Spent the day relaxin on the river and caught some nice catfish to boot.

bigmon80 · 07-08-2009, 06:47 PM

Had a day to have some me time and spent it on Pickwick Lake relaxin and fishin. Nothing like a beautiful day spent on the lake to make it all better. I didn't think it was gonna be a great day for fishin because the current flow had been almost turned off. I was wrong. It wasn't the best fishing day I've had by far but I really needed to unwind today and I had a blast. Final count for the day was 42 Catfish , 5 shellcrackers, and 1 Crappie. Not bad at all for 5 hours.

Decided to take this pic with my phone just before I started to fillet some of them.

iluvfish2 · 07-08-2009, 07:02 PM

ok...resident fisheries biologist needs help..whats a shellcracker?

steelheader · 07-08-2009, 07:05 PM

I believe its what us northerners call Bluegill

steelheader · 07-08-2009, 07:05 PM

My dad called them fresh water roaches.

bigmon80 · 07-08-2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluvfish2

ok...resident fisheries biologist needs help..whats a shellcracker?

Don't think it is the scientific name but yeah it's basicly the same as a brim, bluegill, perch. Panfish that has a darker coloration then the others and typically are bigger and thicker.

I grew up hearing shellcracker so I have never questioned it. There is a difference but it could be some type of hybrid. Really aggressive and fun to catch. Really good to eat but not as good as my favorite Crappie (best fish to eat IMO).

iluvfish2 · 07-08-2009, 07:21 PM

Huge difference on the bluegills (red ear, long ear, bluegill, and I could probably name 4 or 5 others)..oh and Perch are never considered "shell crackers" those babys are prime eating..especially those giant Lake Michigan Jumbo Perch!

keggobelly · 07-08-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluvfish2

ok...resident fisheries biologist needs help..whats a shellcracker?

Red-ear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus )

bigmon80 · 07-08-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluvfish2

Huge difference on the bluegills (red ear, long ear, bluegill, and I could probably name 4 or 5 others)..oh and Perch are never considered "shell crackers" those babys are prime eating..especially those giant Lake Michigan Jumbo Perch!

Found this link. Shellcracker is a slang term. Yeah each of those are different fish but I was just listing other types of common panfish for our area. I have seen people call the same fish 3 different names (some of which I've never heard of either).
Freshwater Fish Facts - Alabama Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker)

fm8418 · 07-08-2009, 11:14 PM

yea bluegill and Perch are way different. One you find and nicer restaurants and the other we find in the local park around here.

gizmo675675 · 07-09-2009, 12:40 AM

Some fish

Thats probably more then I have caught my whole life

fm8418 · 07-09-2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gizmo675675

Some fish

Thats probably more then I have caught my whole life

lol, tell me about it. I did catch the carcass of a bluegill and sheephead though

Hawk247 · 07-09-2009, 08:54 AM

Nice catfish

... What were they biting on? Fishing top or bottom? I usually go to a Pay Lake around here once or twice a month with my son and we dont catch that many, but we have a blast... I love catfishing...Now If I could find a way to incorporate wax busting with catfishing I would be all set

bigmon80 · 07-09-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawk247

Nice catfish

... What were they biting on? Fishing top or bottom? I usually go to a Pay Lake around here once or twice a month with my son and we dont catch that many, but we have a blast... I love catfishing...Now If I could find a way to incorporate wax busting with catfishing I would be all set

I fish with two hooks. One hook 4 in off bottom and the other about 2 1/2 ft off bottom. They were caught on shrimp this trip. The shrimp usually work well but nightcrawlers are always good. Sometimes I cut hotdogs into 1 in pieces throw them into a bowl with garlic powder and soy sauce. Then microwave for 10 mins. After that store them in a ziploc bag. They get tough and produce a strong smell. They work well and produce many fish especially in smaller bodies of water.

