Past and present fishing days.

Just firing up this thread for any fish talk or photos. Feel free to comment as needed no limits just keep it somewhat related to fishing. Fishing has been slow in our NW area, fished Shenango and it's tough fishing but the weather has been good. A Pymy hog caught and released a few years past. 

King from shore fishing Ontario

Laker from Niagara shore fishing

Anybody get any photos from on top Shenango Dam yesterday ? Wish I had known about the open house sooner would have snapped a few.

Those are some monster fish Hook

Shenango Lake ,  photos taken............while fishing
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Great story Tuna ! Sounds like you had the best of the best. Those were some trophy Eyes you took out in the day. Funny you mention that creek I took my son there many years ago after a tip from an old timer I worked with and we caught several very nice size Largemouth Bass. We too spent many day in the lower outflow and took out many legal size Walleye especially in the dark hours. Best day on the lake was with a friend and my son, we boated somewhere in the high eighties of Walleyes , most being undersize but talk about a lot of action! I had to buy my own boat after that trip . My best Walleye is a 9 lb.er I caught from shore at night up at Erie tossing Rap's. I don't count trolling Eyes where it's your turn, my turn, his turn.  
My son with a couple of Out flow Eyes............
 

the fishing pressure, imo, is lighter than the 70s.  i can remember when large flotillas could be seen at mosquito lake in ohio and pymy.  hundreds of boats, akin to the perch pack, drifting and trolling over eyes.
 
i may be wrong but i think the advent of modern electronics has really hit the fish populations hard.  back in the day, the only electronics were in the shape of the little green box.  we all carried maps with Xs and notes all over it.  we knew areas like the witches cap, the onion field, the red barn, etc and info was passed, not by cell phone, but by land phone or word of mouth.
 
though i don't fly fish much, i think that is why i appreciate those guys so much.  they know their terrain like we know our back yard.   no electronics involved.  if i ever get another boat, i'm not sure if i will have a fish finder aboard.  at least not in the beginning.  i'll rely on memory......or what is left of it.....lol

as for the good ole days, i remember fishing a small lake almost in opsman's backyard.  in the late 60s the bluegill we caught were so big that they'd cover a saucer.  slab-hogs.  pymy gave up crappie that had mouths like bass. i know they still get them there but there was little effort in finding them back then.  most didn't even want them, they were after the walleyes.
 
i may be wrong but it does seem that the channel cat fishing at pymy has become much better.  i've never kept one for the frying pan but have spent some summer evenings having a ball with them.  just a few evenings.  i don't want to tarnish my reputation...lol
 
 

Great thread guys:
I was a young kid back then but remember going with my dad and uncle to the stumps at linesville and my unc would just tie off to a stump when the wind was down and just drop over the side with minnies and worms and bang eyes. If no hits in 10 min move to the next stump and do the same. Back in those days the stumps were everywhere.
He also liked the orchard launch did well out there too for eyes. the rig was home made sinker on the bottom then loop a couple # 6 snelled hooks up the line toss it out and let the baby bounce on the bottom.
That creek behind the school in Linesville there were 2 old timers that were regulars there on that little concrete wall they'd sit all day with shiners under a bobber just waiting for the fish to come either out of the prop. area or back in to it.
The outflow at pymy used to be real good for eyes in the winter and spring like 20 years ago still get some now but not like the old days. I hadn't fished the outflow in a long time because of my career as a basketball official took up all that time but about 4 years ago I started to back off of that to free up some fishing time and it was the Sat. before buck season so nothing else to do so I'm going to the outflow to fish that evening. A few guys are there we catch a few small eyes. Everyone leaves but me and this other guy. So he's telling me that he does good there and its one of his favorite spots and all so we catch a few more shorties and go. I'm no dummy when someone tells me about a favorite spot so I go back the next morning and bang a 28 and 24 in. eyes and loose another big one. I actually posted pics in the old photo thread that Captain started.

rap..eat them cats..as good as the eyes....this post is funny...used to fish this lake 38 yrs ago w my dad....we could not catch an eye...this past year was the best I ever did w them.  not arguing w you guys its different for everyone...talked to a lot of amish over the last year...catching lots of eyes.....I asked them same question.....if lake has changed much over the years...some say the same...some say better..some say worse...I guess that's why they call it fishin..does not matter....if I knew I was going to  die in a week..i would want to be there...what a gem of a lake!

