drowning worms (fishing)

[redkow97]

I know the basics of fishing, because both of my grandfathers were way into it when I was a kid.  Both lived within walking distance of lakes, and I was out on the boat with them frequently.

 

...but it's been a long time since I've done anything more than drop a line off a dock.  I'll be on a lake in upstate NY for vacation in a couple of weeks, and I'm definitely buying a fishing license, but I'd like to catch something we can actually (legally) keep.

 

Any tips?  any must-have equipment?  I'm not going out and buying a new rod/reel combo, but my tackle box is long gone, so I'll need to purchase basic stuff, and I'd rather get stuff that works, while still acknowledging that it's all going back in the attic in September...

 

tips?  advice?

[Tpoppa]

Bring a cooler and lots of beer.   There is absolutely no excuse for fishing sober.

[redkow97]

Bring a cooler and lots of beer.   There is absolutely no excuse for fishing sober.

 

I'll be out on the water with my sister-in-law's boyfriend (I've known him since high school), and my friend George (he'll bring a full bar), and either George's brother-in-law, or his neighbor.  we won't be in any danger of being sober

 

In fact, we'll be on a pontoon boat, so what else is there to do besides fish and drink?  maybe grill?

[Tpoppa]

Is there a way to grill on the boat?  Grilling freshly caught fish while you're still on the boat would be pretty fantastic.  Assuming someone in your group knows how to filet them.

[JackFlash]

Make sure there are no boating laws about having alcohol

on board.  The water cops can get snotty about that.

Also, in Ohio, it's my understanding that you can't catch.

then eat the fish, on the water. 

The fish has to remain intact so that it can be

identified, so as to prevent fishing over the limit.

 

However, the sooner the fish goes from water to plate,

the better it's going to taste.  How to filet?  YouTube is

your friend.

 

Tackle?  I would explain the situation at my local outdoor

supply house and see what they suggest.  Unless one of

your buddies bring some gear for you to use, it's going

to be difficult to get a fish to offer itself up for your dinner.

 

Even though you are going to be on a "party barge", just

as we dress for the crash, and not the ride, dress for

falling into the water while drunk.  That means life vest.

They are cheap and they will keep you afloat.  With

alcohol present, there should be a designated boat pilot

that is not drinking. 

 

There will be required boat safety equipment.

Fire extinguisher, anchor, horn, etc.  Not having something

that the law requires can get you a fine.  A hat, sunscreen,

and mosquito repellant will all help to make your trip more

pleasant after the fact.  A lite jacket for evening boating

is a good idea.  There's always more breeze over water

than on land.  It may get a little cool at night.  And the

boat will need lights after dark.  Plus, you will need light to

see to fish after dark. 

 

Stay safe.  We don't want to read any sad stories about

your vacation. 

 

.

 

.

Edited July 30, 2014 by JackFlash

[Josh1234]

All I can really contribute to this is to make a playlist, haha.  Getting drunk and killing time is better with customized music, from what I understand.

[bowdog]

Where in NY are you going? I grew up there and was on 4th lake in the Adirondack mountains couple times a summer. Question i guess i would ask before giving advice is what are you fishing for?

[redkow97]

Lake of the Woods, in Theresa, NY.  It's small.  I have kayaked the length of it, and could swim the width of it in most parts.  Our friends have houses right on the tip of the Northeast portion of the lake.  I just verified that on the satellite view with Google maps. 

 

I have no idea what is in the lake, so i'm fishing for whatever bites.  My fillet skills are 20+ years rusty.  I figure I'll worry about catching something, then we'll figure out how to make it edible. 

Edited July 30, 2014 by redkow97

[C-bus]

Live bait, bobber, hooks, weights, swivels.... Can't go wrong. I hate lures.

[JackFlash]

Live bait...

 

Speaking of such, you may not be permitted to use

something, or any portion of something that you

catch, as bait, other than minnows.  So, use only

bait that is purchased.  Game wardens may be

about.

 

.

[redkow97]

I'll definitely be buying live bait.  Last time I was on this lake, I had to dig my own, and I could only find centipedes and other bugs.  They worked okay, but it was 3 hours of digging for bait, and less than an hour of fishing with it.

[ohiomike]

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/lkwoodmap.pdf

 

 

Good to check a contour map of an unfamiliar lake.

 

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/87687.html

 

 

Looks like it has some great fish-  "Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Atlantic Salmon, Lake Whitefish, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch"

 

I'd check with a couple of local bait shops for what kind of live bait to use for whichever kind of fish you want to catch. You can also ask where they tend to bite.  Most bait shops will let you know because they want you there buying stuff....lol.

 

I love to use artificial baits for pike, and bass.  Pike would take underwater lures (deep divers) and you would need to troll the lake.  Bass on the otherhand can be caught on topwater lures in the shallows early (dawn) or late at night (dusk) or even at night.  The trouts/salmon usually will require live bait, but you can still fish for them with pretty good success.

