Conference wahoo::fishing

    I'm always ready for ice fishing. I think it would be great to get
    a bunch of fishermen to do some pike fishin. Mabee a Tourney????
    I did say pike, but bass and picks are on the list too. Where do
    you go? I spend quite a bit of time at Brimfield Res. 
    
    Rich

    Rich,
          I did fish Brimfield res. last year but didn't have much luck.
    I have fished for bass there in the summer also and usually landed
    a few. Man, I can smell the coffee and hotdogs cookin now on the
    ice. Can't wait. Will have to get a tourney at Brimfield to start
    off the year.
                                                         Bob

    Question please, how do you rig your tip up for trout? 
    hook size, leader test, depth, size of shiners ???????
    I do most of my fishing for bass, but some places I fish
    do have trout. I may put down on tilt just for trout.
    
    Anyone know where I can buy some native red fins?????
    
    thanks
    

    
    
    Re .2 Coffee and hotdogs?? Try steak and ale!!!
          I also take along the portable b/w television and loungechairs.
          That's what I call ruffing it!!
    
    Re .3 Note 528,tilt configuration, should answer your questions
          about setting up your tilts for all types of fish.

                                         
    
                                            Lindsay (The keg with legs)

    I see references to ice fishing for bass.  I'm curious if people
    who normally practice catch & release, keep their bass while 
    ice fishing, or release them?  
    
    Last year was the first time I tried ice fishing.  Went once for
    lakers on Newfound, and a few times for sea-run Smelt (mmmmmmm!) on 
    the Lamprey (boy are they good eat'n!).           
                                                      
    Seems to me that ice fishing and catch & release don't go together
    (although I guess there's no reason why they shouldn't).  
                      
    Anyway, I plan on doing a bunch of ice fishing for trout/salmon
    and smelt, and will eat all legal fish (if any!).  But... I have
    mixed feelings about ice fishing for bass... how bout you?
    
    Don Mac

In all my years of ice fishing, I've never been fortunate enough to catch a 
bass...lots of pickeral and yellow perch, though.  

Mostly, I get out on the ice to enjoy the great outdoors and Mother Nature 
in all her glory (if you recall...it usually either pours OR there's a 
N'Easter blowing when I go!)  Anyway...IF I happen to nail a bass (or two),
it will probably end up in the frying pan....but then...maybe not.

I usually release all bass I catch, and in fact, this year we didn't dine on 
bass at all.  They all went back in to get bigger for next year! (Except for 
Monomonac...I didn't get any there.)  BUT...given that the water is clear 
and cold and any bass coming thru the ice are bound to be good healthy 
specimans void of worms, I may just practice "CATCH 'N RELEASE INTO PAN" on 
a couple of 'em.

SO...I'm up for an ice tourney in NH.  Anyone else??  Although R/O won't 
reply, I know he's up for a day out on the ice.  

Hey Legend...if you fish an ice tourney, you won't have to suffer the 
embarrassment of a motor that won't start!  

-HSJ- 

    
    re .5
    if you intend on fishing in new hampshire you can count on not
    legally having salmon for supper, you may only fish from april 1
    to september 30.  ice fishing is PROHIBITED anytime for salmon.
    
    i am curious why you would not hesitate to kill a trout/salmon but
    feel bad about keeping a bass?  do bass taste that bad?  or trout that
    much better?                 
    
    regards....john
    

    Oh, I thought that I that Salmon were in the same group as 
    Lakers during Ice-in - 2 fish (lakers & salmon combined).  But,
    I haven't checked out the regulations... 
                        
    As far as releasing bass, taste has nothing to do with it.  If all
    serious bass anglers in New England kept their catch, it would
    probably take but one season to ruin most of the fishery around
    here.  But, with all the regulations, and stocking programs for 
    salmonoids, THEY can handle the pressure.
                    
    Don Mac, just my opinion
     
    

FYI...

During the winter, there's a F&G Warden that makes the rounds on Winnie and 
several of the other larger salmon lakes.  He is accompanied by a dog that 
has been trained to sniff out illegal salmon, ignoring lakers.  There was an 
article in the newspaper about him last year.

It seems that a couple of fisherman who attempted to hide their salmon in 
with lakers were so amused by the dog's ability to tell the difference that 
they didn't object that much to being fined.

So...if you've got a salmon or two that you shouldn't have and someone 
approaches you with a dog...

-HSJ-

    
    
            I always honor the catch and release method when ice fishing
            until I catch a HUGE fish!
    
    
                        Pike = over 40"
     
                        Bass = over 25"
    
                            
                For mounting purposes only!
    