Ref , I got to laugh about those two old regulars you said fishing the wall of the creek because the day I took my son there that's exactly what we seen . Those guys had a couple of huge bass on their stringers and were drifting bobbers right in front of that wire. Like I said we never murdered the Walleye back in the 70's but we always got a couple decent keepers on most trips. In the 80's we had a blast catching big numbers of those 14"ers. steady all day on crawlers and minnows. But there was a stretch maybe the late 90's that I pretty much gave up on Pymy for a few years, it was dead ! I remember drifting for over four hours with three guys and two rods each and not one hit ! We put the boat on the trailer and headed straight to Presque Isle Bay and the boys had a blast catching loads of Smallies, Perch , Rock Bass , and just about everything else one could catch in the bay. That became our steady hangout for years . The action was just unreal especially for my younger son and his friends. The Bay spoiled us for a good many years. I've slowed down fishing on most of these areas but they all hold good memories. Fortunately I did take my share of photos to preserve these good moments in time .  

Pymy outflow /  Shenango River head water



The Bay was just a haven for a variety of fishing action in the 90's I'm sure it's still good fishing.

My kind of neighborhood in Erie......no grass to cut all Summer !

Believe it or not my favorite fishing is wading the rivers and shore lake wading. I've owned 3 boats and still have one I use but I really enjoy wading and casting. I still enjoy our local waters but the Great Lakes are a spoiler. Erie Smallmouth are a blast in the Spring time but so are the Steelhead that will soon be migrating up. I guess it's a calendar thing for me over the years. Spring... Erie Smallmouth, or Steelhead , or Shenango River Walleye , or Pymy Walleyes. Late Spring .....Pymy Musky, or Shenango Hybrid Stripers. Summer....local lakes for the mix, Walleye trolling Erie. Fall.....Steelhead, on Erie, and Ohio ,and Ontario, and Niagara River for Lakers, Steelies ,and Salmon. Winter.....stay home and keep warm I don't ice fish ! All fishing is good. I enjoy fishing for bigger sporting fish but catching a bunch of Bluegill with kids is fun in it's own way too!

Thanks, I remember we met up at Pymatuning a few years ago........Nice pics.......Like to hear more about that Mahoning River fishing. Shenango holds some nice Pike that's a good one.

Rap that's why I have a boat and still; I pay for it, the next day! :'-/

We having fun...... yet?????

I just got a new pair of lightweight wader / boots and man they are a bugger to get off and that was just in the house ! I got a light and heavy pair of waders with the boot already attached and they are much easier. My Dad never had a boat so we grew up basically wading lake shores and creeks so It's still in my blood.

Awwwwwwwwww geez Captain, I didn't need to hear stuff like that.  For crying out loud it's 'tuff-e-nuff' seeing threads about the catches on the big water and keepin' from heading 'North to Erie'! (sounds like a good theme for a movie or, maybe a song)
 
He Hee..... keep this under your hat, I just bought  some new gear at the advice of marco, who is giving me some excellent advice about 'tricks of trolling'.  Also, speaking with contractors regarding an addition to my 'man cave' which will have slightly bigger (3) bays with one of the doors a tad bigger(10').  The better half  is aware of the addition, just not the bigger bays and the one door.  I will be practicing; using the new gear, and techniques  (haven't tried the knot yet) recommended by marco, on Pymie, hoping the wife will catch some nice fish so all will be well, regarding the new gear (or any future purchases(just hope I tie that knot correctly)).  So,  already having the appropriate gear and now a place to store it, there should not be any excuses for getting a bigger boat!
 
Of course, should certain information be revealed, I shall deny, deny, deny any ideas about the garage or boat.  As for the new gear (or unreliable knot)..............  I'm blaming marco!!!
 
On a more serious note, thank you for taking the time to post the information Captain, I am taking your recommendations, along with that of others and, thinking about Erie next spring.  I will be taking a day or two in the near future, and visit the launch sights mentioned, so I may become familiar with the area.  Nothing irritates me more than following sum idgit towing a boat and not knowing where he's going (or doing).  After 'sailing the concrete oceans and asphalt seas', so many years, I've had my fill of those "ding dongs".
 
Til next time;
John
 
PS.  Does fishing Erie require a guy getting out of bed before 10:00 am?
PSS. No need for any words with those pictures, they tell their own story.