Spring Cats...how early do you try?

[pikestabber]

Depending on weather and other factors, the spring sucker run in the northern part of the state is around mid to late April (I have caught them as early as very late March or as late as early May, but anywhere in the April "20s" seems to be average). Taking that into account, when is the start of the channel cat season for you folks? When the suckers are running, is it safe to say the cats are, too, or do they spawn later? I know I have targeted them successfully in early May up here, but I haven't tried much earlier than that. Thoughts? How about bait? Cut sucker?

[DTro]

Cats spawn in the summer.

You can catch Channels year round, they really don't quit biting like the Flatheads do. So basically it's never too early.

We usually don't start catching Flatheads on the MN river until the last week of April.

[TruthWalleyes]

Good read, Very informative + entertaining.

[Gordie]

Yeppers channels all year so as soon as you can get cut bait into the water is a great time to start. flatheads I like the water to warm a bit but I have caught smallers ones in early April but not many. But I like to try.

[SteveD]

When the ice comes off the river I am about wintered out and the boat goes in the water after cats. I usually don't catch much during the early season but it sure feels good to be on the water. It is not always about catching. I just keep hooks in the water and sooner or later they show up and it is game on.

[pushbutton]

First "warm" sunny days after ice out usually gets them in the mood. My favorite bait has always been top 2/3rds of a frozen sucker minnow slit with some innards hanging out....yum....well, for the fish anyway.

[TruthWalleyes]

The book i posted above will tell you to find the most rotten bait (the book has some methods of making such rotten bait ), and an eddy and start fishing there. Cats will be feeding on all the dead fish that have been floating around, or stuck in the ice through the winter and those fish will collect in eddy's. That will be my plan of attack this year...but as said above, channels all year round.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Usually start fishing early-mid April but don't catch much until the beginning of May. May is usually pretty slow but picks up quick going into June, which is the best month in my opinion.

Typically won't use live bait until May though cause there are other species to catch with crawlers and cut bait.

[rough_rider]

For open water, April 10 is my personal date to beat for hooking openwater cat! The way this winter is looking, ice out should be real soon plus the minimal snow won't result in ridiculous water levels of last year's. Floods bring em in but it also swallows up access points on shore.

[kfk]

As soon as I can get a boat on the river, I'm fishing for cats. I've caught them many times when there are still ice chunks floating by. It's never too early.

[dan z]

I usually get them mid April channels that is, flats mid may if your really lucky

[hooked on fishin]

what types of areas do you look for and depths when searching for channel cats in the river right now? Any info appreciated

[pushbutton]

My favorite area is a shallower(3 to 7 ft ish) slack water area upstream from a deeper pocket. Would also look to feeder creek area, drainage areas, warmer discharge areas, bays or backwater right off the main flow, or slower moving/eddy areas down stream from a dam. Any area that might be a few degrees warmer than surrounding water or areas where debri maybe washed up and collected.. Dusk is by far best time for more concentrated action, but these really warm days might be drawing them out earlier.

Welcome to HSO! Don't be shy about asking more questions. Its a good group of guys/gals back here that will try to help ya out.

[Rick G]

Welcome to FM/HSO Hooked on fishin, My favorite early spring spots are slack water areas/current breaks close to deeper pools that had a decent amount of ice cover durring the winter. The deeper ice covered area most likley has had some dead decaying fish locked in the ice, now that it's starting to thaw those dead fish will be rolling with the current down river to where the cats will be feeding.

[zzammon]

Like many have said, anytime for Channels. I caught my first one of the year on February 12th. Haven't been out since though. Hopefully next week!

[aanderud]

I don't fish for channel cats unless I'm in Manitoba or it's January. But if I did, I'd look for bait. This time of year, that usually means finding some warmer water.

[pushbutton]

I don't fish for channel cats unless I'm in Manitoba or it's January.

Yah......well.....you just go and fish that river of yours with your 40lb bohemoths .....while the rest of us have to slum it with our 4lb channels

[hooked on fishin]

thanks for all the info. now i just have to find some time and get out and catch a few channel cats.