Got a chance at some early(dark) morning catfishing. It was hot fishing and hot water. I caught fish on sucker strips and shrimp.
Pulled in this pig (pic below) with sucker meat (No pics of the smaller fish). 4 hours of fishing, 14 cats. Fun, fun, fun!
Fish are still hunting the shallows for prey at night skulking in the deep during the heat of the day.
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Hey Mike so 91 points that's a pretty tough mark to beat. Nice job. Later J
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Hey Jeff, I hadn't actually thought of the total yet, but cool!
This contest has just given me an excuse to fish the marsh more often and I'm really enjoying it. I've been concentrating on big fish as much as possible and it has really been teaching me a ton about their habits and haunts on the reservoir. They definitely have their own places and habits that are different from the smaller cats.
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Wohoo! Go Team North! I'm glad I'm on your team! It's anglers like you that give me the confidence to wag my
like a little Chihuahua knowing the big dawgs will back me up!
I should probably update the charts. I know some folks talk up Fall Cattin, I've not had much luck later into summer, but then - I don't do much night time fishing, and well - that explains things. I like your theory, it matches up with some reading I've done on Flathead feeding patterns. But further - they'll have "routes" they follow, holding up in deep cooler water in the day, then taking off for a nighttime foray, but by tagging studies they followed their distinctive pattern.
Granted - those are a different kind of cat, but they've all got whiskers and big bellies right?
Happen to get a weight on it? I get stories from folks, and I still haven't nipped the 10lb mark, but when someone tells me they caught a 20lb cat - I gotta wonder about the scale, or some heavy fingers. BUT... such it is.
I'm glad the Cat Contest gives you a reason to get out and explore. I personally find that's a real plus that comes from holding the contest at all. Encouraging folks to get into catfishing, and to challenge their own skillset to improve. It works on me anyway.
Thanks yote.
The feeding patterns of channel cats are totally predictable, but in the fall I find that they aren't as predictable to pinpoint the spots. As the water cools they seem to spread out a hair and do their own thing, but the nice thing about that is that the carp babies and whatever else they are slurping down are helping them to pack some pounds on them and they seem to be a little more hungry while the feed is available, therefore, the fishing can really be good at that time of the year.
I like to fish the areas that hold the baitfish and the rest sort of just works itself out. Those spots seem to change a little as the water temps change and following the baitfish is the key to the bigger kitties and using fresh minnows or cut bait is they key to getting bit by the bigger ones. Stink bait is only good for smaller catfish in my opinion and I never use it anymore although it can produce loads of smaller fish for the fryer. Night fishing is part of my bag of trick right now just because it's so flippin' hot during the day (and the fish go deeper!) but in the fall, luckily, they are easier to catch in the day time. Once the water cools a little they seem to become a little more lively again and I don't need to lose precious sleep to catch the dirty buggers!
I rarely weigh my cats unless they are something to really brag about or they look overly big for their length. If I caught a 15" that felt like a 3 pounder I would most definitely weigh it to satisfy my curiosity, but I would gues the weight on that fish to have been between 10-11 pounds, but it's just a wild guess.
If I were to rate the best cattin' based on the sizes caught, I would probably have to say early summer is the best for me followed by spring, but it is a close one between spring and fall.
Another thing I do is not fish a spot for more than 20 minutes if I'm not getting decent bites. I have found that if you are in a great spot then the cats will be munching your baits right from the get go and if I have waited a spot out hoping for the fish to start feeding then it rarely results in numbers, just a single or two.
Just my two cent worth, but I hope it can help someone else catch a few more when they give it a go.
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Way to go, Mike ! You say that was in the early morning before day light. How are the mosquitos that time of 0-dark-30 ? I know in the evening from just about sundown to midnight or a bit later, they are pretty intense. But from say 3 AM to day light are they as bad?
I ask only because I'll be in the Cutler / Hyrum area this weekend and might like to give it a try in early morning
(if I can roust my 2 boys out that early).
A bit leary of puttin the boat on Benson in the dark, mainly cause the depth was getting pretty shallow last time I was there on 19th.
Well, again, good on ya for pushin the North Cat Team even further out in front. Hope you can keep you lead spot till September. Would be just like BLK or Lavaman to slide a big record buster in right at the last minute.
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Another nice cat! I posted on the contest page so I won't ramble on here. Gotta admit that you are setting a high standard but that's what makes the contest fun.
Interesting description of how you go after 'em. I fish entirely from a boat and drag baits more than I fish with bobbers. I have always favored carp meat and white bass meat for bait. I use a big bait with a hook-behind-a-hook on 40 pound braid and a heavy rod (industrial strength). I have a paper clip taped to my rod that holds my line and releases as soon as a fish hits. I stop my electric and give line until the cat has time to munch a bit and then do a heavy duty hook set. Fun.
I agree on the night fishing... nothing like being out at night on glassy calm water with nothing but geese yelling obscenities at you from the near distance and hungry cats on the prowl. Love it.
