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| I was wondering, is there anything really different about the 2 fish when it comes to how they act, strike, move....or hold to structure/given time of year etc etc.....I have noticed some nice tigers moving around on a lake up north jsut wondering...and i guess they catch quite a few out of that lake...or so I've heard...just wondering guys, thanks for all your help..
--RYAN aka young'gun | |
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Posts: 313
Location: On your favorite spot | Hi Ryan, they are definitely a little different. Your best resource would be searching old posts. There is a wealth of info on this subject stored in the archives and some of the differences that you're asking about.
To start you off, I usually fish smaller and shallower when I'm after Tigers, and a large bass-sized spinnerbait has been my best producer - by far. | |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I've had both in my fish tank at the same time and can tell you that they are totally different fish at times.
-Spots tend to feed level to up
-Tigers tend to feed level to down
-Spots tend to hold in the top 1/3 of the tank
-Tigers tend to hold in the bottom 1/3 of the tank
-Spots will eat 1-2 minnows when fed
-Tigers will eat until they can barely stay up-right
-Spots will go for bigger prey
-Tigers go for volume
They both prefer the same prey: 1st shiners, 2nd suckers, 3rd fat heads. | |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | I don't get a chance to fish for pure strain muskies enough to formulate a 'hard and fast' rule about the differences.
My observations for what they're worth:
1) tigers readily take much smaller baits than what makes sense; I mean really, if we're trying to trick them into 'feeding', what nutritional value would a 4-5" prey item have for a 40"+ fish vs. the metabolic cost of chasing it down? But they do take bigger baits too.
2) natural colors vs. bright colors; this presumably takes advantage of the pike half of their heritage. Many people have experienced an enhanced catch rate w/ gaudy and/or fluorescent colored lures. Personally, I have not experienced this at a rate where I could call it a pattern. The first lure I generally put on is some natural imitation.
3) tigers don't follow; well, up until this season I would have agreed with that but I had more follows this year than all of my previous years combined. Now I will probably agree with those that say that they are more boat shy and less apt to bite on a figure 8. In my experience (with the exception of maybe 2 fish), they either bite on the first turn of the 8, or dart away. I can't rule out a poor figure 8 technique!
4) differences in behavior, structure preferences, etc. I can't really comment much on this as the lakes that I normally fish contain only tigers, so I have no idea how they would interact w/ a population of pure strain in the same water body. I suspect that size would trump genetics - that biggest, most aggressive fish will be found on the best spot on the spot.
Bottom line...If I were fishing them in a lake that also contained purestrain muskies, I'm not so sure I'd do a whole lot different - but then again, the pure would be the 'novelty' for me.
If I only had 3 baits I take a J-13 Rapala, a single blade Rad Dog spinnerbait and a baby Wabull; I don't use them nearly enough, but they're suckers for jigs too.
S.
Edited by sorenson 12/7/2007 8:32 AM
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Posts: 3157
| we have about 20 lakes managed for tigers here in the twin citys,,Paul Hartman owner of the MMT tournament trai has spent a ton of time fishing them and anybody intrested in learning the fish should think about hiring him,,Also Josh at Blue ribbon bait in oakdale who owns the current state record.
I too have found Tigers dont follow much but 'do' rush the bait at the last second if you see a tiger comming dont be afraid to 'stop' your bait and let them catch it because when tigers come they mean buisness.
the best weather Ive found is 'dead calm' 'HOT' and so humid you could cut the air with a knife.
Ive had very little success in wind,,however Im begining to wonder if thats a lake clarity thing and only relative to dark water we have alot of darkwater tiger lakes here and Im wondering if the wind just stirs things up and the tigers limited vision cant handle it
Tigers arent worth fishing at night,,its not impossible but not worth the effort again maybe thats due to our dark water fishery,,anybody who is consistently not accidently catching tigers at night in the TC fisherie 'you have a $300 offer to speak at our Muskies inc chapter" but you have to prove it to me first
spoons are fantastic for tigers
Tigers are suckers at first ice,,I dont do it but know people who do
If you can get a back issue of the 'tiger" article done by Paul Hartman in esoxangler about 4yrs ago its a great read also Tony Grant has had some great articles
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Posts: 85
| Started working some of those 20+ metro lakes. Fun to fish for.
Lots of good info above, I will more or less echo most, based on my very limited experience.
Lures: Candy Spins, 6 inch crankbaits, reg size Dawgs did well in my boat. I was probably a 50/50 split between fish caught casting and trolling. Not a big lake, so I'd cast the rim once around (2 hours max), then troll a bit as recreational activity picked up.
Totally agree with HH on the hot sunny days, I got that tip and tried it, first day out in the sun trying (a Saturday in the metro no less) I landed a nice one trolling over deeper water. 6 inch Swim Whiz. I keep the hook size "as is" some up them a bit, I personally don't see the need to. However, biggest one we unfortunately lost was on a windy cold day this fall. Just pulled out hooks, but it was on the windy side coming over a break. Went to an 8 inch Believer that day, so it's not all small stuff. That was a very solid fish.....
Latest one was 3rd week in October, hit boatside on a Dawg, 42 incher. So, they will follow, but I agree they are less apt to spin circles on an 8. That day just prior to that I was slow rolling a Candy Spin and had a follow that was a big fish, almost made me think a pure strain snuck in the stocking pool......maybe the same fish?
I plan to use the jigs more next year, and spoons too. I've caught some of my better pike on JOhnson Silver Minnows, so they'll see some time too.
The thing that impressed me the most was the health of the fish. They are all solid and thick. I handle them quickly, so I honestly didn't even get the stick down in the water on a couple because they took off on me that quickly, I'll take that every time. I hope the Minn DNR evaluates the tiger program and doesn't make drastic changes, fun stuff to be had.
Chris | |
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| Happy I can't be bought for $300! LOL | |
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Posts: 341
| I needed this topic to get me off my hump and throw for these guys. I stocked a 10 acre pond behind my house December 2004 with qty 30 12-14'' tigers. I heard of a few being caught, lost, and killed 2 years ago. Heard nothing and saw none last year. I usually work the lake with Texas rigs for big bass and only threw a small no 5 Mepps once. If they lived, estimate 36’’ by now but I'm not sure. I’m planning on popping a few holes and dropping a cam to have a look this winter. The lake is only a 14ft bowl with large rock chunks and beach shorelines. Submerged weeds exist all the way around. I used to see one or two sunning in the spring but nothing as of late, and the really small bass are back in droves, that worries me. Bluegills are big but not as much action as in the past=)
How would you attack this?
Edited by muskycore 12/8/2007 9:24 AM
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 tiger stocking (114KB - 218 downloads)
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | Muskycore,
If it were my pond, I'd stock 5-15 per year (depending on how big the bass are; i.e., allowing for some mortality) rather than a one time infusion of 30. Keep the size classes rolling thru, that way different sized predators are pressuring the total of the prey population rather than a subset of the available sizes and species.
The numbers you use are probably going to have to be derived empirically over time, these are just guidelines.
S. | |
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Posts: 3157
| DJS
gimmie a price,,if we dont catch at least two fish,,you pay me????,,one fish is an accident
Edited by happy hooker 12/9/2007 7:45 AM
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