Finally Got one!

[Slabasaurus]

For almost a year now I have been going to a special spot on a special river in a special town in search for the illusive (ok, so not THAT illusive) channel cat.

Yesterday I had the final walkthough/inspection on the house I am buying in Blaine, so I was able to get down to my spot in the early afternoon. It was very, very windy, but with a 1oz weight, that's not a huge issue, as far as casting is concerned.

Had a worm on an aberdeen hook that was floating about 2 feet off bottom, which was sitting for maybe 3 minutes before I saw the tip move. I felt the fish go down to the bottom and fight for a little, so I pulled him up and saw him start spinning on top of the water as I was reeling him in. I knew it was a new species for me, but wasn't sure which one.

Until I pulled him up to shore. Not the biggest of all channels, but here it is! (bad angle on this one, but trust me, the tail is forked).

[RiverFish]

Congratulations on the fish and house!

[blakeb]

it always feels good to get a new species regardless of its size congrats.

[Slabasaurus]

Thanks y'all!

I just wish someone was there with a video camera for my happy dance after I released it

[pureinsanity]

Congrats! All ive hooked into is bullies

[DTro]

Good going Slab. Be careful you are walking a slippery slope, before you know it you will be thinking nothing but cats.

[mrklean]

congrats on the first fish you will be hooked on cats from here on out

[Slabasaurus]

Ha. I wonder if I was not hooked on Cats a while ago... call it a genetic predisposition if you will. When I started to catch Bullies I was getting anxious to get a cat... knew the water was starting to warm and they'd be a bit more eager to bite. Guess now I just need to get some proper cat rods...

PI, Yeah, the bullies were biting pretty hard last night once the sun went down. Had a 13" brown before I took off. My buddy caught a handful of little ones.

[nsnutter]

Congrats on the first catfish! There will be many, many more to come I assure you!

[Gordie]

Slab soon you will wonder when panfish will be legal bait...

[Rick G]

Good job on the first one .

[Scott K]

Its been so long since I caught one, when I actually do catch one, I will be all giddy like it was my very first.

Congrats on the new addiction!

[Slabasaurus]

I owe a special thank you to a Pike that's swimming in the Mississippi river today...

Since I had given up on the walleye fishing for the day, I decided to rig a med sucker on a circle hook and passively fish for some pike. about a half an hour went by and nothing happened. I was playin around with the new camera when I noticed my rod tip moving. As I reached for it, the thing fell over, so I picked it up and started reelin in. Nothin there, except my sucker, which had been t-boned by something toothy. Big gashes along it's gut and sides, and its ribs were smashed... I had only one thought at that point... "Oh man, it's time for some cats"

The next 45 minutes were really exciting. Landed 3 Channels, a 3.5 lb, 4.7lb, and a 5-6lb, and one bullhead that didn't actually bit the hook, but held on to the sucker until he was dangling at the rod tip.

After that I decided it was a good idea to call it a day. i had caught one of the two species I've not been able to target for a while, so felt satisfied. The cats were the highlight though. I'll be pickin up a new rod this week so I have something a little more river-savvy...

so it begins...

[DTro]

Good Job Slab sounds like fun.

Check out the King of the Cats Contest I'm giving away some great prizes.

[pureinsanity]

Someone is getting addicted

[mrklean]

nice job, next your gonna wanna catch a flat

[Slabasaurus]

ha, Yep. Flathead's next up

My heaviest rig right now is a 7' MH with a 2500 sahara reel on it. Probably going to upgrade that... oh over lunch today perhaps.

Lookin at Hanson's beginner catfishin thread and think I have an idea what I'd like to pick up to start some serious cat-huntin. The line weights are kind of crazy... I'll have to take another peek at that line thread to figure out what'll suit me the best. I like fireline on spinnin rods, not a fan of suffix or powerpro braids on spinners... but haven't had a lot of experience with them.

Yeah, PI... but this addiction isn't one my doctor is going to scoff at