Holliday's World Famous Fishing Thread - 2023 Version

[Admin.]

 

[The New Holliday]

That sometimes happens.

..Like take this spring for example....

 

[Admin.]

That sometimes happens.

..Like take this spring for example....

 

[Admin.]

 

[Scooter]

Sweetwater is having a sale on guitar pedals.

 

[Admin.]

Sweetwater is having a sale on guitar pedals.

I may go take a look, I've been told I should have a tuner pedal.

 

[Scooter]

I haven't checked it out and I obviously posted it in the wrong thread. duh.

 

[oldslowandugly]

I put the Whaler in, it works well. I had my daughter help because I blew my knee out. She is very capable and usually catches more and bigger than me. I had a nice few days where the wind was from the South, the tide coming in, no boat traffic, and I could drift my little 12 ft deep creek quietly. The fish were feeding on grass shrimp and I used a 1/2oz leadhead, with a grub body, and a sliver of squid for flavor. Over the course of week I nailed 7 big Fluke, biggest 21", all fat and fought like hell. I keep forgetting to snap pics but I remembered again just as I was cleaning the biggest 21"er. This is more and better fish than all last summer combined.

 

[The New Holliday]

I put the Whaler in, it works well. I had my daughter help because I blew my knee out. She is very capable and usually catches more and bigger than me. I had a nice few days where the wind was from the South, the tide coming in, no boat traffic, and I could drift my little 12 ft deep creek quietly. The fish were feeding on grass shrimp and I used a 1/2oz leadhead, with a grub body, and a sliver of squid for flavor. Over the course of week I nailed 7 big Fluke, biggest 21", all fat and fought like hell. I keep forgetting to snap pics but I remembered again just as I was cleaning the biggest 21"er. This is more and better fish than all last summer combined.

Hey, what's the make of that knife?
Looks like one of mine - a Solingen - Weidmannsheil.

 

[oldslowandugly]

It is a Schrade Uncle Henry Steelhead, an old one from when still made in NY. Very slim and stiff. Quite probably the best filet knife ever made. I used to scoop them up on Fleabay but they have skyrocketed in price lately.

 

[Admin.]

 

[The New Holliday]

. We are really in it now. Bass are hitting the topwater baits on the river. The weather has been gorgeous. Tomorrow would be a good fishing day on the banks of the beautiful Lenapehanna were it not Sunday...still it will be a good day on the river to watch lovely bikini clad maidens drift by on rafts, in kayaks and canoes.

 

[oldslowandugly]

I actually took a pic before carving this time. I kept two fatties out of a dozen I boated today. This guy was almost 21". And THICK!

 

[The New Holliday]

I actually took a pic before carving this time. I kept two fatties out of a dozen I boated today. This guy was almost 21". And THICK!

...and don't we all love the fatties?

..Today I went a fishin for them wild Brownies at an amigo's campsite. He was very unpleased to learn I had turned back a keeper before learning of his presence.
He says that since the Mexicans keep everything they catch that so should we never mind the regs etc.
I turned that one back because I did not need a fish to eat and he had been so well concealed that I did not know he was there until his little dog, a Mexican Chihuaha (Ironic, I know) came to greet me.
I continued to fish on the way back to my conveyance, and caught another keeper which I offered back in friendship, thereby rescuing a warm comradery.

Skills count !

 

[oldslowandugly]

.."caught another keeper which I offered back in friendship"


I only fish for the table, so I can appreciate that gesture. With the minimum length at 19" these days, it is hard to fill the freezer as we used to do. On the other hand, a 19" fish used to be so rare as to get you on the cover of The Fisherman magazine years ago. When the size was 14" too many small fish were kept. Now I would not dirty my knife on a 14" fish. I do see a LOT of 16"-17" fish that will be next year's keepers.

No Bluefish yet. The big Gorillagators swept through early disrupting the Striper fishing. I like the fight, but they taste like motor oil. I wait for the Cocktail Blues around 2-3 pounds. Tasty!

