Should AOTY 2008 include panfish?

Hi Yakers:

          To be honest, I would  really piss off my Wife if I came home with Panfish rather that a nice Butt or a Salmon.
           Save the Panfish for "Old Bucket Mounth"
                                                                            Ernie

Ah, the anti-panfish league looks like it must be doing a last minute push to "get out the vote".

Hi Yaker:

          How about the largest greenback Mack. or Anchovy?
                                              All Glory is Fleeting!
                                              Ernie
 

Done deal.  Voting is now closed.  The NO vote wins.... barely.

Wow nice work everyone! Democracy at it's finest!

There were 56 votes, have 56 people paid up?

Nope only about 5 people so far. I expect a lot more at the beginning of the year and after we announce the stellar prize package.

I can be Angler Of The Year...!!!.....if you guys will let me do carp.

Last Spring I was out at the Yolo Bypass with my compound bow shoot'in carp.
Man......I got.....some......BIG.....ONES......!!!!!!!!.....

Judd

Hi Yaker:

          Are Carp good to eat?
                                       Ernie

Carp don't have a good reputation in the United States, however they are quite popular in Europe and Asia.  In fact, carp (of various species) account for the vast majority of fresh water aquaculture in the world. 

I've never eaten one myself, but I've heard they can be a bit fishy and have lots of little bones.

My question for you is, What's the biggest bluegill you've ever caught? My point is, a trophy bluegill is not easy to find.
....at least in my opinion

No doubt! Its tough to find toad pannies. Check out this collection of monster bluegills: http://www.bobbybarrack.com/photos/m...g2_itemId=1194
These are from a pro guide's collection. So that tells me they ARE somewhat prized catches. The last pic is of a yellow perch, I believe (maybe a Sac perch though). Now those are rare catches!

You know...the one thing lost in this discussion was the almighty Crappie! Everybody focused on bluegill but there are some big crappie out there and they ARE a very coveted fish. They don't have the popularity of bass or walleye but there are a lot of people targetting these feisty buggers. Just watch an episode of In-Fisherman or open up[ a Cabelas catalog. One of my favorite FW fish to eat too!
[Granted, this is coming from somebody who voted NO] Just trying to give some panfish the props they deserve.


For 09, I say we add abalone to the species list! ...joking...kinda...
PK

For 09, I say we add abalone to the species list! ...joking...kinda...
PK

Abs - 20 points per inch!     I like it, Pat! 

It would more likely be 17 pts/in.  But until GWKC starts handing out calipers with registration I don't think it's going to happen.

My question for you is, What's the biggest bluegill you've ever caught? My point is, a trophy bluegill is not easy to find.
....at least in my opinion

 The last pic is of a yellow perch, I believe (maybe a Sac perch though). Now those are rare catches!

PK

Yellow perch may be rare around here, but they're really common on the east coast. When I was a kid in Boy Scout camp in New Jersey, I caught 100 of them in one day on streamers with a fly rod. The second I let one go and cast again, a new fish would hit the streamer. They would actually swarm a few feet offshore and wait for the streamer. Most fish I ever caught in one day. Not very bright, but they can get big and put up a nice fight. In Maine, we would catch white perch. Also easy to catch, and also good fighters.

World record yellow perch was over 4 pounds, caught in New Jersey in the 1800's. No photo.

Maryland state record is 3 pounds, 5 ounces and over 16 inches long:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2006/2007record_yellow_perch.jpg

Pennsylvania state record is 2 pounds, 9 ounces:

http://tinyurl.com/29pm2y