Lifelist Fishing

Been poking around, and haven't seen an official spot to post new species you caught in your lifetime, so let's post those fish catches here.  

Lifer 72. Spotted Bass. Caught with a jig and a spinner, but I was in California.  I thought it was a largemouth at first.  Then I caught another, and I felt like the pattern on it was a bit different, and the mouth was smaller, like a smallmouth.  Did some internet research, went back out there and caught a third one. A really cool fish!

Lifer 71. Muskellunge. Oconomowoc River with a 5 inch swimbait. It wasn't a graceful net job or release (don't worry, the fish swam off really quickly), but the catch was clean. I'm still riding high about this one.  Here's the video if you're interested.

Kokanee salmon are non-anadromous sockeye salmon meaning they live out their lives in fresh water. I wasn't aware that there are any in WI but if the conditions are right, I guess it wouldn't be out of the question. I've caught them in northern Idaho on some of the the big, deep lakes located in that area (Lake Pend Oreille, Lake Coure d' Alene).  

Tiefsa, next time you head out my way to fish the Wisconsin River try the Middleton Hills park pond(s). It's close to the highway and loaded with goldfish. Little piece of worm under a dinky bobber with a tiny hook will get the job done pretty quick.

In a Wisconsin Lake, not sure of correct spelling Kikoonen Salmon, means "Land locked   Salmon".  Were placed in this lake in 1939 by DNR and they took and now  reproduce.  Look the same as a sockeye from Alaska except they only grow to 12 inches.  Have it mounted next to my 10 lb sockeye from Alaska.  Every one ask's where did you get a sockeye that small in Alaska! LOL

I did catch a gar fish (12") on Shawano Lake years ago. I've also caught a mud puppy on trout streams. Those would be my "rarest" catches.

Holy, Tout! That cobia and snook were both big fish. JamesD - There's a pond in Brookfield where I saw some goldfish. I think I'm going to visit there again this summer and see if they're still in there. I haven't ever caught a goldfish. 

Gar are a rare catch in Green Bay or the Fox. I've seen them caught, but never one by me. Had a sturgeon on once ice fishing but, there was no way getting it thru the hole on 4# test. I fished a pond in Chicago area and caught a beautiful white and orange  three pound goldfish. Never thought I'd check that off any list but it was cool anyway. I'd recommend those like "T" who have an interest in fish, in general, to get a trap or net and start a minnow aquarium. Lots of interesting smaller fish are in our waters too.

last week treasure coast fla. pb snook and cobia

Definitely gonna have to retally mine. It's been a while!

Species 70 for me was a Longnose Sucker.  I caught it with a worm on the bottom in the Root River in Racine.  I was at Island Park in mid April. I think they are still in there, but the weather turning warmer will probably start changing things.  Either way, a guy just up river caught a steelhead, I snagged a brown (of all things) and landed two longnose suckers.  They were pretty big (18 inches and 20 inches).  Here's the video.