Post by rgang4 on Nov 26, 2012 20:42:20 GMT -5
Seems about the right time to summarize my fishing season for multi-species. It was a bit disappointing to not get a Master Angler pike again this year but on the other hand it was very rewarding to get a few others this year that gave me the slip last year. And it was a real heartbreaker to lose a huuuuuuuuuuuge catfish at boatside 
.
The first trip of 2012 was on ice, about the 14th or so of January. Target that day with jig stick in hand were bluegill, 9" or larger. Lucky for me the Retreat Meadows is one of the better spots in the state for big 'gills.
After about 15-20 holes I found the right one;
This was one of two that day. In all for the year I caught three, the largest coming from another CT River setback known as Hunt's Meadows around early June.
Fished tip-ups with shiners a few times trying for Master Angler perch and crappie but all I manged were some good meals. But as luck would have it I got this bullhead that qualified;
14.5" bullhead. Not the target species but a nice surprise.
Icefishing season was real short around here
;D 
and by mid-February the shanty got pulled in and the boat would soon get pulled out ;D .
The first trip to Champlain I had hoped to score a Master Angler pickerel and largemouth. The first MA fish of the year from LC was neither but to date was the most impressive of all the entries and my favorite fish so far;
28.5" 13 LB. 1 OZ. Sheephead on a black/blue jig and pig on 3/23
Later that day caught a largemouth that qualified;
20.75" 5 LB. 10 OZ. on 3/23 in 3 ft. of water, water temp 65! This one of seven entries this year.The pickerel eluded me for a few trips but finally got one after measuring lots of contenders;
Spotted a great spot for a big pickerel to be hiding, made good cast and bang! 25.5" pickerel and my "pin fish" for 2012.
Next target would be smallmouth. Measured so many fish that were 18.5" and never had one any bigger than that. Finally got lucky on Champlain one day and got a 19.5" from a shallow rock/weed area in early October;
This one came as a total surprise, figured it was a pike but was quite happy when I saw it was a smallie. Hit a 1/2 oz. chart. CB.
Spent alot of time trying for the MA crappie. Between this year and last about 14-16 hours. Again lots of nice meals and I learned a thing or two about location and behavior before finally connecting on a 13 1/8" black crappie;
Got this one as the big fish were heading back out onto the main river after spawning. They were hanging around a deep channel and coming up and in at night to feed. Later in the year my dad and I got MA crappie on the same day from the South lake. Learned some things about crappie on the South lake too, can't wait for next year
.
During the course of the year I stumbled on many a rock bass and never really felt I needed to target one. They were everywhere and as I found out Lake Fairlee has a ton of big ones;
All the docks on Fairlee had rockies and on the river they were around wood on the main river. Got most on drop shots but used a 1" white tube when I could see big ones.
Enjoyed a great spring and summer but all the while was waiting to make up for last years disappointing walleye fishing. I like to fish them in the fall. No crowds then, don't have to fish dam tailraces and the fish are not spawning just eating from mid-September until the water hits about 40 and the bait disappears.
Did not take long to get a MA fish this year. Think it was because Shawn blessed me when he said" good luck catching one from the CT River". What, you think he may have said that with sarcasm?
Well whatever it worked;
25.5" walleye from the river, one of three I entered in the MA program. That's all the species so far, still hoping to get a perch, white or yellow. Giving up on pike until next year but will ice fish some for them too and try and tip the odds in my favor come
February.
Nine species, 25 entries and a whole lot of fun and good memories.
. The first trip of 2012 was on ice, about the 14th or so of January. Target that day with jig stick in hand were bluegill, 9" or larger. Lucky for me the Retreat Meadows is one of the better spots in the state for big 'gills.
After about 15-20 holes I found the right one;
This was one of two that day. In all for the year I caught three, the largest coming from another CT River setback known as Hunt's Meadows around early June.
Fished tip-ups with shiners a few times trying for Master Angler perch and crappie but all I manged were some good meals. But as luck would have it I got this bullhead that qualified;
14.5" bullhead. Not the target species but a nice surprise.
Icefishing season was real short around here
;D 
and by mid-February the shanty got pulled in and the boat would soon get pulled out ;D .The first trip to Champlain I had hoped to score a Master Angler pickerel and largemouth. The first MA fish of the year from LC was neither but to date was the most impressive of all the entries and my favorite fish so far;
28.5" 13 LB. 1 OZ. Sheephead on a black/blue jig and pig on 3/23
Later that day caught a largemouth that qualified;
20.75" 5 LB. 10 OZ. on 3/23 in 3 ft. of water, water temp 65! This one of seven entries this year.The pickerel eluded me for a few trips but finally got one after measuring lots of contenders;
Spotted a great spot for a big pickerel to be hiding, made good cast and bang! 25.5" pickerel and my "pin fish" for 2012
.Next target would be smallmouth. Measured so many fish that were 18.5" and never had one any bigger than that. Finally got lucky on Champlain one day and got a 19.5" from a shallow rock/weed area in early October;
This one came as a total surprise, figured it was a pike but was quite happy when I saw it was a smallie. Hit a 1/2 oz. chart. CB.
Spent alot of time trying for the MA crappie. Between this year and last about 14-16 hours. Again lots of nice meals and I learned a thing or two about location and behavior before finally connecting on a 13 1/8" black crappie;
Got this one as the big fish were heading back out onto the main river after spawning. They were hanging around a deep channel and coming up and in at night to feed. Later in the year my dad and I got MA crappie on the same day from the South lake. Learned some things about crappie on the South lake too, can't wait for next year
.During the course of the year I stumbled on many a rock bass and never really felt I needed to target one. They were everywhere and as I found out Lake Fairlee has a ton of big ones;
All the docks on Fairlee had rockies and on the river they were around wood on the main river. Got most on drop shots but used a 1" white tube when I could see big ones.
Enjoyed a great spring and summer but all the while was waiting to make up for last years disappointing walleye fishing. I like to fish them in the fall. No crowds then, don't have to fish dam tailraces and the fish are not spawning just eating from mid-September until the water hits about 40 and the bait disappears.
Did not take long to get a MA fish this year. Think it was because Shawn blessed me when he said" good luck catching one from the CT River". What, you think he may have said that with sarcasm?
Well whatever it worked;
25.5" walleye from the river, one of three I entered in the MA program. That's all the species so far, still hoping to get a perch, white or yellow. Giving up on pike until next year but will ice fish some for them too and try and tip the odds in my favor come
February.
Nine species, 25 entries and a whole lot of fun and good memories.
) yesterday and as I watch the snow coming down today I got to review your fishing season. Thanks!
