Lake Arthur in the PGH Trib

I watched them shock a few weeks ago. The one biologist yelled at me to get back so he didn't accidently electrocute me... This is definitely a good time for them to survey in the shallows at night.

Can't agree more with the alewife comment. The predators in that lake have more than enough forage. Hopefully it is considered a "problem" by the biologists and add to the wiper stocking... Not that they really need to.

I personally have had more serious injuries to wipers using stick baits than single alewifes. Although, I fish the alewifes a bit different than I see a lot of guys with lighted bobbers, ect. 1 of every 10 or so fish that I get on a stick bait, has one of the hooks in an eye, gill, deep into their side or 2-3 trebles so deep that it takes 5 minutes to unhook. Not sure the mortality after that?

Almost all hook ups that I get on alewifes are in the front of the mouth. I'm not sure if I recall ever deep hooking one on an alewife (sure it happens though). Pretty sure the wipers let it sit in their mouths for a bit, and will spit if they feel a hook. Then again, I always free line the alewifes and set the hook almost immediately after feeling a hit.

Pretty sure it is the amount of people fishing nights now, as compared to 10 years ago, as compared to whenever you first started chasing them is the real issue. I'd imagine there have always been a portion keeping a few for the table, just more people fishing is raising that portion as well. I would hope the PFBC/DCNR would start surveying, so they can adjust stocking appropriately. Heck, add a striper stamp to their ever growing attempts to get revenue. From what I understand, the wipers were introduced to control the alewife population. Per this article, it almost sounds like they need more control. Honestly, they need another lake to take some of the pressure off. I doubt North Park Lake is nearly big enough, but would definitely keep some of the North driving crowd down. Shenango is already keeping a good bit of the South driving crowds down.

The numbers on the walleye are a bit deceiving. When they dump the huge numbers, they are usually fry. At that size, they are bait fish to panfish, bass, anything in the lake that eats other fish. At Arthur, I am not sure there is much besides panfish that are self sustaining. I sure as heck am not putting a 25" walleye back since it wasn't naturally reproduced...

pork I have caught a ton of stripers using stick baits. Only killing 2 in close to 20 years of fishing for them.You are dead right about numbers of night fishermen as of the last ten years or so.Back in the day A buddy and I would be just about the only boat out after dark. I'll have to say almost everyone I have talked to about using the Alewives say the ones they catch are mostly deep hooked so HUH .There is no doubt they could stock more than what they do thats for sure. Dave

I thought that the reason they don't stock more was that they had trouble getting more from other states? I could be wrong as I have never fished for them, so I don't keep up with the info. sam

Not sure if I am using them wrong, but circle hooks haven't worked for me. They tend to spit out if they feel resistance or a hook in my experience. A nice hook set seems to be the only way that has worked for me. Again, I have a method that works for me, and can't recall ever gut hooking one, others may be doing differently. Some are definitely roof of mouth, ect, but have had stick baits the same. They definitely don't hit as ferociously as they do the top water. I have only been chasing them at night on Arthur for 9 years, and crowds have definitely risen in the past few.

80% of my fishing for them is with lures. If they aren't cooperating after a while, I'm not scared to use an alewife. Or if my buddy is hooking up with alewifes and I'm just casting, I find no shame in tossing live bait. I release all but 1-2 per year if any (depending on how many trips I go without a walleye, or if one is maimed a bit). If they were as easy to clean as walleye and tasted as good, there would definitely be much more of an issue with C&R from me... Although, if the PFBC asked, I keep 2 every time out!

I have only ever seen maybe 1-2 floaters during the day time too, so imagine most of those being killed are being grilled, so don't have much issue with that.

I won't be the one to complain if someone is keeping a non-native, non-reproducing put and take fish. They are their for recreation and if you like to c & r, great and if you like to eat them, then that's great too.

I think that they are the ones that you should release,because I feel that the recreation value is far more than the food value in most cases. I feel that a live fish is worth more than a dead one,although I don't have a prob. with someone keeping a few for the table,the people that have to fill thier freezer just to show everyone what a hero they are are the ones that I feel sorry for. The 20" fish that you throw back could grow to be the 30" fish that you or your kid could catch later. sam

ORIGINAL: colty
i do believe alot of this pressure comes from forums on the web.

Very true, but same can be said with almost every water. This time of year is prime for so many different species. If someone wants to catch more fish, smaller than the wipers, during the daylight, there are a bunch of choices. Check out just about any post on these boards. Luckily for Arthur, the bite is at night, and not very convenient for most people, or it would be 10 times as crowded.

imo the only ppl eating the stripers are the ones who cant catch walleye!

No doubt its a good fishery. So much food, and like Quantum said too much for fish not to get big. And Colty Agreed, not many fish are better, only kept one this year and man was it good.