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| I'm sure most of you prefer to fish with someone else in the boat. Now that is not always possible, how do you handle photo's, landing fish ect. by yourself? Any little tips or tricks you would like to share?
Assuming you caught a legal fish and had a working livewell, is it O.K. to go looking for someone to take photo's for you? The fish would be released as soon as the photo's and measurements were taken. |
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Posts: 260
Location: Kentucky | I was fishing alone a few days on vermilion, awaiting my partner to arrive into the Hibbing airport, for Bob's tourney. I knew it would be tuff, especially when it comes to pictures. I stopped at BPS and bought a window mount spotting scope holder. Boy, was that the best $25 bucks I spent ! Attached very easily to the windshield of the boat, screwed the camara on, and BANGO! intant picture taker! In regards th landing, I just play the fish to the boat,and when I get her there, net in one hand, rod in the other, drop the rod, scoop the fish, keep fish in water, unhook, rest, push timer on camars, pull fish out of bag, smile, WALA!
Good luck to you! |
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| that's great info.
i hadn't thought of using a spotting scope mount - and they're much cheaper than camera mounts.
i just got a digital with a timer so i've been thinking of mounting options for self-portraits.
thanks! |
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Posts: 21
Location: Princeton Mn. | Good reply, anybody else? |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I also fish alone quite often, as lake choice dictates the secrecy....LOL. I like to employ a tripod as my boat does not have a windshield, otherwise I just set the camera on top of my tackle box setting on my front deck. I have a remote for my Olympus and have the distance already clibrated in the boat for taking pictures. That is a great idea on the spotting scope mount. Will be great for release shots, mounted on the side rail! |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | do you got an item # or catalog # for that spotting scope mount you got from bass pro???
thanks |
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| I fish alot of the summer alone. My net is always within easy reach at the bottom of the boat. When I fight a fish I'm going to net I leave about eight feet of line out and let the fish fight the rod. I reach down with one hand, grab the net and scope the fish head first. If I'm going to photo, I put the fish in the live well and find a close boat. Never lost a fish yet due to the photo as long as you have a good live well. I own a Tuffy with a 60 inch live well. |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | Brian,
I try n fish when ever I have the chance, with someone else or without. If someone wants to go thats great but if not, I'm going! I see it all the time guys won't go unless they have someone with them,, I just don't get that... I believe you learn a 100x's more about a fishery when fishing a lone.
Anyway a camera with a timer is a must so transporting a fish is not necessary. In the beginning we took a lot more pictures than we do today. So picturing every fish is not necessary but that's your call. When we hook into a fish the 1st question is, are we going to photo the fish? If not, then I do not net it. I Don't want to waist time on small fish, what ever a small fish is to you. I remember when we 1st started a 36" was just huge and could only dream of getting one that big. If we determine that the fish is not photo worthy then I'll bring the fish next to the boat and just unhook it.
However if we determine that the fish is a picture fish then I'll net it with a large net, one that has a long enough handle that allows the fish to remain in the water and for the handle of the net to be secured with out me having to hold on to it. I secure the net by folding down a seat. |
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Posts: 2361
| Fish alone all the time. Never took any pictures this year by self. Netted one fish this spring intending to take picture, just because of the unique circumstances, but it wasn't a good thing. Have done the LLLL on the others and have not lost any due to not netting and could have pictured any of them. If they are bigger I hold onto them and hoist em to the side of the boat and lay them on the tape. Rarely lift one under 40 anymore. Never put a fish in the livewell and if it is an easy unhook, often just use the foot long hookouts(depending if they are on the deck or "lost")and grab the hook, give it a push and watch them leave. I have squeezed down the barbs on several of my favorite lures and this facilitates unhooking especially on bigger fish.
Wouldn't advise squeezing the barbs down on heavy baits or surface baits. |
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Posts: 624
Location: S.W. WI | I'm always fishin alone when I get the better fish,
I have good luck putting camera on front pedistal seat and holding fish in back of boat. using timer
also when about to net fish, with 8 - 10 ft. of line out- hit freespool and thumb the reel before netting.
works for me, $ .02
Jon |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | when i go out alone i set the boat up so everything is out and within reach and accessable.
1. net out and open
2. berkley lip grabber close by.
3. landing tools laid out on seat or deck. pliers, jaw spreaders, hook cutters.
4. camera always out on dash and i have a olympus stylus 400 that has a timer or a remote button, i have a spot already picked out where i can sit with a fish, and set the camera on the dash . i can get fish cprd pretty fast with this system, almost quicker than when im with someone else and they have crap all spread out too.
