Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-29T14:47:19ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingstonhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2192384473?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topic/listForContributor?groupUrl=the-big-and-ugly&user=2gso43t7y3i15&feed=yes&xn_auth=noBOWFIN LOVERStag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-03-18:2036984:Topic:4869272014-03-18T00:11:22.699ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingston
<p>Since it must be Bowfin Monday, I just thought I'd offer this to any of our BBG members who have ever caught or photographed the powerful bowfin. Southern boys and mid-westerners alike, show us your bowfin!<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059843466?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059843466?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> My personal best at 30-inches from the tidal James in Virginia...just made the citation minimum. This was actually my best fish of this particular trip. Powerful…</p>
<p>Since it must be Bowfin Monday, I just thought I'd offer this to any of our BBG members who have ever caught or photographed the powerful bowfin. Southern boys and mid-westerners alike, show us your bowfin!<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059843466?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059843466?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>My personal best at 30-inches from the tidal James in Virginia...just made the citation minimum. This was actually my best fish of this particular trip. Powerful fish!</p> Channel Cats in Pondstag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2013-10-17:2036984:Topic:4425452013-10-17T00:16:50.169ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingston
<p>We have had a very good week with pond cats, and largemouths, locally. Pond catties are available to us in about 8 different small bodies of water, both public and private. We have been getting them mostly on imitation crab meat below bobbers. All these from this past week are from 24 to 30 inches and are public water catches. Just a nice change of pace from other species, and October is a great month for them.…</p>
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<p>We have had a very good week with pond cats, and largemouths, locally. Pond catties are available to us in about 8 different small bodies of water, both public and private. We have been getting them mostly on imitation crab meat below bobbers. All these from this past week are from 24 to 30 inches and are public water catches. Just a nice change of pace from other species, and October is a great month for them.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059844894?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059844894?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>Matt with a really nice one.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059845119?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059845119?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>Got this one today...right at 30 inches.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059845225?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059845225?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>Yet another lean cattie.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059845981?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059845981?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>Matt with an 8 plus pounder...fine fish!</p>
<p>Catfishing can be great through the fall, guys! Give it a shot if you have some near you!</p> Blue Cats from the James and Potomactag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2013-03-28:2036984:Topic:3678792013-03-28T21:36:15.355ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingston
<p>I am hoping to try for some blues on the tidal Potomac this Monday...Hope to tangle with some of the big cats, like these from previous trips...</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059838449?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059838449?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> The fish above is my personal best at 58 pounds from the James</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059840632?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059840632?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> Matt with a long 53 pounder he caught…</p>
<p>I am hoping to try for some blues on the tidal Potomac this Monday...Hope to tangle with some of the big cats, like these from previous trips...</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059838449?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059838449?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>The fish above is my personal best at 58 pounds from the James</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059840632?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059840632?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>Matt with a long 53 pounder he caught on a live sunfish.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059841550?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059841550?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>Matt and I wrestle with a 44 and a 53 pounder in what was a sensational 'double' in skinny, clear water on the James. Trophy blue catfishing is alive and well despite the management issues and concerns of overpopulation and lack of harvest by both recreational anglers and commercial fisheries on both the James and the Potomac. Check out my overview of these world-class fisheries in the 2013 In Fisherman Catfish Guide, due out in June, '13.</p> Well, well, well...look what the fly drug in!tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-07-28:2036984:Topic:2954092012-07-28T17:18:52.005ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingston
<p>Fishing slow and deep for a big gill and connected with Mr. Whiskers.<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059836535?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059836535?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p>Fishing slow and deep for a big gill and connected with Mr. Whiskers.<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059836535?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059836535?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p> Potomac River Blue Catstag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-07-16:2036984:Topic:2919702012-07-16T21:50:07.758ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingston
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059836392?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059836392?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> Got to do a little catfishing with my buddy Patrick today. We fished the Potomac River near Ft. Washington from 7 to about 10:30 am, totaling 14 cats on various cut bait options. Most of our fish ran from 3 to 5 pounds, which is very small, yet abundant in the tidal Potomac. Some of you may not know that this waterway is among the top blue cat fisheries in the nation, with…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059836392?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059836392?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>Got to do a little catfishing with my buddy Patrick today. We fished the Potomac River near Ft. Washington from 7 to about 10:30 am, totaling 14 cats on various cut bait options. Most of our fish ran from 3 to 5 pounds, which is very small, yet abundant in the tidal Potomac. Some of you may not know that this waterway is among the top blue cat fisheries in the nation, with high numbers of 20 to 40 pounders decked every year, and a new Maryland record of 80 pounds 12 ozs. this past February. We kept it simple with cut bait on 8/0 hooks and 6 ounce in-line flat sinkers to keep us down in the strong tidal currents.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059836737?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059836737?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>Top cat of the day was Patricks' new personal best of 27 pounds...a great fight!</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059837032?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059837032?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>This fishery was featured in last months In-Fisherman and I did a research piece on the tidal Potomac blue cat gig in the 2009 In Fisherman Catfish Guide. This is a great, 'big-fish' option for many anglers in the Mid Atlantic region, along with Virginia's James River. The Potomac is overlooked and underfished for blues...might want to give it a try!</p>
