Fishing Forum

Well I went to the Huntington Catfish Tournament. Did you notice I said I went, not won. I started out the weekend going to my son’s Graduation on Friday night. I got up at 3:00 am to head for the cathouse. I planned to fish the contest Sunday and Monday.
So like I said, I started out in the cathouse . I wanted to get a feel for the rive with the higher flows. WOW! I know we are not in that high of water right now but I could not stay in a hole. Every time I stopped to fish I was washed out. The river flow is about 3000 cfs higher than the last time I fished it. I bet it is at least 2 foot higher up the bank.

I managed to catch several cats and missed several more that I should not have missed. Nothing big showed up this time. I was not able to get very far with my boat. I can’t get passed the island right above my favorite spot. I was hoping to get up there to try some new water. The river is very fast and shallow there.






This has got to be the ugliest catfish in the river. He was covered in spots and leaches.

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I left there and headed for my first stop Farewell bend. When I got there a Oregon fish and game guy told me that the river was too fast for me to make it back to the launch. It looked ok to me but he got me spooked and I chickened out. I headed for Huntington.

I went to the park and checked out what was going on. The tank on Saturday had several fish and a few of them were 18 to 20 pound flatheads. A 20 pound flathead is a BIG fish. I didn't take a picture of the tank on Saturday, I forgot the camera.

Not much goes on there, but it is a very small town. I didn't get to go to the BBQ and I didn't stay for the bingo so I went to Huntington Bait and tackle and said hi to Marie Wilcox. I am plugging them because she was nice enough to send me the registration form so I could pre register.

I went to the BLM boat launch right below Huntington, and spent the night. That night I got my boat ready so all I had to do in the morning was put on my waders and back the boat down the hill. I went to bed very early and was out of it when I heard a loud BOOM. I woke up looked around and went back to bed. Later Some people were saying it was a flash bang grenade. I know the ranger was going to investigate it but he never talked to me.

The next morning I headed out fishing. The weather was bad to say the least. It was raining and the wind was blowing fairly hard from down river. I got to my first place to try and I couldn't stay where I wanted to be. I got one big hit there but could not set the hook. I had to find a place out of the wind.

I headed about 2 miles up river and thought if the wind was blowing up river and the current was enough I might be able to stay put. Not a chance. While I was somewhat steady for a while. But the current was taking my bait down river and I was having a tough time staying on the bottom. I was going to have to make some changes. Then the wind changed and now was blowing down river. All the while it was raining on and off. Just a real pleasant day on the water.

I switched to a bottom bouncer and let the wind and current have me. I got a few pop and drops that way and managed to pick up three fish the biggest was 6 pounds. This style of fishing is very agressive for this condition and is way better for summer warm water than spring cold water but I at least boated some fish. Here are some pictures. The first one with the biggest one didn't turn out. The next one was almost as bad. I didn't take my good camera since it was raining and my old one was not set right.







I spoke with several people that were all having about the same luck as I was real slow with the weather moving through. More people entered fish in the tournament Saturday than Sunday. I just had bad luck with the wind and cold pattern. Now that I have my excuse in order a few people entered fish and I have those pictures.








Here is a picture of the leader board. I saw when the 18 pound 8 oz fish was brought in. That was a very large flathead. I have never caught one over about 8 pounds so seeing them was cool. Only a couple of Channel cats were entered and they were 12 pound looking fish.




As you can see at that time the #1 fish for Sunday was 16 pounds. #3 was 10 pounds. There was only two kids entered and #1 kid had a fish that was only 12 pounds 6 ounces a good fish for a kid. That fish was in the lead for the two days.

The weather I am sure was affecting the catch. The guys on Saturday did a lot better. That said It was interesting and got me into some new places. I don't know if I would go there just for that again but if I had a trip planned and it worked out I would enter if I was there.
The way the river is dumped every year it just messes with the fish at that time of the year. I have always liked to stay out of the river when that happens. With the tough fishing conditions on Sunday I stayed the night and headed for home on Monday instead of fishing. I can't wait for the weather and river to settle down. Ron
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Nice post, went to sugar cube on friday and only caught 3. The river should drop next week.
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I was checking just to see if you posted. It looks like you had fun anyway. Thanks for the report ron I think I still might go next year just to see what a big old flat looks like.
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Seeing them was cool. I am going to wait for the river to come down and get one my self. Ron
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That is awesome, I thought about going but figured it would be packed with people. I would like to catch a flathead someday. Too bad about the bad weather. Looks like you had better luck at the cathouse.
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I enjoyed reading your story and nice fish [cool]
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Thanks,

I enjoyed the post.
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Fished fri through sun, my son had the big cat for the jr division but we couldn't stay Monday for the final weigh in.
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That is great! Was it a flathead or a Channel cat?
Ron
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It was a channel, he caught a 11 pounder sat but we didn't make the weigh in on time. I also lost a giant fish sat as well; this thing doubled my rod over and I couldn't stop him. I hate being a skeptic but I definitely think I would have won the derby if I landed it. The good news is that fish is still swimming the river... Until the next trip!
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Brownlee is still holding a few. Much Bigger.

I hear.

The old timers say. It might be true.

Just saying.

Idaho
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Ron, Thanks for the post, and river level report. As dry as it is this year, I was surprised to read that the Snake is running high. I just checked the USGS site, and they report 14000 cfs at Weiser.

Does anyone know if this is a salmon flush, or just spring melt coming off the high country?
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Never heard of a Salmon coming up the snake in years.

Some, tell stories.

Idaho

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Big Cats and lets handle a big sturgeon with care.
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Not really at snow to run off. It's been flowing under the Hansen bridge for about 2 weeks. Some say salmon, some say tourist trap Shoshone falls. What a weird year, Milner is clear and the fish are spooky. Sturgeon fishing is kinda slow.
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It"s a cat fishing tourney story.


Nothing, beats Cats!

Butt, A good sturgeon above Swan falls.

Idaho
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It is a Salmon flush. They do it every year to flush smolts from what I understand. They kick up the flow and draw brownlee down big time. Guys told me that they are finishing up filling brownlee. The river at Weiser was 17000 so it is coming down.
The up stream dams are below what the water users would like to see. The only reason would to spill would be a salmon flush to comply with federal regulations. I know the farmers would have it dry if it were up to them. Ron
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Looks like it was a good time. I am going to try to go next year.
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