Wally Cat
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Size Of Fish This Year!
Is it just my imagination or is there a lot more bigger fish this year. I don't seem to remember catching or seeing so many 8, 9, 10+ pound fish being caught or roped in the past.
Enjoy Life, Be Happy, Go Fish - Often! "God has blessed America - may He continue to do so, even though we are not worthy of it". Author..... Wally Cat
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ShutUpNFish 
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 06:41:12
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Yes, the fish seem to be larger on average this year.
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dano
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 06:53:28
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yea, even the small ones are big.
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smallhook
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 07:16:37
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seems about the same to me.
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Jokerball101
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 09:03:11
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Much larger fish, put one to hand down at the mouth of elk the other night it went #14.2 that would be my biggest this year. Surprisingly I havnt caught any jacks yet.
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FlashDance
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 09:46:29
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I've only fished 6 times this year, but I've caught more 10lb+ fish this year than the last 2 combined.
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Wally Cat
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 10:02:08
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Thanks for the input, I thought it was just my imagination.
Enjoy Life, Be Happy, Go Fish - Often! "God has blessed America - may He continue to do so, even though we are not worthy of it". Author..... Wally Cat
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SmallieKiller
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 10:09:51
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I've only been up twice, but the fish I'm hooking this year do seem a little larger on average. Could just be me seeing what I want to see. 
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bluehalo
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 11:57:58
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I've caught my two largest this year as well. Hopefully they'll make it through the rest of the fishing season and be back larger for next year as well.
Saw 6 that were well over 10lb caught at Walnut the other day. One atleast has a chance to come back next year. The whole key to getting larger fish in my book. You merely have to throw the bigger ones back.
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fisherofmen376
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 13:17:36
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I am no expert on this...they do seem to be bigger, but they don't seem to be fighting as hard this year. I have caught bigger fish this year for sure, but many feel like I'm dragging a wet boot in, with an occasional small run.
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
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steelstalker
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 13:30:25
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I don't know. Seems like a lot less jacks and more big fish but it looks to me like the average fish is still the sam. Just my opinion. Pounded the jacks last week one morning on Lower Elk, one hole was just full of them but for the most part I haven't seen as many.
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Jokerball101
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 13:32:59
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ORIGINAL: fisherofmen376
I am no expert on this...they do seem to be bigger, but they don't seem to be fighting as hard this year. I have caught bigger fish this year for sure, but many feel like I'm dragging a wet boot in, with an occasional small run.
Indeed most of the fish ive caught especially at night havnt really fought that hard rather sluggish.
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genieman77
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 14:51:36
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ORIGINAL: Wally Cat
I thought it was just my imagination.
I don't think it's your imagination, Wally Similar to Flash, I've put more big'uns on the bank in SEPT alone than I did all of last year Several times this year I've seen pods of MONSTERS schooled up in one spot i fish. I can't ever recall seeing so many LARGE fish schooled up like that. it not unusual to see a couple/few brutes mixed in a school, but three times this year I've seen a dozen or more hogs together and the average size fish in another part of the hole/run ..L.T.A.
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350Z&Steelheads
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 15:08:43
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I have seen some nice sized fish this year. I think the quantity is a little more this year as well.
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day. 
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Wally Cat
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 16:10:28
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I do believe that part of the problem with not as much fight may stem from the lack of good water flow and the fish get tired quick due to the lack of enough dissolved oxygen in the water. On the other hand I've had a few on near the lake that must have been fresh fish and they just would not give up. A little extra water would be nice to flush out all the re-processed sewer water from the two plants upstream. What ever you do try and keep from having the creek water come in contact with your mouth, nose or eyes. In other words don't lick your knot to tighten it or rub your face/eyes. Lord knows what's in that creek water that you might take home to the family.
Enjoy Life, Be Happy, Go Fish - Often! "God has blessed America - may He continue to do so, even though we are not worthy of it". Author..... Wally Cat
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pin_drifter
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 17:44:08
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I got a 15 1/2 pounder like six years ago out of the old stop sign hole on Walnut. I have fished many many times and never to get another of that size. Till this year I have been up like 7 times since mid October and i have managed A 12lber, 13 1/4 and a 14 pounder and many many 10"s hands down the fish this year are much bigger that average. I have to agree that some fight like Hell but others just seem to be dead weight for the most part. The 6 1/2 pounders gave me more fight than the 12 13 14 did. I would love to hook a 17 18 pounder in the tribs. Has any of you guys came close ? just wondering.
Quit ****ing and take a kid fishing !!
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egg sac
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 18:20:25
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ORIGINAL: pin_drifter
I got a 15 1/2 pounder like six years ago out of the old stop sign hole on Walnut. I have fished many many times and never to get another of that size. Till this year I have been up like 7 times since mid October and i have managed A 12lber, 13 1/4 and a 14 pounder and many many 10"s hands down the fish this year are much bigger that average. I have to agree that some fight like Hell but others just seem to be dead weight for the most part. The 6 1/2 pounders gave me more fight than the 12 13 14 did. I would love to hook a 17 18 pounder in the tribs. Has any of you guys came close ? just wondering.
Close as I ever came was a 35in 15 lb spawned out hen..if she would have been still full of eggs that would have easily been a 17lb plus fish.
SO MANY FISH SO LITTLE TIME. WHY ARE ALL THE PLACES I HAVE YET 2 FISH SO FAR AWAY?
