crappies can adapt and live in just about any type of lake and they go by names throughout the country such as calico bass, speckled perch, speckled bass, white perch, pole crappies, strawberry bass, and paper mouth. To determine the age of a speckled bass You catch while you are bait fishing is not an exact science but there is a way to calculate your speckled bass caught with a variety of different crappie baits. Age and growth rates for crappie caught while bait fishing can be attributed too two factors which are the environment and genetics.
In our article today we are going to discuss the method of determining the age of calico bass. The next time you catch a crappie while bait fishing take a look at it’s scales. You can determine the age of any crappie you catch if you learn to read it’s scales. The theory behind reading scales to determine age is based upon assuming that the scales grow proportionately to a fishes length, and this relationship nearly always holds true.
During the slow or no growth periods such as in the cold water winter months the rings or what is called the circuli will be narrowly spaced. Fast growth periods will generate a widely spaced circuli. Year marks called annuli show clearly if you use a magnifying glass for inspection. To take a measurement, you want to measure from the center of the scale called the focus which is horizontally located at the bottom of the scale. The focus point looks like a circle and is your starting point for your measurement. You measure from the outer circumference of the focus and start counting the annuli until you come to the furthest most outer. Annuli. Count each annuli as 1 year.
There are some speckled perch that scale counting is not accurate. For example in warm climates such as Florida counting scales will not work because of the accelerated growth rate. In warm climates it is better to read the otoliths bone. This is a extremely accurate way to determine the age of a strawberry bass but is much more difficult because the bone must be dissected to determine the age. You may need to use the otoliths bone also when there is a extremely slow growth rate.
Well that concludes my article about Crappie Baits. Have a great day and the the best of luck to you on your next fishing trip
Carp fishing is one of the most enjoyable hobbies one can get into today. It has slowly become a worldwide activity and entertainment for its relaxing, natural setup. In France, many sites are there which have already become well-known hotspots for carp fishing enthusiasts. Though there are different locations all around France providing support for Carp fishing, Calais seems to be the most popular among all of them. Not only the wonderful sights, but also the gorgeous climate has made Calais so popular. There are other reasons also behind Calais becoming so popular. There are plenty of lakesides with huge lakes and various other facilities like accommodation, fooding, baits etc. All these lakesides are easily reachable from Calais by ferryboat or even by private car services. This article will concentrate on the various advantages of renting a lakeside around Calais:
Carps are huge in size and plenty in numbers:
Almost all of these lakesides around Calais have huge range of carps available in the lakes. These carps are well fed and maintained also. Generally, the average weight of the carps varies between 30- 40 lbs. Carps of even 70 lbs have been found on separate occasions in some of the lakesides. The number of carps found is also huge. Even a small time lake generally has around 100 caps in it. So, it does not matter when you go, you will not require stopping fishing due to inadequacy of carps.
Accommodation Facilities:
This is a new trend among anglers to bring their families with them while coming for fishing. So, when you have your family with you, accommodation is must. What better than the lakeside itself providing that for you? You can fish all day long and no time restriction will be imposed upon you. Your family can take rest in the lodge with all equipments like air conditioner, television, music system, kitchen, fridge, and attached bathroom with bath tubs – everything that you require to lead a modern life style.
Even if the lakeside does not provide accommodation, you can hire the rest rooms at those locations. They provide everything other than bedding. The charges are also less compared to those with accommodation.
Food:
You do not require going somewhere else for food. You can order your dishes from the restaurants alongside these lake sides. They can even cook the particular carp you fished on special orders that will cost more though.
Change in swims:
To excel in the competition, some of the lakesides allowed anglers to change swims according to their choice. This option became popular among anglers and later most of the other lakesides followed. Generally such change of swims requires you paying a bit extra cash but nothing unaffordable at all.
Baits:
You are a rookie when it comes to carp fishing and does not know how to make baits. Lakeside authorities are out there to help you. The experienced anglers will make baits for you and even assist you to catch the carps.
Photography
You forgot to bring your camera to catch the moment of that fish in your hand? Do not worry. Lakeside hired professional photographers will be there to help you out to carry that special moment with you wherever you go with digital clarity.
These are only some of the advantages of fishing near Calais; the list will turn to be huge if all facilities are to be mentioned.
Channel cats are the most studied species of catfish, but compared to other game fish studies the amount of data available is minimal. Most of the data that is available about channel catfish’s seasonal movement is based on just a few rivers, lakes and reservoirs that have been watched closely.
