Monthly Archives: April 2013

Alabama Walleye

by: Jeff Moss
Alabama DNR

Walleye are cool water fish not often associated with the southern waters, but Alabama’s large rivers all contain walleye. In fact, Alabama is home to two subspecies of walleye and several locations have fishable populations of walleye. That is good news because walleye are one of the tastiest fish found in Alabama.

The walleye is the largest member of the perch family, which includes darters, yellow perch, sauger and log perch. Walleye are usually found in large river systems and associated tributaries and streams. They generally prefer secluded backwaters having an abundance of deep, clear water. In Alabama, walleye live an average of seven years and may reach up to 31 inches in length. The current state record (10 pounds 14 ounces) was caught in 1980 in Weiss Reservoir, an impoundment of the Coosa River.

The northern strain of walleye is found in the Tennessee River and the southern strain is found in the Mobile basin and its tributaries. The northern strain has been stocked in waters with the southern strain, but recent genetic studies conducted by Auburn University indicate that these stockings were generally unsuccessful. The best locations to catch walleye include Hatchet and Weogufka Creeks on Lake Mitchell, North River in Tuscaloosa County, the Cahaba River, Oakmulgee Creek in Perry County and the Tallapoosa River near Thurlow Dam. The best time to catch walleye is when they move upstream to spawn.

Anglers have the best chance of catching walleye in January, February and March, fishing live minnows or jigs adjacent to deep drop-offs or holes during spawning runs. The best time to catch walleye is usually during the worst possible winter weather conditions. Walleye typically move into shallow, fast-water shoal areas to spawn when water temperatures approach 45 û 52 degrees F. Spawning runs may begin in December and continue through early April, depending upon water temperature and water conditions. Male walleye are thought to begin their spawning runs prior to the arrival of the larger females. Females disperse their eggs over gravel or sand bottoms but prefer rocky substrate if available and generally spawn in water 12 û 30 inches deep. Concentrations of fish tend to be higher below dams that prevent migration upstream.

During the summer, the most popular method to catch walleye in large lakes is by trolling in deep open water areas, often at night. Walleye have large eyes, which are sensitive to light, and they prefer dark cool-water havens having maximum summer temperatures no greater than 77 degrees F. Walleye can often be found in springs or streams in large reservoirs that serve as thermal refuge areas, which are also attractive to several coolwater species.

Walleye are rated as excellent table fare whether fried or baked. Among the freshwater fishes, none are considered a better eating fish than the walleye and their close relative, the sauger. Both offer firm white flesh with a sweet flavored meat that is preferred among most anglers. In northern and mid-western states, walleye are considered a delicacy at local restaurants where they are legal to serve commercially.

Anglers in Alabama need to be aware of walleye because they are often mistaken for trash fish. Rare encounters with walleye should be noted by throwing the fish in the cooler and enjoying its delicate flavor while telling tales about the big one that got away.

Note – I have caught a few walleye on my trips to Wisconsin each year but have caught only two in Georgia, both at Lake Russell. At one time a few lakes in Georgia were stocked with walleye but they are not successful except in a few of our norther lakes. Carters Lake is one good lake in Georgia where you can catch walleye.

Fishing Lake Sinclair

Sinclair bass caught on the riprap.  This is not Walker Smith but shows the typical size of a Sinclair bass.

Sinclair bass caught on the riprap. This is not Walker Smith but shows the typical size of a Sinclair bass.

Fished Lake Sinclair on Tuesday for a GON magazine article with Walker Smith. Walker is the content manager for Wired2Fish.com,a great bass fishing site. We had a lot of fun and caught some fish.

Sinclair is a good lake but it is known for its small bass – most bass club tournaments are won with five fish limits weighing less than ten pounds. But in March Walker won a big tournament with five weighing an incredible 22 pounds! So there are some quality fish there.

Crappie Fishing In Alabama

by: James J. McHugh

Shooting docks for crappie

Shooting docks for crappie

District IV Fisheries Supervisor

Alabama’s Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/agfd/fishsec.html

Crappie are among the most sought-after game fish by Alabama anglers.  They are widespread throughout the State, very abundant in many waters and excellent table fare.  However, even the most ardent anglers are often confused about the biology of these species.

First, there are two species of crappie, black and white.  Both species occur throughout the State but each prefers slightly different habitats.  The main difference is that white crappie are more tolerant of muddy water than black crappie.  Because of this, white crappie predominate in waters that are seasonally muddy (like the Alabama River and black crappie predominate in lakes that are usually clear (like Lake Martin.

Species identification can be tricky.  Don?t assume that dark colored crappie are black crappie and light colored fish are white crappie.  Black crappie have dark spots or mottling that occur in a random pattern on the sides of the body.  White crappie have spots that form (often faint) vertical bars or bands on the sides of the body.  The best way to identify the species is to count the number of spines in the dorsal fin.  White crappie have five or six spines and black crappie have seven or eight spines.

