How soon after ice out ?

[J Rookie K]

So how soon after ice out do you guys start catching catfish ? Last year my first ones were in the middle of April. They were very small, and cought on crawlers. Ive read and seen on videos Cats being cought right after the ice is off. But I dont hear too much in this area [ Belle Plaine ].

Also, what temp do Channel Cats spawn at ? Im going to give this early spring thing a shot this year. Hopefuly we dont get pounded with rain.

Thanks for any info, Justan.

[Dennis Steele]

I have had limited success with channels just after ice out on the MN River.

One here, one there kind of deal. Might just be me....

I have gotten into some flats just after ice out on the tail of wintering holes. Small baits and cover a lot of water.

I really start hitting the cats hard after the water temps reach about 50.

Channels spawn at around 70 and the flats go shortly after that at around 75. Some years it seems they spawn at lower temps. I think it may also have something to do with water level stability as well. And you know that river as well as I. Water level stability is almost non existant that time of year!!

[bassman186]

I don't think Water Level Stability and the MN River have ever been used in the same sentence, especially just after Ice out.

~Matt Jung

[J Rookie K]

What is stable water level ? This season Im going to take a different approach to fishing the river. First off, it involves less beer. There are some things I have read, and I have to try. Pre-spawn fishing is one of them. Most of the other stuff has to do with depth.

Thanks for the temps Dennis. I new Channels spawned before Flats, but I couldnt remember the temps. Do you suppose they start biting early on Horseshoe? After last year's dismal fishing, I need to have a better season this year. I also need more time on the water. C ya out there.

Justan.

[DARK30]

Minnesota River and "Stable" don't compute! Suddenly, there's a lot of "iceout" going on! Now we just need the temps to start rising. The lower Minnesota looks real inviting already. Its gonna get dirty fast with the way some of the creeks are moving today.

[Ed Carlson]

As soon as the ice is on the move so are the cats. They do not get especially active tell things like the suckers start to run. I see cats fallow every spawning critter around eager to help to clean up any weak fish and dead fish that did not make it through the rigors of the spawn cycle.

When the rivers "Blow Up" and leave there banks often so do the cats. This is a tough deal because the cats can and will go everywhere to feed. It gets darn tough to track them down in these conditions. I have caught cats off Golf Courses flooded in the spring and road beds far away from the main river. Backwater sloughs and creeks that slow first are often key spots when the main river is running at warp 9. Float rigs are often key in flooded off river areas.

Slow thaws with no big flows often put cats in the first deep water near a creek mouth during the day, and up in the creeks at night.

Water temp is a big deal. A pocket thermomiter is a darn handy tool in the spring for hunting any active fish. A creek or a bay that is a bit warmer is often the spot to look first. I hunt just about everything in the spring by temp.

Smaller baits and sour cut baits often work well in early warming water. A good steady warming trend often will put cats on crawlers and fresh cuts...but I like to keep sour cuts handy...just in case.

I have done well on cats as early as the first week in Aprail on the Red and it's tribs. Then it blows up and your screwed tell you find them again. It really is all about the conditions the spring deals out to you.

When I am thinking pre-spawn walleye..I am already looking hard for cats. I often catch big walleye in post spawn mode on fresh cuts...so...they kinda work hand in hand.

[Toad]

I know you guys are talking river fish, but on river run reservoirs and flowages you can get into channels pretty consistently right at ice out. In fact, I've done real well in narrows (river channel) areas separating two separate basins, sometimes, while the basins still had ice cover. Lots of these spots lie beneath bridges, so they're real accessible.

Drifting a light jig tipped with a crawler from shore often works the best, although small minnows sometimes produce, too. I like to run two to three crappie minnows on a single hook, as larger baits can be tough to obtain in early spring. You guys probably know both the lakes and the spots I'm referring to. It's just a nice early season option to try when rivers are still blown out, yet a bit of warm weather compels your bones to find openwater.

If we do go back to rivers, I agree with Ed, backwaters, sloughs, and maybe even slack water oxbows off the main channel can be excellent early season producers, though it can be tough to access these spots. I can almost smell that first musty murky river aroma of spring. Got a new spot near home I can't wait to try.

-a friend,

Cory Schmidt