Where's the Pictures?

[mini moe]

Hey you guys what's up with the no post? Use to be pictures of big fish plastered all over this board. I'm comming up the 20th, hurricanes permiting, and if we catch some nice fish I'll post pictures. I wish some of you guys would do the same, I miss seeing all those big fish and fish tales we use to have here on the Freshwater Board. There has been some talk on commercial fishing knocking the numbers of big fish down, I hope it isn't real bad, I warned people of that happening years ago when I first started fishing the James, but everyone said the James was too big to hurt the bluecat population. When they use big baskets as big as a truck and long lines, they have put a hurting on them. I hope it doesn't turn out like one of our local lakes, where you use to be able to catch bunches of big flatheads....now after 10 years of publicity and commerical fishing, you can't buy a big fish there anymore. Are the shad still plentiful, we had trouble getting them the last two trips up there. Thanks for any information and I'd like to see some of you members that use to post so often say a word or two, you'd think you died. Cataholic,Crash14me2,Gotenblues,Odoiminioncatter,R anger690,Ranc.
PS Thanks Dayton for the number look up, 'preciate it.

mini moe

[Hookman571]

Ain't it the truth!

Here the season is about to get cool and no posts. Even Striper Joe is silent and that worrys me. I've been doing some Catfishing in the Potomac, which is starting to turn on, but bait and way to many regulatory agencies are the big problems.
The Maryland DNR, the PRFC, the VDGIF, the VMRC, The Coast Guard, the D.C. DNR, and now detectives from the National Park Service. This isn't even counting the Fairfax County Virginia and Prince Georges County Maryland or either State Police Departments. You better have your stuff right if you fish around the Capitol.

The James is so much easier. Even Virginias VMRC and VDGIF recognize the Blue Catfish. Maryland sticks it's head in it's polluted sand and won't even admit the fish exists. I for one am looking forward to your pictures.

Hookman571

[mini moe]

Yeah Hookman, they don't want a terrorist to rig a catfish to swim to the Capital. No seriously, they probably do need to be cautious around Washington. Speaking of being checked by a game warden..... back about 15 years ago, I was checked no less than four times in one week by the same game warden, here on Lake Norman, NC. I was into crappie fishing and went about every day. To make matters worst I had a lifetime license and had a big NC Seal stating I had a lifetime lic. on both sides of my boat. If you had seen my old boat once and didn't recognize it, you had to be brain dead. It was an old tri hull blue Crosby Sled. When he checked me, he made me show my fire extinguisher ever time and it was in a holder up under the dash board that was hell to put back, it was easy to get out but clamping it back in its' holder was like I said....hell. Anyway the last time he checked me that week, I took the extinguisher out and threw it down in the floor of the boat and I asked him didn't he recognize me, and he said he checked so many people. that no he didn't. Man! that's who we need protrolling our lakes. Speaking of pictures, I hope to have some near the end of the month. Good Luck, Hookman.

mini moe

[aquaman9]

Ya, I think alot of us have been waiting for the cooler weather to get here so the pleasure boaters slow down and we can stop sweating so bad even at night. Some people talk about the great fish they have caught and you never do see a picture, others talk about the fish they caught over the forth of July weekend and then post a picture and you can see that the leaves are allready falling of the trees. Never have seen any snow on the ground in June but you never no what is possible when looking in the background of some of these report pictures.

Your right, we need some more pictures but without being photo shopped.

Heading out the 15th to the 19th will try to catch something camera worthy.

[kutb8]

While seeing pictures of big fish is great its also bad if your picture includes the back ground showing were you're fishing at, don't think the commercial trot liners don't peek in on tf to see if and where big fish are being caught, makes it a hole lot easier to know where to set thier lines to take the big fish that will go to pay ponds for which we will no longer be able to catch. THINK ABOUT IT

[mini moe]

I black out the background or take the picture where there's nothing but boat showing with no background at all. Most people do edit the photos, they don't want other fishermen setting in there favorite fishing holes. It makes for a bad day on the water to have to pick a number to fish your fav. spot.

mini moe

[CaptMikeStarrett]

Admit it you all mis my reports.. Only three short weeks and I will be posting again here.
Taking a couple weeks off to get ready for the upcoming and somewhat overwelming October/November season.
Look forward to the sweet smell of cut bait and flicking catfish buggers.

