I think I need a mentor...

So I have had my boat a few months now and have had some luck finding some fish shallow and several nice fish off some docks. But that was around the spawn and now I am lost. I know I can still catch some here and there off docks, but I don't want to be one dimensional. I would love to learn more about spider rigging, trolling with cranks, and finding fish in general.

So with that said, if anyone ever wants a challenge let me know! I am located in Vinita and typically fish on Grand but would love to try new lakes.

I also have three munchkins, but I never seem to have any luck finding any fish for them to catch. Between keeping them sorted out and controlling boat position, things can get a little stressful!

Anyway, just thought I would throw the idea out there!

My rig:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...404_124400.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...404_124255.jpg

For those little ones, you need to get them on the perch!!

At least you can still get on your lake to fish it! Another few weeks of this and you should have some offers. Good luck D.

Call guide Tony Coatney for a kickstart to finding crappie on Grand. 918-964-0049

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Originally Posted by Crappie ciller

At least you can still get on your lake to fish it! Another few weeks of this and you should have some offers. Good luck D.

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I tried yesterday and couldn't find an open ramp. Next weekend should be better, I hope.

As far as finding perch, I have been struggling with keeping up with three younglings and keeping the boat positioned. I tried anchoring out but with the wind I have still been drifting. Maybe a bigger anchor is needed?

I never really went fishing with my parents that much growing up, finances were a bit tight and they had little time to spare. So this is somewhat new territory for me.

Dyabolical IMHO you are doing the most important part, out playing with the kids!! Keep it up.

ok Dyabolical....a few questions for ya brother

1...how old are the 3 amigos
2...on the wind...is it mainly the front or back that gets blown around....or both???
3...what kind of fishing do you do....vertical jig, minnow dunk, chase brush piles, etc etc

right now it is tough fishing anywhere....following the spawn you usually can find them on brush piles....its really fun for kids if they can put a minnow down and set the depth on the reel and go for it....yeah they get hung up, bored, hungry, bathroom, lol but keep a few cars or something in the boat and they can play with them. my boys had more fun flinging dead minnows with a mouse trap of all things. ALWAYS keep some snacks, a bucket and TOILET PAPER in the boat lol

The others are right,,,u are doing the most important thing by taking them out....yes it gets stressful but your gonna blink and they will be 26 and 21 years old like mine are now and when they can come home they wanna go fishing...lol

Good luck and enjoy it my friend

Andy

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Originally Posted by cpd21

ok Dyabolical....a few questions for ya brother

1...how old are the 3 amigos
2...on the wind...is it mainly the front or back that gets blown around....or both???
3...what kind of fishing do you do....vertical jig, minnow dunk, chase brush piles, etc etc

right now it is tough fishing anywhere....following the spawn you usually can find them on brush piles....its really fun for kids if they can put a minnow down and set the depth on the reel and go for it....yeah they get hung up, bored, hungry, bathroom, lol but keep a few cars or something in the boat and they can play with them. my boys had more fun flinging dead minnows with a mouse trap of all things. ALWAYS keep some snacks, a bucket and TOILET PAPER in the boat lol

The others are right,,,u are doing the most important thing by taking them out....yes it gets stressful but your gonna blink and they will be 26 and 21 years old like mine are now and when they can come home they wanna go fishing...lol



Good luck and enjoy it my friend

Andy

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8, 5, and 3.

Being a deep v the whole boat tends to drift. As far as how I fish, I usually flip docks. I haven't quite progressed to the more finesse methods.

I got the bucket and paper problem covered, and I always keep a blanket stowed in case of random naps.

They like to cast, so i try slip bobbers. That usually lasts a little while until lines start to get tangled. Also I worry about flying hooks.

I think I might start taking one at a time, ease into it. Also one on one time helps.

Ok....on the drift....try a drift sock or what us poor people use is a five gallon bucket....tie it on the side, front or rear, throw it out and let it slow your drift in the direction you want and use the trolling motor to guide you.

Dude if you can flip docks then you can do the other "finesse" methods....they include holding the rod with your bait hanging down, moving with the troller and wait on the thump..lol....you might try "dragging corks behind or beside the boat" use slip corks so u can get the depth...kids see cork go under and then they love fishing...lol...also the corks kinda keep them occupied and if you go through a school of sandbass then just hang on and get ready to retie from all the mess but it is hilarious and fun.

If you decide to take them one at a time....take whoever wants to go the most....then when you two come back with fish....the others want to go and your new "fisherman" will be trying to help teach the others

Both of mine when they were young wanted to go until you got there and started looking for fish....as long as you found them quick you were ok but on the days like now when its tough I would just go and try to get sandbass or some other trash fish where the action is fast and furious until they got tired and started playing then I would hunt the crappie

Biggest thing is going and having fun...pull off on the bank and have a weenie roast or something.....my kids still talk about how good those lunches were....freaking hotdogs with sand in 'em is what i thought they were

Well to go along with the rest of the discussion, I have need looking for am adult fishing buddy. I live having my kids around, but sometimes I just need to get away for a few hours.

"I never really went fishing with my parents that much growing up, finances were a bit tight and they had little time to spare. So this is somewhat new territory for me."

