Lincoln Today

[ice_sled]

Hit the pond about 5:30 am and fished until 10:30. Occupied BLK's space in front of the first spring. Just barely got my lines in the water; then bendo on both rods. Lynn sure has those cats trained! One easily landed the other headed straight for my anchor rope but was successfully boated. The fishing was hot at times and then would cool off for a time. Only 12 fish caught. All battle scared males. The ladies must still be in the kitty nursery. All in all a good day on the pond. Surface temp 79.
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[Boatloadakids]

Hey Ben, you didn't see the "no trespassing" signs on that spot??[]

I have caught 100's of cats there in the past month-- ain't braggin', just sayin' -- and I haven't caught one that I could stretch past 27 inches. Can't figger 'em out. Years past that spot has always given up at least a couple of 30-plusers. I'm with you, they need to get over this silly spawn stuff and disperse out into deeper water.

I'm thinking the big ones will put in an appearance when the spawn in over and they go on a feeding frenzy to recover from all the loving and fighting. Maybe when this year's wb and carp babies become a prime food sources it will be easier to find the bigger cats. Tube Dude claims that is one of his favorite times to go after the bigger cats... about August and September or so.

Anyway, always fun to catch them any time they are biting good. Glad you got out and had a good day.

BLK
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[MisterCompletely]

BLK, do you use circle hooks? I've been doing a little catting at UL, with mixed success with the 3/0 circle hooks. I haven't decided whether I like them or not.
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[Boatloadakids]

MC-- I have used circle hooks and I like the way they usually hook the fish in the side of the mouth... easy to release. I prefer the "J" hook -- Gamakatsu Octopus hooks in 2/0 and 4/0. I use the 2/0 for dragging minnows and the 4/0 for good-sized chunks of carp or wb. The circle hook usually does not need to be set... the "trigger-pull" used to set a "J" hook is the fun part of catchin".

Seems like everybody has their favorite type of hook. Whatever works works. The J hooks work for me. I buy the 100 hook packs from Cabelas for about $50... which reminds me, I need to order another hundred.[laugh]

Best to ya,

BLK
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[Anglinarcher]

[quote MisterCompletely]BLK, do you use circle hooks? I've been doing a little catting at UL, with mixed success with the 3/0 circle hooks. I haven't decided whether I like them or not.[/quote]

Hardest part is to learn to just let them take it, then reel down on them and not "set the hook".