Took my good friend and SS teacher, Don P., out on a mid day trip today. We left the dock at 10AM and targeted his area of the lake - in the general area of the spillway. I had two humps I wanted to try again that Billy Seaman had shown me. The 1st was Rocky Hump. We marked fish there at 16 to 18 ft, anchored so we could cast down wind and picked up 30 whites, a 20 inch hybrid, 2 short hybrids and a keeper yellow. When it slowed a bit we decided to go to the 2nd hump called Game Warden Hump. I've been there 3 or 4 times since Billy showed it to me, and I had always caught a lot of fish there. Well, today was one of those WOW days. We saw and marked fish at 18 to 21 ft, and again anchored so we could cast down wind. We caught 95 more whites(almost all were 13 to 15 inches with 3 going 16), 2 more keeper hybrids 19 and 22 inches, 5 more short hybrids to 17 inches and 2 more keeper yellows. Altogether we had 125 whites, 3 keeper hybrids, 7 short hybrids and 3 keeper yellows. We decided to quit at 125 whites and headed back to dock at 1:40. All fish were caught using the inline spinner technique with #4 silver Mepps plain aglia spinners and 10 lb fluorcarbon line.



Don P. with white bass.

Just how do you guys keep up with all the fish you catch?

I do it for a living and I have no idea how many (total) caught in any one day.

When I bass fished all the time I didn't know if it was 10 or 50 for that day (and I really did not care, I just knew it was a good day).

Us CC guys use counters.

I think you are asking 2 questions: Why do you count them? and How do you keep track of them? The why is simple - it along with the quality is the way you measure your success. It is for you and for others. You are able to compare one outing against another. It is proof that, for example, you had your best day. Othewise you are guessing. It is more satisfying to make sure you know how you did. The other important reason is to make sure you don't exceed limits if you are keeping fish.

It is for others so when they ask, "How'd you do?" Telling them how many you caught is the most relevant answer. Then add qualitaitve remarks.

How do I do it? I keep a running tally in my head of the number of each type of fish that is caught in my boat that is countable. (I don't track it by person) I've been doing it so long it is just 2nd nature to me now. For me, countable fish include: any legal fish that is big enough to fllet and eat, short hybrids big enough to filet and eat. I don't count white bass, black bass, crappie or catfish that are too small to be legal. I count fish that are outside a slot if they are big enough to filet and eat. I keep track of non legal fish - say like short hybrids - separately from legal ones.

Most of us have counters and scales, the scales keep us from catching 15 pounders.

I use my hands and feet. If I catch more than 20 (very rare) I start using empty diet milk cans. If I run out of diet milk cans I take out the Bowie knife and carve marks on the side oft boat???

Or u can use a fis counter

There is a very slim chance that you run out of cans.


Okay no chance.

You guys crack me up!!!

I use a counter for fish kept but don't have one for total fish caught.
Dennis I still plan on coming out with you. Your just killing them it sounds like.

Where is Game Warden Point?

I don't follow. You showed Game Warden Hump to me. Dennis

Billy is getting old. He has a hard time remembering things.

I think that's what we call in the fishing business as 'pulling your leg'.

Yes mine has a 1 on it and it's getting worn out.