Icehouse Bob Memorial Cool Cats 2012 Discussion Thread

[Borch]

Mark your calendars for what has turned into one of the highlights of the hard water season!

Host: Borch

When is the event

Sat Jan 14 2012 7am

What will we be catching?

Channel Catfish with an occasional Walleye,Crappie and Rock Bass mixed in

Where is the event?

Cool Cats will be on the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes located near Richmond/Cold Spring MN. Roughly 1.5 hrs Northwest of the Twin Cites. From 94 take 23 west to Richmond and then take 22 south to the lake.

We will be fishing Long Lake, south of Horseshoe Lake. There are two public access to park at for this event. Please monitor this thread closer to the event to confirm current ice conditions.

What should I bring?

First and foremost, a big smile, because you will be using it a lot

Typically we use basic walleye gear for catching the cats. We will set up one pole with an Ice Buster bobber or equivalent and a plain red hook with a cut piece of minnow (Fathead or Golden shiner) set just above the bottom, and then jig with the other pole rigged with a jigging spoon/minnow head. JB Lures Rattling Varmint in glow red is favorite among the catters.

A spring bobber has proven to be helpful for the light bite days.

Also as in years past, we will be having a potluck at noon, so bring along a favorite food item to share. Hopefully we can work out frying up some catfish as well.

Bring along the whole family and stay for a couple hours or stay all day.

We will try to get a bunch of holes punched for those that don't have an auger.

Click here to see the recap from last year

Hope to see you all there!

Copy courtesy of dtro. Thanks Darren.

[Borch]

Well mother nature continues to throw us a curveball this winter. Due to ice conditions the Icehouse Bob Memorial Cool Cats gathering location is being changed to Long Lake, Long Lake is located south of Horseshoe Lake on CR 22. After CR 22 turns sharply to the right you will take a right on Brown's Lake road. The public access is a mile or so down the road on the right. It's a short distance, (easy walking distance) to the fishing area from the public access. If that lot fills up there's additional parking across the road at the Brown's Lake access. Long Lake has more consistent ice conditions. It also has a very good catfish population,(plenty of crappies too). See the area map below.

See you there!

[Brad B]

I am glad I seen this change. looking forward to seeing everyone there.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I'm working on talking the Mrs into this one. I've never done Cool Cats before but have heard enough to know it's a good time. Shouldn't be too tough to talk her into it. Hopefully we'll see all yous guys there!!!!!

[Gordie]

Is the Quail lamp going to make the trip? Well if it doesnt just know that it has made that trip before

Hope to see you there Eric and Justine

[Eric Wettschreck]

Got generator or an uber long extension cord for quail lamp power? How cool would it be to fish by the warming soft glow of the quail lamp!!!

Justines bringing a pot of her world famous venison chili.

[Gordie]

I'm gonna be building a pot of beans and yes it will have bacon it them..

[Borch]

I'll bring fish frying stuff and a couple tables.

Things that we'll need for sure besides fishing gear and a dish to pass.

2 garbage cans

Garbage bags

folks to bring cameras

Cooler to keep cats from freezing solid

Name tags and a markers(Bob's touch so we can put names and faces together easier)

Paper Plates

Plastic utensils

Napkins

So far we have the following potluck stuff.

Gordie ====== Tribute Beans w/bacon

fishuhalik === Snack Sticks

BSG ======= Cupcakes

Eric & Justine = World Famous Chili

Brad B ======= Chips

[Brad B]

put me down for bringing chips. 1 bag regular, 1 sour cream & onion, & 1 nacho dorito.

[Borch]

Went and did a short scouting trip tonight and found 7 1/2 - 8 1/2" of good clear ice. It was making ice shortly after the sun went down. Caught a dozen nice cats in a little over an hour of fishing. Both jigging and deadsticking. Cats ran from 16-23". It took me about 10 minutes to walk from the access to the area I fished. Saw a couple wheeler out ther running around. Not much traffic there though.

[DTro]

Awesome news Borch! I'm really looking forward to next Sat. Even if the fish don't bite, Eric and Gordie in the same place is reason enough to be there!

