Here we go again....Maumee River

[Bowhunter57]

I'm getting "volunteered" to go fishing with the same bunch of guys, from last year.

As hard as that river environment is on equipment and people, it's entertaining. At least I know, going in, that I'm going to lose some jigs, break some lines, stumble around a lot, etc. I purchased a new Ugly Stik rod/reel combo, in a medium-heavy action for this years' walleye run and it'll be a good setup. I use a medium action rod/reel setup, last year and it outlasted a couple other rod/reel combos.

The Maumee Tackle website has the current water temperature at 38 degrees and the river level at 582.5. The level is good, but that temp needs to come up another 5 degrees, before the walleye will start moving in any numbers.

Maumee Tackle Fishing Outfitters

Trophy Room Want to see some of the monster catches? Visit our Trophy Room to view some of the many prize fish caught. Visit Trophy Room

maumeetackle.net

 

[Bowhunter57]

I was wadding, when I hooked this one and I thought maybe it's one of those big walleyes that everyone talks about, because he wasn't offering much resistance....at first. Then all of the sudden he started to run and was using the current to his favor. It took a good 5 or 6 minutes before I seen his back, but still wasn't sure what kind of fish I had on the line. When he surfaced about 20' away and I seen that big head, I knew it was going to be a while longer before I was going to be able to land this one. He was too big for my landing net, so I started walking towards the shore and ended up dragging him up on the rocks in the shallows. I have no idea what it weighed, but it was 34" long, about 6" wide and a lot of fun.

 

[Bowhunter57]

I was under the impression that this was a carp, but I was corrected and shown photo differences.
This is a bigmouth buffalo.

 

[Johnny44]

What's the story on those BM Buffalo? Aren't they invasive? But aren't they also excellent table fare? I watched a story on them but cannot remember the details.

 

[Bowhunter57]

@Johnny44
I've had a few people ask me if I kept it to eat. I asked Mario, owner of Maumee Tackle and he said as long as you fillet off the light meat and stay away from the dark meat, they're pretty tasty. Perhaps the next time I land one, I'll give it a try. I did a Google Search about them being invasive and it said they're native to North America, particularly the Great Lakes Region and Mississippi River.

 

[brock ratcliff]

And some people say they shouldn’t be shot due to them not being as plentiful as they once were. They are generally shot along with carp and considered a “rough” fish, but apparently that is incorrect according to some.

 

[finelyshedded]

Old timers used to gig them back in the 70’s sayin after you take the mud streak out of em they’re pretty good to eat. Them and hog nosed suckers.

 

[5Cent]

Lol, no no no no no

 

[Bowhunter57]

Mario, the owner of Maumee Tackle, said that I should try one, the next time I catch one. He said to fillet out the white meat and stay away from the dark meat and the dark or mud vein. Cooked on a griddle, he said they're very similar to crappie. I caught and cooked some crappie, last spring and thought they were pretty awesome. If one of these bigmouth buffalo were that good, I'd be fishing for them on a regular basis.