The Camera

             Last week, we went fishing at at local pond. We knew there was fish in this pond because last year we caught 4 rainbow trout out of it, all 12 inches. It was a lot of fun. This year we decided to go again. When we got there, it didn't look too hopeful. There were makeshift rod holders, footprints, and lure cases everywhere. We fished in the pond for a little bit, but Michael caught only one Largemouth Bass, a little under 12". not bad, but we didn't have the camera.
              So we started to leave when Michael noticed a pond in the woods. We decided to go fishing there for only a few minutes because it was getting late. We went down there, and started fishing. all of a sudden Michael yells "I got one". Another Largemouth, 14".  Dad then catches a 9" Chain Pickerel. Now I'm Starting to wish I had the camera. Anther 5 minutes pass and He catches a 18" Largemouth. That' s huge! At the same time, I catch a 10" Pickerel. Now I'm getting frustrated because I don't have the camera. Dad then catches a 16" Largemouth, The final Bass of the day. I then catch the last 3 fish, all Pickerels. The first 2 were about 10-11". The last one was about 17". That trip was by far the most successful Bass and Pickerel fishing trip I've ever been on. Too bad I didn't have the camera.

West Canada Creek #2

We decided to fishing in the West Canada Creek again this vacation. We didn't catch anything until the end. And when we did, the trout came in size, not numbers. Actually Michael was the only one who caught anything. But I wouldn't call a 14 inch, 2lb Brown Trout just anything.

You can tell he's happy.

Pretty fish. That's a 12 inch ruler on the side

Hyder Creek

Me and Micheal, just for fun decided to go fishing in a small, local creek called Hyder Creek. It is a small tributary to Canadrago Lake, and me and Michael thought ther might be some native brookies in there. it turns out there wasn't at the time, but there might have been before a flash flood last fall washed them downstream. Michael caught a horned dace at a damed off place. Good size for a minnow.

Me and Michael fishing

Michael's horned dace

The Sauquoit Creek

The first day of spring break (actually right after we got out of school) me and dad went trout fishing in Sauquoit Creek (mentioned in "The Brook Trout") . Early on it didn't seem like we were going to catch anything, but I went one pond and fished for a little bit, and WHAM! : the first trout of the year.An 8 inch Brown Trout Me with the trout
After that, I went to another pool and.......An 11 inch Brown Trout caught by me. Dad caught a small trout but forgot to take a picture. They were great trout, but the lower part of the river is polluted, so we released them. Actually, the larger one decided to release himself. He jumped out of my hand when I wasabout to put him back.

Open Season!

I know. Long time , no see. We did some ice fishing with my scout troop without barely any success . About halfway through winter I started to go insane! I haven't made a post in a long time because I haven't had anything to write about. It' been a long winter. Luckily for me, season opens up on Monday (It opens up tomorrow, but we don't go fishing on Sundays) ! As for now, I will show you the ice fishing pics:A normal sized Yellow Perch I caught

A Little Yellow Perch

Another Yellow Perch caught by another boy

A Northern Pike caught by James.Some trout we caught this year that we ate for a fish fry Michael ice fishing

The Brook Trout

Family: Salvelinus

Diet: Mayflies, leeches, worms, crayfish, and minnows

Average size: 1-5 lbs

World record: 14lbs 8oz

The Brook Trout, besides it's name is a Char, a very close relative to True Trouts. Besides being my favorite fish, is one of the only native trouts of Chars in New York (The other being the Lake Trout). In fact, there are no native trouts in New York State since the Lake Trout is a Char, too. It genarlly lives in small, swift, brooks (hence it's name) of New England. 80% of its diet is insects, and the other 20% is random things, such as worms and leeches. It is known for being one of the most beautiful fishes in North America. It has been introduced into Northern Europe. It tipically lives in unison with the more populous and tolerant Brown Trout, Which also lives in cold, swift rivers. It is generally smaller, too. It is very sensitive to habitat change, and is genarlly the first to go if a creek is polluted. In the Saquoit Creek, A river about 20 miles away from our house, almost all the native Brook Trouts have been killed by pollution from a meatal factory

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Brook_trout_1918.jpg
A drawing of a Brook trout

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5f/Brookie105.jpg

A Brook Trout caught in Wyoming

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Salvelinus_fontinalis.jpg

A Brook Trout

The Black River Canal and More...

I'm sorry, I guess it wasn't the last post of the year! But I think this one will be the last. For A biking trip, we biked along the Black River canal. The canal is called black because the is so much iron in the water that it makes it look black! Same with the black river. Since we biked along the canal I figured I could go fishing in it once and awhile. Early on our fishing attempts were futile and in vain. We had given up all hope (and a few lures). We figured it was too late in the season. Finally about 7 1/2 miles into our 30 mile trip we came to a pond.It looked good for fishing so I cast my line out. Michael said he wouldn't go fishing unless I caught a fish. Within two casts I was reeling in a member of the Esox family and Michael was sprinting for his poleThis is a Chain Pickerel, or Esox niger. It is similar to the carnivorous Northern Pike, or Esox lucious (get the pun), but a little smaller. This one here is an average sized one. They feed on everything they can get there mouths on. There have been reports of them biting wader's legs!After the sprint for the pole Micheal reeled in a humongous pickerel! I have never seen one so big before! This is about the size of a northern Pike! Love the face!Another pickerel caught by me. Good size, but when I tried to take a picture, It went nuts! That's what's happening in this picture. Someones a little picture shy! Note the color of the water in the background. After that catch we continued on along the trail and eventually merged into the Black River. The Black River has a variety of environments, ranging from rapids. The part of the river we fished in happened to be rapids, as you see here.A nice size brown trout Michael caught. Such a pretty fish.A smallmouth bass I caught. As you see we're using spinner bait. After another 15 miles Our trip was concluded, BUT......Micheal's pictures from his Florida trip came in. Down in Florida he caught a Tunny Tuna. Little compared to other tuna, Tunnies generally range from 7- 10lbs. This one Michael caught was 15lbs! Sorry about the poor picture quality. This is a picture of a picture, since he used a disposable camera.