Fished Lincoln today with g-son, Catcarsen. Had a blast. Non-stop action with most cats being 25 to 27 inch big colored males. Catcarsen caught several big cats with the biggest being 27 1/2 inches. I caught several but nothing that would up my contest score. We caught several in 2 feet of water at the Benjamin Slough inlet, then moved west toward the point in 6 to 8 ft. of water... hard to keep four lines in the water.
Water temp was 68 degrees... four other boats on the water, one a DWR boat.
Will be there again in the a.m. That 36 incher is lurking in there somewhere.
Fun day.
BLK
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Congratulations Lynn, wish I could have joined you.
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Great day there Lynn. Hope you and your crew don't catch or scare off all those 27 inch Cats. They may not bump your contest score, but I would be proud to post one of them as my one allowed out of the north team area. Wife and I are planning a trip to UL 20-22 June.
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Great pic. I'm sure that 36"er has your name all over it, BLK! .It's just a matter of time.
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Nice cats Lynn, glad you're getting out and enjoying this time of year... Fun to have a grandson that likes it as much as you do... Way to go you guys... Later J
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Your my hero! I think the retirement thing is working well for you. I hope to try it someday.
Aren't you glad you didn't go in that wind yesterday afternoon!
I was at the north end for a couple hours yesterday with the kids group from Saratoga Springs. The kids got on just under 27, one 25 and one about 22 along with 4 or 5 mudders. Not big numbers, but lots of big
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BTW, we were in one the river inlet canals sheltered from the turbulent waves.
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Always fun fishing with kids. Glad you got out and avoided the wind.
We hit the lake again this a.m. Just got back home and was immediately chased out of the house by my wife cuz I smelled like a dead fish -- true, but it's only temporary... I think.
We had similar success today. Caught way more than we could count and ejected them from the boat as fast as we caught them. Kept four long enough for a photo and then chucked them back in the water. The cat fishing just doesn't get any better than it is now. The first two fish we caught were 26 inchers. I caught one that was 28 1/2 inches long that will help my contest score a bit.
Fun day with Catcarsen -- the kid likes to fish! He wants to go again tonight!
Met icesled on the ramp and it is very good to see him back in action after some serious surgery. He's a good producer for the south team.
Got my fishing report from the DWR today and they note that a couple of 24 pound cats have been caught in the past couple of weeks. Someday, I'll find one those really big ones... who knows? it might be tomorrow.
BLK
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Nice Work again! I just looked at that DNR report you mentioned. Wow! 24 pounds! The only other time I had heard of one over 20 pounds they had a write up and photos in the local paper. I haven't seen a write up this time, but If I have time to read the paper, I go fishing instead[
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Wow, 24 pounds! Making me want to go down there even more now.
Sounds like you guys have the cats dialed in. Good job you two.
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Wow...
Approximately how long (inches) would a 24 lb. channel be?
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Good question. My best cat is a 33 incher I caught a couple of years ago. I guesstimated it's weight at about 13 pounds. So.... a 24 pounder would probably be about 60 inches long, right??[
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I know there are BFTers who have caught 20+ pounders so maybe someone will have a more rational guess or an exact length. I would bet a 24 pounder would be in the mid-30s inch range -- a big head, a big gut, and lots of muscle.
Someday, before I check out, I hope to converge with a 36 incher and I will be happy to share his exact weight when I get him.[laugh] Just knowing there are catfish that big in UL and other waters makes the pursuit all the more fun.
BLK
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I need to go fishing with you soon. UL sounds like its on fire indeed.
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Last years biggest for me from Utah Lake was 31.5 inches and 21.5 lbs of ugly. Big headed male.
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[quote lavaman]Wow...
Approximately how long (inches) would a 24 lb. channel be?[/quote]
[#0000FF]My personal best from Utah Lake was a 24 pound fish that was 37 inches long...back in the early '80s. Fish over 20 pounds were not nearly as scarce then.[/#0000FF]
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I'd imagine that those size fish are very few and far between. I've fished that lake for a long time, chasing cats almost exclusively and I don't think I've ever broken 10lbs. Maybe it's where or how I fish... don't really know but 24 lbs? That's one of those I'd have to see it to believe it kinda things. Sorry if that's overly skeptical.
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Derek-- any time. And you are right, the cats are really coming on strong now at UL.
I'll be providing a bit of how-to instruction to Tube Dude Tuesday. Always fun to share time on the water with him.
There should be a lot of cats caught in the next few weeks. Who knows, maybe one of those 20+ pounders will put in an appearance.
BLK
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Reminds me of Grumpy Old Men when they are chasing "Catfish Hunter," the elusive monster cat. " He
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I caught a ten pounder 2 weeks ago and wondered if the fight was ever gonna end, kudos to you bringing a 24 lb cat out of the water!
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[#0000FF]I was properly "geared up" for the biggun when I caught him. We had found an area with a goodly number of "Lion Kings"...and we were using salt water sized rods, reels, lines and hooks. In fact, it was uncommon to catch anything UNDER 10 pounds over about a six week stretch. But that doesn't mean we just cranked them in. Even on tough tackle those big mean cats pull hard and get mean.
I have caught much bigger blue cats and flathead cats (not in Utah Lake). But my opinion is that pound for pound a UL kittie can hold its own against any other species from any other water. As the saying goes..."They punch above their weight class."
Like a lot of folks, I prefer to use the lightest gear that makes sense. I use mostly 12 to 14 pound braid in Utah Lake...for cats. 6-8# for other species. And I use Silver Thread Excalibur leaders which are abrasion resistant...25# for cats...6 or 8# for others. But I often find myself attached to some pretty good sized cats that take my small jigs on light rods. Then you find out how good your line and knots are.
Even though I enjoy fighting larger fish on light tackle I do not like the prospect of stressing the fish too much with a prolonged fight on gear too light for the fish I am catching. Cats can handle it better than most other species, but when it takes twice as long to bring one in it cuts into your fishing time.
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37" long! that's a dandy!
Currently I have 10# trilene (abrasive resistant version) on my cat rods, but not sure if that could handle a good kitty. Guess I won't know until it happens haha
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[#0000FF]If you are fishing a relatively snag free area you can handle almost any size fish with 10#...as long as you tie good knots, set your drag properly and don't try to rush the battle. But if you are fishing in a snag or rock filled environment you can lose small fish on big line.
Landing big fish is always a combination of luck and skill. But if you use proper tackle and good techniques you will improve the odds.
Here is a picture and stats on a 29# kitty from UL
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