[Mrs Boilerman]

Just to keep things honest (I know, fishing and honest? Crazy?) I don't think my chili has actually reached world famous status. It is good, but I haven't gone global with it.

I'll bring the bowls and spoons needed, but can someone give me an estimate of how many I'll need?

[Modern Ice Angler]

I am putting together a crew to come up and chase some cats. The reports of past cool cats get togethers sound like a blast! I have wanted to go for a few years now, but it has never worked into my schedule. This year should work great! Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Thanks for putting this together.

[DTro]

I think the Chili has made "World Famous Status" but mostly for a different reason.

Not sure how many folks will end up showing up, but in years past it seems like 50 is a ballpark figure.

[Gordie]

The bean build has begun.

Justine that's chilli rocks and it is world famous cause it has to contributes to global warming well in a way I guess

See ya on the ice

[buzbunni]

Go figure.

Make a good move to change the date to earlier in the hardwater season and for the 1st time in years there isn't enough ice to drive to the spot.

Thanks for being on top of this Borch. I'm looking forward to fishing Long. Hit it once with the FishinLogician about 5 years ago and was skunked. Haven't been back since. Have not made it to Cool Cats the past few years. Looking forward to meeting up with old and new friends.

See you all Saturday!

[Brad B]

Borch,

maybe we need to start a count of how many people are coming to this.

[Borch]

Go figure.

Make a good move to change the date to earlier in the hardwater season and for the 1st time in years there isn't enough ice to drive to the spot.

Thanks for being on top of this Borch. I'm looking forward to fishing Long. Hit it once with the FishinLogician about 5 years ago and was skunked. Haven't been back since. Have not made it to Cool Cats the past few years. Looking forward to meeting up with old and new friends.

See you all Saturday!

I found plenty of hungry cats on my short scouting trip Saturday so hopefully with a number of people out we'll get on them.

[Borch]

I'll bring fish frying stuff and a couple tables.

Things that we'll need for sure besides fishing gear and a dish to pass.

2 garbage cans

Garbage bags

folks to bring cameras

Cooler to keep cats from freezing solid -- Pushbutton

Name tags and a markers(Bob's touch so we can put names and faces together easier)PB & Gordie

Paper Plates

Plastic utensils

Napkins

So far we have the following potluck stuff.

Gordie ====== Tribute Beans w/bacon

fishuhalik === Snack Sticks

BSG ======= Cupcakes

Eric & Justine = World Famous Chili

Brad B ======= Chips

DTRO ======= Few cat fillets, just in case... (catfish balls ?????

Pushbutton ==== Fried Mac & Cheese

T.O.W. ===== tortilla Chips

[Borch]

Well we certainly could try to get somewhat of a count. I'll add folks to this list as they post thier numbers to keep it some what condensed.

Borch === Between 1-4 still waiting to her from folks.

Gordie === 3

Maverickoutdoors ==== 3

Dtro ===== 1

Fishuhalik ===== 1

Brad B ====== 1

Buzbunni ===== Crew

Modern Ice Angler ====== 2

Boilermaker ======== 2

BSG ========= 2

Pushbutton ======== 2

T.O.W. ======= 1

NKLCOLT1911 ====== 1

Rick & Joe ====== 2

[maverickoutdoors]

hey guys ill be out there bright and early ill have my fourwheeler so if need to pull peoples portables out or rides... and got me and forsure 2 others coming maybe a couple more..

[fishuhalik]

just me

[Brad B]

I would guess as of right now based on the posts here there is already close to 20 people coming if I counted right.

[DTro]

Well guys and gals, it's not much but I found a few items laying around for a big fish contest!

Biggest fish takes it all.

There are only a few rules:

Fish must be a cat

Fish must be measured and photographed by me.

If the fish is over 24" it must be released to qualify.

Contest begins whenever I get there and ends at 4pm.

Here's the little prize pack.

(1) Lindy Grub Getter

(2) Spools of Lindy Ice 3lb Line

(5) JB Glitter Glo jigs

[Gordie]

Thats great DTro thanks for adding this to the event