Nebraska Fish and Game Association - Blogs - Huskeron

So Many Fish....Such a Little Bucket

Huskeron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:21:38 GMT

Yes, that's right. I am a "bucket" fisherman. A member of the thousands of bank fisherman that often get scorned on this forum. I ask you boat anglers to put aside your prejudices and stop scowling at my bucket and I as you troll on by. We are not all evil poachers.

Why do I always have my trusty white (wish it was blue) 5 gallon bucket with me every time I hit the lake? Not to fill with illegal fish, but because it ranks among my top 5 essential fishing tools.
1) Fishing rod
2) Tackle box
3) live bait
4) chair
5) bucket

My bucket has lots of uses. It totes items to and from my car. Add water and it keeps small bait fish alive that I've caught. Turn it over and it is an extra guest chair. Fill it with ice and it becomes a cooler. If I decide to have a rare panfish fry it brings home my catch. The list goes on and on.

Now that I've gotten all that out of my system, lets get to the real story. My big chance to bring fame and fortune to "bucket" fisherman across the state. A contest that I have a chance at winning. Not a Master Angler contest that is owned by the boat fisherman every year. I have fished for 40 years and only caught 5 MA's. This contest has a whole new flavor. A species contest!

I usually only fish once or twice a month. So many hobbies, so little time. But I decide to devote the month of May to only fishing. My youngest of three children turned 16 last Fall, so Dad has lots of spare time. I get many weeks of vacation from work every year so I can use some of it for extra time at the water's edge. I commit myself to landing one of each of the fish on the list.

So Many Fish....Into the Starting Gate

Huskeron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:18:51 GMT

Into the Starting Gate

And they're off!

Or not.

I'm getting over the flu and spend the first 4 days at home looking at all the fish Eric has already posted. Yikes! Good thing there is a prize for second place. I use the time at home to research the list and plan my strategy.

Eels? These are fish? They migrate from the ocean? Why not include the turtle I caught or that MA clam? Burbots? Nothing more than another eel but sporting a fin. Only 500 miles to drive and I can catch a Brook or a Striper. Spotted bass are only 350 miles, stocked in one lake a few decades ago or rarely caught in turbid SE streams.

I set my goal at 29 fish.

So Many fish....Around the First Turn

Huskeron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:17:30 GMT

Around the First Turn

I got my wife out for a short trip to Standing Bear on Tuesday to try for Drum, Carp, and Trout. Scored the Drum as I was packing up to go home.

Headed to Hanson Lakes on Wednesday with my best friend for crappie, white perch, gar, and cat. Got a crappie and white perch.

One fish first trip, two fish second trip. At this rate I will be done in a couple weeks.

I arrived at Yankton by myself at 7pm on Friday. I had until Mother's Day to try for at least a dozen different species in that prime area. I was met with brutal weather conditions. Temps falling into the 40's overnight with 30 to 40 mph winds. I first tried 3 spots on Lake Yankton with nary a bite. I headed over the dam to Tail Waters before sundown. Driving over the dam was incredible. Five to ten foot waves crashing into the beach.

I fished until 11pm and then retreated to my car for a nap when scattered rain showers added to the miserable weather. All I caught was one small drum and a dozen dink walleyes ( < 8" ).

I woke up at 1am to try again during the solunar major. The weather had not improved. I got skunked again. More dink walleye and the smallest cat I have ever caught. It would be a "fisherman's tale" to claim he was 5 inches. I went back up for a nap after 2 hours feeling rather dismayed.

I awoke at sunrise to calmer winds and blue skies. :)

I was fishing just West of the handicap pier. It was sandy and flat. Very accommodating for a lawn chair. I started catching fish right away and all was good. The river creates a shallow flat there. I would get an occasional fish on the flat, but most seemed out further in the deeper water. I was catching Smallmouth and White Bass. I also soaked a drum's head in the river all morning with no strikes.

Just down-river from me, on the other side of the pier, there were 10 fishermen packed into a short stretch of shore pulling in many walleye mixed with other fish. It was like watching a stage show. From my angle they were all lined up as one, with rods whipping and fish catching.

Around noon the area cleared out and I was able to move to that prime stretch of water. It was steep rocks that wouldn't accommodate my chair, but I soon forgot my discomfort as I started pulling in one white bass after another. I would guess I caught over 50 of them. There were only a couple of one hour lulls until sundown when I headed home. I also finally caught some walleye and brought home my limit of small eaters.

I was never able to catch a quality walleye, but I witnessed at least two dozen caught that were over 20". Leeches seemed to be the best bait. It really changed my opinion on the walleye fishery up there. It was my second trip to the area. Three years ago we went in the fall and never caught one walleye.

I came home beaten (slipped on the rocks) and weary after hitting it hard for 28 hours. Happy as lark and totally refreshed.

