Keeping fish for dinner? prep it right.

A lot of people like to eat their catch, Im one of “those guys”. Years ago I would catch my fish, put them on a stringer or in a live well. At the end of the day would fillet them. I did notice the fish would be “mushy” and not taste very good. After a fishing trip with a couple older guys I learned a very important lesson. Fish prep before you're off the water. Here are a few steps I do to keep the fish cool and more desirable to eat.

1. After catching the fish, I slit its throat and put it in the live well. The fish will generally bleed out in a few minutes. Bleeding the fish out gives us 2 results. Keeps the lactic acid from entering the meat. It also keeps blood from getting on the cleaning area, less mess to clean up.

2. Keep your live well pumping, the water in your well will get very warm and nasty.

3. I then throw them in a cooler UNDER ice. I always put meat under ice, this helps keep the meat as cold as possible.

4. Ice fishing is a different animal all together. Frozen fish is tougher too fillet. In the winter immediately after the cash I will slit their throats. After they bleed out I will put them in a cooler.

When you get to the cleaning station your fish will be very cool and firm but wait there’s more. After cleaning your fish rinse them off thoroughly with fresh water. This washes off bacteria that will start breaking down the fish. Put them in a plastic bag, under ice, when you get to the campsite or home the fish will be in excellent shape to eat.

If you are freezing the fish for a later meal, either vacuum seal the fish or freeze them in water. We put our fillets in a plastic bag (with the species name and date on it) fill them full of water then force water out of the bag while zipping it shut. This keeps air out of the bag and prevents freezer burn. When thawing out our fish, we will put the bags in cold water. This will help it thaw faster without damaging the meat.

By following these simple tips your fish just might taste a little better. Please remember selective harvest is important. Let hem big fish go so we can have more smaller fish to eat in the future. If your interested in so fish recipes try these. https://www.fishingwithbernie.com/recipes

Organizing, Cleaning and sharp hooks

A few years ago my buddy and I were pre-fishing for a walleye tournament.  The bite was soft and light. He caught about 5 to my one before I decided to check the hook on my jig. I either didn’t check it before the first cast or the hook point hit a couple rocks. It was so blunt it rolled over my thumb nail. To this day he reminds me every time we go fishing to check the hook. 

After that fateful day I’ve become very aware of dull, rusty or bent hooks. I will also keep a close eye on my leader for twists, fraying or nicks. A couple minutes here and there might help keep that trophy fish pinned on your hook. I always tell my clients there are 3 points of release. Bad hook set or dull hook. Bad knot, twisted or weakened line. A drag that’s too tight or to loose. (We won’t talk about netting in this article)

Let’s start with some tips on hook maintenance. When a hook comes out of the package, I like to line the point of the hook up with the eye. Grab a pair of pliers and push the hook from the base of the bend right or left just a little bit. I’m a firm believer an off-set hook grabs more fish. When selecting your lure, jig or plain hook take a moment to look it over. If you see rust around the point grab a hook file and grind it off. While you’re at it check the sharpness of the hook. I do this by running the point over my thumb nail. If the hook scrapes or slides over it, I spend a few seconds sharpening it. Sharpen the hook away from the point so it will not form a burr on the point. If you keep your tackle in boxes make sure they are waterproof boxes or the boxes that drain and breathe. This will help with rusty hooks. To keep hooks sharp protect them by burying the hook in foam. Pipe insulation from the hardware store works wonders. 

Line can create its own set of problems. When fishing clear water for anything I like to use fluorocarbon. I must admit, I have a love hate relationship with fluorocarbon. Its more sensitive and abrasion resistant then mono, but its memory can drive me nuts. We vertical jig tubes for lake trout, the tubes are terrible line twisters. Keep an eye on twisted line, if and when it starts twisting up and causing problems cut it off and retie. Watch the bottom few feet of your line for nicks or fraying, if you see anything change it. If you’re a sports fan, watching a game on tv is an excellent opportunity to learn new knots. (A little practice hear helps land a few more fish.) If you’re still using fluorocarbon or mono from last year this would be a great time to change it out. Fall is right around the corner and those big fish will be looking to break a few hearts and create more stories. When I replace my line on the spools I color coordinate my line. All 6 lb. will have a green tint, 8 dark or smoke, 10 clear. This helps me look at a spool without wondering what’s really on it. 

I always loosen the drag on each reel at the end of the day. This keeps the washers from warping and gives me a smoother drag. Just make sure to adjust it when arriving at your spot. Run a cue tip through your rod guides, if they pick up the cotton there is a nick that could cut your line. 

Have you ever pulled on a snag only to retrieve a nasty old lure? I always throw them in a bucket and let the plastics dry out. When they dry out you will have the opportunity to see the actual color. Waterlogged plastics turn white in the water. This leads to another cool tip. While using tube jigs I always have a few in a zip lock bag of water. As the tube starts to lose its color I will pull it out, put a hook in it then fish it. Those muted colors can really get fish excited at times.  

All my crankbait, jig and hook boxes are vented, there is nothing worse than finding a box that got water in it and developed rust. Once a month I empty my entire boat, clean the storage compartments then restock it. This helps me keep clutter down to a minimum. If I haven’t used something in a while, I ask myself “Am I really going to use it or is it going to sit there”. There is no use in having your late fall gear in the boat during the month of August. While you’re at it check your life jackets. If your using inflatables check the green or red indicator, then act appropriately. Is your fire extinguisher charge good? 

