I was reading an article by the LadyFisher, and she mentioned the use of a creel, for keeping fish. I grew up throwing plugs on a spinning reel and always put my fish on a stringer, but now I’m thinking twice. I’ve thought about using a creel, even though most of my fishing is for panfish and bass along a local river.
Does anyone still use those things? Am I going to look like a bobo with one? My dear mother, who makes baskets as a hobby, has offered to weave me one, and I’m tempted to take her up on it.
I dont,but have one made by your mother.The one that I have,my dads, is hanging in my den along with his net that I made for him years ago. If nothing else you can diplay her basket on a table or as a lamp base.
We would put grass in them years ago and every so often dip it in the water.
I don’t often keep fish, but when I do I use a canvas ArtiCreel for trout. I got one of those wicker creels too because I always thought they were pretty cool. I have taken it bluegill fishing a couple of times.
While we’re on the subject, does anyone know if you’re supposed to “season” them or something? The wicker creel I have is an inexpensive one that looks to be just bare wood. I always thought that you needed to treat it somehow to protect it but I don’t know how it’s done.
I do … the canvas type … if for no other reason than to tote all the junk I seem to have to have with me - an apple, some water, maybe some nabbs, a camera and if it’s going to be late getting back, maybe even a small light.
When I first started fly fishing only three years ago my spouse bought me a wicker creel for a father’s day gift. She thought those baskets were used to carry all the fishing accessories. We still tease her about it.
I have used it on rare occasions. They can be kept submerged keeping the fish alive.
That’ll have to be one heck of a creel if you’re going to use it fishing with Flats Dude and Harold!
Kidding aside, if your Mother will weave one for you, I’d do as JC suggests, then put it in a place of honor, and cherish it forever. How incredibly special!
I used wicker creels for the better part of my fly fishing experience (50 plus years). However about 7 ot 8 years ago I was given one on those cloth insulated do-dads that are popular for sticking a 6 pack of whatever into it and toting it to a ballgame or picnic. It has a plastic type lining and quite a few zippered pockets for holding whatever. I put some plastic bags in one of the pockets and when I attack the brook trout on some of our local creeks, I take my do-dad creel, place a 16 ounce container of frozen ice in it and head out. The fish are cleaned and placed in the plastic bag and put in my “creel”. I have fished for several hours on hot days and have never had any problems this the fish getting soft or spoiling. These items can be purchased at most stores for around 10 bucks - just make sure you get one with a good strap for carrying.
Fish retained for food should be respected and cared for properly . Creels keep fish cooler than stringers due to the evaporation of the moist grass or ferns . If you are using stringers just to carry the fish thats not too bad but it drys them out .Some folks use stringers to keep fish alive in the water . This is very cruel and usually ruins them . If you are keeping fish they should be dispatched right away and cleaned asap . Don’t for petes sake put them in water or worse yet plastic bags . It ruins them . They absorb water and become mushy . a good method of keeping fish cool and moist with evaporation is to wrap them in a paper towel or two , wet the towel and keep fish in a shady spot .
A tip I got from JC , dont bonk them on the head . Slice open the gills they will die almost immediately and they will taste better as a result of bleeding out . Cleaning them immediately also preserves the taste.
I am talking trout here , I dont know if a livewell or a stringer keeps fish fresh in the warmwater species like bass .
In BC stringers and livewells are illegal in freshwater .
[This message has been edited by Gnu Bee Flyer (edited 26 October 2005).]
[This message has been edited by Gnu Bee Flyer (edited 26 October 2005).]
Used to in my younger days. Remember wrapping those wild Cutts & Brookies in wet grass & placing them in my creel. That ole wicker creel…don’t know whatever happened to it !!!
Early years wet ferns in creel, then the trout, then more wet ferns. Those old creels are worth a few bucks. Mine has just been a decoration in my ‘fishing room’ for many years now.
In warm water the stringer is suposed to go thru the lower lip area(meaty part)or a live well.A creel is of little use in 95 degree weather unless it is used as a live well.Dead or dying should be killed cleaned and put on Ice asap other wise the flesh could spoil.We are talking 85 degree water temps at times.Live wells are great when the fish come out of a live well the are as fresh as just off the hook.Most live wells in bigger boats are fed from the lake or river your fishing and have a constant fresh supply others just have an air pump to oxygenate the water.either way the fish are fresh and alive.
I use to own a big time bass boat way back when and fished local turnys.
With age comes wisdom now its flyrods and bluegills. Dennis
No. I don’t kill trout unless I’m backpacking on a lake with stunted trout. In that case the fishing is so fast and furious I just whack them and throw them into the shade until I get enough for dinner.
It’s kind of funny where I fish there are a lot of catch-and-release guys and a few bait-chuckers, the catch and release guys see the guys with creels, turn around and run! Just kidding of course, but it’s not like the old days, toting a creel is not nearly as common as it used to be. I see a guy with a creel about once every blue moon now a days.
Okie, I’m not sure what a bobo is or what one of them looks like, but I will say that all gear I wear makes me look like an weirdo anyway, so a basket or creel or whatever probably isn’t going to hurt your looks one bit. However, it seems like a creel like that would really get in the way.
[This message has been edited by ktokj (edited 27 October 2005).]
In years past, fishing vests came with zip-on creels. Too bad that’s not very PC today.
When I set out meaning to keep a brace, I either bring a plastic bag in the back pocket or a stringer.
I don’t know which is worse. Hot dead fish in a plastic bag, or fish on a stringer that seem to tangle in any floating line.
I mostly keep only panfish. I use a stringer for them and they seem to do quite well with it. However, if keeping a trout or two I would use a wicker creel. Call me old fashioned but I think they look great.
I know that for a fact.