Thread: Christmas Trees At Shelbyville

Denny - I am glad you let me know when Chautauqua opens as years ago it was on New Years Day. Half of the guys there on opening day were hung over from the night before. Have you fished it lately? If so, was it ice fishing? The one day I got 40 fish in 45 minutes I was fishing two poles and had to take one in as I couldn't keep two poles going they were hitting so fast. In those days there was no limit on the crappie, either size or creel. Has that changed too?

Originally Posted by crappieken

Denny - I am glad you let me know when Chautauqua opens as years ago it was on New Years Day. Half of the guys there on opening day were hung over from the night before. Have you fished it lately? If so, was it ice fishing? The one day I got 40 fish in 45 minutes I was fishing two poles and had to take one in as I couldn't keep two poles going they were hitting so fast. In those days there was no limit on the crappie, either size or creel. Has that changed too?

I fished last 2 days of season cauth 17, 11in to 12in. next day got 7,12in to 13in. very windy. 25 fish limit 9 in.

pig-in-the-pigpen - Are you hanging up your poles once we get hard water or do you do any ice fishing? I've got all the equipment - just haven't broken it out in several years. I use to ice fish Shelbyville a lot many years ago.

Ken I don't mind breaking ice with my boat if it's just a skim of ice. Once it gets about a half inch I'm done with my boat. I went one day last week but, have not been since do to the WIND. I'm heading down to Hot Springs Arkansas in 3 weeks to try my luck. As far as ice fishing around here. I have only been about half dozon times. My brother use to be really into ice fishing and has all the equipment, even a gas auger. He mostly ice fishes ponds but, if you new where we could catch crappie on the lake. We would be glad to tag along with and you could show us a thing or two. One thing I'm convinced of is that fish taste so much better coming out of cold water

Originally Posted by Redtick

Too cold for fishing is called "hunting season". LOL. There is ice on the lake this morning but not near thick enough to walk on. My fur lined jock won't protect me enough to do much ice fishing. LOL

That is right. Hunting season when us anglers that don't hunt above the waterline have the lakes to ourselves. I have been out 3 days in a row. I bet I have seen only 6 boats other than myself during that span of 3 days. I did see the same idiot wearing a wetsuit on a pwc 3 days in a row. That is just crazy.

Just got back from the army corp of engineer office at Lake Shelbyville and asked them when they plan on doing the Xmas tree drop this year. They said that more than likely they will not have the Xmas tree drop this year do to the high water. Also found out the lake launch fee permits will not be out till march. If you have on from last year it will still be good till march. The new permit will be good for one year from the day you purchase it. The third thing I found out was your not allowed to cull fish on Shelbyville Wish I had made a phone call first before I drove all the way over to the office.

I've always heard about the no cull rule but I didn't believe it . I would like to know if the Conservation Officers enforce this or is it one of those over looked laws . I would hate to get a ticket just for having a good day . ><)))*>

I hunt, fish and trap and always try to be a conservation minded outdoorsman by obeying the laws but I'm afraid if I was catching larger fish than I had in the livewell the CPO better be watching me with binoculars because the smaller fish would be getting a free ticket back into the lake...I don't see anything wrong with trading a smaller fish for a larger one as long as the one I'm returning to the lake is alive and healthy. I know a person shouldn't pick which laws to obey and which to break but I think those types are just plain goofy.