I can relate, D. I started out at five up in Montana with a bent, telescoping metal pole and a baitcasting reel that wouldn't spin. Fished that way for several years before I started mowing lawns and shoveling snow at 25 cents per pop. Saved my money until I could get a Mitchell 300 and a cheap rod.
I have taken my kids, nephews, nieces, other kids, in-laws, grandkids and great grandkids fishing, sometimes from the bank, sometimes from a row boat, sometimes from a dock, and sometimes from a float tube. Quite often, we follow up with a campfire and hot dogs and s'mores. It's always more fun when kids are along, even if they eat the bait, get stuck in the mud, or whatever.
We currently go out with the great granddaughter at the Yukon park. There is a nice railed dock with plenty of small crappie and perch. She giggles like crazy when she gets a fish. She uses a small pole with a small bobber, and she likes a small piece of hot dog for bait. You might see if there is that type of dock in your area. An extra adult might be a good idea with three kids that young.
Here is a picture of the granddaughter right after fishing the docck, as well as some other pictures from over the years.
Attachment 205300Attachment 205301Attachment 205302Attachment 205303
The large cat was caught by my 8(?)-year-old grandson. The picture is of my son, who started fishing with me at 3.

Well.....if you ever wanna try Eufaula sometime give me a yell....its tough right now though

Andy

BigSky has a good point about the extra adult.

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Originally Posted by Redge

BigSky has a good point about the extra adult.

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Well my wife goes with me sometimes, but she is a beginner like the kids!

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Originally Posted by Dyabolical

Well my wife goes with me sometimes, but she is a beginner like the kids!

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The idea is to make sure one doesn't go overboard, fall off the dock, or whatever, while you are focused on baiting, unhooking, or whatever.

Those are some really nice cut throat trout!

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Originally Posted by fishn_a_ledge

Those are some really nice cut throat trout!

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Come on up to Dillon, Montana this summer, ledge, and we'll catch some of them at Clark Canyon Reservoir. And ride up to some mountain lakes for brookies and cutts. And fish the Beaverhead at my brother's place for some big browns. We'll be up there from the 20th of this month through the end of October. My brother has horses, 4-wheelers, and Razrs. And you deserve to have someone take you out, after all the times you have treated others.
If you do get a chance, let me know and we'll set it up.

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Originally Posted by Bigskyfisherman

Come on up to Dillon, Montana this summer, ledge, and we'll catch some of them at Clark Canyon Reservoir. And ride up to some mountain lakes for brookies and cutts. And fish the Beaverhead at my brother's place for some big browns. We'll be up there from the 20th of this month through the end of October. My brother has horses, 4-wheelers, and Razrs. And you deserve to have someone take you out, after all the times you have treated others.
If you do get a chance, let me know and we'll set it up.

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Now that's a Camp!

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Originally Posted by Crappie Reaper

Now that's a Camp!

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Reaper, the best camp was when I took a guy from Holdenville up there in the fall. In five days, he got cut-bows, cutts, browns, brookies, 1 carp, sage hens, blue grouse, Franklin grouse, a mule deer buck, and a bull elk. He was whooping and hollering when he got the bull. One of the highlights was the carp. It pulled his rod into the lake, and he dove in after it (temperature about 30 degrees), saving the rod. He said he could tough it out (for about 22 seconds). Then we drove to town and changed clothes.

HAHA! that's funny. 22 seconds.:biggrin

I camped a whole summer in that area in the late 90's. Fished the Madison at Reynolds Pass, below Clark Canyon on the Beaverhead, in a tube for gulpers on Hegben Lake, hiking and fishing the high mountain lakes, border raids over to Henrys lake and Henrys Fork in Idaho. That was a glorious summer, it was such a blessing. It is one the most special places on the planet, the scenery is outstanding. I was so blessed to be able to do that, just to drink it in and enjoy it as a young man, God is good!

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Originally Posted by Fishers

I camped a whole summer in that area in the late 90's. Fished the Madison at Reynolds Pass, below Clark Canyon on the Beaverhead, in a tube for gulpers on Hegben Lake, hiking and fishing the high mountain lakes, border raids over to Henrys lake and Henrys Fork in Idaho. That was a glorious summer, it was such a blessing. It is one the most special places on the planet, the scenery is outstanding. I was so blessed to be able to do that, just to drink it in and enjoy it as a young man, God is good!

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Lucky man, Fishers. Most people only get to dream about that type of summer. My buddies and I hiked into so many high mountain lakes, I'm not sure if I remember them all. We mostly caught cutthroats, but there were a lot of cut-bows, brookies, and grayling. If you ever get back, you should hit Diamond and Bee Hive in the Spanish Peaks. They are hiking or horseback only, and it's 12 1/2 and 15 miles in. Diamond has cut-bows up to 20 pounds. They are finicky, but you can catch them all day if you have the right flies and technique. Bee Hive is loaded with 3-7 pound cutthroats, and they can be caught by anyone.
If you ever get to Dillon, make sure to look me up. There are all kinds of lakes that you can drive to, and take the whole family. We entertain a lot of people every year.
God bless,
Eric

Nice! Dillon is right in the middle of all that good stuff. If I go back there I sure will look you up.

This weekend I think I am going to try to land some 'gills with the kids.