How they bitin'?

[kais24]

I'm gonna get out on the St. Croix for the first time this year. Has anyone been doing any good yet for cats? In the past I've always concentrated in July and August but I've got the itch already...

[JJB]

I usually dont start fishing cats till the eyes quiet down. We usually start catching channel while targeting eyes in another week or two and the flats usually dont get to active for a week or two after the channels. This is olny what we experience but I am sure they are out there feeding. You just have to be in the right spot. I wait till July to start hitting kitties and they are usually in full force by that time. Sorry that may not be too much help but it the best I can tell ya. I did catch my biggest flat out of the croix in the first week of june 2 years ago but that was mostly all luck.

[SteveD]

I've been chasing cats on the St Croix since the middle of April. The cat bite is a little slow yet and it has been tough fishing with the fluctuating water levels and the low water temps. All that should start to change in the next few weeks. I was out Tuesday night, 24 May until midnight and picked up 1 channel ((24") on cut sucker and 1 small flathead (4.5#, 22") on a bullhead. Water temp is finally going to be turning on the fish, on Tuesday it was 62 degrees and water level was 679.7' (675.5' is normal level). The islands are all flooded and there is a lot of debris, wood and weeds in the water. There is fish and minnow activity in the backwaters which is usually an indicator that cats are active also. I have been picking up channels for about a month but Tuesday was my first flathead of the season. I have better luck when the river gets back within its banks and it is easier to target them. I think they move right up into that flooded timber right now and are really spread out all over. We should start to see a pretty active prespawn bite any time now.