Musky Fishing weekend and I caught a nice 32″ musky and had five others follow.  Then I got one was a huge fish that is pushing upper 40’s class. She was impressive! It really got my heart pumping!!! I can’t wait to get over there again and try to catch that big one…….and release her.

I caught this bass caught in small creek. Anyone ever see one of these?

Fortunately, this guy broke the cold streak.

I can’t remember the details or location, but sure was fun to catch!

Fathers day flathead catfishing. I think the shad are starting to thin down enough that some flathead have to hunt. This gives me an opportunity. Early this morning I got a little 16lbs  flathead catfish and released it immediately.Also, Friday night I got one and kept it for pix.

It was just under 40 and I released it to grow up.

Bluegills and buzzbaits.  So last night at the pond while the first 6 fish I caught were bluegills. The pictured one was around 8-9 inches and by far the biggest gill I can remember catching, it was almost 3 inches thick! Yeah…I threw her back. As the sunset I caught the LM on a buzzbait. I only caught this one on the buzzer but missed a ton of strikes.

Final total: 8 bluegill on the Nano Minnow and 2 LM, 1 on the Nano and one on the buzzbait. My youngest caught on ‘gill on a white twister while Knox, my 17 year old, got skunked lol.

My Montana fly fishing photos. I’ve been out here in Missoula for months now and having a blast! These are some trout fishing pictures of various rivers and creeks I have explored so far. Lot’s of rain lately making most of the Missoula are rivers blown out now for a few weeks. The first pictures are of the mighty Beaverhead, one of the most popular tailwaters outside of Dillon. Though the weather was poor, we managed to land some PIGS! All our fish this day were in the 17-22″ range, all took a size 20 scud and nothing else. Talk about finessing! 5x isn’t much for a 20″ trout.

Next location we hit up was the West fork of the Bitterroot. Some awesome wade fishing if you come out here and dont have a boat. We completed a slam for this water which includes brook, brown, rainbow, cut bow, and cutthroats in two hours with the majority being in the 16-20″ range.

Hope you guys enjoy. I will be posting more in the near future. Salmon flies are just getting ready to go off so I hope to be posting some reports on some knock your shoes off dry fly fishing. Guys now is the time to start coming out here. It’s bubbling right now and about to go! If you do happen to be out in the Missoula area please drop me a line on here or stop by the Grizzly Hackle fly shop and see me. I love seeing some Ga folks out here.

Well I finally got out and got me some nice walleyes  (mouth of the Huron river) in 41 feet of water. A friend and I boated ten in two days, one was a Fish Ohio at exactly 28 inches long. The Saturday before I got four more near Cranberry. All were caught on 20 jet divers and worm harnesses and summer going to be great!

CATCH AND RELEASE

Increasing numbers of anglers are fishing our accessible waters and remote areas of the state. Continuation of Alaska’s high quality sport fishing depends upon more anglers choosing to practice catch and release when fishing for our resident fish species. An objective of the Division of Sport Fish is to provide a diversity of fishing opportunities while assuring the conservation of Alaska’s stocks of fish. You help do this when you harvest only those fish you will use and release the rest of your catch unharmed. Using catch and release techniques to land your fish when practicing selective harvest also assures you that the fish will be in the best possible physical condition when you make the decision to harvest it for food or to release it.
Choosing Your Tackle

• Use strong line to bring your catch in quickly.
• Fish caught with flies or lures survive at a higher rate than fish caught with bait.
• Use hooks appropriate to the size of the fish.
• Use pliers to pinch barbs on hooks down.

Landing Your Catch

• Land your fish as carefully and quickly as possible.
• Avoid removing the fish from the water.
• Do not let fish flop about in shallow water, on the ground, or in the bottom of your boat.
• Use landing nets made with soft or knotless mesh.

Handling Your Catch

• Keep your fish in the water.
• Cradle large fish gently with both hands: one under its belly, one at the tail.
• Keep your fingers out of and away from the gills and eyes.
• Use wet hands or wet cloth gloves to handle the fish.
• Never squeeze the fish.
• Support your fish in the water while your partner takes your picture. Fish can not remain healthy out of water for longer than you can hold your breath.

Removing Your Hook

• Use long nose pliers to back the hook out.
• Remove the hook quickly, keeping the fish underwater.
• When the fish is hooked deeply, cut the line to release the fish. If the fish is bleeding form the gills, it is likely to die and you should keep it as part of your bag limit.
• Use steel hooks that will rust out, avoid stainless steel hooks.

Reviving Your Catch

• Keep your catch in the water at all times. If you want to take a photograph, have the photographer get ready, then lift the fish barely out of the water (unless prohibited by regulation e.g. king salmon in Cook Inlet) and quickly return it to the water.
• Point your catch into a slow current, or gently move it back and forth until its gills are working properly and it maintains its balance. When the fish recovers and attempts to swim away, let it swim from your hands.
• Large fish may take some time to revive.