Author Topic: jigged up some winter smallies (Read 1959 times)

NHHARDWATER · « **on:** Mar 16, 2015, 02:06 PM »

The wife, kids and I Hit a lake up in the NEK with my father Saturday for a family outing targeting some Yellows and ended up filling the freezer with some fat smallmouth (some decent yellows too). All but 1 of the bass were caught jigging, which made it that much more fun. The highlight of the day, was when my wife hauled in her limit out of one hole... within 15 minutes, they kept hammering the jig before the jig even hit the bottom... Perch didn't stand a chance getting to the jig. The first she caught was a beauty 4# (2nd pic). Avg. weight was just under 3#.
The kids each reeled in a few, and had fun all morning with the perch, chasing flags and rippin' tip-up line. Awesome Day out!!!
Family pic:

Wife with a couple fatties:

3 generations:

ICE_HOOK · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 16, 2015, 03:04 PM »

Very nice catch! Nice that family enyoyed it with you!

Will Vaughan · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 16, 2015, 04:30 PM »

Nice catch! I usually throw back all my bass but so many people say they taste good I must just be cooking them wrong! Unless it's a secret do you mind sharing how you prepare them? Also does it matter time of year because I know with catfish once the water warms up they taste like mud.

VTMatt · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 16, 2015, 06:14 PM »

I bet that was a blast! Grats.

johnrielly · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 16, 2015, 06:49 PM »

Where can u keep that many bass this time of year?

NHHARDWATER · « **Reply #5 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 05:56 AM »

Quote from: johnrielly on Mar 16, 2015, 06:49 PM

Where can u keep that many bass this time of year?

This was at Island Pond. There were 5 of us in the group, and they way I read the Vt. digest, Island pond has a 5 fish daily limit on bass. If I am mistaken on this, PLEASE CORRECT me. I asked this question a F&G officer last winter, because there were a bunch of us confused with how it was written. He agreed by how it reads, you can keep 5 per the index and table #2. I might be sticking my neck out here, as I know how hot the shanty can get

. If you read the first link I attached, look at Island pond, it states specifies that you may keep bass with no restrictions specified, and to refer to table 2. Because daily limits and length have no specified restrictions stated on the index (1st link), you follow the Table 2 daily limit reg.
Again, I am not too proud... If I am dead wrong with this, please let me know if I (and the F&G officer) understand this incorrectly.

http://www.eregulations.com/vermont/index-of-lakes-ponds/

http://www.eregulations.com/vermont/table-2-general-fishing-regulations-for-lakes-ponds-impoundments-reservoirs-and-particular-rivers-and-streams/

NHHARDWATER · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 06:02 AM »

Quote from: Will Vaughan on Mar 16, 2015, 04:30 PM

Nice catch! I usually throw back all my bass but so many people say they taste good I must just be cooking them wrong! Unless it's a secret do you mind sharing how you prepare them? Also does it matter time of year because I know with catfish once the water warms up they taste like mud.

WV, if you like to eat your catch, try a bass. They are great! My wife's favorite. there is no secret, any fish fry mix (I like beer batter), panko, bread crumbs, and pan fry it.
One suggestion, cut them into nugget size chunks, I found they cook better, quicker and more evenly when chunked up before coating them.
The kids even love it too!

pokholes · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 06:12 AM »

Cold water bass are Great table fare! Good day out the with family Congratulations!

NHHARDWATER · « **Reply #8 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 06:18 AM »

It might be worth mentioning too (to help me feel better about my understanding of the bag limit lol), that My father and I, along with my good friend, had a really good day at IP last winter, where we got into a real good pile of smallies. We were checked toward the end of the trip, by a (different) F&G officer, and he complimented our success with the nice bass.
Im not trying to start a sword fight here, because Im not afraid to be incorrect, I am just trying to exhibit my understanding, and that it has been verified by a few important stake holders.

Light liner · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 06:29 AM »

Quote from: NHHARDWATER on Mar 17, 2015, 06:18 AM

It might be worth mentioning too (to help me feel better about my understanding of the bag limit lol), that My father and I, along with my good friend, had a really good day at IP last winter, where we got into a real good pile of smallies. We were checked toward the end of the trip, by a (different) F&G officer, and he complimented our success with the nice bass.
Im not trying to start a sword fight here, because Im not afraid to be incorrect, I am just trying to exhibit my understanding, and that it has been verified by a few important stake holders.