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| I get out alone as often as possible, truely an awesome experience on lakes like LOTW with no one in sight for miles. My biggest fish to date came alone, so a photo was important to me on that occasion. I use a digital cam w/ timer and just set it on my front butt seat, but until I'm ready the fish never comes out of the water. Once I get the fish netted and unhooked, I hook the net on the front cleat on my Crestliner, then hook the end of the net handle under the gunnel on the other side of the bow. With the fish secure in the net remaining in the water I get set and start the timer then grab the fish for a quick shot before releasing her. I get to fish up there with a pretty diverse group of friends, but never miss an opportunity to sneak out alone. I love to pick spots apart, that alot of times I don't get to do with someone along, when there's no one with to get impatient.
Ryan A. |
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| one good trick for netting fish by yourself is to grab down on the handle and run the handle up along your forearm - it helps strengthen your control of the net.
another nice feature to look into with your camera is if it can take a couple pictures in a row. it helps increase the odds that you'll get a good shot.
set it on multi-shot, hit the timer, let it take 3 or 4 pics, release the fish.
also, with cameras that can do digital video, you can start the video, record yourself with the fish and release. many times these cameras will allow you to pick through the video frame-by-frame if you want a still picture to post or print.
just be sure and practice all this ahead of time with your boat on the trailer!
and play with your net some with your rod in the other hand BEFORE you "need" to do it. |
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Posts: 2753
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | I fish alone a bit also. I fish barbless, it makes in the water releases real easy. Another net trick is to use the edge of the boat as a fulcrum. I put the net into the water almost vertical, bring the fish over next to it & push down on the handle. Much easier than trying to lift. You may want to wrap the net handle to protect the boat finish. Like others have said, practice this stuff before you need to do it!
Good Luck in 2005
Al |
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Posts: 670
Location: Minnetonka , MN. | I have a Ram mount that I use. One problem is you have to set it up befor you get the fish.
The camera has a remote. I will only take pics of fish over 45" . This year I had 3 or 4 that I didn't get photos of because I didn,t have it set up. But I got photos of all the fish over 50"  |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | I don't fish alone too much, but have a 4 year-old in the boat w/ me often. Very rewarding, but as far as much help...forget about it!
Lambeau gives great advice w/ regard to handling the net, and whereas I don't usually bend down barbs, I usually pick lures that have fewer trebles. I do make a conscious decision to pay attention and be more careful while unhooking fish (done in the net). My net bag is hung over the side of the boat and the handle is sandwiched between the seat base and seat back (I fold the seat down w/ the handle in it and the strap is snapped; I hope that is clear enough). Pictures - I have used the front seat as a base, a tackle box, a small tripod and have used a small bungee to attach the camera to a rod holder; all are taken w/ a timer. I usually only bother if there is something odd or more memorable about the fish (size, circumstance of catch, etc.).
K. |
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Posts: 260
Location: Kentucky | $29.99 38-882-108-00 WINDOW MOUNT 15/16" MOUNTING SURFACES
This is from BPS Website. Hunting- optics-spotting scopes.
Good Luck!
Bret
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Posts: 21
Location: Princeton Mn. | Thanks for all the replies!
Some very good suggestions, I'll be sure to try them.
I use 1 oz and 1 1/2 oz Rattle Traps alot. Would you suggest bending down the barbs on these baits? |
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Posts: 723
| I had made a stand out of wood and a screw that went into the bottom of my camera, but then saw it was easier to pop my front seat up, look at view on the digital, set timer and go, I was even able to do a quick video shot in which you can then freeze a frame later for a good still photo.
Fishing by yourself isn't the greatest in the world, but when you boat a nice one, and can complete the process, it is definately gratifying. |
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Posts: 333
Location: menasha wi 54952 | The spotting scope mount is a good idea but the tripod works great and can be taken with you wherever you go. Any "Camera" store will handle a portable tripod with flexible legs. It is about 6" tall and screws into the bottom of your camera.
Good luck!!!!
MR |
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| Fish alone quite a bit here as well. I take pictures by myself all the time. I have a piece of velcro mounted to my pedestal seat (a fuzzy piece) and the other piece of velcro to the bottom of a holder for my digital camera. I set the timer, grab the fish out of the net, and I have a picture. It isn't always that easy but it works pretty well most of the time. One thing to keep note of is to have a place where you can "set" your feet and pedestal at the right angle so that you get a centered picture every time. |
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Posts: 341
| All the above.
For me fishing alone is the most enjoyable. It's just you the muskie and the moment. I always seem to have better luck too, don't know why. Try fishing alone on muskie waters in the summer while it's raining. The best way to disconnect from the rat race.
Good for the ticker!