Capt Mike

[JPritch]

Good luck on your upcoming trip Moe. There are some better freshwater boards catering specifically to catifshing and I think alot of the people post on them now instead of here. There are plenty of shad everywhere. Was out last weekend mid-day and shad were jumping everywhere as we idled through a flat. I've experienced this at night, but never during the day. Put out the net and it was bouncing before we had it all out. We filled a 5-gallon bucket with bleeders and threw a bunch back. The fishing sucked though.

I don't blame anyone for editing the backgrounds on their pics. Too many people who don't contribute, only to lurk and try to take spots from pictures. They'd be surprised how much info people will give freely simply from chatting them up here or on the water. I used to black out backgrounds, but now I photoshop them. I change entire tree lines and landmarks and it looks seamless. I wonder how many people are searching for these spots that don't exist. ;-)

[mini moe]

Thanks for the shad report Josh, I'm looking forwad to comming up next week, if the dang hurricanes will stay away.

mini moe

[cgBosun3]

Is it really that bad? I appreciate the guides keeping their spots under wraps since that is what folks pay guides for - putting them on the fish. Still, I could use some help finding ANY darn fish this summer!I would love to fish at night this summer, but I have to fish below Jordan Point during the day and often on weekends because of work hours - kinda like hunting from a blind on the I-95 median! We have been doing well to catch a half dozen on a good trip, with only one over 20 pounds so far. Then again, even I did well last fall, so maybe I'll get lucky.

[mini moe]

There ain't no fish down river. That use to be the saying.

mini moe

[crash14me2]

Hello Mini Moe! Im still around! We have moved to Charlotte NC. I havent fished the James in awhile now but I still got all my spots memorized! Hope to get someone to take us and maybe I will put them on some fish! I sold my boat :(

[mini moe]

Hey Wayne,
It's good to hear from you. I live up the road from you about 30 miles.
I'd take you up to the James but my health has taken a turn for the worse.
I went to Duke the other day to apply for a lung transplant but they discouraged me from getting it. The survival rate aint too high and the couple years that you live is in constant pain, not that I'm not now, but it would be 50 times worse. I got my boat decked out the way I want it and put new carpet in it, now I can't even walk across the room without being out of breath. Enough..... or too much complaining.
I'm thankful for what body parts I still have working properly. They offered me a thearapy course that they think may help. Lot of walking envolved. How are you and your family doing? Fine I hope. Is your son still racing? My Daughter lives in Charlotte and works at the air port. How 'bout that snow we got for Christmas and the big one today? Gotta go. Talk to you later.

Dennis

[capuzzi2]

Dennis

Sorry to hear about your health problems. You have described your emphysema in the past. This may be a stupid question, but do you have a mobile oxygen unit which would help you get around a boat and pull in the big cats?

Dave

[mini moe]

Thanks for asking Dave, Yeah I do have one of the portable air tanks, but when I get out of breath nothing but a hand held inhaler works and you aren't supose to use them but about 4 or five times a day or they will become inefective. That's a scary feeling not having anything to get your breath back. I usually bounce back after about 4 or 5 minutes with pain of not getting a full breath and the fear of not being able to breathe again. Sitting doesn't bother me too bad, when I stand or walk, that's when it hits. Maybe I could rassel a few more big cats in sitting, hope so anyway.

mini moe

[capuzzi2]

Dennis

I don't mean to pry, but your need for an inhaler leads me to believe that you have chronic bronchitis as well as emphysema. I wonder if there is a seasonal component to your symptoms, with cold dry air being unfavorable. Maybe you will find the warmer dry air of the spring and fall more conducive to activity. That is my hope. I miss your posts of big cats.

