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Feedback From Our Readers
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  BATTLING AMAZON GIANTS
Swedish angling journalist Per-Ola Johannesson has visited In-Fisherman on his many world travels and keeps in touch about fishing expeditions around the world. This is a note from him about his most recent adventure...
A monstrous fish surfaces, no more than 15 feet from our canoe. Immediately, my float disappears and line pulls steadily from the spool. I set; the rod arches and creaks under pressure, as 20 feet away the tremendous Arapaima comes completely out of the water. Three more times it jumps before we subdue the monster and, kneeling in the water, I attempt to hold the fish in my arms. Another battle ensues, the fish almost wrenching free before two of us wrestle it into shallow water. This fish weighs 183 pounds, surpassing the world record of 148 pounds.
Arapaima measuring 15 feet and weighing over 2,000 pounds supposedly have been documented, making it perhaps the world's largest freshwater fish. These ancient fish have a swim bladder that functions as a rudimentary lung; the fish surfaces at regular intervals to gulp air.
The area we fished is in Cuyabeno, in northeastern Ecuador, a big nature reserve with virgin rainforest. Huge catfish also are caught in this area, along with peacock bass and other species. Amazon-Images arranged our trip -- www.amazon-images.com.
IN-FISHERMAN IN IRAQ
This letter and picture is from Dan Grobe, whose brother Al has been with his Reserve unit (822nd Military Police from Arlington Heights, Illinois) in Iraq since shortly after the ground war started in March.
This photo was taken just after my brother had received his first mail shipment. I'd sent copies of In-Fisherman, and once he and his company are done with the magazines, they donate them to the local library. The Iraqis that have looked at the magazines always are amazed at all the water and all the different fish. He says, by the way, that the Iraqi people he's met have been friendly and grateful for our help.
At this time in November, Al's still in southern Iraq, with no known date of return to the States. He enjoys every issue of In-Fisherman, saying it reminds him of home and gives him plenty of ideas on what to do when he returns.
The picture isn't of the best quality because the disposable camera was a little damaged by sand. Thanks for providing a great magazine and all those great memories for the men and women serving abroad.
BEST NEW WALLEYE FILLETING TRICK
From In-Fisherman Editor In Chief Doug Stange
Shooting television footage on Manitoba's Winnipeg River near Pine Falls last fall with Kenora, Ontario, guide and Professional Walleye Trail angler Larry Snow, we got to talking about cleaning walleyes. Snow told me that he's cleaned thousands and thousands over the years. I told him that I'd cleaned a few myself -- told him I could do a fish perfectly in about 25 seconds. "I can do one in 18," he said.
Part of Snow's secret (he uses a regular Rapala fillet knife) is something I'd never seen before. Most of us remove the fillet, then flip it skin-side-down and ribs up to remove the rib bones. Snow keeps the skin side up, placing the heel of his hand on the middle of the rib cage, pressing down slightly. This makes the leading edge (the top edge) of the rib cage stick out. He slides the knife under the fillet, it naturally catches the edge of the rib cage, and the knife slides perfectly over the cage to remove it. It's almost mistake proof -- a perfectly clean rib removal every time.
It's the first new thing anyone's showed me about filleting fish in 40 years. The technique works modestly well with perch, not at all with pike. You'll have to experiment with other species.
 SWIMBAITS FOR TROUT AND SALMON
Comments on our coverage of swimbaits, from long-time In-Fisherman and occasional contributor, Marc Wisniewski, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who is an expert shore angler...
Swimbaits have accounted for more trout and salmon from the shore of Lake Michigan than spoons during the last two years. Swimbaits imitate pelagic baitfish perfectly and the presentation is a lot subtler than spoons. Swimbaits work especially well in clear water. Only when seas are rough can you get away with casting large spoons.
I mostly use the Mister Twister Sassy Shad, although the Northland Tackle Mimic Minnow has produced a lot of brown trout. The trout love the Mylar flash molded into the Mimic Minnow. Another good bait to try is from www.bighammerlures.com. I'm looking forward to trying all those new "hard" thumpers you covered. |
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