waterdogs - ever use them ?

[stealthycat]

Anyone ?

I use to use them a LOT for spring bass, went to Colorado to bring them back by the thousands to fish mostly Lake Fork, but I took them to Austell and Dunn, Norfork too.

[jerry dean]

We bought a dozen @ Fork the last time I went and caught 1 bass & 1 catfish. They're supposed to be the ticket on bass when they're on beds. Kinda creepy looking, though.

[Hobbshunter]

I've used big tadpoles, and I've caught a few big smallmouth on them, but they're normally more trouble than they're worth.
How do you hook those waterdogs?

[stealthycat]

bottom lip through upper lip, using a 6/0 hook, 30# monofilament line (or spiderwire) and a 7' rod

I've got an 11 pound 9 ounce on the wall, and I caught one, took photos and released one I'm sure was over 12 pounds. I don't know how many I've caught above 8 pounds ....... maybe 20-25 ?

My Dad caught an 11 lb 5 z bass on Austell in 1995 - only fish we caught that day.

I caught 7 fish one afternoon on Lake Fork ...... all 7 were between 7 pounds and 8 1/1 pounds, INCREDIBLE afternoon (by myself too)

[Hobbshunter]

I've never seen many around here. I wonder if they'd work up here? Where can you get them?

[jerry dean]

I'm not sure in NWA. In central ARK, Hatchet Jack's off Crystal Hill Road has them most of the time

[stealthycat]

Hatchet Jacks carry's waterdogs ? I'm use to the 7" - 10" big boys from the Plains ........ are those the ones they have ?

I use to drive to La Junta Colorado and pick up like 4,000 at a time, we paid $ 0.30 each for them and then took them to Lake Fork, divided between 15 guys and all pitched in for gas etc. I can use 30 a day if the fishing is really good.

We tore them up on Norfork one year - you gotta catch bass shallow and pre-spawn, the bigger females love them, the small males just tear the tails up. I'd LOVE to take some to Milwood this spring

[Hobbshunter]

Sounds like I need to start farming waterdogs!
If they'd work on Norfork, I'd imagine they'd work on any of the White River lakes.

[25/06]

I guess I'm just out tha loop. Didnt know you could buy them things. Sounds like they would really do the trick!

[stealthycat]

impossible to raise them here - you keep them for just a few weeks and they morph into a lizard - gills gone, no tail - weird. its not only the food, and temp of the water, but the kind of water they stay in etc.

best bet is to buy in bulk - harder and harder to do though

[RAMBUSTER]

hmmm, interesting, i tried raising two in my aquarium years ago until they... mysteriously got out and walked away!

here is a link on em:thumb:

http://www.livewaterdogs.com/Facts.htm