Fishing..

[Steve M]

Anyone here get into fishing? If so whats your fav way to fish?
I prefer trolling with down riggers and lures. I usually get out 2 or 3 times a season as a guest on friends boats. Haven't done any ice fishing for 4 years mostly because of the winter weather here. (I now winter is a requirement for ice fishing.. I mean the ice wasnt stable in my area.)
So here's my true fish story..
About 7 years ago my friend and I were trolling about 12 miles off shore in 220 feet of water. (Off Kincardine Ontario).
Had no luck most of the morning. Swells were hitting at about 10 feet by late afternoon soon we started pulling in the lines for the 1 hour ride back to shore. Just as I reached for the 4rth pole something big hit the lure. I grabbed the pole and hit the downrigger switch to bring up the cannonball. My reel was just buzzing as this thing was pulling line away from the boat. Now the sun was beginning to set and the water was getting rougher by the minute. My friend worked hard to keep the boat from crossing the line.
My heart was beating and my arms were aching as I kept the pole bent with tension on the line. 40 minutes later, this fish jumped out of the water about 100 yards off the portside and did a 5 second taildance across the surface, its gills wide open. He spit the lure out and the line went limp. He got away. I collapsed into my chair, opened a beer, and just stared at the water all the way back to shore.


Have you any fish stories that are TRUE?

[Ang2dogs]

If your a real fisherman, "ALL" your stories are TRUE!

My story is that I was born and raised on the east coast, and spent may a days fishing from the piers jutting out into the Atlantic or just fishing the surf off the beach. A few times out of the year, me and a few chums would get togetter and charter a boat out of Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn, and go hunt for tuna, blues, strip bass, and the occasional tiger shark. Those were the days, but now I'm here in the Blackhills of the Dakotas and I had to get use to fishing all over again. The locals didn't take to kindly to me when I showed up at the lake with a 15' long surf pole with 50lb test.

[Steve M]

If your a real fisherman, "ALL" your stories are TRUE!

My story is that I was born and raised on the east coast, and spent may a days fishing from the piers jutting out into the Atlantic or just fishing the surf off the beach. A few times out of the year, me and a few chums would get togetter and charter a boat out of Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn, and go hunt for tuna, blues, strip bass, and the occasional tiger shark. Those were the days, but now I'm here in the Blackhills of the Dakotas and I had to get use to fishing all over again. The locals didn't take to kindly to me when I showed up at the lake with a 15' long surf pole with 50lb test.

I know the feeling Angus... When I moved to Ontario the only pole I was accustomed to was a 10 foot cane pole, 30 feet of twine on it with red and white bobber. It caught fish though.

Sooow... since there is so much interest in this thread, pull up a chair and have a seat..  I'll tell you another fish(ing) story.
When I was A kid we lived in a house with a lake bordering our back yard. So swimming, ice skating, catching frogs and fishing were a big part of our lives back then. I went swimming with my sister one evening when I was about 8 years old. I started feeling something bumping into my legs underwater. I ducked my head under and started swishing my hand around in the murky water. I grabbed a hold of something and pulled it up. It was a 12" diameter snapping turtle.. Large enough to bite my jewels off.
OK, not really a fish story.. but close.   8-)    

[U4EA]

Y'all ain't fished until ya trotlined all night on either Kincaid or Cotile Lakes in central Louizzzeeanner.

Used to love the looks on the FNG's faces when ya took 'em their first time, swiped the Q-Beam across the water, and saw all those beady red glowin' eyeballs in the middle of the night!

Toledo Bend was awesome too.......except for the night we camped below the east spillway and slept through the gate opening warning horns....but that's a whole 'nother story!