    
    
                                                     Lindsay
    
      

    re .8   "but, with all the regulations, and stocking programs for
             for salmonoids, THEY can handle the pressure."
    
    that is exactly the point,  the reason for all the regulations
    and stocking programs is that too many kill their salmonoid catches.
    lake trout, other salmonoids and brook trout do not have the
    reproductive capacity that bass family members.  also the cold 
    water fish have lost much of the natural spawning grounds to dams,
    and pollution.  consider yourself luckly to have your fish be part
    of such a healthy population.  killing a bass for a snack from one
    of new hampshire's ba-zillion bass ponds has less impact than killing
    a lake trout from one of twenty-odd lakes.  better still don't kill
    either!  just enjoy the day and the people you are fishing with.
    
    regards.....john
    
    ps   don't forget your "all species fishing" license, nh fish and
    game caugth alot of warm water only "guys" with trout last winter.

        John, I can't argue that at all.  Your right.  After I entered 
        that reply, I reread it and thought, boy, does that sound
        hypocritical.  It sounds like I'm saying, "I support Catch and 
        Release, but just for my fish, the heck with yours!"  To tell
        you the truth, I was expecting to get chewed out, big time!
        
        Naturally, releasing all fish is the most conservational approach 
        to fishing.  It would improve the fishery, and therefore
        improve the fun of fishing.
        
        I didn't fish for salmonoids much this year (oh yea, I do have 
        an all species license), only a couple times.  I caught one 
        salmon, too small to keep, and one small brookie.  Of course I 
        release both of them.
        
        Who knows, maybe by this time next year, I'll be converted to
        catch and release them all.  But for this winter, I'm still
        looking forward to tasting lake trout.
        
        Signed, The Hypocrite 

    i don't think your hypocrite, all you need to do is apply your logic
    to all game fish not just bass(i think your through that knot hole
    though).  also don't get me wrong i enjoy a nice meal of brook trout
    too!  but what i don't do is kill my limit of fish and stuff them
    in the freezer just to throw them out a year later because they
    have freezer burn.  i have been on some remote trout ponds and caught
    12 to 15 fish an hour, if i limit out that's 30 minutes of fishing
    and i didn't drive 160 miles one way to do that!  i have a simple
    set of rules for myself: always let the first fish of the day go
    (for good luck), don't keep any fish other than brook trout, when
    leasing any fish treat it with respect(even bass), don't keep females
    in the fall, don't ever keep more than two fish per day(unless i have 
    company), never freeze a fish.  i hope this does not sound too much 
    like preaching, but i do believe it, and try to practice it.
    
    regards.....john
     

    Not to drag this out but... That logic is already in place.  Although
    I'm hoping to eat some trout, I'd *never* keep more than I would
    use, for any species.
    
    Anyway, I'd like to hear what others think about this as well. 
           
    Don Mac

    I release all but the spring trout.  When the stocking happens they
    go real quick, acouple of weeks after the ponds and streams in Ma.
    are stocked it is next to impossible to catch trout.  I figure that
    my fees for a license is for the few trout meals the wife and I
    enjoy.  I got a smoker this spring waiting for the rainbows and
    browns.  Besides 6-8 trout a year I release everythig, but should
    a nice trophy end up on the end of my line it will go over my bar.
    
    The only trophies I am waiting for is 40" or 20lbs. on PIKE
    or 8Lb BASS.   
    
    Oh I forgot all pickeral I catch through the ice go to feeding the
    seagulls, if I put them back they just go for the next shiner and
    I am out of bait before I know it.
    
    Les
    

    Les, don't forget, most states have minimun size limits on pic.
    The F. & G. officer may not take too kindly to a bunch of shorts
    lying around the ice.  Good luck on the 8 lb. bass.
    

    Re:7
    	The taking of sea-run (Coho) salmon is legal in N.H. through the 
    ice from Dec. 1 - Mar. 31. Also, there are no length restrictions at
    this time. See the 1987 rules, page 15, upper left hand side of page
    under Fis 603.03, paragraph f.
    
    	RAYJ

        For those of you interested in ice fishin, Keep you eyes in
     FIELD & STREAM for an add by NEW ENGLAND BASS ANGLING ASSN.
     on upcoming Tournaments.
    
        IF for any reason it doesn't show up in FIELD & STREAM, Here
     are the dates & place..........................................
    
    #1 JAN. 9th  AT HORN POND -IN WOBURN MA.
    