These are some practices that might help catch a few more fish, make your day on the water a little more pleasant or at least help you clean your gear on occasion. I’ve adapted them, it makes me a little more efficient on the water.  My wife just told me she wishes id put as much energy in cleaning the house as I put in my boat. At least she notices.

Water level effects on Lake granby

It was fun this year seeing Dike 3 recede back into the depths.  It rises like a beached submarine every four to six years only to dive back to the depths a couple of years later.  I started guiding over twenty years ago and I have seen it all.  High water, low water, and everything in-between. 

What I haven't seen is horrible fishing.  Each year is not the same, but the fish remain and the habitat withstands the test of time.  Everyone notices the lake trout losing weight and gaining it back but did you ever stop to think about how water levels affect a lake like Granby and specifically a fish like the Lake Trout?  With so many changes, why doesn't lake trout fishing success change? The story is complex and includes two main acts.  Water levels affect feeding patterns of all species but also affects the recruitment at spawning time.  Let's start with how water levels affect feeding behavior.

It all starts with microscopic organisms known as the Phytoplankton (immobile microscopic organisms). These microscopic organisms are not mobile and stay in the top zones of the water column.  Zooplankton (mobile microscopic organisms) eat Phytoplankton but also avoid light.  They migrate up the water column to feed in the evenings and then drop down again to avoid the light in the mornings.  Since sunlight rarely penetrates more than 30 feet into the water the Zooplankton can be found in the top 30 feet of a lake.  

The next level of knowledge necessary to understand lake biology is the Mysis shrimp.  These small organisms were introduced into Lake Granby to feed the kokanee. But Mysis live at the bottom of the lake and Kokanee do not so the food source never materialized.  Instead, Mysis shrimp eat zoo plankton and here is the first detail where water levels come into play---if the water levels are low,   then there  is more of the lake in the 30-foot depth.  With more of the lake at this depth the Mysis are at the same depth as the Zooplankton (who migrate every day) and the Mysis shrimp eat more of the Zooplankton.  

Now we are finally to the Kokanee Salmon.  The Kokanee are filter-feeders and use their gills to filter vast amounts of microorganisms from the water.  They feed mainly on zooplankton and if you follow kokanee on the sonar they follow the daily migrations of the Zooplankton.  Kokanee also prefer a very narrow temperature range.  Their preferred temperature is 54F. At times this temperature range puts the fish outside of the depths of the Zooplankton and they do not feed.  When water levels are down the Mysis eat more of the Zooplankton and the Kokanee struggle to
get their fill.  When water levels are up, Mysis have a tougher time feeding on Zooplankton higher in the water column.

Finally, the Lake Trout prefers colder water (48F) and except at ice-out typically lives in waters 40 feet deep or more.  At extremely low waters levels these fish would be pushed to marginal waters in the deepest parts of the lake.  In some lakes the low waters would warm too much and the lake trout would struggle to stay alive.  Since Granby has many areas with great depths the typical low-water year does not exterminate the lake trout, it just pushes them to new locations.  Small lake trout
(less than 21" in length) often feed on Mysis shrimp and larger lake trout feed on Kokanee
Salmon.

With this knowledge it is easy to see how each part of the food chain operates and  that in low water years more of the feeding zones overlap creating competition.  

To win the competition for food your species must have had a good year for reproduction (called recruitment).  This is the second piece of the puzzle and the key player is the Kokanee Salmon.  The Kokanee only live for four years.  At the end of the fourth year they move upstream to reproduce and, like all salmon species, die after reproduction.  In high water years Salmon do not reproduce well.  So, even with consistent water levels there will always be a shortage of Kokanee four years
after a high water year.

Mysis Shrimp thrive in low water years because their habitat overlaps more with the Zooplankton.  When Mysis levels are high Kokanee suffer from lack of food.  Are you following me here?  High water levels and low water levels are rough on Kokanee recruitment.

High water levels the lake does not stratify. The kokes and plankton lose there "protection zone" the shrimp will live deeper and nothing will eat them. They travel u[p at night and eat the plankton. Then in the morning the kokes have nothing to eat. Low water levels the lake does stratify and the kokes and other fish can eat the Mysis shrimp. The plankton has warmer water and can reproduce.  The kokes do not spawn well in Granby, stocking is the only real way to keep these fish in the lake.
The kokes have crashed, but the CPW is stocking 1.5 million kokes in Granby  this spring. 

Falling water levels reduce lake trout recruitment.  Lake trout lay their eggs in 20 to 40 feet of water during October and falling water levels can put those eggs in jeopardy, especially as water engineers drop lake levels for winter.  When lake trout numbers are down Kokanee thrive because fewer of them are eaten by the lake trout.  Falling water levels also stress larger fish creating the potential for losses at that end of the spectrum too.  

        Low Water Recruitment  Low Water Feeding  High Water Recruitment    High Water Feeding
Mysis Shrimp          Good                 Excellent                      Poor                                    Poor
Kokanee Salmon      OK                     Tough                        Poor                                   Great
Lake Trout               Poor        Ok, if not too warm                Good                                 Good

Too many low water years in a row, combined with lake trout mortality from hooking, fighting, and trips to the hot oil will eventually decline the overall lake trout  population.  These low water years will eventually slow down lake trout recruitment  as well leading to a decline in the fishing success.  While this is possible, we have yet to see more than two low water years in a row during the last few decades. 

Now that you know the details, how does all of this affect lake trout fishing success?  It doesn't!  Since Granby has enough depth to support lake trout even in low water years, the lake trout will only be skinnier or fatter