Just a simple question for all of you “fish counters” that have epic days where you catch 50, or even 60 fish:
How do you keep track of that many??? Do you have a “clicker” that keeps count? Personally, I seem to start to lose track after about 6 or 7 fish. Was I on 8? Was that last one #9 or # 10? I can’t imagine how confusing it get’s after you have caught 25 – Let’s see, there was the two 15"ers, the big rainbow, the 5 little perch, or was that 6 perch? I can’t remember. Oh, and the cutthroat. That makes 10…
I guess some people just have better memories than I do.
Fish Lake was good this year, as usual. Nothing different to report from every other report, except that this year the elk are still hanging out around the lake. That’s a little bit different than years past…
a lill handheld clicker works for me but on the ling i get to count each one as i filet them but when we bow fish or hit pelican or any other place were we get big number’s a clicker keep’s the count. if your loseing your count at 7-8 you may be geting old and loseing your great memory there PBH[;)]
At the store we used to have a rule of thumb for fish stories…“Divide by a third”
If the story teller caught 3 dozen fish =12
If it was a 6lbs. fish on the Weber = 2lbs.,still a nice fish.
Exception to the rule is" 5lbs".,its just a lie.[:P]
Kind of a funny topic and unfortunately for me, is a topic that I consider each and every time I go out. I’m so obsessive compulsive and feel the need to count each fish and species, and record them into my log each trip. I have logs that go back to 2004 when I started fishing and can tell you exactly how many fish caught of each species for every outing I went on.
I’m usually pretty good at keeping track, but in those instances where I have multiple species and fish counts over 20 or so, I do start writing them down. Not each fish perhaps, but once I write the count down I will start over in my mind again till I start getting confused, then write that down. Occassionally I will lose track and will just write down or mentally note the last solid number I remember. I did that at Scofield this year once. I’m pretty sure I caught well over 50 fish, but I lost track twice and settled on a “20 count” each time. So I logged 40 fish for that trip. If in doubt, I never over estimate, if anything I under estimate.
I also keep track of my biggest fish of each species, lakes visited, weather conditions, moon phase, temperature, and of course what was working that day or not. I always have a pen and paper with me and I resort to writing the counts down very often.
I’m pretty sure it’s a curse that I have. I would love to just go fishing one day and not write the trip down in my log…but I can’t.
Kent has a couple of those clickers and they do come in handy when you catch 100+ Bluegills each at Pelican Lake!
So, I guess my next question, for all the “clicker” users out there is: Why? If you’re catching that many fish, what does it matter if you have an exact count?
I guess for me, a good day of fishing just isn’t measured in numbers of fish caught. Other people just have that need in them to count and keep track.
PBH,
Why are you so critical about everyone who posts on here.I admit i didnt count EVERY fish I caught at fishlake this last weekend.Its just a way to discribe how good the fishing was..Take a chill pill and relax about what guys right on this board.
Sounds like you are really getting old PBH can’t remember Hmmmmm.. You could try this for every bottle of power bait I use I just count that as thirty fish. So when I use 2 bottles then I feel real good so I pack up and go home. Why don’t you help those southern boys out down there. You know host a party, cook some fish, even give away some prizes. Show where you’re** HOT** Spots are.
utfishguy31 – I’m not being critical. Nowhere did I say that there was anything wrong with counting fish, nor did I say it was a bad thing. I only questioned how people keep track, and why.
My questions were honest questions – inquiring minds want to know. What is it that makes people count their fish, and how do they keep track once they get past 6 or 7. If that offends you, then maybe you need to lighten up a little bit. I suggest that you (utfishguy31) stop trying to pick a fight with your negativity. Keep things on the positive. It’s a new year.
I wasnt picking a fight,just explaining to you why people mention how many fish they caught just like an author of a book goes into detail about there story,thats how you describe things in writing when you cant speak to someone directly.
Being as bright as you are you should know that already and should understand that what fishing forums are used for so why ask the question.
pikeman – I like your method of counting the best so far! I think I’ll attempt a modified version of it: every fly I lose = 10 fish. The only thing I worry about with this method is that I’ll end up getting skunked far too often!
