Snake River catfish

[ID_Paul]

I just returned from the Snake River between Walters Ferry and Marsing.

The day was perfect - weather has been stable, water flows have been stable in the 7500-8000 range. It was warm, not unbearably hot, and the water was surprisingly clear. The surface temp was 68 degrees. The only thing missing was fish activity. I didn't get a single bite all morning.

I anchored at the bottom of an island with a long sand and mud bar off the downstream side. I tried cut bait, worms and Bowker's dip bait. There was a 6' slackwater hole on one side, and shallow milfoil-infested channel on the other. I placed my hooks in each area, and also drifted worms under a float through the shallow channel. After about 3 hours of nothing, I drifted downstream in the main channel, 5 to 9 feet deep, dragging cutbait along the bottom. Lots of fish showed up on the sonar, most all of them within 2 feet of the bottom. No interest.

Any general advice on what to look for regarding water depth, structure or other relevant information would be much appreciated.

Thanks.
Paul
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[Duck-Slayer]

yep your in the wrong place for cats this time of year, you should be anchored by vegetation, either thick weeds or trees that are growing into the water, they are just about done spawning I believe, they spawn in about 68-72 degree of water I believe, there are lots of good spots over there for cats this time of year, just have too target the right one's, good luck,
Matt
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[ID_Paul]

Thanks Matt. While drifting back, I noted an area with flooded tules and the sound of an incoming creek. The whole area was slackwater. Would that be a better choice, maybe drop the bait near the edge of the tules?
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[idahoron]

That is the spot I would try. Ron
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[ID_Paul]

Thank you for your reply, Ron. It was seeing your photos on the MM forum that inspired me to dust off the catfish gear and give it a try again. It's been several years since I have had time for catfishing. I wonder if my memories of fishing the deep calm holes were from later in summer.

I have trout calling my name for my next day off, but the next chance I get, I'll go back to that tule spot on the Snake to see if the catfish are there.

Thanks again.
Paul
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[Duck-Slayer]

dont worry they will be there, sounds like a good spot, been seeing alot of cats while bow fishing in the thick weeds,
Matt
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[windriver]

I don't know much about cat fishing, but I do know I would change location before putting in three hours. I'm sure you'll figure them out.

Windriver
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[Maxcat]

I fished a few miles below Marsing on the same day. It was a little slow but we still caught 7 before noon. 3 over ten pounds.

We spotted them in with the carp. They have not spawned yet and I expect are getting ready to, as we saw some working the bank below the roots.

We caught all on cutbait in 2-4 feet of water in light current. Most of the time we pull them out of eddy lines. But not on this day.
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[nativefisherman]

Hit on of my cat holes the other day. Caught lots of cats on two big ones. Uses bowkers for 3 fish then did not get another hit on it all day. Cut bait worked good caught about 6 one it biggest fish was on a worm and bobber three feet from the shore in heavy heavy rock cover. There where two big females that had not spawned out yet. Little bit of current lots of rocks and some veggies. Lots of carp most bites where very very subtle.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

[quote nativefisherman]Hit on of my cat holes the other day. Caught lots of cats on two big ones. Uses bowkers for 3 fish then did not get another hit on it all day. Cut bait worked good caught about 6 one it biggest fish was on a worm and bobber three feet from the shore in heavy heavy rock cover. There where two big females that had not spawned out yet. Little bit of current lots of rocks and some veggies. Lots of carp most bites where very very subtle.[/quote]

what's bowkers? Don't think I've heard of that.
At least in my area - it seems they have moved from the shallow spawning zones. I've never had as much luck finding them later, but I'd think deeper holes, structure, wood piles - places to check out.

[Maxcat]

I think he is using to bobbers. We did the same two weeks ago.
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[sdhuntandfish]

If I'm not mistaken, Bowkers is a commercial dip bait...
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[CoyoteSpinner]

I've never had much luck with dips and doughs. Though I am a fan of bobber fishing. I like to rig a leader about a foot or so below a bobber, and I tie up some beads and blades on a colored octopus hook. Worms, shrimp, carp strips, minnows. Seems to work sometimes.

I think floating through current, or bouncing in windy ripples gives the blade enough movement for some flash and attraction. Hammered gold/brass is my go-to. I like to give them a few stripes and spots.

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[idahoron]

In the right times I use a crawler harness. I also use spinners spoons and plugs. Ron
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[nativefisherman]

I use slip bobber with a knot to adjust the depth.
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[ID_Paul]

Thanks everyone for the replies and suggestions. I will be going back out for catfish soon.
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[ID_Paul]

I tried near Steck tonight. 4 spots, 4 baits. 1 bite which snapped my line 1 second after I grabbed the rod. Will try again tomorrow.
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[idahoron]

The big cats are going to be ultra active right now. They are just coming off of spawn and they are looking for a meal. Don't be afraid to use LARGE chunks of bait. A size 4/0 hook at minimum. Have at least one rod in shallow just off weed line. Ron
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[ID_Paul]

I struck out again. I fished until almost 2AM, slept a bit then was back at it around 7. Nothing.

Here's a more complete report than I could do on my phone last night:

I started at about 6:30p.m. across from the Spring access, in a relatively flat rocky cove.There were carp hanging just a few feet off shore, so I dropped 2 different baits about in the middle of that area. I gave it about an hour before moving on downstream. The sun was brutal, I'm glad I brought shade with me.

Next, I decided to try a deeper spot with shade. I found a little nook behind a rock spire and set one rod up with cut bait (smelt, I think), and a rainbow trout Rooster Tail spinner on the other. (I caught a catfish on that spinner years ago, I figured I might as well try everything) I also tried crickets about 3' under a float, after a few dozen casts with the spinner.

It wasn't a convenient place to spend the night so I kept going further downstream. From a good vantage point I could see a long way down and saw no vegetation anywhere in the water. Not surprising given the dropping water level and rocky habitat. All the good flat areas were being fished, so I went back up toward the park.

I was surprised to find a cove very near the boat ramp unoccupied. I drove down to the water and set up again. From around sunset to 2AM I tried: nightcrawlers, crickets, very ripe cut bait (crappie rib meat with shrimp mixed in, and oil added in hopes of broadcasting scent.), and smelt from the bait shop.

I cast far out, I cast very close to shore. I tried in the gravelly cove where the wind was driving flotsam, I walked to the rocky point and cast beyond it. I tried everything I could think to try.

I got only the one strike mentioned above. It hit on my crappie cut bait. The wind was blasting up the canyon and shaking my rods around, so if the cats were biting lightly, I never would have noticed them. There was nothing light about that one strike though - the bell clinked once and the fish started stripping line off immediately.

This morning, I put out both rods with the crappie meat, just past the scraggly weeds poking through the surface. I'd guess the depth was about 3' there. Nothing. A freshly dead catfish washed up on shore, and I decided to cut some chunks off that to try. Per Ron's suggestion, I tried a big slab. No takers.



In about 13 hours of fishing I had only the one bite. I think I have a McManus fish repelling aura or something.
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[ID_Paul]

Thank you Ron.
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