Author Topic: Killing the Panfish (Read 5560 times)

ICEMAN · « **on:** July 22, 2007, 10:08:26 PM »

Nothing makes me happier than taking my kids out fishing. Rain doesn't stop this crew. This Saturday evening, they slaughtered 76 panfish from a local lake in two and a half hours. Perch, bluegill, sunfish etc... We threw back the babies... Three weeks ago they got 94 fish. This trip they brought a friend who we gave a fishing pole to on her birthday a week ago, she called all week to go fishing, and we did not let her down. She caught over 25 fish on her day with us, her first fish ever...she is hooked.

The only bummer is standing at my sink for a long time filleting out these little buggers, the next day. But they are oh' so good later! Well worth the effort! My two in the green rains parkas are fish destroying machines!

Check out my homemade "kid friendly" wine cork quill bobbers, and yes, I have way too much free time on my hands apparently....

nyhunter · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2007, 05:45:05 PM »

Looks like a great time, i got three of my own, only two old enough to fish right now, i get a rush out of seeing their faces pulling in fish after fish. Passing it on to the next generation, awesome

Krusty · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2007, 05:57:29 PM »

In Homer Simpson voice... "Mmmm fried bluegills..."

I am not much of a fish eater, but I love a plate of bluegills and cornbread.

Bluegills and crappie are high on my list of favorite fish to catch too, they have plenty of fight for their size, and run in large schools.

Iceman,

You'll have to teach them the "styrofoam cup trick" (if it's still legal), kids love that!

Do you mind if I ask, what lake that is?

Okay... what lake is that?

Krusty

pacyew · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2007, 06:58:29 PM »

What a fine pile of kid-caught pan fish! Beautiful!

ICEMAN · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2007, 08:06:31 PM »

Longlake. So do tell about the styrofoam cup, I am a bit uninformed....

Krusty · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2007, 01:20:21 PM »

Iceman,

Rather than start a controversy, I'll PM the info.

Though, I am sure, I'm not the only one who knows it.

Krusty

Curly · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2007, 02:18:34 PM »

Krusty, would mind sending me a PM about the styrofoam trick too? I'm curious what it might be.

Krusty · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2007, 07:56:17 PM »

Oooops, I meant to PM...

Now everybody knows, oh well.

Curly,

I'm not sure if this is still legal, but panfish were not game fish when I was a kid, so it was legal back then.

The first fish you catch (perch, bluegill, or crappie), hook a styrofoam cup to it, with a small hook through behind the dorsil fin and about 6-10 feet of line... run the line through a pinhole in the bottom of the cup and secure with a spilt shot... throw the fish back in, and he'll run back to the school.

When the fishin' slows down pick up the cup, and go look for a new school.
You'll need a new "Judas fish" for each new school.

Don't overfish your schools. Using larger bait and lures, you can take the biggest and most aggressive fish, leaving the smaller ones for later.

Krusty

Curly · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2007, 08:03:35 PM »

Thanks Krusty. I should have figured that out, but I just didn't know what you might have been getting at.

I heard a different version of that; I was told to use a balloon, but I never tried that trick.

Krusty · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2007, 08:41:58 PM »

Curly,

The balloon gets popped, and you send a fish off trailing gear.

The cup won't pop, and it won't wear the fish out as fast.

Krusty

ICEMAN · « **Reply #10 on:** August 11, 2007, 08:12:17 AM »

Ok, had a follow up fish off for the kids last night....four kids on one dock is a crowd....We were aiming for breaking the 100 fish barrier, but had too many powerboats on the lake whipping up the chop, fish stayed out deep until a bit closer to dark.

My son's friend caught his first fish, and followed up last night with probably ten more fish. The whole gang caught maybe 50 fish. They are iced down in a bucket, awaiting my fillet knife and the coffee to really kick in... Tons of fun, lots of pictures for the parents!

As we left the dock in the dark, all four kids were exclaiming "can we do this next Friday night???!!!" I hope I havent bit off more than I can chew....

ICEMAN · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2007, 09:22:20 AM »

Two weeks later, did it again last night. Same group of kids nailed 58 more from the same dock. Late start, they fished from 7pm to 9pm. Just did the math, so far these little fish killers have put 294 panfish in the bucket so far this year, not counting trout. May go again in two weeks if the grouse hunting is lousy next weekend.

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