panfisher

Appreciate the report. Even though I don't get to the south end of Seneca (only been a couple of times from there- usually from Geneva or even Severne or Roys). Yeah man. That picture of those annoying jet skis and whatnot (like mosquito's)..... they "bug" me too. They are fun to ride on but don't care for them around when fishing. At least you worked out the best way to land a bunch of nice fish.....

"but the meat just falls off the bone".....Yep! Just like those braised and bbq'd beef short ribs we make......mmm good! .. ...gokudl3....yeah, a forum like that "Those other fish" like they used to have in "in Fisherman" magazine. When I used to get it, that was, along with "Bits and Pieces", the first thing I'd check out.

devoknevo....That zombie in Irondequoit Bay? Maybe it was the result of a hooked and lost fish that was injured by the incedent. Or maybe it is the result of a sheepshead conspiracy to scare you guys from fishing for walleyes and mostly catching sheepies......

Well, there, gokudl3...... that disgust with sheepies is a little confounding (if it's real....). Some folks have that same feeling towards lakers, common carp (an introduced species), largemouth and smallmouth bass (trout "purists"), yellow perch even, and sharks of any kind. And, at least in California..... that state REQUIRES if you catch a northern pike anywhere, to immediately cut off it's head and save it and the body in a frozen or refrigerated state. You must call the dept of fish and wildlife and retain said severed body and head until the dept comes to you to get the decapitated remains!.... .....U got any relatives out there working for their dept.....? Man, don't take me wrong. You have reasons for thinking lowly of sheepheads. Some reasons for thinking more highly of them......a) only fish biting... b) good fight...c) they eat zebras (not the stripes)...d) they get big...e) they can live very long...f) they are native to North America... g) a good source of humorous diversion at fishing forums...Some more skinny on the species...... Freshwater drum, .BTW...love that avatar. It looks just like one of our cats (Jupiter)!

Good going devoknevo.....Say. Ever notice how easily (and suddenly) sheephead have worked their way into the walleye and lake Ontario south shore sections of LOU? Perhaps we should make the card game of the same name a local favorite. You know. As part of the "Sheepheads Unlimited" movement. We used to have euchre tournaments and for a while it was a cool party card game. If you are not familiar with euchre, it's kind of like whist, bridge, pinochle and other trick-taking card games. Noticed the term sheepshead is another one of these type of games. Then, we can maybe get a dedicated sheephead section in the LOU.....

Excellent information and breakdowns.....everybody!.....Makes me think we should make fishing for muskie a required elementary school course universally. Kids everywhere learning how and why to think and act with care, depth, regard, and respect towards anything around them. Reading...writing...arithmetic...muskies...Maybe muskies right after reading......

henrybud........ :-P .....!! I've got to frame that.

For freshwater caught fish I am also a believer in perch #1. Also have had some great catfish fillets caught by a friend from Tennessee and sent up to me. No, they were not store bought-farm raised, which aren't bad. And had some really good pike or pickerel fillets, baked in more than one method. Like BSmaster said, where a fish was caught can make a huge difference in taste. Never had an issue with any perch caught anywhere, anytime....always tasty! BTW if freezing any fish, or any smaller piece of game such as backstrap medallions or steaks, seems that surrounding meats in some water before freezing will keep the flesh mint. Especially if you don't get to it for months or even years (that's right...years!). Use a freezer bag and fill it out with water so as to fully encase the flesh in ice. It's a moisture thing. Rinsed out half gallon waxed cardboard milk or juice containers (an old trick read about from before zip bags were handy) work the same......BTW, small 6 inch trout of any type from a stream, just gutted and pan fried with heads on in skillet with butter salt and pepper (maybe a bit of garlic in some form) can be #1 when available,,,,they are so-o-o much easier to fix than the perch......

Kevin......That's a nice fish. Where is your favorite (don't have to b exact) region, say within a mile or so, for hitting those 'eyes in the Larry.....? (I assume it's the St. Lawrence) ....may be taking a 1 to 2 week trip there in mid September between Cape Vincent and Wellesley Is.

Niiiice! ....Checkout these "hot" threads from current page of the Lake Ontario South Shore section on the sheepsheads.... Sheepshead ...........and...... Possible NYS record Drum I Bay 6/14/14 .............It seems to be a good season for drum this year!

Frogger.....launch and set up for 10 minutes?! Wow! And you caught some fish in that short time. Makes you think if somehow you could safely fish in bad weather how well you might do. Probably the fish would be all over it.....! Nice job.... Btw the way, I know there are some CRAZIES that love to launch and go out in the middle of thunderstorms. Ran into them while landing at Irondequoit (metal docks) with lightening flashing all around....These guys were in an open boat and all fired up yelling in the downpour "this is the best time to go out...." , while I had to hold the boat while buddy was getting the truck/trailer. All the while wondering which second I'll get hit. And these guys were into fishing in a boat in that kind of weather.......Hope they did OK

.......devoknevo......"We may hire you....." SHEEP-HEADS has sponsors already? I'll take U up on that...Where do I sign? Dance, the Lindners, all those fishing shows.....look out! I can see it now....with go pro's in hand, scuba guys, and sleek (actually kind of tired now) shots of guys flyin' around on their boats with some ho-hum rock tunes in the background....... "LAKE ONTARIO- THE SHEEPIE CAPITOL OF THE WORLD!.....WITH DEVOKNEVO AND PIKEFREAK taking you on adventures, tactics, and the latest methods for that All American freshwater favorite......SHEEPHEADS".......LOL

OH MAN....devoknevo!!!! State record!! SSSsswwweeeeeeet! Now with this all of a sudden being a banner season for ....wait for it....wait for it....SHEEPIES?!?! The competition is ON! Will pikefreak be able to wrestle the record from devoknevo..? We'll be back after this word from........King Salmon.......YYYAAaaaawwwwwnnn......LOL Seriously though man. Great fish! And a family affair to boot! NNnniiiiiice!

Wow-d-wow!! ...Myself, like others, am amazed and love the excitement being driven here about these guys (sheepshead; aka freshwater drum). Always thought they were good fighters and we used to often land some while fishing for the smallies somewhere in the Big O or the Larry (St. Lawrence river). I remember while targeting the smallies with jigs and stickbaits in 20 to 40fow on calm summer days on the big lake watching small groups (maybe 3 or 4) just under the surface swimming relaxingly around the boat while we were nailing smallies down lower. Some of the incidental sheepies were right there down with the smallies too. Began to associate the 2 species with one another. It makes a lot of sense that they (bass and drum) both would sort of "run" together. When we'd catch them, on light or ultralite tackle, it would always surprise us when we'd catch a sheepie as the fight was almost as good as the smallie. The drum was just a little less crazy energized. But they would fool us. Never will they take to the air like smallies can do. I'd say they are between a smallie and better than the usual largemouth in fighting. Hail to the best freshwater member of the drum (croaker) family, whose many saltwater cousins (speckled trout [weakfish or squeteague], black drum, red drum [redfish]...and others) have long been cherished by anglers worldwide....... BTW, another thought.....maybe this is an "up" season for them, much like it has in recent seasons been a somewhat "down" one for the smallies......

Man, this must have been a really long winter....... .......Fish on!

pikefreak.....I think you said you don't usually eat what you've caught (I could be mistaken...), but have you ever tried those sheepies. They Are first cousins of red drum (redfish) which are great eating. And I have also heard some folks say they are not good and others say they are great. Any input....?