 

[The New Holliday]

.."caught another keeper which I offered back in friendship"


I only fish for the table, so I can appreciate that gesture. With the minimum length at 19" these days, it is hard to fill the freezer as we used to do. On the other hand, a 19" fish used to be so rare as to get you on the cover of The Fisherman magazine years ago. When the size was 14" too many small fish were kept. Now I would not dirty my knife on a 14" fish. I do see a LOT of 16"-17" fish that will be next year's keepers.

No Bluefish yet. The big Gorillagators swept through early disrupting the Striper fishing. I like the fight, but they taste like motor oil. I wait for the Cocktail Blues around 2-3 pounds. Tasty!

That is the point I tried to make - that those smaller fish need to be left to mature so the fishery remains healthy.
. There are plenty at keeper size so no reason to raid the youngsters.
To me fishing is a sport. It's a skill to develop. There is always a new experiment - new equipment and techniques, new places. It's like BBall - I score a hoop, I do not eat the net but can be pleased with the skill acquired through long practice and the fitness that accompanies the activity. The way I fish is great exercise since I'm climbing rocky banks and walking on submerged slippy rocks etc as I wade - often more tiring than the hiking I do and more risky due to falls.
Motor oil is not my favorite fish flavor. Are you fishing the Gulf or NY bay?

 

[The New Holliday]

A couple of very nice days Bass fishing on the beautiful Lenapehanna.
. Caught (and released) 10 Smallies yesterday upriver, and 15 today (downriver) in the most wonderful secluded spot I know of on the river - which forever will remain mine and mine alone. Don't even ask me.
The lure which they could not resist is a Yo Zuri brand (I'll tell you, leave it to the Japs) 20 of the 25 falling on that, my favorite suspending minnow imitation. Also caught 4 Walleye which I hear are good for eats though never had one. Maybe I will bring a fry pan next I'm there. Little butter, garlic, pepper...yum.
. Anyway - walking on those river rocks in swift current is quite the workout as well. I feel I am in better shape than I have been in years.
The Shad are still spawning and dying off. I quess you can eat those too if you get hungry. People fish them. Not me though.
. I considered showing the actual lure I used, but that would violate the oath of secrecy to that great Fraternity of River Bass Fisherman - were I found out, would like that fool Socrates, be forced to drink Hemlock for the transgression of transmitting the secret knowledge.
. Gonna be fierce heat next week. Shady side of the river will be the place to be.

 

[Alticus]

When I used to fish bass the best lure I ever used was a Rapala Rattlin' Rap. When I caught my first smallmouth I went to grab it and its dorsal quills got me. Fuck that hurt.

 

[The New Holliday]

When I used to fish bass the best lure I ever used was a Rapala Rattlin' Rap. When I caught my first smallmouth I went to grab it and its dorsal quills got me. Fuck that hurt.

..Lipless crankbaits like that catch lots of fish. I don't use those but occasionally go with a Sugar Shad or Rat'l Trap. I found them good for trolling in the early days of Spring once upon a time when I fished from a boat. I bought a set of 1/8 oz Sugar Shads over the winter and will sure give them a go this summer.
. Handling caught Bass, any fish, with trebles in them has it's dangers. Always remember to hold them firmly - let them know they are controlled and that even though you are evil that you are on their side at the moment and only want to help them out of their unfortunate circumstance, and they will become docile and cooperative. Much like a .... oooo, better not get myself in trouble here...
..I think Cotton Cordell invented the type back in the 50s...The Cordell Spot.

 

[Seamajor]

I actually took a pic before carving this time. I kept two fatties out of a dozen I boated today. This guy was almost 21". And THICK!

How do you cook Halibut? If I grill it or bake it, it always tastes dried out?

 

[The New Holliday]

I think Cotton Cordell invented the type back in the 50s...The Cordell Spot.