<p></p> Winter Carpin'tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-02-01:2036984:Topic:2376622012-02-01T00:57:09.064ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingston
<p>Well, the temps shot up to 60 today, but it was very windy. I decided to fish for carp and just relax outside on the lawn chair, shootin the breeze with myself. Did the carp gig in an area we have been chumming and I got one run...and one very nice fish of 38 inches, but noticeably light in weight. Compared to the 38 incher that Bruce posted, this fish was a lightweight, but still likely over 20 pounds.</p>
<p>I think if the fish was heavy it might have been my first 30 lber. I always seem…</p>
<p>Well, the temps shot up to 60 today, but it was very windy. I decided to fish for carp and just relax outside on the lawn chair, shootin the breeze with myself. Did the carp gig in an area we have been chumming and I got one run...and one very nice fish of 38 inches, but noticeably light in weight. Compared to the 38 incher that Bruce posted, this fish was a lightweight, but still likely over 20 pounds.</p>
<p>I think if the fish was heavy it might have been my first 30 lber. I always seem to get the skinny fish! But I am still tickled. Caught 'em on a small chunk of dried pineapple with a packbait made from oatmeal, pineapple chunks and cinimmon apple oatmeal.</p>
<p>The fish came in farely quick, then realized something was not right as I was about to beach it, then took off on several runs before calming down. This fish now becomes my largest freshwater catch for January. <a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059834310?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2059834310?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p> The big and ugly fired up bait recipetag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-01-27:2036984:Topic:2361572012-01-27T00:31:52.061ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingston
<p>Okay, recipes time. I made these in the past, tested them out in the SoCal waters, from the mountainous waters to the valley's lakes. Hope the recipes will work out for you guys. Oh, don't forget to post yours for comparison. I will update mine with your ingredients if you allow me to:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>YAP CHEESE RECIPE</strong></span></p>
<p>I took the Yap Cheese For Fishing recipe that I found back in early 1990s, and experiment with my own…</p>
<p>Okay, recipes time. I made these in the past, tested them out in the SoCal waters, from the mountainous waters to the valley's lakes. Hope the recipes will work out for you guys. Oh, don't forget to post yours for comparison. I will update mine with your ingredients if you allow me to:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>YAP CHEESE RECIPE</strong></span></p>
<p>I took the Yap Cheese For Fishing recipe that I found back in early 1990s, and experiment with my own concoctions, and readapted the recipes based on the water's and the fishes being tossed into the lake. You have to experiment each water body, based on the nutrients content, salinity (salt), plants/weeds due to the nutrients, and of course the fishes themselves.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here's an example of Lake Gregory, Big Bear Lake, Silverwood Lake, Lake Perris:<br/></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Lake Gregory, Big Bear Lake, and Silverwood Lake have moderate nutrient levels contributed by the local forest floor, irrigation fertilizers, producing light salinity due to the evaporation and minimal input of water during summer months. Since the fishes are pretty much exposed to light salty content already, you have to increase the content of the salt even higher to deliver the content of your bait into the water even faster and higher. So here's the bait's ratio I came up with..<br/> <br/>
1/4 oz Velvetta cheese<br/>
1 cup of powdered garlic (chunky dried form is fine too)<br/>
1/4 cups of sea salt, or just basic salt. DO NOT USE IODIZED SALT!<br/>
1 to 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil<br/>
1/2 cup of either dried shrimp/krill or dried anchovies (not both)</p>
<p>1 cup of corn flour/corn meal/masa flour on the side for thickening.<br/> <br/>
OR<br/>
<br/>
instead of 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, switch it out with 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of sardine oil from the can, and take one sardine and mash it into the ingredient. Mix the sardine with dried anchovies. If you're using krill, stick with the olive oil.<br/>
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Put all the dried ingredients together, and blend/stirred until evenly mixed. Mash the wet ingredient together in a dough mixer or use your hands to really grind the mesh of ingredients together.<br/>
<br/>
Once well blended, you can add a bit of cornmeal, small pinchful at a time, until the bait becomes nice and mold-able. Toss a bit of a compacted ball into a bowl of water, and see how well the bait holds together. The Velvetta cheese will hold things very well together. Let the ingredient sit in the fridge a day or two before heading out if you want. If you have left over, shove it into the freezer. Let it thaws out overnight before using. If you can find the seaweed agar powder, mix 1 cup of hot water to 2 cups of agar and stir like crazy. Let it cool down a bit until it forms a gel like material. Mix it into the existing cheese bait. If you wish, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil into the mix, and you've increase the oil saturation level even more. The oil will linger in the water like no one's business. The cats will hunt that bait down like it's a freaking hot nuke. Use drop shot rig with two hooks on a " to 48" leader, depending on the water's dept. Can't go wrong.</p>
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<p>Lake Perris, Diamond Valley Lake, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Valley Lake, etc., they are much saltier than the mountain's lakes, due salty water being transported to the valley via the aqueducts. And with the local urbanization around the lake, higher level of nutrients being loaded into the water, causing the salinity to go even higher than normal. So, instead of 1/4 cup of salt, try with 1/4 cup of salt first, and if needed, add at a rate of 1/8 cup of salt on top of the 1/4 cup of existing. You may be adding as much as 1/2 cup and towards 3/4 cup as time goes by. The more salt you add, you need to increase the total oil by 1tspn each time to increase the dispersion rate of the salt in the water.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good luck, and report in.</p>