My 1st double digit fish

[Jersey John]

On the opening night of the season I hooked my biggest fish a 12.2 # eye. What a hog! I have been trying for 6 years to get a 10 # + fish and I can't be happier. She is at the taxidermist now. We took other fish from 7.8 to 9.3 #'s but nothing else close to her. There were alot of big fish taken this weekend, ( I know of up to 13.6 # ) and it looks like it will be a great spring walleye season in NY.
John M. Stroff Jr.

[Northern Manitoban]

Great fish.Its just to bad she's still not swimming.I have mine on the wall but she's a replica.And maybe i'll catch her again another day or someone else will.The funs in the catching not the keeping.FISH ON.

[eyedoktr]

Jersy John, congratulations !!!!! It's a great feeling isn't it? Now you have to set the bar at 15#. I've had a number of 'eyes over 10# but the biggest is only 13#7oz. Someday I'll make it to Erie when the "sumo piggies" are in and I'll get my 15#er. Where in NY did you get the fish? All the reports I heard (including my own)were that it was a pretty slow opener up here. Again congrats.

[NC]

Congrats, but you should have let the fish go and bought the replica.
Just my opinion. Nice fish either way.

[sib]

Good job, John! You caught the fish, YOU should decide what to do with it. It's gonna look awesome on your wall! It took 6 years to catch her, you deserve it.

[FreeByrd]

JJ,
GREAT FISH! And don't let these "release everything" posts get to you. Good Catching.
Steve Carlson

[gilly8000]

Congrats man! I'm still looking for one bigger than 5lbs. Maybe this summer...

Brian

[Good for you]

Yep, don't let these knuckleheads knock ya with their holier than thou attitudes, the only reason they got repros was cause their fish did'nt measure up, so they got a taxidermist to make it bigger!!!

Congrats on a real trophy sized fish.

[FreeByrd]

Actually the replicas are really nice at least the ones from Artistic Anglers in MN. I refer people there when they catch a big one with me on Erie. Fibertech also makes decent replica mounts. I'm sure there are some people that get a replica bigger than what they caught but not sure why you'd do that? With the replica you can have the mount and eat it too. Big eyes from Erie when cleaned properly TASTE GREAT. There have been a couple hundred people that can attest to this that have been to the Huron WC Get Together the last few years. I prefer the replica mount based on my experience. We've got one that is 15 years old and still looks as good as the day we got it. Most people don't know it is a replica unless we tell them. Most conventional mounts I've seen start fading & cracking after 10 years or so.

Again Jersey John - nice fish. Don't let the release fanatics get to you.

Steve Carlson
steve199132@yahoo.com

[risor39]

Nice fish.Still looking for mine also.Got one ice fishing but did'nt have a scale it was close to 10#.And for the reproductions some have been talking about,not everyone does a very good job with the reproductions yet.Is there a post for some "GOOD" repro's out there?Again nice fish.

[Jersey John]

Thanks to all, maybe my next 10+ fish will be a replica. Lake Ontario is the place to be for spring fishing. It is a trophy fishery if I wver seen one.
John M. Stroff Jr.

[Ness]

Congratulations on a beautiful fish. Will you be sending a pic into
Scott so we can all admire her on the 10lb. Club? BTW, I'm still aspiring... :-)

[Dman]

Great fish, hopefully I'll get one like that this weekend for a local tourney.
Is it true that a fish of that size has less reproductive ability than a smaller say 14-18 inch fish?
I would have had it mounted too!
Dman

[ezmarc]

Cool JJ,

My 1st 10 was a 12 also. Had lots of them since but still haven't gotten my own personal 15 yet(even on Erie that's a tough nut to crack). Sounds like you have an awesome fishery over there, the only thing I ever hear about Ontario is Salmon. Great job!

[Hawgeye]

Put her on the wall if you want! Replica's are a good way to go but there is nothing wrong with the real thing either no matter what the others say. I have 2 "real mounts" on my wall and do not feel one bit guilty or ashamed. I pay big dollars for my fishing hobby which supports the conservation efforts of our fisheries department and I practice catch and release religiously. Nothing wrong with mounting a trophy. I may also try a replica if I hit the 14lb mark. I would like to see one in person so I know they are done correctly.

[Stinger WI]

Way to go J.J.

She is going to look awesome on your wall. You will have great memories of her every time you look at her. Six years to get her, you deserve to mount the real thing.

Whats your next goal?

Craig A
#663

[bigfish1965]

Lake Ontario gave me my first 10 pounder too, and my first 15 pound.Both on the same pier and within 6 months of one another. We have caught dozens of ten pounders since and we hope there's an 18 pounder in there this year!!
BTW, my 15 pounder is on my wall right above my computer monitor.

[TK_551]

I have not got my 10 yet, but when I do, it will go on the wall. After that, I would go replica. Hopefully, this year will be my year. Great Fish. Did you submit a photo for the 10+ club on this site?

Tom
#551

[Walteye]

JJ-Congratulations!!!
My mount came from Black River, which we know leads into Lake Ontario. Unfortunetely for me , I didn't crack the 10 lb mark, but I am proud of my 9.8 lb-er. What part of Lake Ontario did you ply to catch your trophy, and what did you do to catch it? I am going to Black River and the local bays in two weeks, and would appreciate your help.
Your largest may be yet to come!!!!!
Congrats again......
Walteye

[WAeyes]

Ahh...replica schmeplica. If you want to get one mounted, by all means do it. You have earned it, I'm sure, over the years. Next one get the replica so you can compare and have one of each. Right on Jersey John...congrats :)

[water_wolf]

WTG JJ!!!
Nice fish John, be proud and mount that babby without a thought.
I believe in releasing most big fish....but your first over 10#....if you want it on the wall...then on the wall she should go!


Rich Ferguson

[Jersey John]

Thanks to all! I now will set my goal at 14 #'s. Although I think it is a shot in the dark thats what I will fish for. Any 10+ fish will be let go for future catching. Length and girth will be taken for replica mounts from now untill the 14#er is hooked. Thanks to all once again. JJ

[Putz]

Hope that mount turns out fabulous - congrats. May the biggest be yet to come!!

After reading these posts, is there a point where we have taken catch and release too far? Wow . . .

[jet&jig/MT]

my first big walleye was a bit over 9.5lb which I had mounted. Several years later caught a 14.5lb which I had mounted. Both were done by a expert who no longers does fish. These are fishing treasures to me. I had the privilege of releasing a 14.5 lb walleye this past spring, which was a real joy to do.

[Sluggo / NY]

Nice going, John! Just leave a 15 for me! We'll see you there in a week or so. By the way..did I tell you that Gilligan's joining us? Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)