Fishing

I think you missed the joke. he he

i just read the entire thread and wow i am pumped, fish, coyote, bunnies, and bad guys, and a bottle of whyskey and i wouldnt miss it...

  I didn't miss the joke. That's what the (wink) was for. I called the DWR last year to see what the state record was and I got the run around and a never returned phone call. I got a good laugh out of it.
I'm going with that guy!


WaveFishing.Com

By the number of responses to this post I would think you guys are wishing for warmer days and open water! Focus people, its ice fishing season

I had some ongoing interaction with a couple of the DWR people last year on the tilapia and on Blue Lake in general. As I recall, they were initially unaware of the proliferation of tilapia. They "had heard" there were some in there, but had not conducted any net samplings or even visited the lakes to observe angler catches. In short, no real interest in managing the lakes. When shown pictures of tilapia being taken they were surprised at the sizes and the apparent numbers of those fish in the lakes.

DWR knows enough about tilapia, and their aggressive nest raiding behavior, to know that they constitute a threat to the bass and bluegill population. But, since they do not "manage" those waters, they do not plan to conduct any kind of eradication program.

There are many waters in California and Arizona warm enough to sustain tilapia, and where they coexist with other species. They seem to be a mixed blessing. Their your provide good forage for other predatory species...like bass, catfish, etc....but they in turn take a big toll on the eggs in the nests of those species during the spawn. That keeps the numbers of both species in check, reducing the incidence of overpopulation and stunting.

Tilapia are primariy herbiborous...plant eaters. But, they also dine on insects, minnows, worms and just about anything else at times. Where they reach any size, they are often caught on artificial lures and flies. They provide a good "exotic" fishery wherever they are found and often have a following that targets them specifically. They are fun to catch and great eating.

As has been suggested, the best way to catch them is with a piece of nightcrawler...nothing fancy. However, some of the bigger fish to have been caught in the large lake at Blue Lake have been taken on small "bait bug" jigs with a tiny piece of worm for sweetener...while fishing for bluegills.

There are no size or quantity restrictions on the tilapia out there. And, like perch, there is no way fishermen can ever fish them out of any water they are in. So, catch all you can and keep all you catch. It will help the bluegills and bass and it will provide some darned good eating too.

Tilapia have a simple bony structure and fillet easily. They have a very firm white flesh, with a mild taste. You can cook them any way you like fish and they taste great. They are especially good steamed in beer and then dipped in garlic butter. Better than shrimp or crab.

Hey John,

If we find ourselves involvd in a little hand to hand combat with these bad guys, Your Knife weilding experience in close quarters will be a bonus for you!


Lets do it!


Live like you were dieing!
Today is a gift, Tomorrow a dream!
Rocky Mountain Tackle/ Radical Glow mountain West Factory Rep

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LOL dont drink to much whiskey we need some good snipers




FS36

Nothing like a little western style vigilante justice! You guys do realize that if you do go out there and do run into trouble, it will be seen as premeditated. Maybe stop and think about all the fish you won't be catching in prison. Or at least remember to bring a back hoe.

nothing like fresh bait. I most have missed the wink sorry. Then if we dont use all the bait it would be good catfishing bait. hehehe

Accuracy by volume, i will just bring the M-4 clone and a few extra 30rd magazines.



"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day."...Anonymous

your float tube looks big enough for someone to sniper behind. If that makes sense. I think this is my first time having so many people talk on my forum.

Don't get a big head over it. When everybody is stuck inside because of the weather it doesn't take much to keep them amused on the board.

Ever hear the saying that "The number of people who show up at your funeral will depend upon the weather"?

Seriously, Blue Lake is a good topic and we haven't had much chatter about it. It is a "sleeper" little spot for folks to hit when the water is frozen elsewhere. The main downside these days is the long drive and high gas prices. The nasty dirt road going in and the potential for vehicle burglary have also been deterrents during the last year.

By carpooling and making it a group thing, we should be able to harvest some tilapia and exercise some bass and bluegills. If we can time the weather right, it will be a fun trip.

Thanks for starting the thread and providing some fantasy recreation for some of us diehards.

sorry it looked like i had a big head tryed not to do that. Just never had that big of a reply on a post. I have only been there once with garabageman. It will be fun. pineviewfisher

You starting this tread has got the word out about all the burglarys out there so that is good




FS36

I wonder if they make a car alarm that sounds like machine guns and gernades with smoke coming from the bottom of the car? That would but some s@#t in some ones pants. hehehe

Down in Arizona one of the car shops advertises a car alarm that sounds like buzzing rattlesnakes. Don't know how well it would work at Blue Lake but it would sure slow ME down if I heard that noise.

I have been meaning to try my new LOOOOOONG Range Armadillo gun out. Perhaps I will join in on the raindeer games.
Just in case they manage to drag themselves back to a vehicle of course!
Team RMT

  I'll be sure to stay on your good side .
It seems a little off topic but does anybody know when the bass spawn at Blue Lake? I've seen beds in the sand but never a fish near them.


WaveFishing.Com

  Forget the gun, I'm bringin' my pocket knife! It's about time you realize how dangerous I am (to myself!). I have an extra toon.


WaveFishing.Com

cool, i will take you up on it.


Live like you were dieing!
Today is a gift, Tomorrow a dream!
Rocky Mountain Tackle/ Radical Glow mountain West Factory Rep

<>< <><
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<>< <><

There are two basic triggers to bass spawning. First is temperature...and that stays above the bass' preferred range of 65 degrees all year. The second is hours of daylight. That seems to kick in during February most years.

Some of the nests you see are probably tilapia nests. They can and will spawn just about any time of year in the warm water. That is one of the reasons they are able to compete so well against the bass. They raid the nests when bass spawn, but guard their own with a vengeance and protect their young for a time after spawning. Divers tell of big tilapia whacking the heck out of them if they come too close to a nest.

I wonder if noodling might not be effective then.... if you find some nesting tilapia with good size. Dive down, wiggle a pinky and grab yourself a swimming filet.

When I grow up, I want to be like Leaky.

In a strange quirk of fate, noodling is illegal in Utah...but I think spearfishing is okay there. Tilapia are not listed as either a gamefish or a protected species. Of course, neither are divers. Not sure what the limit on divers is.

For what it is worth, I heard a story about one diver who lured tilapia in with bits of crawler and then used a short ice fishing rod with a hook (underwater) to catch them. Feeding the fish is legal. Chumming is not.

All this legal vs illegal stuff makes my brain ache.

  Hey Riley! I thought you dropped off the planet. Should have known this Blue Lake topic would bring you out. What is the picture of in your avatar?


WaveFishing.Com

Green Wing Teal drakes




LDS BFT at its finest!
What a joke!