First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River =

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Dr. Trout
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2012/03/23 17:41:09 (permalink)

First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River =

I could not stand it any more !!!

I worked in the flower garden off and on most of the morning and kept the small garden variety earthworms I found, not very big, but maybe they would catch fish later in the day.

Went over to the Clarion at 3pm and fished until 4:30pm.

Landed my first game fish of 2012 .. a smallmouth bass


landed one small sucker and a handful of creek chubs about 6 inches long

Had several other fish on but with such a small hook they got off and I do not know what they were ??

Also landed the this critter =


I see I forgot to change the time on my camera.... LOL

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#1

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    Skip16503
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/23 18:02:35 (permalink)
    Doc at your Age if the setting on the camera is the only thing you forgot your doing good.... At least you remembered to wear pants I hope

    Way to get out there

     



    #2
    Dr. Trout
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/23 19:02:39 (permalink)
    Shorts in fact.. it was really a BEAUTIFUL day to be fishing ..water is already warming nicely for opening day ... just hand to watch for the junk hanging out .....

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    #3
    malice6372
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/27 16:57:13 (permalink)
    Hellbender-- AWESOME!
    #4
    TastyTrout
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/27 17:07:57 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: malice6372

    Hellbender-- AWESOME!


    Caught one up Pymatuning fishing the causeway at night. I was reaching down to grab it (thinking it was a fish) and then someone brought a light over and I saw what it was....I was certainly surprised. Glad you got out!

    Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths.
    Jimmy D Moore

    #5
    anatikus
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/27 18:34:14 (permalink)
    love dem snot doggies....great flathead bait

    fish heads fish heads rolly polly fish heads
    #6
    jmh58
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/27 22:19:09 (permalink)
    What are they?? What do you do with them?? Never heard of them!! John

    A great rabbit chase ends with a BANG!!
    #7
    wirenut45
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 07:56:41 (permalink)
    true story: my dad(born 1896), cousin Tut(1898),&thier uncle Walt would take a horse ,n, buggyfrom New Bethlehem to Belltown on the CLARION R. &camp for up to 2 wks.stop at every farm looking for a dead calf(no roadkill then),put it & a stone in burlap bag &sink in river.levve over nite. next day ,pull in, open bag,open calf, have enough mudpuppies for muskie bait for whole trip. put m.p. under cork (yes real cork) float,and wait. dad said caught lots. this was abt. 1912,before Piney Dam ,musky made spawning run up cl. and resident pop. in river all yr.he said musky,s loved mudpuppies. maybe like walleyes ,n, leeches? personally, i,m not brave enough to handle one(mp)by hand, but those old guys were pretty rough cobs back then.
    #8
    Jefff
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 09:00:26 (permalink)
    that's a big mud puppy!

    Practice CPR: Catch, Photo, Release 
    #9
    Amygirl
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 09:09:40 (permalink)
    Nice fish! I can't wait to get up there, that river is so pretty. Usually only go up there when I'm up at Cook forest.

    I don't eat catfish anymore. One day I caught one, it was the most fun I ever had catching a fish and when i held him, he started talking to me. I respected that fish, and I promised him i wouldn't hurt his kind ever again, but crappies ..well, those are fair game.
    #10
    anatikus
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 09:56:24 (permalink)
    you wouldnt believe the monsters ive found dead on the shore of Erie near elk creek...some were 2 to 3ft long.

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    #11
    dakota kid
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 10:16:50 (permalink)
    Hellbinders are considered endangered as far as I know, so I would recommend a strict catch and release. I bet they do make nice musky bait though.
    #12
    Snag_826
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 12:01:33 (permalink)
    i dont think thats a hellbender. Looks more like a reg ol' mud puppy. Hellbenders are usually waayyyy more wrinkled and flat looking.
    #13
    TastyTrout
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 12:12:33 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: Snag_826

    i dont think thats a hellbender. Looks more like a reg ol' mud puppy. Hellbenders are usually waayyyy more wrinkled and flat looking.


    I'd agree with you.

    Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths.
    Jimmy D Moore

    #14
    anatikus
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 13:32:58 (permalink)
    The monsters if found in Erie were hellbenders...they were much bigger, had rounded faces...and were much more wrinkley looking. As far as ive seen, mud puppies have frilly red gills...although the pic dosnt show it, id bet he did.
    post edited by anatikus - 2012/03/28 13:41:05

    fish heads fish heads rolly polly fish heads
    #15
    Dr. Trout
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 18:30:51 (permalink)
    I have been e-mailing a guy at DCNR who is doing study on hellbenders in the Clarion... he seems to agee that this is a mudpuppy NOT a hellbender . he states a mudpuppy and a hellbender are 2 different creatures...

    He did say he was happy to hear I safely returned both to the river after removing the hook...that most anglers just hit them against a rock or the ground until they come off the hook....

    here's what I caught further North in 2010..






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    #16
    guzzman
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 20:21:35 (permalink)
    good old waterdog...always used to take our chubs.caught many in neshannock and slippery rock creek.also at Utica.
    #17
    LDD
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/28 20:56:42 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: wirenut45

    true story: my dad(born 1896), cousin Tut(1898),&thier uncle Walt would take a horse ,n, buggyfrom New Bethlehem to Belltown on the CLARION R. &camp for up to 2 wks.stop at every farm looking for a dead calf(no roadkill then),put it & a stone in burlap bag &sink in river.levve over nite. next day ,pull in, open bag,open calf, have enough mudpuppies for muskie bait for whole trip. put m.p. under cork (yes real cork) float,and wait. dad said caught lots. this was abt. 1912,before Piney Dam ,musky made spawning run up cl. and resident pop. in river all yr.he said musky,s loved mudpuppies. maybe like walleyes ,n, leeches? personally, i,m not brave enough to handle one(mp)by hand, but those old guys were pretty rough cobs back then.

    That's a great story, thanks for sharing...
    #18
    wirenut45
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/29 08:18:50 (permalink)
    i see in the regs. online that BOTH the EASTERN HELLBENDER and MUDPUPPIES are protected and/or threatened ,so be sure to return them to water unharmed.just a heads up for all as i didn,t know this and don,t want anyone getting in trouble with law.(may also be fed. rule?)
    #19
    Dr. Trout
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/29 22:26:48 (permalink)
    The guy from DCNR has been telling me one reason for the study is that the water quality has to be very good for a good mudpuppy or hellbender population... so the fact I have caught a few has shown him new areas that the quality must be good.

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    #20
    thunderpole
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    RE: First Fish for 2012 - Clarion River = 2012/03/30 02:49:49 (permalink)
    Iv caught and or seen a bunch in shanango river there fiesty

    I'd rather be lucky then good,but im to good to be lucky
    #21
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