naturegirl Report post Posted April 30, 2015 Thank you CWT member Mike (you know who you are). This is sure a nice catfish you caught and now is in my freezer waiting to be eaten this weekend. It was very nice meeting you and your wife on the lake Again, thank you for sharing your bounty! I've been trying to be patient and learn to fish for bass. Many moons ago I caught a 10.5 lb bass and I don't think I've caught but one or two any size bass since then so I tend to stick with blue gills and catfish so I can catch something. This season I'm on a kayak compared to last seasons when I was in a motorboat. I am being taunted by these pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn bass. I can see them everywhere below me from the kayak, but I can knock them on the head with a variety of objects and they will not bite. I can pretend to eat their babies and they won't bite. So now I watch them and interestingly enough, they watch me. I often see the bigger bass come beside my kayak and peer up at me. It's very interesting the things I'm seeing sitting on the water in a kayak versus a motorboat. Turtles - I had no idea they were in our lakes, but look what I caught. I first tried catching a larger one from my kayak by grabbing it. I was able to touch it, but then I just ended up pushing it away from me into the seaweed. I waited and watched for it to resurface and then I realized there were two. I really wanted to catch one so I tried it with a net. I followed the bubbles with the net. The bubbles went right so I moved the net right. Bubbles went left so I moved the net left, then I look down in front of me and there it is - it was time to scoop! I do not recommend this way of catching fish. The minnow was still alive, but the striper was dead. A family on the lake was nice enough to show me their find. This is a much better way to catch a fish! I was on the other side of the reeds watching the fish when I hear a ruckus. I come quietly around the corner and I think we were both pretty shocked to see the other, but my camera was in reach so I started taking pictures until it flew off. This gopher snake is a very good swimmer. I wasn't close enough or fast enough to catch him swimming through the water, but got him sunning afterward. 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Browns Report post Posted April 30, 2015 Saguaro? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted April 30, 2015 Really nice pictures. That turtle is a Pond Slider/Red Eared Slider and isn't native to Az. Usually people get them as cute little pets and they get dumped into the wild when they get too big. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunterjohnny Report post Posted April 30, 2015 I'm sure it's been asked on other posts but what camera do you use? Your pictures are so good. Thanks for sharing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesPursuit Report post Posted April 30, 2015 Yes very nice pictures, that's a great looking mallard considering the time of year and location. IN fact, every critter in your pictures looks beautiful and healthy. Except the dead fish of course, and not to be a wise guy but that looks like a yellow bass, not a striper. Very nice. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturegirl Report post Posted April 30, 2015 I'm sure it's been asked on other posts but what camera do you use? Your pictures are so good. Thanks for sharing.Its a cheap starter camera (considering camera prices) but I get close for my pics it got wet on one of my trips and is still working plus I lost some plastic ring (still working). I'm afraid to spend more on one but maybe someday. About $600 for a great starter package. Its a Canon Rebel T3 EOS 1100D The slider/catfish were out of Saguaro but most other pics were Canyon (also has turtles). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Str8Shot Report post Posted May 1, 2015 nature girl It can be frustrating when you see those bass and they do not seem to want a thing to do with anything .... In these situations a weightless Tube Bait ( can never go wrong with pumpkin) fished a couple feet behind a drop shot weight ( in essence creating a leader where the weight hits bottom and the tube slowly falls behind ) can be a good way to get them to react... Want to suspend put a little piece of cork inside the tube... Tubes mimic crawdads and that is one of the few things imo that seems to always piss a Bass off enough to react when around a bed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tucson John Report post Posted May 1, 2015 I think I'm in love with Nature Girl..............is that wrong? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vixen Report post Posted May 1, 2015 Nice pics....For future reference.... You might wanna be careful with some of the turtles...there are a few that aren't so kind...soft shells will turn your fingers into a meal pretty fast..and I mean fast by they are not like the tortoise and the hair racing...they can get along pretty quick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle mountain ranch Report post Posted May 1, 2015 sweet pics!! naturegirl Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturegirl Report post Posted May 1, 2015 Nice pics....For future reference.... You might wanna be careful with some of the turtles...there are a few that aren't so kind...soft shells will turn your fingers into a meal pretty fast..and I mean fast by they are not like the tortoise and the hair racing...they can get along pretty quick I've witnessed how the soft shell turtle can stretch its neck about to its back legs (caught on a worm). I'm going to catch those too later this summer. Turtle soup is pretty good . I'd like to add a pic of a soft shell caught this year but I no longer have home internet or TV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Havasuhunter Report post Posted May 1, 2015 Cool pics. That dead striper is actually a giant yellow bass I believe from the color and large stripe size. Those can be caught by bouncing a 2-3" grub on a jig head right on the bottom. Very good eating too. Used to catch a bunch of those in TN. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muledeerarea33? Report post Posted May 1, 2015 Nice pics....For future reference.... You might wanna be careful with some of the turtles...there are a few that aren't so kind...soft shells will turn your fingers into a meal pretty fast..and I mean fast by they are not like the tortoise and the hair racing...they can get along pretty quickI've witnessed how the soft shell turtle can stretch its neck about to its back legs (caught on a worm). I'm going to catch those too later this summer. Turtle soup is pretty good . I'd like to add a pic of a soft shell caught this year but I no longer have home internet or TV. amen for the no tv and internet. We're the same. Cell phone does what I need. If I want more then I don't need it! As far as people loving you.... I'm sure love is the wrong word for someone you don't know but a very strong like and attraction for a woman such as you is understandable. Great pics, turtles make good stew and catfish bait (cut one off a buddy's finger once as he screamed and I laughed!!) oh and I'm happily married but you sound like a catch. Always love your pics and write ups. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturegirl Report post Posted May 1, 2015 McDonalds has free WiFi that's how I uploaded my pics. I'm liking the no TV but the home internet I find more difficult. I'm trying it though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