Only not. Bill Lewis' Rat'l Trap was the original, first produced in the 60s.
. Cotton Cordell was making lures in the 50s, but the Spot was his later version of the lipless crankbait.
Cotton passed away in 2015.

 

[Admin.]

How do you cook Halibut? If I grill it or bake it, it always tastes dried out?

My fisherman neighbors says his fave way is to use a cedar plank and layer lemon and onion slices under and over the fillet and bake at 225 for 20 minutes. (Doesn't seem long enough to me, but he seems to know what he's talking about)

 

[The New Holliday]

June, 17th 2024:
. Last day before the wicked heat sets in, but truly when you are in the moving water the heat is all bearable - 86 today but felt fine. Another day of 10 Bass caught and a big surprise at the end of day.
.Went back to the place of river solitude and did fairly well - 8 Smallies and a few got off. I'm learning the upper stretch of that area. Another nice Walleye, and a couple more Fallfish.
Picked up 8 there and then decided to stop at an up river location to see if I could make another day of 10 which I did in short order. Short stretch that I decided to fish and as I was reaching the end felt a tap but no hookup - let it rest, twitched it and felt the weight. Another Striper like I got last year about the same time - June 23. A good 5 pounds. Had trouble controlling it and those dorsal fins, as mentioned by another poster, sliced open my thumb.
. The night before, that being last night, I had transferred my river tackle into a new pack and seeing I had no first aid stuff, threw in some bandages. What a good decision that was. Hope for the best - prepare for the worst.
..also - last week spotted what was almost certainly a Snakehead, which have been confirmed to infest the lovely Lenapehanna.
..Hoaxes have power. Though there is no such-a-thing as global warming, both the featured species venture northward.

Snakehead....BOOOOOO !

 

[oldslowandugly]

I took the grandson out for Bluefish. Two hours of dunking bunker chunks got nothing. But after I started casting a 2oz spoon, I got a tap. A few more casts and this guy jumped on. I am glad the grandson was there to net him, as this 21" Blue was giving me a hard time controlling. They are experts at using the tide to their advantage.

Holiday, I fish the western end of Reynolds Channel. I am just inside of East Rockaway Inlet. So we get a constant in/out of fish traffic. The Blues have been finicky this year but once the baitfish arrive in numbers they be will putting the feed bag on.

Seamajor, that is a Summer Flounder, and cooks like any Flounder. I guess Halibut would be similar. There are a lot of great recipes, but I like to cook all my fish like this: I filet everything, cut it up into little chunks, pat it dry, coat with flour, dunk in egg/water mixture, bread it with a mixture of seasoned bread crumbs and Panko, then deep fry. Add french fries and a big cold beer and you have Heaven on Earth.

Some people hate Bluefish. The trick is to keep them alive or get them on ice as fast as possible. Then fillet them, and get the fillets on ice. At home you soak the fillets in cold water, changing the water every day. After a couple/three days, if the water stays clear, all the blood is out. Then cook them. Smaller fish taste much better than the big monsters.

 

[The New Holliday]

It is a Schrade Uncle Henry Steelhead, an old one from when still made in NY. Very slim and stiff. Quite probably the best filet knife ever made. I used to scoop them up on Fleabay but they have skyrocketed in price lately.

Another knife company that once manufactured in NY State was Camillus (Camillus, NY) I had thought they went out of business in the 80s, but was reading they were sold in bankruptcy in 2007 to a company who is today manufacturing in China but headquartered in Connecticut (something like that). I have an old Camillus stockman - a bit rough but can cut things still. Just now looking at vintage single blades on ebay and might pick up a folder sometime.

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[The New Holliday]

Another knife company that once manufactured in NY State was Camillus (Camillus, NY) I had thought they went out of business in the 80s, but was reading they were sold in bankruptcy in 2007 to a company who is today manufacturing in China but headquartered in Connecticut (something like that). I have an old Camillus stockman - a bit rough but can cut things still. Just now looking at vintage single blades on ebay and might pick up a folder sometime.

