Serious Business: Fishing, What is YOUR approach?

Trout is the easiest fish to clean. Just gut and gill them.

How about Catfish? Those are pretty easy to clean from what I understand.

You should skin a Catfish, at least I always did and I also fillet them and remove any of the brown or yellow meat.

Most of the time those catfish never wants to give up their skin, but I can't blame them there either. Then you still need to gut and gill them.

I am a very happy camper now.

I just finished tying a #16, Bead Head Soft Hackle Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear.

Hopefully this will start me tying one per day so that I can rebuild my stock.

A good place to find flies to tie with the recipes is at, www.orvis.com

Personally, I prefer to fillet trout without bothering to clean or gill them. Faster and easier that way. Whatever works best for you.

Don't forget the most important step: first you CATCH it.....

Maisky,

This step is only important if you wish to eat your fish.

Me, I just have fun being out there.

BTW do you like using Jigs for your Trout fishing and if you do, are you allowed the use of lead?

I have only used a jig when messing around. Lead is allowed unless it comes out of the barrel.......

Do you tie your own Jigs?

No, I used a couple I purchased. I have used flys, both wet and dry far more than jigs. I use a spinning rig with a bobber with flys. Mostly I use lures or bait (worm).
Only used Dupont lure once. Dad got upset with me.

Does anyone keep a journal for their fishing accounts?

I record the day I went out, where I went, what I was using and what I caught.

I really haven't started with the air and water termperatures but I do log down if there is a hatch on.

Depending on the amount of "antifreeze"involved, I have trouble REMEMBERING the day, let alone remembering well enough to log all those details.

I do, however have a good memory of certain significant days fishing. Like the first time at JaneyMae's place.

Scene: 4:30 am. Dark, raining, windy, temp about 40 deg F. Standing not far from my oldest daughter while we played with the big fishies. We were wet and freezing cold, but didn't even feel it.

Maisky, I remember that! I was warm in my bed and the fish your daughter brought to the house were beautiful! Glad we finally convinced her that catch and release is good. That was such a fun time!

I've never used a journal. Thought about it but then couldn't remember the thought. We've spent so many years on this river that we basically know what to use by the time of day. Thursday is the best day to fish in the summer because the river has been quieter during the week and the fish have recuperated from the last weekend and the weekenders haven't arrived. We work on the cabin and then fish and work and fish. Sometimes we just hang out on the deck tho.

Remembering the Nixon tapes, I long ago decided that the fewer records we keep, the less likely one of them will come back and bite us in the butt.

I keep a few fishy pictures, but that is all. Why leave a record that helps some other fisherman catch the big ones.......

My main reason I keep a record, which usually does not consists of much, is for me and not other fisherman.

Sometimes I use it as a reminder for which month certain hatches occur and some notes on locations.