Nice catch, you can't win with some of these people on this forum.
They are just jealous.

Little Brown Dog · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 06:39 AM »

Quote from: NHHARDWATER on Mar 17, 2015, 06:18 AM

It might be worth mentioning too (to help me feel better about my understanding of the bag limit lol), that My father and I, along with my good friend, had a really good day at IP last winter, where we got into a real good pile of smallies. We were checked toward the end of the trip, by a (different) F&G officer, and he complimented our success with the nice bass.
Im not trying to start a sword fight here, because Im not afraid to be incorrect, I am just trying to exhibit my understanding, and that it has been verified by a few important stake holders.

You are reading the limit on bass correctly. It is the same for all the table 2 waters that have an ice fishing season for bass and trout that I know of.

NHHARDWATER · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 07:09 AM »

Quote from: Light liner on Mar 17, 2015, 06:29 AM

Nice catch, you can't win with some of these people on this forum.
They are just jealous.

Naw, I didn't take JR's comment as a negative, nor get the impression it is jealousy speaking. The regulations could be articulated more clearly than they are, and it does get confusing to remember which places you can keep, and which are release only through the ice, as well as how many. I appreciate his question, because it brings up an opportunity to validate our inturpretations and get some transparency on the subject.

johnrielly · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 07:42 AM »

No i was just asking. I know of a few places that allow 2 bass limits this time of year.. Im glad you knew I meant no harm by the question.. Good catch, and good to know I could go get some sm fillets there..

NHHARDWATER · « **Reply #13 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 07:47 AM »

Hey, if you dont ask, you wont know, eh?

Jschumacher · « **Reply #14 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 07:55 AM »

That was a good day. Nice job with the family

NHHARDWATER · « **Reply #15 on:** Mar 17, 2015, 08:58 AM »

Thanks. Yeah it was a blast! Way to end the Vt bass season.

Cub · « **Reply #16 on:** Mar 19, 2015, 05:01 PM »

Wow! Great day!

fishingidjit · « **Reply #17 on:** Mar 19, 2015, 05:06 PM »

Nice outing with the family!

BomoBrown · « **Reply #18 on:** Mar 20, 2015, 04:42 AM »

I like to marinate my bass in buttermilk and then beer batter panko deep fry.

Will Vaughan · « **Reply #19 on:** Mar 20, 2015, 05:53 PM »

Quote from: NHHARDWATER on Mar 17, 2015, 06:02 AM

WV, if you like to eat your catch, try a bass. They are great! My wife's favorite. there is no secret, any fish fry mix (I like beer batter), panko, bread crumbs, and pan fry it.
One suggestion, cut them into nugget size chunks, I found they cook better, quicker and more evenly when chunked up before coating them.
The kids even love it too!

I'll have to give it a shot sometime! Thanks for the response. I'll have to try the cutting them up into nuggets next time!

thebigwiggle · « **Reply #20 on:** Mar 23, 2015, 08:15 PM »

Great pictures. Looks like fun.

NHHARDWATER · « **Reply #21 on:** Mar 24, 2015, 05:35 AM »

Thanks Joe,
This was the best time I had on the ice all year, and I didn't even fish for half the day... I had a better time watching my wife play Vex-box with the bass!

greensider · « **Reply #22 on:** Mar 24, 2015, 05:42 AM »

that rock bass is a pig

NHHARDWATER · « **Reply #23 on:** Mar 24, 2015, 05:47 AM »

Quote from: greensider on Mar 24, 2015, 05:42 AM

that rock bass is a pig

Yes, it was a slabber. I tried eating rock bass last winter, and man, they are actually really good eating in the winter time. If you catch them, give them a shot in the fryer... you wont be as likely to throw them back!

coldsteel · « **Reply #24 on:** Mar 24, 2015, 05:55 AM »

that looks like a great day right there, one you guys will remember forever. the quality of those smallies are real nice too. congrats

NHHARDWATER · « **Reply #25 on:** Mar 24, 2015, 06:03 AM »

Quote from: coldsteel on Mar 24, 2015, 05:55 AM

that looks like a great day right there, one you guys will remember forever. the quality of those smallies are real nice too. congrats

My wife won't LET me forget it... she out fished me that day!

greensider · « **Reply #26 on:** Mar 24, 2015, 06:12 AM »

they are better than most panfish

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Author Topic: jigged up some winter smallies (Read 1959 times)