One other observation which may have absolutely nothing to do with the steelies is this past summer I made my usual catfishing trips up to Elk creek.  I like to go up in the evening, plop down a chair, put a big night crawler on the hook, chuck it out and wait for Mr. whiskers to show up.  I usually get at least one cat per trip sometimes several.  Also, I am usually battling the white bass and sheephead to keep them off my bait.  This summer I managed only 3 cats in 9 trips, one sheephead and no white bass.  There were times when I would put the bait out and it would sit for 30 to 40 minutes and was not touched.  I found this to be quite odd given past success.  The fishing was so bad I finally just gave up and quit going.

I also fish some of the local lakes and ponds for pan fish and bullheads.  This summer there were days when I could not even get bluegill to bite.  It was really strange.  A fellow I fish with sometimes reported similar results from his fishing trips.  I only managed one small muskie this summer when my past record is closer to 4 or 5 and at least one nice one.

Maybe I am connecting some dots here that should be connected, but this whole last year for me has been a bust when it comes to fishing. 

I guess they all must have decided Walnut was the place to be this year...  The few I did catch were in the 5 to 10 lb range. 

Yep that's it definately. Riverbum hit it right on the head. It's us people who come up from kY who are depleting the fishing. I mean relly, if I have to drive 506 miles and pay wayyyy to much for a non-resident license, and a motel room. I deserve to take back a whole pick-up truck load of fish. Y'all put em' and I'll take em'. Oh yeah that huge tournament I sponsor really has an effect on the fishing too. Imagine all the released fish that won't , , , Wait a minute. It's a Catch & Release contest. Never Mind!

ORIGINAL: indsguiz

Yep that's it definately. Riverbum hit it right on the head. It's us people who come up from kY who are depleting the fishing. I mean relly, if I have to drive 506 miles and pay wayyyy to much for a non-resident license, and a motel room. I deserve to take back a whole pick-up truck load of fish. Y'all put em' and I'll take em'. Oh yeah that huge tournament I sponsor really has an effect on the fishing too. Imagine all the released fish that won't , , , Wait a minute. It's a Catch & Release contest. Never Mind!

Dude-that was light-hearted sarcasm. I would never disparage the good people of Canada with anyone from KY :). If by truck-loads you mean your daily legal limit by all means take em and go with god. As for me, I'll continue to catch my share.

The rumor I heard is not all those fellows from KY are really KY natives.   Some are from PA originally....  Just sayin'....

i hope it gets worse every year, the past few years the quality of fish has been wayy up! i'd take hooking 3 fish over 30'' in a day over 15 5lbers...its all about numbers to every one. thats not what fishing is about.

So, any more evidence to suggest next year will be better than this past fall, or do I wait for 2017, supposedly epic?

ORIGINAL: Bughawk

One other observation which may have absolutely nothing to do with the steelies is this past summer I made my usual catfishing trips up to Elk creek.  I like to go up in the evening, plop down a chair, put a big night crawler on the hook, chuck it out and wait for Mr. whiskers to show up.  I usually get at least one cat per trip sometimes several.  Also, I am usually battling the white bass and sheephead to keep them off my bait.  This summer I managed only 3 cats in 9 trips, one sheephead and no white bass.  There were times when I would put the bait out and it would sit for 30 to 40 minutes and was not touched.  I found this to be quite odd given past success.  The fishing was so bad I finally just gave up and quit going.

I also fish some of the local lakes and ponds for pan fish and bullheads.  This summer there were days when I could not even get bluegill to bite.  It was really strange.  A fellow I fish with sometimes reported similar results from his fishing trips.  I only managed one small muskie this summer when my past record is closer to 4 or 5 and at least one nice one.

Maybe I am connecting some dots here that should be connected, but this whole last year for me has been a bust when it comes to fishing. 

i know a place, young man.........

Who you calling a young man Rap????

bug, i got you by a few years, i believe. more rings on my trunk. you got some ketchin up ta do

Patience fisherofmen376, Patience....  The time will come and you can once again walk the tribs, fly rod in hand, seeking the elusive steelies...

I agree to some extent, I mean some days I catch a lot of smaller fish but nothing great and some days I just want to catch quantity. But if the fish keep getting bigger like this I wouldn't mind seeing bigger and bigger fish being pulled out. It would be nice to see next years photo contest winner holding up a knew record ya know?

ORIGINAL: jjp57

i hope it gets worse every year, the past few years the quality of fish has been wayy up! i'd take hooking 3 fish over 30'' in a day over 15 5lbers...its all about numbers to every one. thats not what fishing is about.

1:I predict that the streams will be just as crowded and people will still be complaining  about it.
2.I predict people will be complaing about the numbers of fish and lack of rain.
3.I predict someone will start a DHALO or C&R proposal post on the forum.
4.I predict people will be complaining about the Russians and about the lack of  enforcement on the tribs.
 
Other than that it's anybody's guess !
 

Yep, all the above and even more!


Lock this thread.

I predict I will rope em and smoke em!