new to cats

[mnguy152]

Gave any of you guys would give me a idea where would be the best place to catch some cats around the winsted area? I do have a boat if that helps don't need gps spots either a name would be the best

[pushbutton]

Closest is probably the Crow River. The d a m s in watertown or delano would be a great starting point. Might want to post this in the Hutch area form; maybe some locals know a few areas other than the crow. Dont know if you want to drive a little further to the south east around Henderson, Belle Plain, Jordan ect.....but heard there are a few fish on the river down there.

Edit....just looked at a map....and about equal distance to the northwest is the Sauk Chain. The place is just loaded with smaller channels, and probably a little easier to navigate and find some fish.

[Brad B]

I know it is a little drive but there is the mississippi river. I fish the clearwater to elk river section and have good luck with channel cats. average size in this area is 20 to 25 inches and 3 to 6 lbs. one thing about this area thou is it is rocky so a prop boat is not a good idea in this section unless you are willing to take a risk of wrecking a prop or lower unit. there is alot of shore spots in this section.

[Gordie]

Swan Lake North of Dassel has kittys in it and so does Buffalo or when the river goes down head south to the Minnesota river and you could end up never wanting to go anywhere else

[mnguy152]

another dumb question? i saw wally world the have blood dough bait is they any good?

[trappingaddiction]

I would suggest just using nightcrawlers and chicken liver. If you find the cats, you will catch plenty of them just on these, plus they are easy to find.

[mrklean]

cut bait hands down i use to fish with the livers cause they were cheap and easy to get then i switched to cut bait, the number of fish i caught went down but the size of fish went up

[Larry FlatCaster]

cut bait hands down i use to fish with the livers cause they were cheap and easy to get then i switched to cut bait, the number of fish i caught went down but the size of fish went up

And the liver stink went away..... Whew... I don't miss that one bit, especially when its HOT.

[Brad B]

couldn't agree more Larry. now the only time I use liver is in the winter when ice fishing for the channel cats. if you have never ice fished for them before try it it can be a blast just ask Dtro. I still have yet to ice one but I think I know why my luck was bad. last season the only thing that showed it's face on camera was about a 30 inch northern and that is most likely why the cats weren't in the area plus is was high noon, who knows.

[hanson]

The most readily available and effective channel catfish bait is sucker minnows, hands down. If your bait shop has creek chubs, even better. Get some 6-8 inchers from a bait shop, cut em up into 1-2" chunks so 3-4 baits per minnow, and have it.

Dip bait, stink bait, dough bait, prepared bait, anything in a bag from a sports store, etc... forget it and leave it at the store. There are times when these baits will work and work better, but day in and day out, a sucker minnow chunk is just fine.... particularly for a beginner.

[pureinsanity]

The most readily available and effective channel catfish bait is sucker minnows, hands down.

Leopard Frogs? I have caught more channels in one night on frogs then I have on sucker.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

How many bait shops sell frogs versus places that sell suckers?

[mrklean]

does anyplace sell frogs?

[pureinsanity]

How many bait shops sell frogs versus places that sell suckers?

Who said anything about buying bait mr negative??

Frogs are easy to get. In fact a short walk on the banks of ponds, lakes and rivers will provide you with a bunch of frogs. I have several at my buddies house sitting in his window well right now. Some find there way into the window well others get caught and put in there. On average at least a half a dozen find their way in there a week.

If you really suck at finding frogs, just go for a drive after a early evening storm. Just drive on some back roads they will be sitting on the tar roads warming up.

Frogs are more prominent then suckers when it comes to catching your own bait.

[pureinsanity]

does anyplace sell frogs?

You can buy preserved frogs online. or pay a neighbor kid a couple bucks to get you a bunch of frogs.

[rushing]

ya Jeff what are you thinking? Pffft