I added 6 species (Smallie, White Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye, Gold Eye) to my "stringer" and upgraded my Drum. I skipped the catfish. If I can't do better then I will take up golfing.

So Many fish....and Now a Word from Your Conscience

Huskeron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:16:02 GMT

And Now a Word from Your Conscience

Phishful Thinking posed a good question about photographing the fish measurement for the tourney and the director gave a good response;

"It's an honor system"

While up at Gavins last weekend I ran into several forum members plying the fertile waters of the Mighty Mo. I overheard one of the members asking a complete stranger if he could have the "trash" fish that the stranger just caught because he needed it for the contest. The stranger said sure. The member added a second species to his stringer a few minutes later from another stranger! :wPolice::wPolice::wPolice:

I wandered over and mentioned cheating with the hopes of working the guilt factor. The member left a few hours later with both fish still on his stringer. I hope he/she decides not to enter the fish. They were very nice and fun to fish next to while I was up there. We exchanged many tips and locations to try.

It disheartens me to think that some of us would cheat to win this tourney. Phishful pointed out one method. This member brings to light another, and I stumbled "literally" on one more when I tripped on a dead master angler drum while walking the shore at night.

I know of no way to host such a great event without basing the entries on honor. It is state-wide and lasts an entire month. I'm just hoping we can allow the best fisherman/fisherwoman to win. I know I will be able to live with myself after accepting such a large prize in front of so many of my fellow sportsmen because I will submit a honest stringer.

"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory"

And now back to the race......

So Many fish...Down the Back Stretch

Huskeron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:14:25 GMT

Down the Back Stretch

I took a trip up to Summit after work with my best friend to get a Large Mouth Bass and Bluegill. He grabbed his gear and headed out to the end of our favorite rock jetty. When I walked out he was walking back with his gear.

"We can't fish here. There's a killer mother goose on a nest that tried to bite me."

I convinced him we could all get along. As the evening progressed I kept forgetting about the goose and almost stepped on her many times. Scared the poop out of me when she would give a deathly hiss.

We caught lots of bass, crappies, and bluegill. The only sad point was when he wanted to leave way before I was ready. Made a note to myself to stay solo for the rest of the month.

I went up to a small city lake in nearby Fremont on a sunfish tip later that week after work. I fished a couple of hours and caught a hundred of them with the first one being the biggest.

This was a banner year for High School graduations (8) for friends and family. My weekend was filled with parties. There was a party in Fort Calhoun, so I gave Boyer Chute on the Missouri River a try. I got skunked for the first time.

Today I started the Gar Hunt. I work next to the Papillion Creek in mid-town Omaha.

The building on the right is my office and that foot bridge is my smoking breakroom. Over the years I have seen an amazing amount of wildlife in the middle of such a large city. Carp, Turtles, Ducks, Geese, Cranes, Hawks, Muskrats, Groundhogs, and GAR. The gar appear every year in the early summer and dissappear in the fall. There has been three of them camped in this stretch for a month.

I tried to catch them on four different days for the contest. Three times during work (don't tell my boss) and once on a weekend. The first attempt I used a floating bumblebee fly. They would chase it but not strike. The second try I came with bluegill belly strips. It had rained so I couldn't sight fish. Never got a bite. Third time it was clear and I hooked up twice. Both were spit back at me half way in. I think they have granite mouths. The last attempt I tried to let them swallow it completely but that too failed. They would feel the metal hook and spit it out.

So Many Fish....Rounding the Final Turn

Huskeron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:12:35 GMT

Rounding the Final Turn

A big thanks to Larry, my brother-in-law. He reminded me about something I had read in the newspaper a couple of years ago. Using green worms to fish for sturgeon. He also suggested Shilling Wildlife Management Area at the confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers.

Green worms live in the moist clay banks of rivers. They are the size of a small earthworm and give off a strong aroma. It was a smell that's hard to place. Not stinky like poop. Sort of musty. I dug around and found a bunch of them.

I caught this 27" sturgeon on one of the green worms. It was a first for me. It is a bizarre fish. Very prehistoric looking with three rows of very sharp spines the length of its body. Its mouth was under the head and looked like a Manta Ray mouth.

Later that week, after work I went to Zorenski to get a Channel, Blue, and Musky. No luck on the Musky but I scored on the other two. The Blue was my first ever.

Took a trip up to Fremont Lakes. Tried the Bullhead lake first. Couldn't keep a worm in the water due to excessive bluegills. Moved to Wiper lake. While catching some bait fish I pulled in a dink yellow perch! I didn't think they existed for anywhere in my area. I got a huge fish on the bait fish and I thought it was my wiper. It turned out to be a very ugly channel the same size as my Zorenski Channel.

After dark I went back to the bullhead lake and caught one on my first cast. Bluegill always stop biting when it gets dark so my crawler was able to sit on the bottom for 5 minutes.

