Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

You lost me on that one.

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

Hey catfish...how is the pike minnow program working out for you? I’m considering getting into this year over here on the lower Columbia. Have you made much money doing it. Is it worth getting into?

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

Hi Dave. Last year was my first full season. I just retired in March of last year. Realistically, after 4 part time years and one full season I make around $200.00 a week fishing from the bank. It pays for my fishing all summer. Boat anglers earn way more but not for 3 or 4 years. The top anglers have several years involved before they make any money. If you decide to do it you’ll, soon, learn the top two spots are not really doing it by the book. I’ve learned it takes a lot of time and dedication as well as living like a hermit to make $40,000/year and that’s some hard core fishing around the clock, day and night for 5 months. I have a boat again now so I’m counting on around $500.00/week this year. I’ve met and made friends with a lot of good pikeminnow fishermen and that’s helped a bunch. There’s a definite technique to it and it’s not a get rich quick deal. Lots of guys will help you out but about as many will steer you wrong. Typical competition gig. My best advice is listen to the fish checkers and get as many Mormon crickets and super worms ready as you can. If you don’t know about super worms they’re just giant meal worms and they work great. Use three different types of bait throughout the day and switch it up about every three fish. I’ve met lots of people who quit their jobs, bought boats and campers and we’re gonna get rich pikeminnow fishing. They last about half a season and try to sell their boats and campers to get back home. It’s not easy to get going but there are several guys down there that will help you out. I fish from Hood River to the John Day dam. Mostly below The Dalles and more specifically around Lyle Washington near the Klickitat river and the below. That’s real good when the water goes down around the end of May. The first three weeks in May are slow at best because of the high water and most top anglers won’t even be there yet.

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

They talk about it on tv the homes computer listens in several times a day and up to 43 seconds at a time.

My wife has noticed if she talks about something with someone in person, with her mobil phone close she starts getting adds about services or products they talked about.

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

I fish on my as well as hunt solo. The worst I've had was carrying a .22 and tripped on a log, the slide on the rifle dug into the palm of my hand. All I said was "bugger" pulled out a handkerchief wrapped it and stayed fishing. Could have been worse.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

And how about that Alexa? Ya think she only only hears when you ask her a specific question? 🤔

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

Ya l’m aware that it’s not a get rich quick deal. I’ve researched it quite a bit and it’s right up there with pro bass fishing. But if it will pay you for what you love doing then that’s a plus. Plus it’s helping in the survival of the salmonoid smolts. Where would I find those Mormon crickets and super 🐛 Thanks for the info catfish

wardcarr Loc: Western North Carolina

Well here in my fishing holes of Western North Carolina I don’t know of any cell service. That’s where the fish hang out. Wet wading last summer and did aLulu on the rocks. Tore up these these 64 y/o legs
But had my wife with me and she rescued me. I think what happened was that I was walking instead of wading. There is a difference. 😜 If you’re fishing alone always let someone know your area of travel.

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

Know what you mean. Have had a few trips walking through trees and long grass, fallen branches. One day last year was walking through trees went to take a step and saw part of the body of a very big snake, backtracked pretty quick and went on my way. A lot of snakes in that place but they never bother me.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

I find Mormon crickets in Arlington and up Blalock canyon above the John Day dam. There’s a bunch in the desert up around Umatilla too. Super worms are only available on line that I know of. They’re basically just giant meal worms, grubs if you know where to find anything like that. Crawdads work good too but you can only use the tails in the Columbia because of Oregon law. Worms, night crawlers and fresh salmon eggs work good but you catch everything on those. I drift tubes a lot to if your into long casting below the dams. They work well in a variety of colors and sizes. My go-to tube is smoke with red and blue flecks and yellow with red and black specks. I use 3” tubes and I make them myself. Lamprey oil purchased from a bait dealer is legal and I use it on my tubes and it improves the catch.
Don’t let anyone talk you into catching baby lamprey and using them for bait. It’s illegal to even possess them. You’ll catch tons of fish, be in the top ten instantly, and get caught no doubt. Big fine and kicked out of the program just as fast. Don’t mess with em. They fly drones around down there watching us. If you catch too many fish they’ll investigate you immediately. Pikeminnow love baby lamprey blood and it’s way different than factory made lamprey oil.
You want to target big numbered schools and tagged fish.

G-Dude Loc: Ludington Michigan

I always fish with my phone but I put it on airplane mode. That way it is always ready for a fin-n-grin pic but I will not get bothered by anyone

bottomcoon Loc: Tahlequah, oklahoma

I took my boat out by myself today to do a little crappie fishing. I try to exercise care to wear my life jacket & watch what I'm doing. So far so good. Yes, I did catch crappie.
I was fishing towards the upper end of the lake & another fisherman motored up beside me & asked how I was doing. He said he had been about a 1/4 mile uplake drift fishing & had drifted close to a large group of boats. Thet were dragging for a drowning victim. One of the boats told him he needed to move & said 3 guys were bank fishing when 1 member decided he'd go swimming. He swam out quite a ways then went down but never came up. My locator showed the water temperature at 54 degrees. As of about 6 o'clock this afternoon his body hadn't been found. I know that's a sad deal but what would make someone swim out in water that cold?
Hope the guy didn't leave a wife & kids behind.

snowolf80

If the warden ask me to see my license she would have had to climb down to see it,that way if she fell you could laff at her,

mccarthyges

I'm 66, Kayak fish and fish from jetties....if phone doesn't work or you forgot it...its could be trouble.
I carry a whistle in my tackle box and wear it around my neck when I'm in the kayak. Its an extra layer of Safety.

TheKoz Loc: North Jersey

While phones are great I believe the best backup tool is the alarm built into most autos and trucks today. We all carry the fob with the key on it. Bet no one leaves it in the truck like their phone. If you can't get to the phone, push the alarm button and, if you are close enough to the vehicle, the horn blares. Turn it on for a minute then off for a minute then back on. If you leave it blare steadily no one pays attention to it after a minute or so. Could be your last line of signalling.