Surfing For Catfish

[DARK30]

Man! I sit, surf, and drive myself crazy! Cruzing around Terraserver looking at rivers and potential catfish holes can really tune out the winter blahs for awhile. Most of the photos are old and you know how much a river can change in ten years but still...

This is just one of many good looking areas I must one day see up close. Picking out the best spots and making plans without even spilling your coffee. Can anybody spy the potential honey hole in this photo? Consider this, Just a one day drive from the Mpls area will put you on catfish starting in February! I'm ready for the 05 Catfish Hunt to begin! Lets see....Rods, Gas, Maps, ......

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=13&Z=15&X=393&Y=2794&W=1&qs=%7ckeokuk%7cia%7c

WET NETS!

[Ed Carlson]

Ya..I hear ya Bro! It be tough times for soft water catters Eh.

Hang in there..only a month...or so to go now.

Have you ran out of reels to lube and tackle to sort yet?

[DARK30]

Well I guess I could start the old gear prep..Oh wait! Look at this one..You can see the boats!

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=11&Z=15&X=1333&Y=10570&W=2&qs=%7cosage+beach%7cmo%7c

[Dennis Steele]

You are going just a little stir crazy aren't you Dark. Hang on buddy, its just around the corner!

[Canuck]

A month,,,,, dream on Eddy. We have 3 1/2 months, February, March, April then mid May..... We havn't even had any boat shows yet.

[DARK30]

Ya, I'm Jonesin big time..Always happens this time of year! I'm gonna call Jim and see what he has open...anybody interested? I will be up to the great Channel Cat playground again this year too Canuck!!...My wife even said she'd like to come since Stu has such great accommodations. Should I schedule something now?

WET NETS!

[PYROPAL]

wow!! i didn't even know this terra server site existed!!! thanks...it'll come in handy for hunting too!

[Canuck]

Dark 30, I am not sure what Stu has open or booked. I know he has his email at home now so give him a shout. I would look at the last part of May or first couple wks of June. Give me a call prior and I will let U know the bait of choice etc. If U can try and make it through the week as the weekends have alot more boats on the river, even though it is that busy. A tues to a Fri would be my choice.

[Ed Carlson]

Eh Dark.

If the May trip works for you maybe we can share a lodge at Cats? We can put those HEAVY Snoring guys in the other room too. LOL!!! I'll bring ear plugs just in case. HA!

I am sure we will be up there for the opener or the next weekend in 2005. May be a week long deal again in 2005? Kinda depends on the snow melt and the run-off. We should see great spring water levels again in 2005. Lots of water means lots of sumo's to play with.

Can ya dig it?

[DARK30]

Ed, I have been known to have boots thrown at me in middle of the night! You WILL need ear plugs!

That would be kewl to put something together and hit the playground!

[Ed Carlson]

I tell ya what..If you or Dennis can out-snore Big Shanon the whole dam lodge will need earplugs and shooting ear-muffs to sleep! Shanon can rattle the picture on the lodge wall..and I am NOT kiding Eh!!!

Ya...but I am "Rumored" to snor a bit too...just rumors though.

I hope we get high water again. You and I can hit the shore and do some Cork'n and Crank'n with the boots on. Go Toe-to-Toe with some sumos in 1-3' of water. I may try the Fly rod thing this season too, that should be a hoot Eh.

We-We-We...!!!

[DARK30]

Just say when Ed! Sounds like a plan. I spoke with Moyer last night and he is currently without a boat. I wanted to get down there too but we'll see. Shorefishing the Cumberland is out of the question for the most part.

[MJCatfish]

You guys stop that!!! Now I feel compelled to go through all of my cattin' gear and it's only the first week of February! I just love going to war with those "bulldozers" up at Lockport. Can't wait to get up there. Looks like we're going the first week of June most likely. Until then, I guess I'll just have to dream about it and start doing some curls so I'm in shape to go to battle.

MJ

[Dennis Steele]

Yup, now I am getting the dang cat fever! Just couldn't leave it alone.

I'd be up for a get together up at Cats on the Red if I got the time. I should have more time come open water.

I am actually going to be up the middle of May for a shoot with Stu and Rick. I suppose they will make me be the camera man and won't get to fish!

Speaking of getting your cat gear ready....

I got a jig kit from Scenic Tackle and when it came Jeff threw in some No Rolls. Scenic Tackle should have them in sizes from 1 to 5 oz available online very soon.

The jigs are awesome too! Everyone knows their paint is top notch but I was immpressed with the hooks too. You can hang um on your thumbnail, very sharp.

[Mr Special]

Dennis,

Just remove the front seat, put up a camera mount and there ya go. Hands free filming and more fishing.

Catch you CATS later

[Canuck]

Dennis, if they are doing a camera shoot in mid May they should have more than enough footage in an hr. You should have the rest of the day and besides they will want good light and we all know the best time is after dark for cattin.

[DARK30]

I have a couple of hours on tape from last year...It is tough to hold the camera and fish too! Besides the footage of the sumo kitties, I also got Canuck explaining how to kiss a catfish and the difference between a French kiss and an Australian kiss....A real classic clip.

[Canuck]

U really didn't get that Aussie item on tape DID U????? I am usually very careful around cameras.

[Fisher Dave]

By the time you can balance the budget to buy a tanker truck of fuel at $2/gallon for a trip down south.. the cats will be starting to bite here.

Every year for at least the last 10 years the channels have been turning on in mid/late March, and staying strong at least into Late April at a metro location for me. Seemingly overnight they tend to put on the feed bag, even in the very cold water temps.

Rig up some * long rods * that can cast 1 to 1 1/2 oz + a chunk of cutbait a country mile and lets get together. Its not uncommon to have snow flying, or to hook into a pesky walleye on the cut bait in the early season.

[DARK30]

Hows it goin Dave! Haven't seen you here for a while. You gonna be able to spend a little time on the Minnesota this summer? I guess the only reason to gas up and head south would be fishing for Blue Cats...it does help!

Yes Canuck, I have it all on tape! If I could figure out how to put it on DVD, I'd send you a copy. I'll work on that.

[Fisher Dave]

I'll be spending lots of time on the Minnesota the way things are looking for the summer ... but I'm going to let it fall 2nd to the Mississippi.

Chasing Blues does sound like a lot of fun although... realisticly, how far should one travel this early in the year to get into a body of water that holds a decent amount of fish? Another tank of gas could be the difference between a 1 fish trip and several fish day.

I think TX is only about a 17 hour drive.. been a while, give or take.

[jeffleek]

Hey Dark30, This has nothing to do with your pain your going through now, you'll be catt'n before long!

Hidden Valley campground here in Preston has opened back up! New owners, same phone#. All spots will be seasonals I guess. Just thought I'd let you know. Could'nt send you a pm. JLK

[DARK30]

Great! Now I get to sit and think about the Root River, Brown Trout, Beer, and the Smart Fire! Thanks Jeff ...your killin me! See ya soon!

Heres a Blue that was caught in the Ohio River on Jan 28 (only a 12 hour drive)

Nice Fish Doc!!

[Ed Carlson]

Yup...that is a ><sUMo> Blue.

Eh..Was Big Jim M waiting for a new boat? If so, what was he getting?

[DARK30]

I know what that feels like and...I'm jealous.

Jim is waiting for a new Lund. He sold his old one to the first person that looked at ...I don't have an extra 20 grand laying around myself or I would have been interested. Big water needs a big boat I guess. I did offer to pull it down to his place when its ready..you know, maybe help him test it out and all....