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....all of which got me to thinking I'd spiff up that old Camillus. The main blade is a tad misaligned and the one side scale (delrin) had a greyish haze on it. Cleaned it off then notices the haze was gone...until it dried. Tried cleaning it - no luck. Looked up the issue and found that cleaning with a lubricating oil will do the trick. If that removes the oxidization or just moistens it so the haze is made transparent I don't know, but it looks pretty now.

 

[The New Holliday]

.. Today was a wonderful day trout fishing. Not so much for the trout catches as the wild river environment, exploration and exercise in hiking and climbing. Water was low - low as it ever gets - and no luck at the usual places on the river. It's Monday and the weekenders no doubt worked the place over pretty good. The hot weather slows the trout down too, but today was respite from the brutal heat so I could choose a collared shirt and felt fedora in the cooler temperature. I generally hike down to the furthest point I intend to fish then work back up a bit returning to the upstream point near where my day begins. On the way down I noticed a section that I had never fished that was low enough to provide opportunity. Got there and saw that I could, with the low water, work my way up to areas I had never been, and likely no white man had ever ventured. A tough walk up the bank in places clutching the Rhododendrons (Mountain Laurel - the Pennsylvania State Flower), and then working over the rocks in swift waters, over dead falls to likely riffles and small pools. There in the least accessible section I landed my two Brownies though both were undersized, and lost a keeper in a deeper side pool - a pool perfect for summer swims. One or possible two made a snatch for my bait but didn't hook up in the swift water. Felt the one as it flashed then dove back to it's ambush point. What a beautiful spot. Lots of hard work moving up the river - Man, I felt like a kid exploring, adventuring, seeing the wild world alone in kid wonder. It was my best, favorite day fishing in quite some time. I do love walking the streams and rivers - the less traveled the better. Today, the few light showers felt so nice.
. When I got home I thought about the Camillus Stockman, then sat outside and sharpened the blades. Admittedly I'm no Puerto Rican when it comes to knife sharpening, but with what I did do, the knife is now carry ready.

Here is a summer song (I play even though Van M turned out to be something of a doosh), and I here dedicate it to a raggedy peasant boy I once knew. Oh the water.....Let it run all over me.

 

[oldslowandugly]

My work/fishing buddy introduced me to the Schrade knife. He was a big fan of the Camillus brand knives. He felt unless it was broken into pieces, any knife can be restored. I busted the tip off of my old original Schrade but I used my grinder to whittle it down and back into shape. Now it is a bait knife, and just as sharp as it ever was.

Unfortunately it is HOT out there lately. I have a Bimini top on my Whaler for shade but the humidity is just incredible. Worse, there is a new species of green scum/sea weed that has invaded my area. The wind blows it against the docks and it looks like floating green vomit. Since I get 90% of my fish in site of the dock, this is a bad development. So far the main channel is clean but I wonder for how long? Invasive species?

 

[oldslowandugly]

Several thunderstorms seem to have cleared out the green scum. In fact I can see bottom in 10 feet of water. I went yesterday and had wind-tide-sunset all in my favor. I bucktailed up a dozen Fluke. All throwbacks except for two fatties. No Bluefish even after casting my arm off. The water is very clear for July.

 

[The New Holliday]

Several thunderstorms seem to have cleared out the green scum. In fact I can see bottom in 10 feet of water. I went yesterday and had wind-tide-sunset all in my favor. I bucktailed up a dozen Fluke. All throwbacks except for two fatties. No Bluefish even after casting my arm off. The water is very clear for July.

. I would love to have some blues (not the Little Walter kind). Been many years now since I've seen any in the market. People often say they are too oily, but in addition to that I love the flavor - butter and lemon.
.I remember one time many years ago a young fellow told me about what he called "snappers" (baby blues) he'd catch in big numbers in the inlets. We went and sure enough...but it's all over now, baby blue.