If you want to catch bigger catfish use cut bait. I know Phil King and he is one of the top catfishermen in the U.S. He uses what he calls the catfish sandwich (two pieces of cut bait with shad guts in the middle)

Hawk247 · 07-10-2009, 05:57 PM

Awesome.... never heard of the hotdog, garlic, soy sauce recipe... will give it a try

...THANKS

pearljam_cubbies · 07-11-2009, 05:01 AM

42 catfish!!! No wonder i never catch much of anything, here Ive been paying 3 bucks a carton to the baitshop for worms when all you need is some leftover hotdogs, I bet if you put some mustard and onions on them you would catch even more

07-08-2009, 06:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
bigmon80 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 954 sportscardguy78 bigmon80	Spent the day relaxin on the river and caught some nice catfish to boot. Had a day to have some me time and spent it on Pickwick Lake relaxin and fishin. Nothing like a beautiful day spent on the lake to make it all better. I didn't think it was gonna be a great day for fishin because the current flow had been almost turned off. I was wrong. It wasn't the best fishing day I've had by far but I really needed to unwind today and I had a blast. Final count for the day was 42 Catfish , 5 shellcrackers, and 1 Crappie. Not bad at all for 5 hours. Decided to take this pic with my phone just before I started to fillet some of them. __________________ Always looking to add to my Anthony Dixon Collection PM me with any offers. "Sometimes it is better to remain silent and be thought an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt...."

07-08-2009, 07:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
iluvfish2 Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lansing, Michigan Posts: 19,770 iluvfish2 iluvfish2	ok...resident fisheries biologist needs help..whats a shellcracker? __________________ Blowouts Resident Wade Boggs Super Collector

07-08-2009, 07:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
steelheader Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: somewhere on Lake Huron Posts: 812 steelheader1961 steelheader1961	I believe its what us northerners call Bluegill __________________ photobucket.com/steelheader1961

07-08-2009, 07:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
steelheader Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: somewhere on Lake Huron Posts: 812 steelheader1961 steelheader1961	My dad called them fresh water roaches. __________________ photobucket.com/steelheader1961

07-08-2009, 07:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
iluvfish2 Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lansing, Michigan Posts: 19,770 iluvfish2 iluvfish2	Huge difference on the bluegills (red ear, long ear, bluegill, and I could probably name 4 or 5 others)..oh and Perch are never considered "shell crackers" those babys are prime eating..especially those giant Lake Michigan Jumbo Perch! __________________ Blowouts Resident Wade Boggs Super Collector

07-08-2009, 11:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
fm8418 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toledo, ohio Posts: 5,590 fm8418 fm8418	yea bluegill and Perch are way different. One you find and nicer restaurants and the other we find in the local park around here.

07-09-2009, 12:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
gizmo675675 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland...rip city Posts: 3,183 gizmo675675	Some fish Thats probably more then I have caught my whole life __________________ LOOKING FOR NICOLAS BATUM & KEVIN DURANT cards I dont have already.

07-09-2009, 08:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
Hawk247 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 798 conley1054	Nice catfish... What were they biting on? Fishing top or bottom? I usually go to a Pay Lake around here once or twice a month with my son and we dont catch that many, but we have a blast... I love catfishing...Now If I could find a way to incorporate wax busting with catfishing I would be all set __________________ I may be going to hell but atleast all my friends will be there

07-10-2009, 05:57 PM	#14 (permalink)
Hawk247 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 798 conley1054	Awesome.... never heard of the hotdog, garlic, soy sauce recipe... will give it a try...THANKS __________________ I may be going to hell but atleast all my friends will be there

07-11-2009, 05:01 AM	#15 (permalink)
pearljam_cubbies Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kalamazoo Posts: 1,137 dandssportcards dandssportcards	42 catfish!!! No wonder i never catch much of anything, here Ive been paying 3 bucks a carton to the baitshop for worms when all you need is some leftover hotdogs, I bet if you put some mustard and onions on them you would catch even more __________________ Stuff I collect: Baseball Hof Autos and Cubs and Vikings Autos and Game Used Sets Im working on: 1999 UD Legends Epic Signatures Baseball (need 9 more) Every Original Harmon Killebrew Card Psa Graded 7+

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