Conference wahoo::fishing

    Sure Don, I'll try and give you some info. Shiners come in all sizes.
    From about 3-4 inches to 8-10. Smaller size means smaller, or at
    least more smaller, fish. You fish them hooked through the lips,
    from underneath. Using a "big rod" and 20 lb line and a bobber hooked
    about 18 inches to 2 feet from the end of the line. Toss the shiner
    (minow) to the edge of the weeds and sit back and watch the bobber.
    Then get ready to "pull" the hawg out of there along with half the
    lake's weeds attached. Strong hookset and fast reaction is needed.
    Otherwise it will get into the weeds and you'll have to go wading
    to get it. Which you can, but watch for snakes:^(
    
    Stay off the weeds with the boat if you can, so as to give your
    self some fighting room between the boat and the weeds.
    
    Don't be afraid to use worms too. This will allow you to cover more
    territory. I happened to be down there this last week and didn't
    get out, but the reports in the paper say green and black w/green
    fire tail were taking big bass in the big lake. Should be about
    the same up north in Toho. Make sure to get the latest reports in
    the paper and from the docks.
    
    tight lines, Ron

    Don...
    
    Although I generally hook shiners thru the back (be careful not
    to hit the backbone), I also lip hook them if I'm using larger shiners
    in the 4-6" range.  In fact, this past weekend I saw a show on TV
    where they were fishing Lake Kissimee (sp?) and were lip hooking
    the shiners with weedless hooks.
    
    I agree with Ron re. heavy line.  If you tangle with a "double-digit"
    hawg...you're gonna have to horse it outa the weeds or else take
    a plunge in after it.  (Wanna borrow my scuba gear?)
    
    -Joe- 

    Re:0
    
    I can't suggest any good and reasonable taxidermists except for
    myself; however, it's just a hobby for me at this time.  If you
    land that trophy, and have a hard time finding someone, you're
    welcomed to come and see the fish I'm working on now.  I would
    do it for the cost of materials and a minimal amount for time. 
    
    What I really wish to offer is some suggestions for preserving that
    trophy prior to bringing it to a taxidermist or wildlife artist
    or better yet fish specialist.  First, when you catch that fish
    you would like to have mounted, kill it quickly and gently.  This
    will help keep the fish in good condition without it loosing more
    scales then it already has and preventing fin/tail damage.  The
    next step is to keep it from spoiling.  The simplest way is to
    immediately freeze the fish.  This is best done by placing the entire
    fish in a plastic bag and in a freezer just like freezing meat 
    at home.  Bring along a cooler full of ice for this purpose (sorry
    but the beer will have to downed!).  If freezing cannot take place
    immediately, there is another alternative to ensure the fish being
    kept in good shape.  This is to cover the fish entirely with salt.
    Pack it in salt in a plastic bag and keep it out of the sun.  When
    a freezer is available place the bag, salt, fish and all, as is,
    in the freezer.  The salt is not only one of the oldest methods
    of preserving food, but it will also help keep the original colors
    of the fish for the taxidermist.  Any clear closeup color pictures
    of the fish immediately after being caught would also help the
    painting.  This is for those who are really interested in having
    the fish done just as it looked out of the water.  This usually
    isn't a problem, but I'm a perfectionist in some ways.  This should
    make any taxidermist happy upon receiving the fish.
    
    Good luck to you Don and happy honeymoon...
    
    Steve

    I heer teel dat dere ar sum basses way up dere in Pennsulvanin(whot
    cha cal Chree Mile Island) dat are alreddy stif when oyu ketch dem!!
    
    An whots more dey glow in de dark too!!
    
    Mak a nice nite lite, huh??
    
    Coonass

    Now doncha ya go yakkin bout our pennsy dutch smallies.  Why there's
    fish in da suskie that bite at anyting dat come's close.  Momma
    and me fish dere lots (when we ain't feedin the chickens and da
    pigs and da cows) and we catch da fine smallies and da walleys and
    the big suskie muskies.  Come on down and catch one onct!!
    
    					Grandpa Jakey

    
    Thanks for all the tips! When I leave here this afternoon, I won't 
    be back until the 17th!  Hopefully I'll be able to use all of this 
    info to add something to the "REGISTER YOUR HAWGS" note!

    The time has come, the quest for the "Honeymoon Hawg" will soon begin!

    Later boys!
    
    Don Mac   
    
    

How embarassing... I only boated a three pounder.  

Monday night I called a local guide (Evan Brock) to see what he charged,
$150 like everyone else, I decided I still didn't wanted to spend that much
cash.... but I did manage to find out where he was fishing, so that I would
at least be heading in the right direction.  East Lake Toho was the place, but
it only had one fish camp that rented (small fiberglass rowboat, w/15hp)

I got up at 5am, dragged the new wife out of bed and was on the water around
6:30... I spent the first couple of hours on the perimeter of the lake, tossing
shiners into the tall weeds... nothing... but what was bothering me was that
I could hear bassboats BEHIND the weeds... I finally found an inlet and got into
HAWG country... by this time it a little later in the day and HOT...  and 
my dozen shiners were half gone...  I soon saw my baloon taking off into the
weeds, and pulled in a 3 pounder. I was soon down to 2 shiners, I had been using
2 rods, primarily my 7ft heavy duty spinning rod w/ 25lb test -- the other
rod, my baitcaster, I had been using to toss worms around, it only had 8lb
test on it, so I hadn't been throwing it in the weeds....  when I looked at
my 2 last shiners, they seemed on the way out, so I figured I'd use them 
both up... I thew one on the baitcaster, tossed it in the weeds, set the 
rod down... while I was baiting up the big rod, the wife said "Honey..."
Another balloon, zooming into the weeds behind a WAKE, I grabbed the rod,
wailed back on it, and there it was, my honeymoonm hawg, looked about 2 feet
long, jumped WAY up in the air and....SNAP...there goes my 8lb test.....
I have no excuse, if I was set on using that light line, I should have at least
set my drag lower....  the last shiner fell off the line while I was casting
it... it was hot,  we were out of bait,  we were on our honeymoon... we spent
the rest of the time bombing the little boat around the lake....  

oh well, I can't say I didn't have my chance....  maybe next time!

don mac

    OK...no hawg....so ELSE did you do?? (heh...heh)

    Don't say you weren't warned!!
    
    Tl, Ron

    re.8
    
    what else did I do???
    
    let's see... I saw Mickey Mouse.... 
    
    actually we spent about 1% of the time fishing,
    29% acting like foolish tourists
    30% sipping exotic drinks by/in the pool
    and the other 40%... use yor imagination 8^)
    
    don mac _who_had_a_HAWG_of_a_time_even_without_the_hawg_!

    Hook em thru the lips for casting. You may need a split shot about
    20 inches from your 1-0 hook.. Hook them the same way for trolling
    (troll slow). The bobber is by far the most exiting, vary the depth
    from just a few inches to a few feet until you find them. When using
    a bobber hook them under the spine right behind the dorsal fin (the
    top one). Remember BIG shiners = BIG BASS & little shiners = lots
    of fish. GO GET EM!!!
    
    			BUCKET MOUTH in MD.