Survey

You can check out my 2009 fishing stats in the Lance Dunham part of the forum. 11,920 fish.
I think there was 14 species, I put all the trout in one category

Favorite fish, the smallmouth bass, pound for pound the best fighting fish on the river, they never give up.  Just think if a smallie got as big as a musky they would be twice as tough to bring in.

Best catch was the 22" smallie on my light rod.

Best ever was a 44" Musky on my light rod because it cleared the water twice by the boat.

Best form is from a bigger boat,(so it doesn't tip) on the river with a light spinning rod.

You did say everyone

General survey questions for everyone.
1.) How many different species or variety of species of fish did you catch in 2009.
2.) What is your favorite fish to catch and why?
3.) What was your best catch in 2009?
4.) What was your best catch ever?
5.) What is your favorite form of fishing?
I caught (had in hand) 3 smallies, I don't know how many Rockies, 5 Lg. Mouth, 1 Brookie, 1 Brown, and a handfull of panfish.  My favorite to catch has been the Rock Bass.  My best catch in 09' was the Brookie.  He was a good fight and I wasn't expecting a trout that big (I don't know why), and the beautiful colors of the fish.  It was a real treat for me.  Best catch ever would be the same.  Favoite form of fishing....undecided at this point.

-tcarr

1.  2009 Tally:  Three fallfish in the NB, panfish/rockies up the wazoo, 4 perch, 9 'bows, 10 brookies, 8 browns, 60+ smallies, gazillion chubs, 1 pickerel, 1 walleye, 1 carp, 1 catfish, 1/2 of a lawn chair webbing, 1 rotted sneaker, and 2 plastic holders for 6-packs.
2.  Favorite fish.....??  Well, the flyfishing purists will shun me... but I love flyfishing for smallies a bit more than trout.  But I do hold wild brookies as a sacred fish.  Runner-up would be the fiesty blue gill.  'cause when you need a day of action.... the 'gills never fail to bite!
3.  Best catch in 2009: was a 17"-18" SM on my 5 wgt. (see the JJ's ad on the sidebar... that's the fish)
4.  Best catch ever was in 1995 with a 44.5" wild Steelhead on the Snake River near Lewiston, ID with a Spey Rod.   I don't count the hatchery rats.
5.  Favorite form....  C'mon you guys know this one!!!   Flyfishing!!!  What did you think I was gonna say?  Noodlin' for catfish?

1.) Tiger Trout,Rainbow Trout, Brooke Trout, Brown Trout, Large Mouth Bass,Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Steelhead.
2.) Favorite Fish To catch Waterwolves aka the Northern Pike, there tenacity and viciousness are like no others, when I catch them they try to kill me bmy gnawing on my arm or hands. They see me as prey...I respect them because they got alot of balls, even when they are in a situation when its not in there favor ie when I bring them to hand.
3.) Best Catch? Everyone is great but I caught a very obese smally that probably came close to 7 or 8lbs pic or heavier for all i know pic is down below. I caught it while it came in to feed at dusk, it was like casting to a weary bone fish in the flats, the water is extremely clear.
4.) Best catch ever was the first pike I caught on a fly. Will never forget that moment and the chaos that ensued.
5.) Favorite form Flyfishing but when thats not working i like to break out an ultra light spinning rod with 6lb test its so hard landing stuff with a small outfit so I like to challenge myself even though it may lead to frustration with breakoffs.

Matt that's a PIG smallie!  Way to go!

Where do you go for Tiger troots?   I heard the nearest stockings were north of the Godfather's dacha up in Clarion Co.

Actually, I thought Lance was going to say Noodlin for catfish!  Lance, I kinda figured how yours would shake out in this but I wasn't sure if you would suprise us by saying Muskie for favoite fish to catch.  You know just to keep us on our toes. 
 
Dave's choice of the smallie was a little suprise.  However, I did think he would go with the whippy rod.
 
Matt- I do admire your choice of favorite to catch.  A fish that sees YOU as bait!  Maybe you should try noodlin with Dave. (just a thought).  Do you have any pics of the Tiger trout you can post?  When you caught the Pike on the fly the first time, were you targeting pike or was it chance?
 
seriously, thanks for your replies.  I hope more members answer the survey.  I enjoyed your replies.

