The Fox River Times July 20-28 2008 Vol.1 No.6

The FRT goes mobilized!: This is the first edition of the FRT (Fox River Times) on the computer! If this is your first time reading the FRT let me tell you something about us. I started publishing the Fox River Times last Sept., my goal was to help river fisherman become better anglers, by teaching them tactics and tricks that catch fish. Now with the help of field editors, the FRT has extended its reach, to cover lakes and rivers across the country! I hope you enjoy the first computerized issue and continue reading the FRT. Good fishin'

What's Hot, What's Not: Hot: Sheepshead, Catfish, Gar, Carp, Walleye

Not: Bluegill, Rock Bass, Largemouth Bass, Crappie

Lunker Hall of Fame: Mike Goulet, 24", Channel catfish, crawler

Mark Goulet, 19", Carp, crawler

River Gar: How many of you have fished for gar? Many of the answers would probably be,"Heck no, their ugly." I think they're everything but ugly, in fact, they're my favorite fish to catch. If I told you that they jump like a marlin, run like barracuda, and have a mind like a musky, would you fish for them? If that got you excited, you can actually fish for them right on the Fox. The longnose gar is the species that would be available you. Most people catch them by accident, usually walleye fishing, because they mainly eat minnows. Here's how to catch them. 1. Put out a minnow trap and hang it right at the surface, put a slice of bread in it. If you catch minnows, you are in business (If not, buy some) 2. Hook one through the lips of a stinger rig (available for walleyes) and toss it into the middle of the current (bobber is optional). Also nylon rope lures work too, because the rope gets tangled in their many teeth. 3. If you hook one on the live bait rig, let them bite, gar have bony teeth and do not always hook themselves right away. 4. Most of all have fun gar fishing, it always feels good when your able to land one!!! Below is pic. of me with Fox River Gar.

Shiner Time: Shiner minnows have come back into the river for the first time this summer, and have actually been here for a couple of weeks now. The article above covered how to catch them in traps, but I have also tried to catch them on the fly. I tied some bread and algae imitations on very small hooks, grabbed my fly rod and headed down to the river. Schools of shiners will usually get shade and food near dock posts,(wood or metal) this is where you cast to them. Usually your fly will only be in their strike range for a few seconds before the current takes it down river. The shiners will sometimes follow your fly, even peck at it, but will not bite. Since I don't have a picture of the fly that I used, I will put it in next edition along with another shiner update.

Fish Nickname of the Week: Did you know that another name for the Freshwater Drum (commonly called sheepshead) is thunderpumper? Below is pic. of a thunderpumper. (Note very small.)

Fish picture of the week: Starting next issue we will be having the fish picture of the week. This is where readers will be able to post their awesome photos. I will be posting 1 to 3 pics a week, it depends how many I get in. If you want to see your photo along with a story of catch in the FRT, please send it to sgoulet@new.rr.com Tight Lines!!

Coming Next Issue: Shiner Update; It's Carp Time!; Green Lake Fishing Report; Photo of the Week; And Much More!! :-)