Green River Crackerjack cats of past and present.

[crackerjackcats]

Thought I would post some pictures of some big cats caught in the green over the years. removal efforts stopped in 2003 and the 15's and 20's are still around. they didnt get many if any that size during removal efforts. The sixteen pound fish had a squirell in its stomach. I am a catch and release guy myself, especially with big cats, but some of these were kept by the anglers who caught them. Enjoy the GR Hep Cats.
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[UTExplorer]

Cool Pictures! Just curious if those are taken above or below Flaming Gorge. My best day catfishing was casting to a bloated dead duck, that was bobbing next to some reads. I am sure they eat anything they can get their mouth around.
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[crackerjackcats]

These were all taken near the town of green river utah. so quite a ways below flaming goerge. the 20 pounders were caught on pocket gophers. there are tons of smaller cats in the green so you need a tough bait that will stay on the hook and withstand nibbles. Then just pick a bait sized to the size of cat you're after. frogs work well in some spots, that's what the 16 was caught on, or whole chubs or half a big bait fish, but then sometimes the little guys can hollow it out if there is an opening. So yeah you were right on the money to what they can fit their mouth around when considering size of fish.
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[Sotally_Tober]

Here is a monster catfish that one of my best buddies caught a few years ago at UL. I still can't believe how big this sucker was. I took the pictures and measured and weighed it.
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[danielc]

That thing looks like a submarine 29 lbs thats so cool I cant wait to catch something in the 20's
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[danielc]

any of you guys up North still want to say that the bigger cats are up their
HA HA
Prove it
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[Lettsfish]

Crackerjackcats:
Thanks for posting those pic's. Neat to see older photos of past times.
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[crackerjackcats]

Now thats a Sumo Cat! wow nice pic thanks for posting it.
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[catmaster23]

Still believe it and workin on it![cool] That's one hell of a cat!
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[Utcatman]

Don't u worry i will show you before the season over. ..lol I have caught several close to 20 ... hopefully this Will be my yr on the bear. my new flat bottom is gonna make it happen
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[danielc]

I'm going to catch that 29 pounders daddy LOL I will be trying
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[petty4life]

those pic bring back memories of fishing for cats in gr under the railroad bridge
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[UTExplorer]

I gotta ask what a "pocket gopher" is? Is it self explanatory or is it a name for another type of bait.

If they are just gophers do you use them alive or dead. [sly]

I have used all kinds of bait and stink concoctions for the cats and some have pretty weird names.

I haven't fished much for catfish in UT, but this summer I plan on seeing what I can find.
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[Fishsticker]

That is awsome that you used gopher. Growing up in eastern Oregon we fished the Snake all the time for cats. One night we caught a big ol cat that had some baby ducks in it's belly so we tried a few baby chickens that had died. Caught some good cats but nothing like that.
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[danielc]

I keep coming back to this pic of this big old hawg and it makes me want to try harder to catch one of these monsters wow did your buddy get a replica of this beast can I ask where he found her and what she bit on send me a pm or lets go fishing
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[CoyoteSpinner]

1. Nice pix - thanks for sharing, good stories on big baits for big fish. I know folks tend toward big patterns in fall when the brown trout are feasting down before winter. Mice, frogs - things that might fall off the bank.

2. RE: Replica - so were some of those "mounted"? As much as I like fishing for them, personally don't think it'd fly to have one staring down at us from the wall.
I gather even the bigger cats can offer decent table fare, just trim out the grey line.
They might not put up as big a fight, but our cookie cutter kitties fit that bill mighty fine.

3. Utcatman - you will dig that ride. Once things warm up more in Cutler and the Bear - you'll be getting on them cats! The places you can get to with a little boat...

4. Far as fat cats up north - Ok, that 29 lber is a beast alright! But I've seen some reports of some nice cats being found up this way. Still working on finding them myself, but . . . . hope the original posters don't mind me re-sharing. Last one's my own latest Willard Cookie Cutters.

[crackerjackcats]

So a pocket gopher is just another name for a gopher, im not sure about the different species of gophers but here is the story behind the 20 lber. It was caught by Curtis Rozman. He lives downstream on the green and is a friend of mine. It was caught around 2003 which was toward the end of catfish removal efforts in the Green. The biologists that were shocking the river pulled up to shore next to where he lives so he asked them "how big of fish are you getting" they replied " biggest fish are about ten pounds. There isn't anything real big in this river" so he decided to find out for himself and used a whole gopher for bait. Im not sure if he skinned it or not but he used it whole. He wanted something only a really big fish could get its mouth around and that's how it was caught. I dont live in Green River anymore but my cousin is going to experminet with the gopher method this summer. if he catches any sumo cats we will post the pics on here. I dont think removal efforts were able to get the biggest fish because cats arent as susceptible to electrofishing as other fish species are and the Green is so big and hard to deal with I think the leviathan cats evaded them.
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[Sotally_Tober]

Hey Man, my name is travis, My buddy caught this in mud lake on white bass meat. we fish down there a bunch and if you want give me a call and we will go sometime. Verl and I went on sunday and caught 6 or so white bass and brought 3 cats home and hook 1 or 2 more. no 29 pounders. 1 that was 5 and the other 2 probally 1-2 pounds. I can not believe the walleyes are done spawning to the best of my knowledge... have a good one and give me a shout on here and lets hook up.... I will be out next friday saturday and sunday either to UL or DC. I have a 20 Ft bayliner and I am putting an electric trolling motor that will be finished the middle of next week.
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[danielc]

Hey Travis I'm Daniel that's great he caught that in mud on white bass we fish that area all the time I was over their last Saturday fishing with white bass we caught 14 channels I caught 1 that was a 30 incher that was the biggest how long of shaft did you have to go on your boat I need to get me a front trolling motor for my sport craft they would be very helpfull over in mud I always get reeds dragging in my motor. Did you get in on the catfish tournament for this year?
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[Utcatman]

Here are a few of my own hogs.... oeweisner/refuge13.jpg[/IMG]IMG] all of these are almost average from the bear besides the big one at the top, that fish was 16 to 20lbs.
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