Cat Guys vs. Musky Guys

[Kodiak]

cat guys dont kill me...

[pureinsanity]

i believe skill-wise, the muskie is a much harder fish to catch....dont kill me on this that is just what i have been thinking...seems when i go catfishing i usually catch fish but when i go muskie fishing i always go home with an empty memory stick.

That's just a sign that you are fishing the right location and cover for cats and not doing it right when you are targeting muskies. Perhaps you should switch to catfish only as you seem to do better

[DTro]

As long as I have a fishing pole in my hand and water at my side, I could really care less the specie.

I have my favorites because they challenge me (and they try to pull me out of the boat in the process), but fish for one specie long enough and every single one will have a characteristic that will drive you buggy mad insane.

Which is why I think fishermen in general need to expand their horizons and quit chasing the same thing day after day after day. Not only will you gain fishing knowledge, it's a good excuse to buy more stuff.

[Nick Kuhn]

You aren't necessarily doing anything wrong muskie fishing. It is not uncommon to see fish, know exactly where they are hanging out, and pound them with everything in the tackle box and they still won't bite. If you are fishing during an inactive window, you almost certainly will go home skunked, unless you hang around until you enter a feeding window. There's a reason the average catch rate is 1 fish for 25 hours of angling effort, and it really hasn't improved at all over the past 15 years despite advances in technology and equipment.

[pureinsanity]

unless you fish sunfish. they feed 24/7

[10,000 Casts]

Cat Fishing is just as if not more expensive than Muskie fishing as far as equipment goes. No Roll Sinkers, barrel swivels, hooks and $500 in live bait a year. Muskie fishing is expensive to start if you want to be properly equiped but if you do it right, you won't have to do it again for a looooong time and you can get by at a minimal cost. Boat gas and truck gas are a different story...

With that said, when I was in college, I used my muskie gear to fish cats and it did get muddy and scratched up pretty quickly. But it did the job.

[JimBuck]

I've got just as many skunks fishing for flats as I do muskies. I'd say the amount of fish caught per 12/24 hour period is probably about equal for me as well.

Comparing the two or saying that one is more difficult than the other just doesn't do either species justice. They both present a list of unique challenges and opportunities for the angler. It's great to have the opportunity to live in a state where fishing for so many species is possible.

[rugbymn]

Whether your a catman or a muskie guy, we can all agree that bass fishing is for the birds.

[Kodiak]

Whether your a catman or a muskie guy, we can all agree that bass fishing is for the birds.

agreed

[Loose]

i believe skill-wise, the muskie is a much harder fish to catch....dont kill me on this that is just what i have been thinking...seems when i go catfishing i usually catch fish but when i go muskie fishing i always go home with an empty memory stick.

I don't know about, have gone weeks withoutcatching a cat.

[Dylan33]

whoa whoa whoa....hold on guys....this topic was designed to point out how crazy the cat and musky guys are, and to have some bickering between you all....lets leave the bass out of it, because we all know that to test actual fishing skill, bass fishing is it

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

because we all know that to test actual fishing skill, bass fishing is it

give me a hook and a leech and I will take on any pro bass angler anytime, anywhere.

[Nick Kuhn]

I don't know about, have gone weeks withoutcatching a cat.

As many as 5 semi-regular members of my boat may go the entire season without a muskie, as they only have a little over a month to put one in the boat.

[mrklean]

my chevy is better then your ford

[Dylan33]

give me a hook and a leech and I will take on any pro bass angler anytime, anywhere.

[DTro]

Like I said earlier, every specie of fish can make you look like a genius one day and a complete chump the next…live bait, artificial, or whatever. The best “skill” I’ve witnessed by any fisherman is the ability to bow mount the angle and block out the guy in back. Either that, or the guy in back overcoming that. oh and BTW, that also happens when flathead fishing. There is an acquired skill in “boxing out” the bait bucket, getting that bait hooked and having an open canvas to cast to.

[DTro]

When you are at a spot catfishing is luck pure and simple

ooh grasshopper, you have much to learn

[pureinsanity]

When you are at a spot catfishing is luck pure and simple

Thats not true! knowing where they are is how to get them. Sure you can cast out sit and wait. But ive also seen times where with in 3 minutes of your bait hitting the bottom we get a fish on. Bait placement is key. Luck is just a benefit.

[Duffman]

whoa whoa whoa....hold on guys....this topic was designed to point out how crazy the cat and musky guys are, and to have some bickering between you all....lets leave the bass out of it, because we all know that to test actual fishing skill, bass fishing is it

Hah, as a guy who fishes for bass more often than not, I'd say I target bass 'cause they are dumb. Largemouth for sure, smallies may be suicidal at times, but they sure show more intelligence than those largies.

A guy gets bored with the same ol' same ol'. I've fished for Smallies, Largies, Pike and Muskies in the last week or so. And plan on targeting Sunnies, Crappies, Walleyes, and Brookies in the next week. Like DTRO inferred, expand your horizons. I don't have time for all of your "guy" groups....Muskie Guys, Cat Guys, Bass Guys, and Trout Guys. I'm just a dude who fishes.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

When you are at a spot catfishing is luck pure and simple

I give rivers and big Cats a lot more respect than that. Other wise none of these guys would keep on fishing for them. It's a challenge. Just like big Muskies and even big Bass or any other big fish.

[Dylan33]

[quote name='Duffman

I don't have time for all of your "guy" groups....Muskie Guys' date=' Cat Guys, Bass Guys, and Trout Guys. I'm just a dude who fishes.

[/quote']

Calm down Duffman....just having some fun here

[Duffman]

So am I sir, so am I.

[Kodiak]

i think the guys that fish for muskies and big catfish have fished for a long time and were looking for a challenge instead of plain ol' fishin'...that is why the got into the apex game in the first place...sometimes plain ol' fishin' is boring.

[Esox_Magnum]

i think the guys that fish for muskies and big catfish have fished for a long time and were looking for a challenge instead of plain ol' fishin'...that is why the got into the apex game in the first place...sometimes plain ol' fishin' is boring.

I totaly agree, I started with panfish then a time where crappies were king cats had their time to bass only due to the only thing to catch, then up to walleyes now a die hard muskie guy. Might kinda explain the 7 tackle boxes, 50-60 rod reel combos and a basement,boat, livingroom and porch full of fishing equipment.

[deadeye]

i think the guys that fish for muskies and big catfish have fished for a long time and were looking for a challenge instead of plain ol' fishin'...that is why the got into the apex game in the first place...sometimes plain ol' fishin' is boring.

I do agree with this to some point. I was way into lakers for a while and its really quite a sickness. Anyway i now I try to keep from getting that way again.

This past summer I prided myself in relaxing and catching what was biting on the day I was fishing. Much nicer to always have something pulling on the end of the line instead of being skunked and frustrated. Going with the flow instead of trying to conquer has been very rewarding.