite today 8)
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216..... :w00t: :w00t:
Bet that took a while to clean....
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Holy crap
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WOW. ***censored****. In 4 hours-that's like fishing in a barrel!God bless you guys.
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That looks like sore arms, raw hands, wore out tackle and one really big bullhead dinner. Nice catch!
Rg
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TO
drowndin dots
NOW that's what i would call a mess (sometimes the daytime bite can be better that night time )
good job ;D
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216..... :w00t: :w00t:
Bet that took a while to clean....
216! That's almost one every minute. I can't unhook them that fast! Nice.
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Holy smokes!!! i have been four times and had one light hit!!! water is so cold where I am......
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I'm going to try my bullhead pond this sfternoon when the wind calms down a bit. I've got a feeling.........
Rg
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Went out in the drizzle for a while. All i got was wet!
Rg
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I'm going to try my bullhead pond this sfternoon when the wind calms down a bit. I've got a feeling.........
Rg
I had a feeling that you'd get wet.
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That’s awesome Eddie! d**n man!!
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Mike, our old friend Joe V. always said you were smart! RIP
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Yeah...there's some bullhead around.
(https://i.postimg.cc/pmMC0YTZ/IMG-3367.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/pmMC0YTZ)
Between 11 and 2:00.
Bullhead on the Weber tonight 👍
Rg
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Nice catch RG!!
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Nice job Bob!!
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Hey...It's the only JOB I have :rotflol: :rotflol:
Other than mowing the lawns and another extensive list of stuff that doesnt involve going anywhere or working for someone else.
I can handle it.
Rg
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Ah, "the list!" Is it just me or does it seem like the more I work on "the list" the longer it gets? :(
I now have a list of lists: a list for indoors, a list for outdoors, a list for the workshop, a list of reading materials and on and on. My wife has become expert and adding "just one more thing!" Think I'm going to hide every pen in the house. Maybe that will at least slow her down a bit. ::)
Grady
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Haven't heard from you in ages. Good to see you around.
Rg
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Nice catch Bob!
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Thanks Ed. Gonna be one heck of a neighborhood fish fry when this virus thing is put to bed.
Rg
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I finally gave it a try for bullheads, did well on yellow perch and gills... It was a little windy but it sure felt good to get out!
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is the bullhead run over?
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is the bullhead run over?
I tried three neighborhood holes today and not a bite.
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I'd say no. At least at the spot I fish. I quit...the freezer is full up with bullhead. Right now, its perch I'm after. Next I'll try to put some walleye and smallmouth in storage before the water warms up too much.
Rg
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Thanks for the info. I went twice two weeks ago zilch went Wednesday caught 4 so I'll try again tonight and let you know
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I had better luck during the day than at night. Overcast and rainy days were the best. The pond i fish is one of 3 that are connected. It feeds into a creek with a pretty good flow.
Good luck,
Rg
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yes i am in agreeing with above post
that sometimes sun warming water during day
water temps are warmer, but you go when you can
but i do miss the night bite ,many a years ago
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Yup...an afternoon by the pond is way better than an all night fish....at my age. But, I find I've learned a few things. They don't only bite in the dark.
Rg
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I agree the 4 I caught last week was during the day. Went again Sat 4-10 caught 4 before dark and 4 after
Haven't been night fishing for heads since the 90's