    #2 JAN. 23rd AT CRYSTAL LAKE -IN NORTH CHELMSFORD
    
    #3 FEB. 13th AT KNOPP POND -IN GROTON 
    
    #4 FEB. 27th AT A-1 SITE -IN WESTBOROUGH
    
    If you need any more info you can call.......
    JACK BRICKLEY @DTN- 248-4161 12:pm-9:pm  OR TOM CLEMENT @236-2537

    Les, I couldn't help but respond to your ice fishing tactics in
    feeding all pickerel caught to the seagulls.  Most fishermen enjoy
    catching fish when they go out.  On the days when the bass fishing
    is slow I enjoy hooking into a good size pickerel that puts up a
    great fight.  This helps to pass the time when the bass aren't biting.
    I think spending another $1.50 for an extra dozen shiners is alot
    better than unneccessarily killing fish.  Besides if the bass aren't
    biting the day you go and there aren't any pickerel left your shiners
    are going to go belly up anyway.  If the fish you catch aren't legal
    and you aren't going to eat them let them go....thanks.
    
    
    Joe
    
    

    I've read articles that reccommend removing ALL pickeral from bass
    waters -- even if they're to be used as fertilizer.  Resoning being
    that they can easily 'take over' a body of water where the bass fishery
    is already poor.  They are much more aggressive feeders competing
    for the same food supply, and they are less prone to winterkill.
    It's easy for them to take over a lake, *especially* when people are 
    keeping bass for food or show, and releasing pickeral.  
                     
    Myself, I don't think I have ever killed a pickeral (unless I've
    kept it for food) -- but after reading some articles, I've been
    tempted too.  I was planning on keeping all pickeral for food last
    year, but I just didn't get around to it.  They *are* good eating,
    a bit on the bony side, but there's a way to cut them up to get
    around that.  Don Mac

    Just remember the seagulls have to eat too...  so leave a few of
    those pickeral on the ice for them.. Nothing worse than a nice 5lbs
    with a big old scare on his tail!!
    

    
    
    Bassin Boob is sniffin Berkely Strike again.......
    
    What the hell is "Nothin worse than a nice 5# with a big old scare
    on his tail"?
    
    

    set mode/unscramble bass_breath
    
    I think he's trying to say that it's a shame to see a 5lb bass with
    wounds from being attacked by pickeral, and pike...
    
    donmac

    Don't get me wrong I dont feed all the pickeral I catch,  There
    are a few ponds I fish that are dirty with them, you can catch
    20-30 in the morning with no problem, on day we had five on the
    lines before we had the 7th tilt in ( there were 3 of us).  The
    place is in R.I. near the bay and the seaguls enjoyed the meal.
    Usually I throw them back in the hole.  I have heard that they can
    take over a pond, This pond in R.I. proves it.    
         Oh BTW I walked on Quaboag this weekend, I'd say there was
    just about 2" of ice,  Almost ready.
    
    Les

re: .15
<    I release all but the spring trout.  When the stocking happens they
<    go real quick, acouple of weeks after the ponds and streams in Ma.
<    are stocked it is next to impossible to catch trout. 

	I don't know about you, but trout fishing lasts 2 to 3
	*months* for me, from April to May, in Mass.  South Pond
	was amazing last spring... Me and my friend caught over 50
	browns and rainbows between us there, a record breaking spring!
	
	Good to hear about Quabog starting to freeze.  I can't wait!
	

    re: .25
    
    You mentioned South Pond for Spring trout.  Where is it located?
    I'm looking for some new places to try this spring.  Your right
    about the length of time for spring trout in Mass.  I fish as soon
    as ice is out and usually catch trout until Memorial Day weekend.
    Then I switch to bass for the rest of the year.  
    
    
    Joe
    
    

WELL....Yesterday I went out ice fishing for the first time this year! (if 
you can call it that!)

I ventured out on the beaver pond next to my house to test the ice.  I 
drilled a hole and there was 6-7" of ice!!  So I quickly ran back up to the 
house to get my jigging rod, tied on a Swedish Pimple and promptly hauled 
out a couple of small pickeral.  Boy!  Did it feel good!

Hopefully, with a few more cold nights like we've had the past few days, 
I'll be heading out New Year's weekend to my favorite honeyhole to do some 
SERIOUS ice-fishing.  As long as we've got a good solid 4-5" on the pond, 
I'll be there!

How's the ice conditions in Mass??

