I was heading home from Mile Lacs last night and our 3:00a.m. conversation was about the mighty eelpout. My buddy asked if I had ever heard why the “pout” is only caught during the winter. He and I have never caught one during the open water months but plenty ice fishing. Has anyone else found this to be true and does anyone know why we don’t see them on the open water. Trust me we are thankful we don’t catch them 
but wondering why that is. 
To add to this why don’t you catch sheephead in the winter? Tons of them in the summer on URL but far and few between in the winter?
I always thought it might be that the eelpout go deep deep deep in the summer and the sheepies do the same in the winter? We need one of those “eduamakeded” fish guy.
eelpout move into the shallows to feed during the summer. Since most anglers are fishing off shore during these times, the chances of catching one are slim. They spawn under the ice and are most active during that period. They are a cold water fish from the cod family. Its not uncommon to catch one in the early spring or fall when the water temps are below 40.
They are good eating and netted commercially in Europe. They are predator fish and help keep the perch population in check. Its illegal to leave them on the ice in the winter so its best to throw them back or eat them.
They are one of my favorite eating fish! If you can get them big enough to get the tail meat off, in the bucket they go! Let them semi-freeze, and run through them with the electric!
BTW-we have caught a lot of them in the fall on Cass.
If you haven’t caught any sheephead ice fishing, you’re just not trying hard enough. 
I have one bay on Pool 8 that I like to jig Rapalas for Walleyes in winter, I have about a 50/50 mix Walleyes to Sheephead.
This is fairly deep water though, 20-30′. Hopefully that helps answer your sheephead mystery.
I ahve only ever seen one caught, without ice. It was on the opener.
big g 
Quote:
I always thought it might be that the eelpout go deep deep deep in the summer and the sheepies do the same in the winter?
Exactly where is this deep, deep, deep water on URL?? 
I have never seen a sheepy caught in the winter. Do they go semi-dormant?
Tim
Dave Knooce with a Mille Lacs fall pout!!!!!
Quote:
Exactly where is this deep, deep, deep water on URL??
Reservation side of the lake.
He looks impressed…
big g
I love when pout come in, spin your camera in circles, chew on the lens, completely root up the bottom til’ you cant see a thing then destroy your hooks. I think my # 1 bait for pout is a buckshot with a head. They are also rather amusing to tease, I don’t think they can see a thing. I usually come home with a pile for my brothers buddies at work, they love em. 
Quote:
Dave Knooce with a Mille Lacs fall pout!!!!!
Which one is which?
big g
I’ve caught sheepshead throught the ice in Iowa and Nebraska. Still have yet to catch a pout though. I’m hoping to get one at Mille Lacs this January. I’ve got to see what one looks like in person.
They look like Poor Mans Lobster to me 
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