Dave

[mini moe]

I have COPD, I think that's a combination of all them nasty breathing problems including brochitis. I can breathe better in cold weather than hot or warm weather.
I have started walking some and it's helping some + I have an air purifer for the house that I think is also helping. I hope to be back on the James by spring if things improve. Thanks for asking.

mini moe

[mini moe]

Trying to edit

[crash14me2]

Hey you guys what's up with the no post? Use to be pictures of big fish plastered all over this board. I'm comming up the 20th, hurricanes permiting, and if we catch some nice fish I'll post pictures. I wish some of you guys would do the same, I miss seeing all those big fish and fish tales we use to have here on the Freshwater Board. There has been some talk on commercial fishing knocking the numbers of big fish down, I hope it isn't real bad, I warned people of that happening years ago when I first started fishing the James, but everyone said the James was too big to hurt the bluecat population. When they use big baskets as big as a truck and long lines, they have put a hurting on them. I hope it doesn't turn out like one of our local lakes, where you use to be able to catch bunches of big flatheads....now after 10 years of publicity and commerical fishing, you can't buy a big fish there anymore. Are the shad still plentiful, we had trouble getting them the last two trips up there. Thanks for any information and I'd like to see some of you members that use to post so often say a word or two, you'd think you died. Cataholic,Crash14me2,Gotenblues,Odoiminioncatter,R anger690,Ranc.
PS Thanks Dayton for the number look up, 'preciate it.

mini moe


Hey guys!! I got no new pics for ya on the James. Moved to Charlotte N.C been racing with my son. Gonna come up this winter and get some fishin in on the James, been awhile!!

[CaptMikeStarrett]

I will start in about two or three weeks and promise some big uns!

Capt Mike

[hans jensen]

52650

Here is pic for ya'll. She just made citation @ 27 pounds. Caught under the 295 bridge (Enon to Varina) on a perch about 1.5 weeks ago.

[CATAHOLIC]

Hey Moe I'm still kickn. first time I been on here in year or two. Still fishn jus not as much!! Been fishing this summer 4 times and had 20 fish over 40lbs biggest was 68,66,63,61. Jus aint into the internet forum dramma anymore so dont I dont post! ;) Not none of them were caught on the james or chick!! go figure.. havent been fishing there since last fall and it wasnt the best then so I aint been back!! Overfishing is bad and the James is feeling it!! So I've found other places to get my fix! Hope you are feeling better.. till next time.Later

[racn35]

Blackwater is 8 miles on one side and Nottaway on the other 6 miles......

I can stand between my horses and catch BASS in my POND every afternoon....

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/RACN35/Pungo/Bass016.jpg

[mini moe]

Hey Boys, I don't post much anymore either, Steve. We fished the James a couple of times this year but didn't catch anything worth posting pictures of, 59 was biggest. PM me and let me know wher you've been fishing, just curious wont fish your locations. We have been drift fishing for years and have never caught a flathead 'til the other day. I got a 15lber and my buddy had his 50lb leader broken by what acted like another flathead. It was a bigger fish than mine. Hey Jamie, you still live in Va Beach?
Ya'll have agood one up that way,
mini moe

[racn35]

Blackwater is 8 miles on one side and Nottaway on the other 6 miles......

I can stand between my horses and catch BASS in my POND every afternoon....


Courtland USA -

[Hookman571]

Yesterday, POTOMAC RIVER. 10 Fish on Frozen Gizzards but this was the biggest at 20.6 lbs. Got stopped and Rammed by one of our finest.
He looked under my Bow and said, "It don't look like I hurt anything." I wonder how he would react if I did something like that to his car.
Actually a 30+ FT. SeaRay Ran by as he was approaching me, just off of the channel and it's wake pushed his boat up and under my bow. The DNR didn't give it a second thought. Maybe those big boats aren't responsible for their wakes. Oh well!!! Other than that,he was a nice guy. 53760

[Hookman571]

Sorry to hear about your health Mini Moe. I've enjoyed your posts for years. You certainly have caught many a big Catfish on the James.

[mini moe]

Thanks,Hookman, I'm still fishing, but it aint easy. Seems like every time we go to the James ever since 9/11 we get checked by different agencies. Police,Game Warrdens,Sheriffs Deputies, I've been looking for Barney Fife to check me next. I have had a few of them wash me away with thier wakes, but none has hit me yet....Knock on wood. Have good one up that way.
PS. Sounds like you have it made Jamie, you can catch them from horse back, can't many people say that.
mini moe