At this point I had moved into 2nd place in the contest and was walking on air.

So Many fish....Remembering the Loved Ones

Huskeron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:11:13 GMT

Remembering the Loved Ones

I was feeling so good about being in 2nd place that I decided to go fishing with a partner on Memorial Day. I asked my wife Brenda and she said yes. She asked where we we should go. I pushed away thoughts of my virtual stringer and said Summit so we would have a good time. (and maybe an upgrade) :eusa_whistle:

I met a new forum member while up there. My wife Brenda broke the ice by asking him if he was fishing the 'Cabella' tournament. He said no. I said how about the NFGA tourney? Steve said he was following it but not participating.

The reason for asking was 'she who must be obeyed' insisted we take her car to the lake. My control object was not in my tackle box, but going through the washer in my back pocket from the other night. My backups were in my car, and I had just caught a 9" bluegill upgrade. :zbangingHead: Brenda was feeling guilty and trying to find a control item. Bless her heart.

Luckily Steve put it all in perspective. When I asked him if he was fishing for walleye (he was drifting across the lake), he answered, 'Nope, just out enjoying the day." Thanks Steve. I have been fishing this tourney hard and at times this month it has been more work than pleasure.

I went to Summit to get Brenda on some quality fish, and my favorate lake came through. She had a blast. We caught a dozen 12" to 15" bass and a handfull of keeper gills. We had a bluegill fish fry when we got home.

We will be celebrating our 25th wedding aniversary this month. One of the many reasons I married her was because she likes to fish.

So Many Fish.....Down the Home Stretch

Huskeron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:09:55 GMT

Down the Home Stretch

The final weekend was approaching so I took off Thursday and Friday from work. I had lost 2nd place but felt I could get it back. I needed several fish and decided on a plan. Drive to Lincoln and fish Pawnee for carp. Someone had posted great success at daybreak over the holiday weekend. Then I would head to Branched Oak for Wiper and Flatties.

I got up at the un-Godly hour of 3am and headed to Pawnee. Within 1 hour of sun up (nothing in the predawn magic) I had landed 3 carp with this 28" being the best.

Feeling high as a kite I sped to BO and set up just South of the dam on the beach. Maybe I should have endured the pain of the rocks but it was a hot day and my tush enjoyed the comfort of a chair in the shade.

I quickly caught some bait fish and got ready for my first ever wiper. After 9 hours the Dead Sea had only produced a dink large mouth. Luckily the scenery was very pleasant since that beach is a jet ski resting area. And I'm happy to report that all the skiers observed the no wake zone. It's probably just a few bad apples that give them all a bad name on this forum. Kinda like the "bucket" fisherman. :zclapping:

At one point I was alone on the beach and a young couple came down to sun bathe. We exchanged pleasantries and I tried not to ogle to often. After a while they went wading into the lake and embraced. I figured they could use a little privacy so I took a break and went up to the car for more cookies. As I came back down I noticed she was bouncing in the water like a bobber! :shock: I quickly retreated back up to the parking lot so as not to interrupt.

Only 1 fish added to the stringer but I did get to catch this keeper on film.

Friday I slept in late. When I woke up I put in my fourth try on the gar and then tried Standing Bear for a trout with no luck.

Saturday I headed to the trout pay lake. :SM_SS_help:
Thanks to a thread on the forum I had bought some hook floats earlier in the week. They worked great for the trout. The banks were lined with 50 people. I squeezed in and caught one as soon as it hit bottom. I caught 6 trout in 10 casts. Everyone was staring in amazement as I walked away with my limit in 15 minutes.

Slightly fueled by my success I decided for one last road trip even though my contest chances were getting pretty slim based on the late entries showing up. I wimped out and chose Pelican Point on the Missouri River just East of Tekama which was an hour away. Maybe I should have driven the 2 hours back up to Gavins because I only caught a few channels.

I crossed the river at midnight and went gambling at Onawa. When I walked out at 3am Gavins was only an hour away and pulling at me real hard. But I decided to go home.

So Many Fish....Across the Finish Line

Huskeron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:03:14 GMT

Across the Finish Line

It is May 31st.
Last chance.
I decide to not fish.

I would need to take another long road trip.
I want to sleep in.
I would have to skip a grad party.
I have trout from yesterday to grill.
I am worn out.

I want to thank NFGA for the longest fishing trip of my life. An entire month! It was a blast. I caught two new species. I caught hundreds of fish. I fished five new parks. I learned a lot about how to river fish. I didn't reach my goal but I made it to 19 and I am very proud.

Much thanks to my wife Brenda who never complained and always reminded me to keep it fun.

My fishing hat is off to those that beat me.

Eric who drives to BO for a white perch.

MAMachine and Buglem for scoring a trout triple play.

Done who I chased all month but never caught.

TheDarkArcher for coming out of nowhere down the final stretch.

:SM_SS_respect:

Jim