More Sheepies?

Are you catching more sheephead this year? It’s my impression that over the last 2-5 years I didn’t catch many sheephead. This year the numbers and size is up. I caught en on cranks, on spinnerbaits, on jig-n-pig flipping the banks, got them on the rocks and lots of fish in the 10 pound range. Has anyone else had the same observation?

I wonder if the change in zebra mussels population has something to do with it? It’s my understanding that the sheephead is one of a few fish that can eat Zebra’s. This could be false information, but I’m told they are equipped with crusher in their throat that can smash the shells. Has the decline in zebra’s brought the sheepies back to their old dinning habits?

Unlike some of us, I’m a sheephead fan. They hit like a freight train, have a great initial run and put up a brief, hard fight. One of the things I enjoy the most about the river is the element of surprise. You just don’t know what you’ll catch next.

Well, you have to hand it to the sheephead for keeping things ineresting at least!

Last I read, the sheepies weren’t the only species capable of eating zebes but were thought to be the only ones benefiting from their consumption of them. They hadn’t yet proven this, but there were indicators suggesting it.

A couple weeks back I had the pleasure of sharing some time in Steve Plantz’s boat. I managed to catch a sheeper that morning on a Rattletrap. It really inhaled the thing and the quick release was going to be difficult. The lure barely fit in it’s mouth and blocked needlenose access and the ability to lip the fish. I stuck my fingers in through the gill plate, realizing I was still in some danger of being hooked, but was really surprised when I felt pressure clamping down on my finger! It felt as though it could’ve pressed a lot harder but my guess is that the open mouth prevented the full bite. Anyway, it had a hold of me as much as I had a hold of it. I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life! The fish was about 4-5lbs big. I don’t know the species too well so I just brushed it off as one of those things I didn’t know about ’em. I should’ve said something to Steve and gotten his input.

Anyone else experience anything like this?

I don’t know what’s “normal” for sheepie numbers but I’ve been losing the farm feeding them crawlers lately. They sure are plentiful to say the least and although they do fight well, most that I’ve been catching are real small.

I’ve heard a lot of folks catch an awful lot of sheepies this year, but I don’t think that the population has exploded. On the other hand, I haven’t seen the die-off that is normal. Last year, at one point I counted about 30 5 pounders, all dead, in about a 1-mile stretch of Pepin on the Wisconsin side. This year, they seem to be staying offshore and are catchable.

One thing is true. As James says, they’re great sport. Just wish they were edible. And no comments, please. I ain’t eatin’ a sheepie.

Last I saw Mike, you WERE trying to eat one…………..but ya kinda skipped a couple REALLY important steps. I think you can guess which two so I’ll just sum up to say…………..they don’t make good sushi! Take it from someone who knows they ARE edible, if you avoid the sushi sample, that is! All it takes is some cajones to overcome the paradigm.

I’ve been catching a ton of sheepsheads this year.

Gator Hunter

The big bait stealer for me this year has been the incredible numbers of itty bitty channel cats. They’re like little jackhammers when they hit the bait. TAPTAPTAPTAP… gone. Takes about 1 second for one of them to get every last scrap of bait off the hook… darn things!

It’s tough to get a hook into them little fiddler cats. Sometimes it’s tougher to get the hook back out. I’ve had sore fingers many a trip from their spikes.

Gator Hunter