03-18-2015, 04:32 AM
Decided it was too nice a day not to try fishing, so I loaded up the canoe and went to Cutler Marsh. I launched at the ramp on Highway 30, and floated down to Benson Marina. There was bit of a breeze most of the afternoon, but it was generally blowing in the right direction.
About 30 minutes in, I got my first bite and brought in a 20 inch channel cat on a chunk of carp. I put on some fresh bait, and proceeded to float across a large bay with no other interruptions. Once I got to the far east side against the cattails, I had another taker on the carp chunk, this one significantly larger than the first. I put my line back out while I was stopped, and attempted to get a picture of that one, which was a little over 26". By the time I got my tape, my BFT logo, and my camera ready, the fish was still fighting. Then another fish grabbed the bait and started thrashing around adding some additional sense of urgency.
As a co-worker has requested some fish, I figured I would put the fish in hand on the stringer and bring in the new recruit. I put it on my chain stringer, and got it in the water, then brought in a 25.5 inch channel cat. After getting it in the net and having the hook pop out of the skin around the mouth, I wrestled it into submission. I still couldn't get a good photo, so this one went on the stringer too. As I was lowering it into the water, I saw the clip in it's mouth had popped open so I closed it before putting it in the water. Then I pushed off and noticed the second, larger fish seemed a little farther than the chain should have let it. Sure enough, it swam away as I looked to see the clip on that one had opened up as well. I guess I will not be using a chain stringer on a fish that big again. I continued to fish, though I was dragging the bait faster than I would have liked. This was my first time making the trip on the south end, and without a motor I was racing to finish before dark.
No more takers, but for St Patrick's day, I am not complaining to have caught 3 decent channel cats. Carp were jumping all over the place, but I didn't have to touch one all afternoon. No mud cats either.
No temperatures or depths to speak of. No electronics, just rods, tackle and bait. They all ate carp chunks, with no love on the night crawlers.
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About 30 minutes in, I got my first bite and brought in a 20 inch channel cat on a chunk of carp. I put on some fresh bait, and proceeded to float across a large bay with no other interruptions. Once I got to the far east side against the cattails, I had another taker on the carp chunk, this one significantly larger than the first. I put my line back out while I was stopped, and attempted to get a picture of that one, which was a little over 26". By the time I got my tape, my BFT logo, and my camera ready, the fish was still fighting. Then another fish grabbed the bait and started thrashing around adding some additional sense of urgency.
As a co-worker has requested some fish, I figured I would put the fish in hand on the stringer and bring in the new recruit. I put it on my chain stringer, and got it in the water, then brought in a 25.5 inch channel cat. After getting it in the net and having the hook pop out of the skin around the mouth, I wrestled it into submission. I still couldn't get a good photo, so this one went on the stringer too. As I was lowering it into the water, I saw the clip in it's mouth had popped open so I closed it before putting it in the water. Then I pushed off and noticed the second, larger fish seemed a little farther than the chain should have let it. Sure enough, it swam away as I looked to see the clip on that one had opened up as well. I guess I will not be using a chain stringer on a fish that big again. I continued to fish, though I was dragging the bait faster than I would have liked. This was my first time making the trip on the south end, and without a motor I was racing to finish before dark.
No more takers, but for St Patrick's day, I am not complaining to have caught 3 decent channel cats. Carp were jumping all over the place, but I didn't have to touch one all afternoon. No mud cats either.
No temperatures or depths to speak of. No electronics, just rods, tackle and bait. They all ate carp chunks, with no love on the night crawlers.
[signature]