 

Worms will catch virtually any of the fish mentioned that are in the lake.

 

Big fish will need heavier gear and heavier line.  Panfish, lighter stuff.  Bass and pike are in the middle, medium action stuff.

 

Also, best to carry some large nail clippers, good for cutting line and clipping stuff off, a stringer, a good small flashlight, a small knife, a pair of long needlenose pliers, some first aid stuff (band aids, neosporin type stuff...), a good pair of  gloves, a hat, bug spray, sun burn stuff...cooler with sammies and drinks, and a good filet knife for fixin your catch up for fryin....I also started skinning my fish after fileting them, eliminated having to scale them, plus they taste better with the skin off, imho, although bluegills taste better with the skins on.

 

Like I said, talk to some of the bait shops local there and do some asking.  Usually they are more than helpful.

 

Last but not least, good luck!

[redkow97]

thanks for the links.  I printed a bunch of that stuff to bring with us.  I'll probably just leave it on the boat when we're done, but we can track where the fishing is decent on the lake that way too.  Then hopefully remember next year.

 

debating trailering the bike up, but the local roads look kind of shitty, and some probably aren't paved (which might actually be more fun...)  Not ideal conditions for the Tuna, but a little loose ground never hurt a 500 lbs. bike

[Bad324]

Rainbows and perch are some good eats!! My dad is a major fishermen and I used to go out with him as a kid but think it's also likely been almost 20 years since I've been out on Lake Erie fishing

Edited July 30, 2014 by Bad324

[C-bus]

IMO.... Best fish to eat are Perch, bluegill, crappie, rainbows... Perch the clear winner. The other three can be debated as to in which order they rank.

[Bad324]

I assume you mean of the freshwater variety? I need to try me some Bluegill then. We caught tons of them when we were kids but always tossed em back due to the location

[C-bus]

I assume you mean of the freshwater variety? I need to try me some Bluegill then. We caught tons of them when we were kids but always tossed em back due to the location

Freshwater.

Walleye is up there too.

Catch a bucket of bluegill, cut them up and pan fry them. You will thank me. They're almost sweet tasting.... Like butter.

[Bad324]

Freshwater.

Walleye is up there too.

Catch a bucket of bluegill, cut them up and pan fry them. You will thank me. They're almost sweet tasting.... Like butter.

I grew up eating nothing but walleye, perch and the occasional rainbow when my dad got em. The bluegill were always caught in the harbor of our yacht club which had a sewer drain thing that made it less than appetizing for anything in that particular harbor

[C-bus]

Double.... Too much to drink

Edited July 31, 2014 by C-bus

[ohiomike]

Freshwater.

Walleye is up there too.

Catch a bucket of bluegill, cut them up and pan fry them. You will thank me. They're almost sweet tasting.... Like butter.

For sure.....and bluegill are even better when caught through the ice.  If they are big enough we would cut out the cheeks, and if we had enough 'gills (we used to catch 50 or more if they we biting good) we could have a nice mess of cheeks which is like the prime rib of the fish.  That includes bass too.  We'd used the leftover egg (rolled the filets in egg before putting into the batter to panfry in butter) to mix with the cheek meat for a really great tasting treat.  Man this is making me hungry......lol

[OsuMj]

Salmon seem to like spoon lures, although maybe they are intended more for trolling (?), I don't see why they wouldn't work with casting. 

I would call a local bait shop near the lake and ask them whats hot right now as it seems to change a lot.  Those guys are like the nosy neighbors, they get all of the info about who is catching what, where, and with what bait.
 

[C-bus]

For sure.....and bluegill are even better when caught through the ice. If they are big enough we would cut out the cheeks, and if we had enough 'gills (we used to catch 50 or more if they we biting good) we could have a nice mess of cheeks which is like the prime rib of the fish. That includes bass too. We'd used the leftover egg (rolled the filets in egg before putting into the batter to panfry in butter) to mix with the cheek meat for a really great tasting treat. Man this is making me hungry......lol

Definitely.... The cheeks are phenomenal. Like the best scallops you've ever eaten.

[redkow97]

my fillet skills need a quick refresh...  Hopefully someone who owns one of the lake houses is in practice.  But they do more drinking than fishing.

[ohiomike]

Super sharp filet knife is essential.

[20thGix]

I'm going to assume there are bluegill to catch along with perch. Those would be the easiest/cheapest to gear up for and catch. Wax worms and bobbers for bluegill and emerald shiners for perch fished straight off the edge of your boat (perch jerkin).

Walleye you would need to troll or drift fish. Trolling does take some know how and alot more equipment. Drift fishing for them isn't so bad. Just float along letting the wind or current move you along. When drifting I like to run a bottom bouncer and worm harness on one pole and cast a hair jig or some type of blade type lure on the other.

With all that being said I have never fished in NY and the above applies to my time/experience on Lake Erie and lake Michigan. Ever though about taking a charter to fish?