-HSJ-     
    

    Wall, de leaves don started fallin off de trees an cher in Texas
    all de fishermons don start talkin bout goin fo de 20# bass. Me,
    I red in de Dallas paper a lis of de mos biggest wuns:
    
    1.	17-10 3/4	11-86
    2.	16-14 1/2	2-86
    3.	16-9		5-87
    4.	15-8 1/2	4-87
    5.	15-8		2-81
    6.	15-3 3/4	12-83
    7.	15-2		4-86
    8.	14-10		3-86
    9.	14-6 3/4	3-86
    10.	14-6 1/2	3-86
    11.	14-5		1-81
    12.	14-3 1/2	3-87
    13.	14-3 1/4	2-80
    14.	14-1 1/2	2-84
    15.	14-1		1-84
    	14-1		5-85
    17.	13-15		6-86
    18.	13-13		2-86
    	13-13		3-86
    20.	13-12		10-85
    21.	13-11 1/2	9-86
    22.	13-10 1/2	8-86
    23.	13-10		10-86
    24.	13-9 1/2	1-87
    25.	13-9		7-84
    	13-9		3-87
    27.	13-8 1/2	5-87
    28.	13-8		1-43
    	13-8		3-86
    	13-8		3-86
    	13-8		3-86
    
    Notis mos ob dem wuz caught in de winter(Oktober-March) an mos wuz
    most recent(86-87). Dats why dey tink dat dey gonna ketch de 20#
    wun dis year.
    
    Anywun wanna com down cheer an do it??? Ole Coonass gonna ry, but
    mebb he not as crazy as dem Texyuns who go out dere an fish in dat
    cold weather!! Dey ketch dem deep wit dem crankerbaits an bucktails.
    Dey tell me dat dis are de bes tim fo de striperbass too, but me,
    I don fish fo dem..

    Oh yea, mos forgot to tell y'all dat wuz Ole Coonass dat wuz talkin!!
    
    Coonass

re: < Note 534.26 by NIMBUS::LESICA >
	<    You mentioned South Pond for Spring trout.  Where is it located?

    Joe,

	South Pond is in [North] Brookfield.  It is adjacent to Quabog Pond,
	also in No. Brookfield.  South Pond and Quabog are connected via
	a channel.   If the trout aren't biting at South, you can go up the 
	short channel and go for Pike in Quabog, which is a pretty wild 
	combination!

	The Browns were there for the taking last spring.  I had my best
	trout luck ever there.  Only one lure is needed:  black tailed
	rooster tail w/ gold spoon and off-white cricket body.  Better
	by 'em in the early spring because they go real fast.
	Guaranteed, so to speak.
    

	Ken_who_still_hasnt_caught_a_pike_yet.
    

    Thanks for the info Ken.... I might give it a try this spring even
    though it would be an hour drive for me.  The past few springs I've
    fished Hopkinton res. with some good results.  Last year wasn't
    that good there but the year before they were jumping in the boat.
    Spinners seemed to be the best bet (Mepps, Rooster tail etc.)  I'll
    be looking for trout as soon as the ice goes.
    
    Joe
    
    

    Quagoag has 4 inches of ice on it has of New Years Eve.  I didnt
    get to fish my favorite spot (due to thin ice) but I did get out
    Sorry to say no fish came through the holes, got some flags though!!
    It was great going out.   See you on the ice this saturday!!!!
    
    Les

    I went out Friday in Lunenburg, MA. (5 inches of ice) and yesterday
    in Lancaster, Ma. (4 inches of ice).  I caught numerous largemouth
    on both days, three were over 12", but no hawgs.  Seems like I had
    all the luck in my group, but then again, I was the only one using
    fish scent (Berkley Strike).  I'm now a believer, it works!
    
    Brian
    

    
    
    Hey Les
    
    The big "D" taeels me he caught 10 BASS and assorted others at Webster
    last Sat.  4" of ICE.
    
    I believe the 4" but will never believe he can catch a fish.

    TBDW,
           The big "D" couldn't catch 4" of ice!!!!!
    
       his catch looked like a striped cat!!!!!
    
    
    Les
    
    So did mine, oh well better luck this Saturday,  wanna go??

    RE .18
    
       THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN OUR TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE.  THE CHANGE
    IS LISTED BELOW:
    
    
    
    FEB. 27 TH AT THE  A-1 SITE IN WESTBOROUGH HAS BEEN CHANGED TO FEB.
    27TH AT FLINTS POND IN TYNGSBORO MASS.
    
    IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CONTACT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:
    
    JACK BRICKLEY   DTN 248-4161   HOME 251-7164
    
    OR
    
    KEVIN POMEROY   DTN 248-4161   HOME 275-8588

    
    
               Re. Killing pickeral for seagull food.
    
            If you are having trouble with pickeral taking your bait
            all the time then do what I do and you will probably see
            there are only 5-10 pickeral chowing your bait.
    
            Build a live well on the ice and put your pickeral in there.
            Sooner or later the action will stop because you have all the
            pickeral that are taking your bait in the livewell.Afterwards
            put them back down a hole in the ice for someone else to catch.
            As long as you are putting pics back they will keep taking
            bait until they have had enough.
    
    
                                              The Keg