06-14-2011, 10:16 PM
[cool][#0000ff]There is an old fisherman's saying..."Big fish - Big Bait." Or maybe it's the other way around.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Either way, when it comes to catching big cats from most waters you will do better by serving them up something that appeals to their size and normal feeding habits.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I usually don't keep, kill and cut open the larger cats. Of the very few I have been privileged to look in their innards I have been amazed (and nauseated) at what you might find in them. The cats from Utah Lake almost always have whole white bass, bluegill, crappies...and even small walleyes, bullheads and even carp in them. Fairly large WHOLE fish. I have even seen them with small whole chickens and other birds...including the head and neck of a merganzer (fish-eating duck). There had to be a story behind that one.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When I fished for the bigguns I used several different baits. One was a foot-long strip of FRESH carp fillet...rigged at least two hooks. Sometimes I used whole yearling carp...about a foot long. Most of the time I used fresh whole white bass. I scaled them, sheared off their stickery spines and cut slashes in their sides to release more scent. I have caught many cats over ten pounds from Utah Lake...several over 15. My biggest have almost all been on whole white bass.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When using large baits you will still get smaller cats working the bait over. I have caught them as small as about 4#...even on a good sized white bass. But you will get few problems with other white bass or bullheads packing it off.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As a general rule, you will know when Mr. Big comes calling. No "nibbles". Just a sudden hard sustained pull. If your rod is not anchored and the drag set loose you will lose your rod...or break it. I prefer to leave the bail open and let them move off. Then I flip the bail, let the fish pull the line tight and then set the hook. If you are using circle hooks you just tighten up and start pulling. [/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Either way, when it comes to catching big cats from most waters you will do better by serving them up something that appeals to their size and normal feeding habits.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I usually don't keep, kill and cut open the larger cats. Of the very few I have been privileged to look in their innards I have been amazed (and nauseated) at what you might find in them. The cats from Utah Lake almost always have whole white bass, bluegill, crappies...and even small walleyes, bullheads and even carp in them. Fairly large WHOLE fish. I have even seen them with small whole chickens and other birds...including the head and neck of a merganzer (fish-eating duck). There had to be a story behind that one.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When I fished for the bigguns I used several different baits. One was a foot-long strip of FRESH carp fillet...rigged at least two hooks. Sometimes I used whole yearling carp...about a foot long. Most of the time I used fresh whole white bass. I scaled them, sheared off their stickery spines and cut slashes in their sides to release more scent. I have caught many cats over ten pounds from Utah Lake...several over 15. My biggest have almost all been on whole white bass.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When using large baits you will still get smaller cats working the bait over. I have caught them as small as about 4#...even on a good sized white bass. But you will get few problems with other white bass or bullheads packing it off.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As a general rule, you will know when Mr. Big comes calling. No "nibbles". Just a sudden hard sustained pull. If your rod is not anchored and the drag set loose you will lose your rod...or break it. I prefer to leave the bail open and let them move off. Then I flip the bail, let the fish pull the line tight and then set the hook. If you are using circle hooks you just tighten up and start pulling. [/#0000ff]
[signature]