Eddy put the stink-o-skunk on me, so I'm reduced to posting other people's fish. This is Art, aka Earlybird.....but he's just a lurker. No one alive has spent more time plugging and flyfishing the Elizabeth's than this guy. The most enthusiastic fisherman I know. First cast ever with a skinny danny he ho'd off me this winter. Should have given him something else instead.

Are you sure you and that plug caught that fish...or snagged it? My eels never snag. they catch! Bonds.

Geez George your plugs are hot. Nice.

Just been fishing a lot, Paul. Here's another I took tonight on a bottle darter after Sauerkraut spent himself trying to catch a 12" bass and left. Not trying to show off. Had five fishless nights this week. Just trying to keep the thread going and encourage other people to get out there and post their successes. People like you, you lurker.

Way to go!! Nice fat fish!:claps:

I've been trying to learn to fish needles, and last night thats all I could throw into that wind. I took a few low teen fish on a black maple needle but i eventually broke off, I then switched to one of Numbskulls Hab's clones and took a few decent fish on that during false dawn....

Then it was time for the white pencil....

And my best pencil fish so far. 42" 29lbs, 1 lb short of that magic # ... I told that one to go eat a pogie and to come back tomorrow :bl:


The one in the first pic was 26#. All fish were released...
I spent all winter turning offcenter stuff and getting the lips, hook placement and weighting right so they swim just right, and here I am catching on needles and a simple white pencil...

I guess I'll be keeping it simple next year....

I hate this thread .. I got skunked again,, stupid Ditch .. Art's cool .. Diggin ,, I have plug envy ...

Beauty. A special fish taken on a topwater in daylight. Big surface hits are as good as it gets. Congrats.

I just have not got anything worthy of the post. I am in the minor leagues this year and you are in the majors. All those fish are very fat and healthy. Breaking tides this week in the canal are usually my favorite for the year. Maybe I can get to a few of them and catch something on a plug.

A teen fish on a 'Scotty' ballerina from the mini swap 2 years ago. I'd been saving that one. It's real big and I thought it might take a big fish to take it... I'd never used a ballerina before but I guess if you can walk it, it works.

And complete heartbreak on one of my herring pencils... That's a 6/0mustad stainless siwash and a 6X 3/0 vmc . Looks like I get to join PNG :bc: That fish followed and swiped at that pencil from the point that it landed to within 40 feet of shore. Pushing water with that big head all the way. Must have hit it 10 -12 times before it finally took it. I almost wish I hadn't got to see the fish...

:eek:That will break your heart.....particularly when you think you got it covered using a 6x. Sometimes I think the tail hook is the problem. It pins the tail and creates a fulcrum where the leverage can pull the belly hook apart. How big do you reckon she was, and did she head my way by any chance?

Monster pike
Even pike will try and eat something nearly half their size. That's a 7" darter, and it's yellow in the daytime.
I tied the fly I caught the trout on. It was one of a half a dozen that size I caught this wknd.

George,
It looked 4 or 5 " longer than the the low 30 # fish I had last week. I've never had a 40, but I have a feeling that was my first real shot at one.

That's why we keep coming back, we're such suckers.....

I got this 39" on the first cast of yet an other bottledarter proto. Im working on.

WOW! I'd say you got it right.

Got a 40 inch fish on a beautiful "Johnny" off center turned plug I got at plugfest, in canal today. Sorry G. no camera. Took a lot to throw that plug but it swims so beautiful I couldn't resist. I threw it at a deer first but it wouldn't touch it.:( It was too busy swimming for its life against the current. He needs to get a tide chart.

Got a 24-LB on my 5" needle tonight.
http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/41...200x200Q85.jpghttp://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/39...200x200Q85.jpg

Nice, another cool fish on a light rod, probably shallow water as well. Love seeing this stuff, helps keep the motivation up even when the skunk smell gets strong.

I don't have pictures but I have done well on my customs. 2 weeks ago had lots of fish on several plugs including a nice pikie I made a few of. Yesterday AM I got 4- 20 pound fish on topwater at daybreak on a mackeral pattern pencil I made.
I love plugs but I still catch plenty on rubba(atleast rubba is not alive)

if I get some pics, I'll put one up someday, but it's the moments I live for.

Sounds like you have had some nice fishing.
Al,

Thanks Al, but you got yours at night and it was bigger :btu:
I love needles and love when I catch on them even more.
Good fishing.
I'll never forget my first fish on my own plug, it was a needlefish plug of course. It's a great feeling catching on stuff you make yourself.

That's for sure I been having a ball. My two fishing partners love the needles also. It's a great hobby. Fishing's been good.
Al,:kewl:

I don't know about plugs but I sure would like to credit the guy who makes the canal jigs for the four fish up to 33 pounds I got this morning.

Nice pics. What are you using for a camera George?
Lots of nice fish this week on artificials. Homemade stuff,vintage, and rubber too. Still no eels for me yet.Its a record.
I had bunch of mid to high 20# fish on an old gibbs pencil, plus some 30's on rubber.Was a blast.
Here's a couple shots I took of Bart with a high 20# class fish just before it was released.

I'M DIGGIN THAT JIGGIN' ( NO PUN INTENDED)

Sauerkraut got 3 his biggest was 32.9 lbs as well. No pics though all fish we took this morning were released after being weighed measured.

Got some with Basic Patrick earlier in the week like this one below. photo by Patrick w/ my cam.

WOW Flap, that's a BIG ...ass, I mean Bass.

That's GREAT news!! I'm 7 hours away renovating a 170yr old farm house. No chance for salt or plugs until fall for me. Thanks for throwing it. If you lose it,... there can be more !

Thanks. I would really like one in a lighter color someday.:bl: The one I have is burple, but still worked in the daytime. Really nice realistic swimming action. I'd give it a 10. Good luck with the house

This Guy Makes Some Great Plugs!
 

And he can flat out fish! Prof Moriarty and his Canal Style Pencils! It was a pleasure Paul!:kewl:

This one he let swim another day! 30 pounds all day long on his sweet pink mac flattie!

One for me!;)

It was a pleasure fishing with you and Matt. I had a ball. You didn't miss anything on the afternoon tide. I need a make over. George can I borrow your bag.

Scratching and scratching 7 days to find this. Like an idiot I didn't look in the canal. The dog was about to dump me. Yellow jointed.

looking good larry :kewl:

Sorry George I didn't know you liked the canal or I would have called you. Figured your buddy flap would have clued you in.

theres fish in the canal:shocked::hidin:

I'm not complaining, Paul. In fairness to Flap he did let me know once he found out Thurs afternoon. I had to work Fri. The day I should have gone was Thurs am. I did consider it, but chose to spend myself fishing elsewhere all night Weds pm. Came up empty. So it goes. Truth is the canal is not my cup of tea (nor is chasing fish reports). I'm glad so many guys who work it so hard finally got their deserved reward, however.