Another aspect of coloration that leads to confusion is that during spring some crappie are very dark on the head and throat.  That is the breeding coloration of male crappie and occurs in both species in the spring.  Females do not exhibit that coloration.  Knowing this provides a useful fishing tip.  During spring, if you are catching crappie with the dark throat coloration, you are catching nesting males.  Take some time to look around for the females, which are often larger than the males.  They will be holding offshore, but nearby, at about the same depth as the nesting males.

Other aspects of crappie reproductive behavior should be of interest to anglers, since most crappie are caught in the spring.  Black and white crappie are members of the sunfish family, along with bass and bream.  In all species of this family, the males hollow out nests and guard the eggs and young fish.  Some species, like bream, construct their nests close together in large beds, while other species, such as bass, construct individual nests.  Crappie build their nests close together but usually in smaller groups than bream.  Crappie also nest earlier than other members of the sunfish family, generally when the water temperature is between 60o and 65oF.

There is a 9-inch minimum size limit on crappie in most Alabama public waters (10-inches in Weiss Lake).  This size limit was instituted in October 1993 and has been very well received by anglers.  In fact, many crappie anglers have asked why the size limit is not higher because, at about 10-inches crappie really start to put on weight.  When the size limit was established, the age and growth rates of crappie were taken into consideration.

Anglers cannot see how old a fish is, but Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division biologists determine fish age on a regular basis.  In almost all Alabama waters, crappie reach nine inches by the time they are three years old.  However, in most waters 10-inch crappie are four years old.  Because crappie are not very long lived fish, it was deemed appropriate to allow their legal harvest at age three.  Any benefits of protecting them to age four would be offset by natural mortality.  In the few public waters where crappie fail to reach nine inches at age three, no minimum length limit has been established.  Therefore, the crappie size limit, as with any fish limit, is as much an age limit as a size limit.

Crappie fishing is a great way to introduce kids to the wonders of Alabama and share some unforgettable times together.  For more information on crappie fishing in your area contact any District Fisheries Office or come see us on the web at www.dcnr.state.al.us/agfd.

Fishing Chickamauga Lake

Bass from Lake Chickamauga

Bass from Lake Chickamauga

I had a good day fishing Lake Chickamauga near Chattanooga Tennessee with Jeremy York but it was frustrating. He had been catching lots of big bass on the Picasso Bait Ball Rig he designed but they are pretty much off that pattern. He did get one nice 4.5 pound bass on it.

All day we watched big bass in the shallows starting their beds but they were skittish and would not bite.  They would not stay on the bed, kept moving off.

The lake should be wide open for bedding bass fishing in the next few days.

Enjoyed Fishing Lake Wedowee

 

Gary caught this spotted bass on a spinnerbait.

Gary caught this spotted bass on a spinnerbait.

I really enjoyed spending time with Gary Mercer yesterday at Lake Wedowee.  Gary was in a bass club with me years ago – more than we want to remember. Now he fishes Wedowee every week and has a place there. We didn’t get to fish much due to limited time but he showed me ten spots to catch bass in May and proved he knows the lake well.

It was a beautiful day but I was still surprised at the number of bass fishermen on the lake.  Wedowee is normally not real crowded due to its location and somewhat limited access. We talked to two fishermen that were catching spots on a hump on Carolina rigged lizards.  Gary got a good keeper spot on a spinnerbait after we saw some swirls in a pocket full of shad.

Supposed to head to Chickamauga in Tennessee tomorrow. It has been red hot, with a five fish, 44 pound limit weighed in about a month ago. I am going with Jeremy York, owner of Anglers Warehouse here in Georgia. He had a five fish limit weighing 30.25 pounds a few weeks ago in a BFL tournament there – and came in third! Should be a great trip.

Fishing Lake Wedowee

Went to Lake Wedowee in Alabama today and fished with Gary Mercer for an Alabama Outdoor News article. Beautiful lake, full of spots and largemouth.  Took 28 pounds to win a tournament last weekend.  The article will map ten spots for May fishing – It would be a great trip next month!

I saw this bass holding under a dock and caught it on a Trick

I saw this bass holding under a dock and caught it on a Trick

On A Roll Fishing – Downhill Roll!

I can catch a bass!

I can catch a bass!

My fishing seems to get worse and worse. Fished a club tournament at West Point Lake today, caught one largemouth and four spotted bass total weight 4.26 pounds. As bad as that was I came in 5th out of 19 fishermen.

I tried shallow pockets first – until noon – thinking they would be there. Water was 58 degrees. Finally caught one keeper largemouth in a ditch back in the pocket in about six feet of water at 10:30 AM.  Partner finally caught a keeper at 1:00, with just two hours left to fish. Then on the last bank we had time to fish I got three spots and he got one on Carolina rigs in rocks about six feet deep.

First place was five at just under 11 pounds, including a skinny six pounder. Second was just over 10 pounds for five and they were caught shallow after lunch – after I moved out to the points. Very frustrating!

But it was a beautiful, sunny, warm day.

Til next time, gone fishing.

Do You Remember the First Fish You Caught?

First Fish Certificate Great Idea In West Virginia

Was your first fish this big?

Was your first fish this big?

BY Jim Shepherd

A first fish is a big deal. I don’t really remember the first fish I landed, but I do remember the first fish I “really” caught on my own. “On my own” meaning I rigged the hook, line, sinker and bobber, baited the hook and sealed the deal with a small bream that had already stolen two other crickets before he got so full he slowed up enough for me to catch him.