It is even better when I can take my crew out with me. I've got them totally hooked on fishin' now and I consider that a major accomplishment in my life. I know they are hooked cuz they frequently remind me that they have first dibs on my boat when I die.... so comforting.[
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I tip my greasy carp-stained hat to ya on catchin' some really nice cats.... but, be advised that it ain't over yet. The south will best your 32 incher before it's over... if we don't run out of water before we run out of time.[:/]
BLK
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Hey tin-can, the skeeters aren't too bad from about 1 am till sun up, but from sundown till 11-12 they really suck! I use 100% deer, but if it gets on your lips yer screwed!
The lake isn't too bad for depth. It's about a foot lower than during the flotilla but maybe not even that much. If you stay about 75 yards off the West Bank until it narrows up a bit toward the north you'll be alright. If you do manage to find bottom with your skeg its just soft mud and won't hurt much. At least I haven't had any damage as of yet.
It's worth hitting at night and with cutbait if your leaning toward that sort of thing. Another tip, buy some cheap glow sticks from Walmart and use electrical tape to tape it to your pole tip and turn off the lantern. It's more peaceful and less Mosquitos and the tip of your pole is extremely visible.
Good luck.
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BLK, if you or any of the others beat my 32" fishy I will be almost as thrilled for you as I was for myself. This is fun stuff and a great release from my stressful schedule.
I only use bobbers sometimes, but I do fish stationary on the bottom most of the time. I keep thinking that I might be missing out on some good fishing if I were to slow troll, but I just don't know the ropes when it comes to that style of fishing. I use slip sinker rigs with 20 pound braid and circle hooks. Sucker and carp are my favorite baits.
You and your crew are some fierce competition and I'm always scoping out the forum here to see if you've beat me yet. I guess the pressures on my friend.
My biggest enjoyment with this contest is that its forcing me to learn more and search out other spots and we are sharing methods,and information for those who may not know how to catch a catfish but we are not necessarily giving up our spots. It's nice to know that others can learn and benefit from the experience of a few of us that are pretty good at catching these things.
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It will be cool to see the updates on the contest but I don't expect much change in my standing unless I drop lower. But I'm pretty sure you will still be on top. Wonder what happened to Catmaster this year? I expect him and SettheHook to make a run on your mark soon. Those guys are real competition so be ready when they join the fun. Who knows Yote isn't doing too bad himself, Lava is looking good too so be ready for a shoot out. Guess it all depends on free time though. Hard to do well if you don't get out fishing. Hope you can keep BLK in check, he works harder than anyone on this contest and has the potential of turning the tides with his team of boys. Fun times. Later J
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Boy I hear ya, I expected to be out in my place by now so I'm sure its still coming. I get most of my free time at ungodly hours so I guess it's good that its a catfish contest.
I'm up for a combined effort some night if you or one of the other contest members are so inclined. Sharing methods could be fun.
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Mike, thanks for all the tips and info. I have a Glow Stick rod (I use it all the time for trolling cause it's sturdy but sensative) and I've seen it glowing in the dark when I do an early launch somewhere.
Just might have to give that fishin at 0200 a shot this weekend. Hope the Thunderstorms blow on over before then
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Sounds like fun, I just have a hard time knowing when I'll have the open window. With TC up this weekend might be a likely window, I'm sort of waiting on weather to get my hay tied up, but I might make a night trip. When are you thinking? Were you in the boat for this last 30"er? Later J
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If you decide to give it a go, PM me and I can give you better navigation info.
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Ya, I was in a boat. Right close to home for you. I don't do very well from shore there because of the very limited access to decent spots. I see a lot of them from boat, but don't have the network of landowners under my belt like I do in rich county.
I'm slammed this week and weekend. We have raspberry days here in garden city all week and as the Fire Chief I get stuck with a lot of crappy chores and duties[:/]
I usually can take most any night to fish if I have a day or so advance warning.
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Oh that's right I may have to come over and have a shake this weekend and pick some berries. Summer passes too quickly guess I better hope for good weather so my hay gets finished before the weekend. Later J
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Just checked the weather forecast for the Hyrum area, Friday and Saturday partly cloudy and highs in the 90's
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Sounds good, should make a nice weekend. Looked at the damcam and it looks like the water has really dropped. I sure need to try that pond again its been forever. Let me know how that is fishing. Thanks J
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Jeff, Mike, Tin-Can, CatMaster, Yote, BoatLoadofkids et al you fellas are excellent fishermen and I would love to fish with you all sometime. Maybe we can all do a night fishing trip sometime. My schedule has been crazy so I haven't been out as much as I'd like...plus, my boy just got sent off to the MTC so it's an adjustment lately.
I usually don't fish a whole lot in the dog days of summer...but once fall gets here it's on!
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lavaman, I think I would enjoy that. As to excellent fisherman....? Well maybe those other guys fit that discription, and I've been fishing lots of years, I wouldn't consider myself excellent. But then, that's why I keep trying. Always room to improve, right ?
" Vegetarian... old Indian word for Bad Fisherman"
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