07-20-2014, 12:00 AM
THANKS Mike. Lots of good info. Wish I had checked BFT this morning before I left. Anyway, launched out of Benson about 0645.
[inline "(060) 19 July 2014 0645 Benson Marina.jpg"]
Was a beautiful morning. I did go straight west from launch. Sat over that deep hole near the bridge for awhile. Stayed busy bringing in little Yellow Bellies on 2 lines. Released all (of course). Took photos of the first 2, then stopped. Lost count of these pesky little mudders at about 18, but think final tally was over 2 dozen-ish. Almost as bad as a skunk, but not quite [
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[inline "(061) 0659 Mud Cat # 1 of MANY.jpg"]
That's a uncooked jumbo shrimp with shell and tail. That guys eyes were bigger than his MOUTH. He got the hook, but not the shrimp.
[inline "(062) 0707 Mud Cat # 2 of MANY.jpg"]
Didn't have any Carp or Sucker bait, was using shrimp and night crawlers. Did OK I guess. Today I went under the bridge for the first time. Caught more Mud Cats. Got the first indication my sonar may not be working quite right. Was anchored all the way to the south edge of the water south side of the bridge. Sonar was reading 4.6 ft. so I let my motor down, CLUNK ! Glad the prop wasn't turning. Stuck my rod tip in the water and hit MUD bottom in less than 1 ft. Checked the sonar Off Set, and it was right where I set it 7 years ago. - 1 ft. That makes the sonar read 1 ft. less than it is actually so it compensates for the 1 foot my motor hangs below the hull. At the indicated 4.6 ft, I should have had approx.3.5 ft. under the motor . But Didn't. Guess it's time to check into a new sonar.
Anyway went back north under the bridge and hopscotched my way north along the west side. And I was about 25 - 30 yards away from the edge. But now I'm not trusting my sonar. so at a 3 ft. reading I anchor out, stick my 6'6" GlowStick rod tip in the water, and hit mud at about 18".
Would spend about 30 to 40 minutes in each spot. No bites, move on. About 10:30 got up the west side to the first slough that cuts in and runs west to a irrigation pump. Sat out in that T area about 40 minutes, and finally a more aggressive hit on the rod with the worm. A nice Cat, but not enough to improve my contest totals, so CPR'ed him and let him go.
[inline "(064) 1042 Cat # 1 CPR.jpg"]
Then an even more aggressive hit on the shrimp
[inline "(065) 1120 Cat # 2 20.5 inch.jpg"]
A solid 20" maybe 20.5"
And then the big one for the day. 22 inch.
[inline "(068) Cat # 3.jpg"]
With my "iffy" sonar and the wind starting to pick up about 1:30 pm, decided I'd done enough today. The 2 bigger Cats might bump my contest score up a point or 2. We shall see.
[signature]
[inline "(060) 19 July 2014 0645 Benson Marina.jpg"]
Was a beautiful morning. I did go straight west from launch. Sat over that deep hole near the bridge for awhile. Stayed busy bringing in little Yellow Bellies on 2 lines. Released all (of course). Took photos of the first 2, then stopped. Lost count of these pesky little mudders at about 18, but think final tally was over 2 dozen-ish. Almost as bad as a skunk, but not quite [
][inline "(061) 0659 Mud Cat # 1 of MANY.jpg"]
That's a uncooked jumbo shrimp with shell and tail. That guys eyes were bigger than his MOUTH. He got the hook, but not the shrimp.
[inline "(062) 0707 Mud Cat # 2 of MANY.jpg"]
Didn't have any Carp or Sucker bait, was using shrimp and night crawlers. Did OK I guess. Today I went under the bridge for the first time. Caught more Mud Cats. Got the first indication my sonar may not be working quite right. Was anchored all the way to the south edge of the water south side of the bridge. Sonar was reading 4.6 ft. so I let my motor down, CLUNK ! Glad the prop wasn't turning. Stuck my rod tip in the water and hit MUD bottom in less than 1 ft. Checked the sonar Off Set, and it was right where I set it 7 years ago. - 1 ft. That makes the sonar read 1 ft. less than it is actually so it compensates for the 1 foot my motor hangs below the hull. At the indicated 4.6 ft, I should have had approx.3.5 ft. under the motor . But Didn't. Guess it's time to check into a new sonar.
Anyway went back north under the bridge and hopscotched my way north along the west side. And I was about 25 - 30 yards away from the edge. But now I'm not trusting my sonar. so at a 3 ft. reading I anchor out, stick my 6'6" GlowStick rod tip in the water, and hit mud at about 18".
Would spend about 30 to 40 minutes in each spot. No bites, move on. About 10:30 got up the west side to the first slough that cuts in and runs west to a irrigation pump. Sat out in that T area about 40 minutes, and finally a more aggressive hit on the rod with the worm. A nice Cat, but not enough to improve my contest totals, so CPR'ed him and let him go.
[inline "(064) 1042 Cat # 1 CPR.jpg"]
Then an even more aggressive hit on the shrimp
[inline "(065) 1120 Cat # 2 20.5 inch.jpg"]
A solid 20" maybe 20.5"
And then the big one for the day. 22 inch.
[inline "(068) Cat # 3.jpg"]
With my "iffy" sonar and the wind starting to pick up about 1:30 pm, decided I'd done enough today. The 2 bigger Cats might bump my contest score up a point or 2. We shall see.
[signature]
"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
Or so it says on my license plate holder