One factor that remains constant when you are talking about seasonal movements of catfish is the fact that the length of daylight effects all species of catfish. Some species such as the channel catfish are effected more then other species such as the blue catfish and flat head catfish. Actually the length of day effects small organisms and all animals up the food chain to include game fish. The intensity and length of light effects drives the yearly migration and spawning and feeding patterns of channel catfish, blue catfish, and flat head catfish. If you can learn these patterns you will enjoy more productive channel catfish bait fishing trips on a regular basis.
The In-Fisherman has developed an excellent calander that you can analize and track the seasonal movements of channel catfish at any location within their habitat range. This calendar can be obtained by purchasing their book In – Fisherman Critical Concepts. Basically the calendar divides North America into the Southern range, The Midrange, and the Northern Range. The calendar has ten periods which include catfish pre-spawn, spawn, post-spawn, pre-summer, summer peak, summer, post-summer, fall turnover, coldwater, winter. Each of these periods is posted on the calendar through all months of the yearin all ranges, so you can predict where catfish will be and what kind of catfish bait you can use in your local area. Or if you are planning a trip to catch a mess of catfish out of state you can use the calendar to pick the best time of year.
The winter period includes the coldwater and winter periods. The coldwater period is considered a long period of time when the water temperature stays below the norm for catfish. Channel catfish will continue to feed during this period but they won’t be as active when compared to other times of the year. If you plan on going bait fishing to catch some channel catfish at this time of your look for deep water holes that is where they will be holding for the winter. Temperature ranges in the winter average from 32 degrees to 39 degrees in Manitoba to 40 degrees to 50 degrees in Florida.
In the south, the spring coldwater period is when the water temperature starts to rise. The spring coldwater period in the north starts right after ice out. Channel catfish will still be located in deep holes. Unlike walleyes, pike, and sauger, who move quickly into their spawning period, channel catfish, blue catfish, and flat head catfish do not spawn for tow three more months away when water temperatures rise to 75 degrees. When water temperatures rise above 50 degrees channel catfish, blue catfish and flathead catfish will begin to move out of there deep holes looking for the years winter fish kill. This is an ideal time to use gizzard shad and skip jack herring as your catfish bait. All catfish species will be aggressively eating the deed fish kill, even the flat head catfish who normally feeds primarily on live bait fish, such as bluegill, perch, and other catfish and forage fish.
The pre-spawn period is when the channel catfish will start it’s migration to smaller rivers, and tributaries to look for food and to find good spawning areas. In lakes or reservoirs this migration may be to the mouth of any incoming creeks or rivers into the lake or reservoir. This time of you’re a good catfish bait would fresh mussels and large live creek chubs and large shiners. The main difference between the pre-spawn and early spring period is that the channel catfish’s metabolism is increasing and they are becoming more active so they are aggressively looking for catfish bait.
As the water temperatures rise to 75 degrees catfish such as the channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish enter the spawning period. Channel catfish will spawn for over a month so bait fishing efforts will not be effected. Channel catfish are extremely active and aggressive during the spawning period. A good catfish bait would be cut baits such as gizzard shad, soured mussels, or creek chubs.
The settling period includes the post spawn and the pre-summer periods when water temperatures rise to about 80 degrees and above. The channel catfish has the same activity level and feeding patterns during the summer as they do during the spawn period and your bait fishing methods and catfish bait can remain the same. As the water levels start to drop the channel catfish will start their move to deep water areas down stream or deeper areas on a lake or reservoir. They will still feed aggressively during the night hours in shallows but move deeper during the daylight hours.
The summer period which includes summer peak , summer and post summer periods occurs when the water temperatures rise to 80 degrees and above. The summer period includes much of July, August, and September. Summer is the prime time to fish for channel catfish because they are predicable and actively feeding. You can continue to catch channel catfish while bait fishing using cut bait for your catfish bait selection. Some common bait fish to use for cut bait are gizzard shad , skipjack herring, shiners and creek chubs.
As the cooling period starts channel catfish and blue catfish will head for deeper holes in rivers and lakes. And will be less active as the whole cycle of life starts over again.
We hope the information here has bin helpful about about Creek Chubs. Have a great day and the the best of luck to you on your next fishing trip
Check out Mark’s website to get more details on: Skipjack Herring
