How to catchTilapia - Martin creek Reservoir
Feb 13, 2022 18:23:37 #
Canis
Loc: Texarkana, TX
Martin Creek is a power plant lake near Tatum, Texas. It is the closet lake near me that has Tilapia. I thought this would be a chance to fish for them. Talking with the Park Ranger he said the only way to catch Tilapia here was with a cast net. People have tried bread, dough, corn, worms, crickets and I think peas. I tried old bread on a number 6 cricket hook. I don't know if I was getting bites or there were so many they were hitting my line or hook. Any suggestions or ideas on what might work besides a cast net??? I'm planning trip down this week or next.
Feb 14, 2022 01:17:27 #
Corn keeps coming up as best bait, never fished for them but maybe chumming them with wheat soaked in water a few days slightly fermented used to bring in a lot of carp and catfish…………
Feb 14, 2022 01:19:44 #
Feb 14, 2022 08:11:13 #
Rutinbuck
Loc: Haysville, Kansas
Canis wrote:
Martin Creek is a power plant lake near Tatum, Tex... (show quote)
Canis while in the navy stationed on Oahu, HI there is a fresh water lake/pond I use to fish. The tilapia was so thick I think you could walk on them without sinking. I put on a small brass hook and small split shot sinker and just tossed it out and was really having a ball catching them. I put them in a 5 gallon bucket and after putting 5-6 in the bucket the water turned a nasty dark green. Them fish got to live, I dumped em back. No way I was going to eat one of them damn fish, but they were fun to catch.
Feb 14, 2022 08:48:31 #
Canis
Loc: Texarkana, TX
Rutinbuck doesn't sound very healthy at all...LOL. They must have been real hungry to hit a bare hook. These should be a in a little better shape since it does have a creek feeding the lake. These were not stocked by the Wildlife department. By law any caught are not to be pick back in the lake, at least not alive. The Ranger I talked to that said they were pretty good eating if I caught any.
Were you using a brass bare hook? I have caught bluegill with a bare hook in small ponds. I going to take peas and corn and bread. I think I'm taking pickle juice and molasses to see if that helps. I also have some donuts to use but they may not make the water
I'll keep you posted.
Were you using a brass bare hook? I have caught bluegill with a bare hook in small ponds. I going to take peas and corn and bread. I think I'm taking pickle juice and molasses to see if that helps. I also have some donuts to use but they may not make the water
I'll keep you posted.
Feb 14, 2022 12:14:26 #
mr.sleeve
Loc: Anaheim Hills
I’ve had the best luck using earthworms and Berkley shrimp spray….I was fishing right alongside a guy who was having zero luck, but as soon as I sprayed his worm with the shrimp spray, he immediately hooked up….I’m not sure if Berkley changed the formula, but it doesn’t work as well as it used to, but it does work sporadically…hope this helps….
Feb 14, 2022 12:30:44 #
Canis
Loc: Texarkana, TX
Thanks mr.sleeve I think sounds good. I was thinking about the nibblets, maybe they have in shrimp. I will also check the spray out as well.
Feb 14, 2022 13:30:01 #
Canis wrote:
Martin Creek is a power plant lake near Tatum, Tex... (show quote)
Half a night crawler will do the trick.
Feb 14, 2022 14:41:42 #
Rutinbuck
Loc: Haysville, Kansas
Canis wrote:
Rutinbuck doesn't sound very healthy at all...LOL.... (show quote)
Yes I was using a bare brass hook a little bigger than what I would use to catch bluegills. I have never in my life seen fish schooled up like they were, had to be thousands of them. I really didn’t need anything on my hook. I’ve eaten them but not my favorite and don’t plan on eating them again. Check how they are raised commercially for consumer consumption, you may never want to eat them again. IMHO they are nothing more than a trash fish.
Feb 14, 2022 16:16:38 #
Canis
Loc: Texarkana, TX
Your right!! I've read about how some are commercially raised, and I wouldn't eat them either. But not all are raised like that. Still, I not fond of eating in a restaurant. These are basically wild and should be better healthy but wouldn't make a daily meal of them.
Feb 14, 2022 16:32:06 #
Jim Kay
Loc: Franklin, Virginia
What on Earth would you want with a tilapia? they are not fit to eat.
Feb 14, 2022 16:49:58 #
Canis
Loc: Texarkana, TX
Well Jim Kay mainly for the sport of catching them. That's pretty much the reason. They look like they fight pretty good and get up over 5lbs. I saw them swimming around the first time I went there, and now has become challenge.
If I was fishing from a boat, I probably wouldn't pay any attention other than possible catfish bait.
If I was fishing from a boat, I probably wouldn't pay any attention other than possible catfish bait.
Feb 14, 2022 16:55:41 #
Canis wrote:
Well Jim Kay mainly for the sport of catching them. That's pretty much the reason. They look like they fight pretty good and get up over 5lbs. I saw them swimming around the first time I went there, and now has become challenge.
If I was fishing from a boat, I probably wouldn't pay any attention other than possible catfish bait.
If I was fishing from a boat, I probably wouldn't pay any attention other than possible catfish bait.
They say the best place to catch them is on the lower side of a sewage plant and I believe the ones I ate years ago were caught there. Not impressed!!!!
MAS fish
Feb 14, 2022 16:55:58 #
Jim Kay
Loc: Franklin, Virginia
Well okay. I get that I guess that I jumped onto that one too quickly. Everyone can appreciate a sport fish. I enjoy catching Bowfins.They are not good eating so i let them go.
Feb 14, 2022 17:07:41 #
Canis
Loc: Texarkana, TX
I love to catch bowfins and Chain Pickrel!!! I don't like catching a big one yoyos 
I wouldn't fish a sewage for anything.
I wouldn't fish a sewage for anything.
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