Limited Out On The Schoharie

[Early]

Water is way down, but bait (stonecats) was easy to come by. Started fishing around 9:30...had my limit (5 fish) filleted and on ice by a little before noon. By my standards...that's a good day!

[Single_shot]

Sounds like a great morning to me! Way to go...now how bout some pics!

[Early]

Agree that pics would be great, but I simply do not know how

[Pygmy]

Don't feel bad, Early... I am "photography challenged" when it comes to the computer also..

Something I must learn to do some day, perhaps right after I master brain surgery..

Sounds you had a beautiful morning on the river..In my opinion, low water improves river fishing, at least for bass and walleyes, because it concentrates the fish in the deeper runs and holes.. Nothing like the feeling of a smallmouth peeling off line with a stonecat, or "tonie" as we call them here on the Canisteo..

I consider those river smallmouths excellent table fare, also, nearly as good as walleyes or perch, IMHO...

[Culvercreek hunt club]

creek or reservoir?

[Early]

Schoharie Creek......Yup, it's low...real low right now, but the smallies were really feeding yesterday. I will probably go back again on Thursday. I'm stockpiling fish in the freezer for our annual fish fry...usually 100% smallmouth bass....Good Eats, for sure! (Note: We usually feed 40 people +/- at our fry: Fried fish...homefries...beans...and cole slaw, along with whatever guests show up with. It has become an EVENT!)

[Early]

Wow.....Did it again today: a limit of smallies, along with one nice walleye. Water was lower and warmer than last time, but stonecats did the trick.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

that is great. I have fished it where it dumps into the mohawk/canal, but never ventured up it too far.

[Early]

Whacked the smallmouths again this morning: Three biggest were 17"...18"...19.5"; those are real bruisers for stream bass!

[Culvercreek hunt club]

ANd I don't know if it is all in my head but I really think if you took a lake and stream/river smallie of equal size and hooked them tail to tail the stream/river one would tow the other around. They just seem to fight better.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

You ever make a run out into the old Mohawk river sections? not the canal but in the river itself?

[Early]

No, I have never fished the Mohawk.....Closest I get is the Rt. 20 bridge, quite aways upstream on the Schoharie. I have a buddy who does fish the Mohawk...He says there are some awesome smallmouths in therer. (Of course, he never invites me to go along on any of his fishing trips!)

[Culvercreek hunt club]

THey are great. and the Eyes and Tiger Muskies are a bonus.

[Lawdwaz]

How about maybe spending a few minutes with Photobucket and figuring that out INSTEAD of spending so much time fishing for smallmouth's. Sharing your pics with us would be real nice since we (me at least) are OBVIOUSLY not got getting invited to your fish fry. Damn..........

[Lawdwaz]

THAT ALSO INCLUDES PYGMY! About time he figured it out also..........<grin>

[Pygmy]

ANd I don't know if it is all in my head but I really think if you took a lake and stream/river smallie of equal size and hooked them tail to tail the stream/river one would tow the other around. They just seem to fight better.

I agree with you, Culver...I often wondered if the stream fish are stronger because they have to work harder fighting the current..

The stream bass ( at least in the waters I fish) are lankier and slimmer than thier lake counterparts..An 18 inch fish from my local river might weigh 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 lb., where an 18 incher from say, Keuka Lake usually goes 3 pounds PLUS..

They all fight like demons, but I believe as you do that the stream fish have an edge, pound for pound...

The stream bass even seem to TASTE better, in my opinion. Perhaps that is because they don't eat as many oily forage fish, like alewives, a diet that might make the lake bass taste a little stronger.

I prefer light tackle for smallies..My favorite rig is a 6 1/2 foot light action Fenwick with 6 lb. test mono.. Even a 10 or 12 incher gives a good account of itself on that tackle, and when you hook a 3 or 4 pounder, you REALLY have your hands full for a few minutes..

[Early]

Pygmy....Your setup is similar to mine. Since I am primarily a live bait fisherman, my line is 6 lb. Stren in Hi-Viz Gold...my favorite reels have rear drag adjustments...my hooks are tied on 14 lb. (6 lb. diam.) Fire Line...favorite bait: stonecats, hands down!