TiskTisk
03-10-2011, 09:56 AM
Hello everybody,
I'm new to the forum and wanted to start by saying hello. I grew up fishing on the East Highline Canal with all my father/uncles and grandfather since the early 70's. I've not been to the canal to fish in about 5 years, since we've not had any family trips. I've decided to take my 6 year old son out this weekend along with a friend for a boy's fishing trip. I had a few questions, since I've not been out in awhile...
1. We always camped on the west side of the canals, usually near some trees and under the power lines north of the 78, Is this still acceptable? Is it safe?
2. My family only fished for catfish with nightcrawlers and stink bait, and we would usually take home ~10-15 fish for a 2 day/1 night trip, but I hate eating catfish. What's some other options, the only other things I've seen are strip/carp/frogs and turtles.
3. In the past, my father would almost always catch 1-2 snapping turtles between 10PM - 2AM on a tri-hook with some stink bait/worms, is there still turtles in the canal? Are they legal to keep, my mother-in-law loves to eat turtles but I wasn't sure if they were legal to keep.
4. We never left the EH to fish other canals, but I've seen lots of positive reports on this forum about Coachella Canal that is to the north. Since we'll be camping for 2 nights, I'd like to go to the Coachella Canal on Saturday afternoon, but I have no idea where to go. I'd like a place where I can camp and fish, my son not very focused so he'll want to soak his bait and run around while I'm casting. Any suggestions on a place to go, a map link would be helpful since I don't know anything about the area.
5. Do I need an enhancement to my fishing license, other than fresh water? In the past, my dad always had me get an additional stamp for the Colorado River/AZ border. I assume we don't need this, but I'm not sure. Can you tell me if I need license enhancements, and if so which ones.
In the past, we always had great trips. We only had a few times when we had to leave early due to big sand storms, but those too were exciting for me as a kid. I caught my biggest freshwater fish on the EHL about 13 years ago, a 50lb grass carp (I'll have to find a pic). I didn't know that it was illegal to catch at the time, so I brought it home to show everybody since nobody in the family would believe I caught the fish. When I showed my grandpa, he started laughing cause I said I caught a 50lb fish (beating his 8 pound catfish he caught that same weekend), only to be told that carp aren't fish since nobody will eat it. Which was confirmed grandma, who said she wasn't going to cook it. I had to give it to my lao buddy, who's parents happily ate it up!
I'm really pumped about going this week, so any tips/tricks/news is greatly appreciate. Thanks!!!
I'm new to the forum and wanted to start by saying hello. I grew up fishing on the East Highline Canal with all my father/uncles and grandfather since the early 70's. I've not been to the canal to fish in about 5 years, since we've not had any family trips. I've decided to take my 6 year old son out this weekend along with a friend for a boy's fishing trip. I had a few questions, since I've not been out in awhile...
1. We always camped on the west side of the canals, usually near some trees and under the power lines north of the 78, Is this still acceptable? Is it safe?
2. My family only fished for catfish with nightcrawlers and stink bait, and we would usually take home ~10-15 fish for a 2 day/1 night trip, but I hate eating catfish. What's some other options, the only other things I've seen are strip/carp/frogs and turtles.
3. In the past, my father would almost always catch 1-2 snapping turtles between 10PM - 2AM on a tri-hook with some stink bait/worms, is there still turtles in the canal? Are they legal to keep, my mother-in-law loves to eat turtles but I wasn't sure if they were legal to keep.
4. We never left the EH to fish other canals, but I've seen lots of positive reports on this forum about Coachella Canal that is to the north. Since we'll be camping for 2 nights, I'd like to go to the Coachella Canal on Saturday afternoon, but I have no idea where to go. I'd like a place where I can camp and fish, my son not very focused so he'll want to soak his bait and run around while I'm casting. Any suggestions on a place to go, a map link would be helpful since I don't know anything about the area.
5. Do I need an enhancement to my fishing license, other than fresh water? In the past, my dad always had me get an additional stamp for the Colorado River/AZ border. I assume we don't need this, but I'm not sure. Can you tell me if I need license enhancements, and if so which ones.
In the past, we always had great trips. We only had a few times when we had to leave early due to big sand storms, but those too were exciting for me as a kid. I caught my biggest freshwater fish on the EHL about 13 years ago, a 50lb grass carp (I'll have to find a pic). I didn't know that it was illegal to catch at the time, so I brought it home to show everybody since nobody in the family would believe I caught the fish. When I showed my grandpa, he started laughing cause I said I caught a 50lb fish (beating his 8 pound catfish he caught that same weekend), only to be told that carp aren't fish since nobody will eat it. Which was confirmed grandma, who said she wasn't going to cook it. I had to give it to my lao buddy, who's parents happily ate it up!
I'm really pumped about going this week, so any tips/tricks/news is greatly appreciate. Thanks!!!