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Posts: 1080
| I agree with Muskycore on this one. I very much enjoy fishing alone and I too have better luck. I think the reason for having better luck is I have more patience than what's good for me. And I'll sit and work an area or continue to work a techinque and continue to work a bait much longer than I would with someone else in the boat. Seems when times get slow, the other person(s) in the boat feel the need to change baits, technique or location all the time. I wish I could fish alone more often.
I've not yet tried to take any photos of any fish when by myself. I still haven't bought a digital camera. It's on my list of things to buy this year and all of these tips and ideas in this thread are very helpful in way to set up your digital camera for that pic. I've always had to go without photos in the past...which is okay. |
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Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | I found, many many many years ago, that if you want to catch big fish....you have to leave the camera on the pier, in the truck or on the kitchen table of the cabin. 2 out of the three biggest fish I've been lucky enough to catch have been pictureless. 1 I kept, 1 I tossed, 1 I got a nice pic of.
If you're alone and a pic can't be done in a reasonable amount of time or the fish looks to be too stressed....please release it without one. You can always fish for it again, but if she's out of the water too long or handled too roughly, which can happen when an angler is alone, that fish in the picture may be as good as dead.
Use good judgement. |
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Posts: 2378
| Havent got the picture thing down yet, but the rest I think I have nailed.
Net the fish, pop the hooks, toss her in the Frabill cradle (or the net if the wind is bad) while I get the camera setup (keeps her in the water and lets her get her bearings back), hit the timer, grab the fish for a snapshot, release, repeat...
I just need to get my camera setup figured out. I am liking that spotting scope mount idea... |
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Posts: 4266
| More than one way to skin a cat.
I bought a Nikon with a self timer just for such instances. As soon as I hook what I think is a good fish, I turn on the aerator on my livewell, net the fish, cut all hooks and carefully put the fish in the livewell and hold onto her tail until she can right herself. Once she's steady, I just set my camera on top of my Lakewood box and pan it all the way back as if I was taking a panoramic picture. Once I get the settings right on the camera, I switch from auto to manual so it doesn't change the focus. I take some measurements and then lift the fish out of the well, hit the button, count to 10, and she's back swimming. Then I take the pictures to the Kodak picturemaker and trim them, or do it on my Adobe Photodeluxe.
I attached 2 that I shot by myself this year, and both on them swam away strong and healthy.
Having those hook removal tools where you can get to them quickly is the most important part of the equation.
Beav
Attachments
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 42.5x25.JPG (32KB - 47 downloads)
46.5 SKI.JPG (17KB - 53 downloads)
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| I took a piece of one inch dowel and tapered one end. I made a box with a bottom and four sides with no top. One side has a slot for the lens. I attached the box to the dowel and put it in the seat pedestal on the front deck. I put the camera in the box and it stays there while I fish. I have my measuring board infront of the camera and when I get a fish worth taking a picture of everything is ready. I net my fish, get them with a Boga Grip and take the hooks out while the fish is in the net and in the water. I lift it out, put it on the board, hit power and mode, then depress the shuter buttom and step to the back. The fish is only out of the water a few seconds. I fish a lake with a 48 inch limit and if I were to put a fish smaller than that in the livewell it would be considered a kept fish. |
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| Nice Pike!! Casting or trolling? Water temp? |
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Posts: 4266
| Casting one of my gliders over a deep weed edge in mid-late Sept.
Water temp was about 62 if I recall.
All the fish that I caught that week were fatties.
Beav |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Fishing alone sucks! A big part of getting out there is to bs with my buddies. We talk about everything from spouses, kids, world problems (which we can usually solve them all), tell off color jokes, eat good and bad food, etc. I do like sneaking out to a spring steelhead river by myself because I can be stealth sneaking up on holes on a small clear stream. Muskie fishing, Salmon fishing, Bass fishing, and walleye fishing are all team sports to me. If I miss a pic of a fattie, I still know I won the battle and the fish also won to be set free to breed again. |
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Posts: 21
Location: Princeton Mn. | Thanks for sharing the info & stories. Big reason for the question was how to handle things in the event I was ever to get that "Trophy" and wanted a replica for the wall. Your tips and idea's will help to get my photo, measurements ect and get the fish safely back to the water.
Big thank you to all who responded! |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | hey mavmskyb8 thanks for the tip on that camera mount i picked mine up today looks like itll work out great.
thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 260
Location: Kentucky | Glad I could help muskihntr! That mount works great on my Lund! If you ever work your way south to Kentucky, let me know, I've got a place on Cave Run, we can go nail a pig!
Bret |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | ya never know i may take ya up on that. how far is that from dale hollow or cumberland. i have relatives who have a place between those two waters! |
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