I’m not too big on the whole get-together outings. Fishing has always been a family thing for me. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy the company of others, or that I don’t like to fish with buddies, or even that I don’t want to try to teach someone something new. It’s just that I find fishing with my family very gratifying, and I’d hate to pass up the opportunity of spending time with my family. Besides, Fish Lake over New Years feels like a party anyway. It gets busier and busier every year.
Some of my hot spots? I have no secrets. I’m always more than willing to help anyone out with whatever knowledge I might have. I can only think of 1 time that I have ever turned anyone down for “secret hot spot” information. Ask and ye shall receive. Just don’t ask for gps coordinates!
UTfish – what method of counting do you use? (contribute something positive to the thread please)
If so, I am familiar with both Cliff and I kind of know MoJo[;)]
Both are …well, opinionated, but gotta say, they don’t pull any punches either.
PBH, I didn’t ask, but I have wondered that for years myself, but I do know some that count as mention to inform how good a spot is, but also know some that do it to make them self look good (Not talking about anyone here, okay)
I say, whatever makes you comfortable, go for it. Plus you got to admit, it would keep the brain juices flowing.
(on a side note, I too forget after about 6, but I am woman…LOL that number 6 comes up allot )
I do have to admit more than mild amusement when I read posts that pronounce “100 fish days” in the headlines, then you read the text and the 100 fish were caught between 12 anglers. [crazy] I suppose it is all good though.
Getting back to Fish Lake, you mentioned a cutthroat. I caught a cutt on my trip there on Jan 1st. 1st time I have done that at FL. ( I have caught browns there before but never a cutt) How common are they there? Was it just one that got randomly stocked by accident?
As for how many I caught (by myself) Not sure, about/approximately/rounded up or down/estimated to be between 85 and 93, give or take a couple. Not that it was a great achievement, about 45-47 were perch.[;)] And my 3 friends did about as well as I so it was a … fish day.
Now what I find amusing, and I say amusing, I am not calling anyone a liar, but the 50 fish in one hour…HOLY CRAP! that is a hair over a minute per fish! But, I guess anything is possible.
I am not referring to this 50, I am sure these took a reasonable amount of time and more than one rod…
Speaking of several rods…how would that work, there is still only one you?
Now I don’t ice fish, but you do space the rods out right?
doggone – when I mentioned a cutthroat I was only being hypothetical – I did not mean to lead anyone to believe that I caught a cutthroat at Fish Lake.
I don’t believe that they are common at all at Fish Lake. I’m not sure that they are stocked, or have been stocked in a long time. The only cutthroat I can think of being stocked in Fish Lake have been older brood stock fish.
Disclaimer: all numbers, species, etc. that I posted in this thread have been made up, and should in no way be believed by anyone reading the thread. PBH
RE:“Now what I find amusing, and I say amusing, I am not calling anyone a liar, but the 50 fish in one hour…HOLY CRAP! that is a hair over a minute per fish! But, I guess anything is possible.
I am not referring to this 50, I am sure these took a reasonable amount of time and more than one rod…”
When ice fishing, one can catch fish very rapidly at times, especially perch and other panfish. However, I would agree that 50 in an hour would seem to strain the limits of what is physically possible…or maybe I’m just a spazz and others can re-rig that quickly.
I drink one beer for every fish I catch and at the end of the day I just count the Empties . You know you have had to much to drink when you start throwing the beer back and keeping the fish . Curt G.
The only bad thing about one beer for every fish caught, would be the days I died of thirst with a full cooler of beer next to me. I cant count on me catching fish!! Just have fun!To hell with the numbers!!
Hand held clicker works for me. I saw Kent using one on Jordanelle one year so I picked one up. I"ve been using it ever since. If I keep track of different species, and the the bite isn’t too fast, I’ll create a text draft on the cell phone and update that everytime I catch one.
but when we bow fish or hit pelican or any other place were we get big number’s a clicker keep’s the count. if your loseing your count at 7-8 you may be geting old and loseing your great memory there PBH[;)]
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