05-29-2010, 11:32 PM
[font "Times New Roman"]Well this weekend is the 1 year anniversary of me catching my first catfish. I can’t believe what a year it has been. First I don’t think I would have had such a wonderful year if it were not for my Mother in law buying my a FC4. I got hooked on float tubing several years ago and the FC4 re hooked me. I then saw Tube Dude catching catfish with a tube and soon I wanted to go for cats on my FC4.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] The very first channel cat I ever got was TINY!! But on that same trip I got a fish that was about 3 to 4 pounds. I was HOOKED![/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] I had tried my luck with cats several times but I never put a hard enough effort to actually go somewhere with catfish. I fished the river and went to places where I had either heard there might be cats or just hoped that one might be there. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Over the last year I have worked at it. I have studied and read about everything I could get my hands on about cats and more important Idaho Cats. I asked MANY people on this web page for hints and help Tube Dude was a very important part of my schooling. A lot of other guys helped along the way with my many questions. While I don’t feel like I have got it all figured out I am doing a lot better. I do believe that the FC4 opened my eyes to water I had never thought of to fish. I did several river floats with it from 3 to 5 miles with the FC4 and enjoyed them all. I got a pontoon and used it for cats and I like it a lot but I knew I wanted one that was a little more geared to big river floats. My latest toon is a used FC9, and I think with a little more thought and pimping it will be a [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]cat-craft, pun intended. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] My last years goal was a 10 pound cat. I fished right up to December looking for one. Then I went to see my Daughter in Lewiston this last March and on my first cat of the year I broke 10 pounds, and even made it to 15 pounds. That fish was 30” long and a “whisker” over 15 pounds, and is my biggest cat to date. After that one I went on to break last years 10 pound mark five more times this spring. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]I am going to make a guess that I have caught somewhere around 150 to 200 cats in the last year most were catch and release. Also most were channel cats but I was lucky to get a couple of flatheads. Flatheads are the second largest fish in Idaho behind sturgeon. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]I would like to break the 20 pound mark this year but I understand that is asking a lot for Idaho cat water but it is possible. My search for the beast will be the snake river between Swan Falls, and Brownlee Dam. I am planning on several one day trips and I hope to make a weeklong float into areas that are not accessible to many if any bank fishermen. I told my wife I will put in and I will call when I want to be picked up. I don’t know where that will be, and I don’t want to be on a schedule where I have to be somewhere at a certain time. If I find a spot that I want to fish I might stay there for an hour or a day or two days. It will be a “wild man“ trip for sure.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] I want to thank all you guys that have helped me along the way. A HUGE thanks to Tube Dude for all the help, answers, and thoughts. My son Jacob was a huge part of this last year. He was along with me for most of the trips. I had fun with him and he helped me so much. We even have a game. The guy that is the best cat fisherman that day is "catmando" the rest are "catmandon't" most of the time I was the catmando. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]I will remember my first years as a catman. It has been a fun time.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] Ron[/font]
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