In those days, catch-and-release was not as popular as batter-and-fry, but I couldn’t bear to fry my first fish. I turned him loose and remember being so proud of myself I could hardly stand it – until my Dad asked me what I was doing putting back a fish.

Fortunately, he wasn’t really angry, we had more than enough bream for dinner that night, but it was my first full fishing experience. Cleaning the catch, fortunately, didn’t come for several years afterwards. Today, catch and release is popular with me because cleaning fish isn’t. Besides, my wife says I’ve caught the same fish so often that I should give them Velcro lips to save wear and tear on all parties.

About 140 words ago, I was going to give an attaboy to the States of West Virginia and Maryland their respective Divisions of Wildlife and Natural Resources. Last week, I got a release that told me that “Wild, Wonderful West Virginia” understood the importance of keeping generation -next involved in the outdoors.

To help, they’ve created a “First Fish” Certificate

The certificate, according to Frank Jezioro, Director of West Virginia DNR, is to “recognize that special catchy by young anglers”.

It’s a very cool little document – and you can fill it out online. In it, Jezioro says, you can include “the angler’s name, species of fish, and date and place of catch” – a very cool commemorative of a momentous occasion.

You can fill the certificate out online, then print it out on your color printer – also a very cool way to operate. No postal waste or time delays . Just fill out the form, hit print, and your little angler will have an award commensurate with that important first fish.

In Maryland, the programs nearly the same, except young anglers need to go to either a Maryland Sport Fishing Tournament Citation Center or use an online form. If you have a digital photo, it can be uploaded to their My 1st Fish Citation.

We support The Angler’s Legacy, and have already done our parts this year by introducing several people to fishing. Like the Angler’s Pledge, we think the First Fish Certificate – in any state -is a great idea.

You can check out West Virginia’s First Fish Certificate online at:

www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/First_Fish.shtm ]www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/First_Fish.shtm

and you can check out Maryland’s form at:

www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/ tournament/firstfishform.html]www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/ tournament/firstfishform.html

Good on you both.

I Love Spring Fishing

Spring has sprung here in middle Georgia -my part of the world.  I love spring bass and crappie fishing, as most fishermen do.  Fish are shallow and feeding and you can catch a lot of fish.  Although I fish year round, spring and fall are my favorites.

Do you like spring fishing? Why? Share your thoughts and tips in the comment section

How to Catch Late Ice Season Panfish

Late Ice Panfish

Its cold but the fish  will bite

Its cold but the fish will bite

by Bob Jensen

In some states throughout the Midwest, the ice-fishing season for walleyes and northern pike is coming to a close, or has, in fact, already closed.  If you live in one of those areas, now is not the time to hang up the ice-rods and put the shelter and auger in storage.  There are still some very good opportunities for ice-fishing action.  Some of the best perch, crappie, and bluegill ice action is still to come.

Here’s how you can get in on it.

Perch can be in different places in different bodies of water, but most of my perch catching late in the season has been in deep water, sometimes down to thirty feet.

In other lakes they’ll be shallower, but when they’re shallow, that’s usually because there is no deep water in that lake.

Crappies can be kind of strange.  In some lakes they’ll hang close to the bottom just like a walleye, in other lakes they’ll suspend.  In my past few ice-fishing trips we’ve taken crappies that looked just like walleyes on the sonar because they were hugging the bottom, and we’ve taken crappies that were six feet off the bottom in twelve feet of water.

Not relating to panfish but still kind of on the topic of fish location, on an ice-fishing trip for walleyes two years ago on Lake of the Woods, the walleyes were running twelve feet down over twenty five feet of water.  They were biters, but you had to bring the bait up to where they were.

Back on the topic of panfish location under late ice; Expect to find bluegills along weedbeds or around brush piles.  They might be over the tops of the weeds or suspended along the deep edge of the weeds, but if you find good cabbage weeds, you’re probably close to some ‘gills.

These panfish can be very active, but you still need to present the bait correctly.  For ‘gills, go with two pound test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon.  It’s invisible underwater, and sometimes that’s what it takes to put finicky bluegills on the ice.  Go with a 1/64th ounce Fire-Fly jig for gills.  Lots of anglers like black, as they feel it best copies the tiny bugs that are in the water.

Crappies and perch both like Forage Minnow spoons tipped with a piece of minnow or a couple of Berkley Gulp! Maggots.  A lot of colors will work, but Super-Glo Perch is a real winner day-in and day-out.

For perch, drop the spoon to the bottom, let it rest a second or two, then give it a couple of good snaps.  That attracts the perch.  Let it sit still for a few seconds, then snap it again.  Keep a close eye on your sonar to see how the fish are reacting to the snapping-resting action.

A more subtle action is usually best for crappies.  Put the spoon just a bit above the crappies, then quiver it. If they want it, they’ll eat it.

Keep a close eye on the ice conditions, but if it’s safe, get out there for some late season panfish action.  I’ve always found that late ice panfish are a great way to start the new open water season.

— Bob Jensen