My first time I caught a pike ,I was targeting that species. I tied on a huge clouser, the bigger the better, and I had a steel nylon leader on so there would be no chance it would break me off.

I have a picture of tiger trout, just gotta do some diggin to find it.

Dave I think you know where I caught tigers, a little barrel called...paradise.....thats rainbow paradise it is....i go there every year once a year as soon as it opens to get the cob webs out. Its a nice way to start the season.

Oh yeah....   so yer catchin' pellet fed pets?  LOL!   That's a good time at the paradise...  I always enjoyed going there in the past.  It swipes the skunk off clean!

For those who have not had the pleasure... feast yer steaming naked eyes on http://www.rainbowparadisetroutfarm.com

General survey questions for everyone.
1.) How many different species or variety of species of fish did you catch in 2009.
2.) What is your favorite fish to catch and why?
3.) What was your best catch in 2009?
4.) What was your best catch ever?
5.) What is your favorite form of fishing?

Answer 1. bass, trout, crappie, pickerel, carp, suckers, blue gill, perch, sunnies, rockbass

#2 Small mouth bass, they have the best fight and good acrobatics

#3 15" Rainbow, caught in Oct on wet fly in 20 degree weather,

#4 6.7 lb largemouth caught in Lake Shirley, Mass, in Oct a long time ago, he is on the wall right beside me now.

#5 Tournment bass fishing

After some diggin tcarr here is a pic of a tiger trout my buddy caught, they are fiesty trouts. The odds of catching a wild tiger trout are slim to none.

Nice...very nice!  It's pretty cool that you both have caught them.

That one is a pellet head at the trout farm inn. The odds of me catching a wild one are 0.01%

1.) How many different species or variety of species of fish did you catch in 2009.
  Ummm.... Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Catfish, Carp, SM Bass, LM Bass, Bluegill, Sunny, Pumpkin Seed, Salmon
2.) What is your favorite fish to catch and why?
  Anything that will let me set the hook is good with me.  Salmon is probably my favorite though.
3.) What was your best catch in 2009?
    Nothing sticks out....
4.) What was your best catch ever?
     26lb King Salmon in Sandy Creek last September.  She was a pig and fought real well.
5.) What is your favorite form of fishing?
     A lazy day of fishing.  Doesn't matter where as long as I am with my sons and/or a friend or two.  For me fishing is about enjoying nature and relaxing.

OK, there is a tie for #4.

I went out in early June in 2005 with a buddy of mine on his 24ft Center Console and hit the ocean searching for stripers.  We were heading North towards Long Branch out of the Belmar Bay when we saw some birds hovering over a choppy looking stretch of water.  It was probably 1/2 mile north of the Belmar Bay exit to the ocean.  
Anyway, the water is teaming with baitfish, and the only reason they would be up on the surface like that would be because predator fish were below, namely Stripers.

So we head over there and cut the engines so we slide up next to the mass.

I grab a FAT ocean pole with a huge spoon and treble hook on it and cast it way to the other side of the bait pod.  As soon as it hits the water I start ripping it through the pod.  I feel a snag and know I just hooked a bait fish.  I let the spool go free and wait.  A few seconds later the line is FLYING out of the reel.  I wait a few more seconds then flip the bail closed and set the hook.

HOLY SHIT!!!  I almost got yanked right out of the boat and into the water.  If Capt Bill (my buddy) hadn't grabbed me by my belt buckle, I might of went in for sure.  Anyway, I am fighting this Striper for about 20 minutes before I get it into the boat.  It was HUGE!!!  It was 52" and around 36 pounds!!  A big fat old man, king of his species.  

We had no camera on the boat and my debate was to keep it so I could get a picture of it or let the old man swim again (and hopefully make more of him).  Well, Capt Bill is a big conservationist when it comes to the fisheries so he talked me into letting it go.  We first made an outline of him on the deck of the boat with a magic marker.  Then he was free to swim again.

We spent the rest of the afternoon doing the same thing over and over again, but never caught one that big.  We did fill up with our quota of keepers.  They are a tasty fish, and A LOT OF FUN TO CATCH!!!!

So.... I am hoping to make a Striper run this year to the Jersey Shore.....  Anyone interested???  I know a few people who own boats.

That's got to be an awsome feeling to get a tug like. I can't even imagine it.