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dano
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 19:18:26
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ORIGINAL: fisherofmen376
....... but they don't seem to be fighting as hard this year.
I'm not seeing that at. But then I'm fishing different water than you so maybe it could be an oxygen thing. Also, could be that some of the fish you're catching could have already been caught and released the last day or two. Every fish I've caught this year had a nasty attitude toward me except for this 22 inch brownie which I expect may have been caught earlier that day.
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mxdad66
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 20:55:41
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Catch and release,it works.The steel in NY are monsters this year also,see alot more people putting them back and giving them chance to make another trip back to the rivers.
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ShutUpNFish
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 21:05:49
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Honestly, I think if everyone was keeping their limits, you'd see the same results. With the vast numbers of steel in these streams C&R really doesn't make that much of a difference. Its the cycle and particular year IMHO.
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swinger
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 21:12:45
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These are the biggest ever man. Are you serious?
Quality over quantity I am reality I>U JC Rules!!!!!!!
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ShutUpNFish
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/12 21:26:43
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ORIGINAL: swinger
These are the biggest ever man. Are you serious?
LOL!
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MikeThePike
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/13 18:09:48
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ORIGINAL: ShutUpNFish
Honestly, I think if everyone was keeping their limits, you'd see the same results. With the vast numbers of steel in these streams C&R really doesn't make that much of a difference. Its the cycle and particular year IMHO.
Thats the way I see it as well. With the ridiculous numbers that run our small streams I'd venture to say a huge number get caught numerous times over a season. Most fish just can't take the stress of being repeatedly fought and then released. How many fish do we catch in the stream with multiple hooks in the back of their throats? Even if they were snapped off thats still a lot of stress put on them. If our creeks were as big as the Salmon River, Oswego, Gennessee, Niagara, ect then I'd see the argument that C&R works since theres plenty of water for them to hold in without constantly being stressed. In Erie thats just not the case. How many guys have walked from hole to hole till they found the #s they were looking for and then stress them out till they stop hitting. That combined with the stressed caused by spawning just doesn't make for ideal conditions for these fish to return multiple times. The only way you're truly going to get huge numbers of huge fish is to reduce stockings. The PAFBC most likely won't unless the fishery looks like it can't handle the #s they are stocking
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steelydaze
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/13 19:14:27
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my fish are always bigger than yinz guys
She had bad body odor but boy could she sure skin a salmon! "Trust but verify" R.R.
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ShutUpNFish
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/13 21:54:29
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ORIGINAL: steelydaze
my fish are always bigger than yinz guys
Thats about all thats bigger Frenchy! Besides, if you loosened up on that drag a bit, maybe you'd get to see how big they REALLY are!
post edited by ShutUpNFish - 2008/11/13 21:55:27
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steelydaze
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/13 21:58:15
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But then i wouldnt be able to chum.
She had bad body odor but boy could she sure skin a salmon! "Trust but verify" R.R.
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steelstalker
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/13 21:59:12
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Most fish probably can't take the pressure that steelhead do but I would argue that IMO steelhead can. They might be trout but I think they can take a heap of abuse. I'm not a biologist and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night so it's pure opinion.
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bluehalo
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/14 06:04:27
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????
Shut up and Mike,
Your claim is that if everyone kept their catch (almost ALL keep the very largest) that it wouldn't have an impact on size of returning steelhead.
What if everyone RETURNED their catch instead? Are you not then saying this would also relate to no size difference in the average steelhead?
It seems common sense to me that 4 yr old fish will be larger than 3 yr old fish. The more larger fish you release, the more larger fish you get next year. No?
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MikeThePike
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/14 10:43:28
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I'm simply saying due to the stress very few fish do return a second or third time to spawn. Even if handled perfectly, the fight and then stresses of spawning on many fish will kill them. I've seen plenty of dead steelies and browns on some of the smaller NY tribs that see almost no fishing pressure. They just can't take the stress associated with running very small creeks and then spawning.
The tribs are just too small to let the fish spawn without having additional stress which for the most part seems to kill many of them. I see 1000s of fish C&R'ed every year but do we see 1000s of much bigger fish returning the next year? Just because the fish was released don't nessesarily mean the fish will survive to run again the next year. Yes, there is the possibility they will, but theres also the possibility the fish will die a day later, week later, month later, ect from the stress.
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egg sac
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RE: Size Of Fish This Year!
2008/11/14 10:55:20
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ORIGINAL: MikeThePike
I'm simply saying due to the stress very few fish do return a second or third time to spawn. Even if handled perfectly, the fight and then stresses of spawning on many fish will kill them. I've seen plenty of dead steelies and browns on some of the smaller NY tribs that see almost no fishing pressure. They just can't take the stress associated with running very small creeks and then spawning.
The tribs are just too small to let the fish spawn without having additional stress which for the most part seems to kill many of them. I see 1000s of fish C&R'ed every year but do we see 1000s of much bigger fish returning the next year? Just because the fish was released don't nessesarily mean the fish will survive to run again the next year. Yes, there is the possibility they will, but theres also the possibility the fish will die a day later, week later, month later, ect from the stress.
The funny thing is while I do agree Pa fish are under insane pressure most of the time. I almost never see any dead fish on the stream bottom( early season warm water stress kills and slit open egg taken kills excluded).Unless these fish are waiting till they make it back to the lake to die off.
SO MANY FISH SO LITTLE TIME. WHY ARE ALL THE PLACES I HAVE YET 2 FISH SO FAR AWAY?
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