Any interesting catches this winter?

Anyone have an unusual catch or a big fish story? Not much for me, I’m more into warm weather fishing. Although I did catch a nice rainbow trout through the ice a while back on Cenaiko Lake (by CR Dam). I still may go for eelpout up north. I hear the shad may be moving into the NSP plant discharge on the St. Croix. Lots of possibilities there although I never seem to have much luck. A few months ago my bro and I were there, and TONS of carp had moved in (some in the 20 pound range), many of them seemed dazed and partially dormant, they were just swimming back and forth in the shallows. Some had big lampreys attached to them as well, which seemed unusual. We managed to snag a few and tear them off of the fish, disgusting creatures with many rows of jagged teeth in their mouth. I heard they make good bait, anyone try using lampreys? We captured a few dying shad as well.

Carp Chaser, Nothing real out of the ordinary. I got a nice eelpout up on red lake. I have a little story, I was fishing with a friend and his dad for crappies up there when I had a northern hit. It felt like a nice size one. I got it to the bottom of the ice and then it felt like it got off. The next thing we knew was the my buddy’s dad was reeling it up through his hole. It had his jig deep in it mouth. So the Northern must have swiped at his rig too. It was about a seven pounder. I fought it for about 15mins and my buddy’s dad caught it! Other than that I caught some cats through the ice and that his been about it.Cyclone

Hey Carp Chaser, we caught a lot of nice trout in the metro area this winter. Also a few decent bass. Didn’t get to do much ice fishing for cats, but If the ice is still good I might try it this weekend. I’ve also got a couple open water cat spots that were producing lately. I might have to try that Bayport area for cats sometime soon. I’ve never fished cats there, but with that warm water discharge, they might really stack up in there along with everything else. That’s always a fun spot in early spring, especially for carp. Vern

CC! Long time no hear! Good to see ya back!

I caught a pike with a lamprey on it last June and I put it on a circle hook and towed it along. I had just finished fighting a fish when I noticed that rig had a good bend in the rod! So I went for it, started playing it but quickly lost whatever it was. I think some critter had it by the tail cuz as I was fighting, there was this little “pop” and then nothing. Everything came up fine………….except the lamprey. I’ll never know what had it, but something certainly wanted it! :O)

I have fished that bayport discharge for the last few years in the winter and the cats are few and far between in there. You would think there would be more in there with all the dying shad, but there just arent that many. The carp are always thick in there. A guy can really go to town with a can of corn. There are also quite a few white bass in there in the winter.

hey carp chaser how this catch.

Back in the spring i watched a mighty fine catch in the shallow edges of the illinois river it moved with such grace in the water.This kept me so intenceified for days.So i decided to go and see this great catch everyday to see just how i could hook such a mighty fine catch, so that i did on a rainy day on october 12th of 2001 i finally hook this great catch after many days and months of studing and enjoying the company of this catch. This catch of course is my wife the best fishing buddy i have had for years. Baits her own hooks sets and catches her own fish. Man fishing wont ever be the same thanks Lori (she reads this page everyday)

Cyclone, I’m afraid to ask, but what the heck is an eelpout?

One of the UGLIEST freshwater fish you’ll EVER encounter! LOL! I understand they make a good “Poor Man’s Lobster” and I’ve heard reference to them as “dogfish” as well. If you’ve ever been to Cabela’s in Owatanna, they have one or two in their tanks.

YES!…Kid, eelpout are really excellent eating fish.The reference to “poor mans Lobster” is the texture of thier meat..Its not flakey like most fish but firm like shrimp or lobster…as far as dog fish they are a completely different speceis than eelpout.( I’ve acullay served eelpout in many of the resturants I use to run….) a very fine eating fish when prepared properly!!!!!

<*}}}}}}.{ ****** SWANY

I wasn’t sure if they were actually the same as dogfish or not, so I mentioned I’d heard reference to that. Thanks for the clarification! Say, if I ever catch one of those critters, I’ll have to call on you for that recipe…………heck, after ya tried a Sheephead, everything else comes easy! LOL!

An eelpout is a intersting fish. It is actually a burbot. The name eelpout is just the common name. Beleive it or not but the eelpout is a relative to the cod. Swany where were the resturants that you served eelpout?

Yes, eelpout (aka burbot/freshwater cod) are different than bowfin (commonly known as dogfish). State record eelpout was caught last year from Lake of the Woods, 19 pounds. State record bowfin is just under 11 pounds, although they are known to get as big as 20 pounds. I caught a 7 pound bowfin last summer in the backwaters by the Red Wing dam… they put up an incredible explosive fight. You can find them in the same places as bass usually, they lie in shallow muddy water waiting to ambush prey, and will strike at pretty much anything you cast in front of them.

In the late eighties I was the chef at the Ground Round…The owner lived in Minneaapolis and came upon a distrubuter up there ….we used it on our fri night All you can eat fish…..Cheap!!….I aslo used it alot when i was the chef at Best wetern…carried it over from “the round” used it on my fri nite fish buffets and on Sunday brunches….Still a good buy…as there just doesn’t seem to be a market for them…I did my best to “educate” as many as i could….those that have eaten it …either had no clue…..or just didn’t relize that they were eatin “eelpout” as I always marketed it as fresh water Burbot……Selling is always in the name!!!!

SWANY…..<*}}}}}}}.{

I guess that next time that I want to hit up an all you can eat fish fry I better ask what I am eating. It really doesn’t matter though as long as it taste good it is fine to me.

Yep them dogfish are pretty fierce critters. I have caught many of them flippin jigs for largemouths. Always fun to try and get your jig out of one them sucker’s mouth’s! Them things got teeth!!!