Labor Day Weekend Luck?

[Dennis Steele]

Nope not yet!

I had noticed the bite dropping off in the last few weeks, then last night all I got was a big goose egg. First zip since the spawn.

With the cooling water temps, I had expected the bite to start picking up. Maybee soon???

Home tonite because of the rain and I'll give her another shot tommorrow.

Hows the bite for everyone else?

[Guest]

I got a couple little guys last night.. nothing to be proud of.. 1st time I have seen more than 1 fish in a while.. but the exception is when there is only one they seem to be 30+.

I didnt make it out tonight either.. watched movies instead for a change... tomorrow night I will be out there... the fish do not have a chance!

[hanson]

Heck Yeah!!!

Fisky said we had a slow day. I don't care, we had 2 Sumo Channels on shore at 20 pounds (35 inches)! The others weren't too far behind those guys! I'll take a slow day on the Red River any chance I get.

Fisky even apologized that the big fish didn't show up??? You've got to be kidding me.

[rushing]

Havent been out yet since I have had to work this weekend but I have monday night off so I hope to be heading out.

Dennis I was at that bridge spot we looked at when you were down here. Great lookin spot tons of bait fish and surface activity not one bite in 6 hrs!

[Guest]

I have had the baitfish *problem* lately too.. have been commenting on that to a couple friends.. in my circumstance.. as soon as the sun goes down it looks like its raining.. bait from shore to shore on the Mississippi river.. thats a lot of food.. and few fish are chewing, none aggressively.

Too much food in the water?

That brings a question.. is it just me, or does it seem like there are more baitfish than ever for late summer/early fall?

good spawning year with high water temps? I dont know.

[vern]

Yeah, I also can't believe how much bait is in the river right now. When it's calm you can see minnows rippling the surface everywhere within a foot or two of each other. I've never seen so many before. - Vern

[Dennis Steele]

There is a lot of baitfish in the MN River. Lots and lots of emerald shiners.

I don't know if that affects the cat bite though?? They are a little on the small side for a big flathead to target, allthough I am sure they eat some.

I target areas where I see lots of surface activity and bait. I figure there are lots of other fish (cat snacks) in the area and then target structure or current features that I think flats can use to ambush prey. I do however use my electronics to locate cat sized prey, but you usually find the prey close to all those shiners.

Last night we fished an area where there was TONS of baitfish and picked up one fish, lost two and wiffed on a couple others. The cats were deffinately using the area to feed. This area is only productive when the shiners are present.

Another spot we tried last night had lots of shiners holding tight against the bank and we lost one nice fish to snag there also.

The last spot we picked up the cutest little flathead, about a pound. Took a big bully and had it all the way in its mouth. Little piggy with no table manners.

One other thing I have noticed is that years when there is a lot of shiners in the river, makes for a great fall walleye bite.

Knock on wood!

[Papa Grump]

Went out last night Smokey ( from the league) and his bud from Illinois and managed 2 channels and a 22pound flatty on cut bait. Oh yeah and another dang turtle perfectly hooked in the mouth. Of course I got skunked , but watching them catch fish is a bonus, especially with the flatty being Smokey's personal best.

[DARK30]

Lots O luck on the Otter Tail..but no cats. I usually get some nice channels on artificials up there but not this time.

[rushing]

I know those lil flatties like them shiners cuz the last couple small guys I have caught have puked them up. Well hopefully the flatties are being very very well fed and will put on a bunch of weight.

[Dennis Steele]

I was out again last night and all I really got was some fish tales.

Landed one about 12lbs, lost 2 and wiffed on another. All in about an hours time.

One I lost at the boat side would have went a good solid 40. I was out alone and he popped off the hook while I was trying to get the net untangled.

Thats one good reason to keep a uncluttered clean boat!

The other fish I lost felt decent. Lost him to a gap in the eye of the hook. The eyelet was not bent all the way and the line slipped through the gap. After checking the other hooks, I found many with gaps.

Something a guy should take a good look at before counting on them for a 40lb+ fish!

[Steve Foss]

Missing a 40 at the boat is also a good reason to bring a partner.

[Dennis Steele]

Yup! Steve, learned my lesson.

Brought two guys to play "net biotch" tonite.

Unfortunatley tonite there was only one 5lb channel and I was the net biotch!

[Steve Foss]

Isn't that just the way it always goes?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Dennis, if you tie a knot with mono and slip it over to where the gap in the eye is, you can then tie your braid to the hook and it will not make it out the gap do to the eye as the mono will be there. Just an ole bass guy tip to a cat buddie!

[hanson]

Thats a neat little tip Dietz.

Always thought you bass guys were good for something.

[Dennis Steele]

I tried that!

It works!

I also put a tube of super glue in the boat as well, and contacted the manufacturer to correct the problem. Had the same problem with other styles of hooks from them as well.

Maybee they will send some freebies that have no gaps!

[Mr Special]

Dennis,

What brand were they? Not trying to bash the brand I'm sure their good if your using them. But I've had that problem with Gama & Mustad big worm, Octo hooks as well. I use the mono trick and haven't lost one since.

Later

[Deitz Dittrich]

I dont think brand has much to do with it. If you are using braid line, all hooks have to large a gap. Some hook companies have "super line" hooks that have the gap in the hook welded. They are the only I can think of that will not have that problem. I myself lost the largest bass of my life once to that exact problem. And there was an anger who lost the bassmaster classic to that problem as well... There goes a cool mill down the drain!

The line trick seems to be the best and easiest. I have also taken a small dab of epoxy and closed the gap.

[DTro]

I really think that the big companies could add a laser weld for a very minimal cost.

[Dennis Steele]

Those particular hooks were Gammy's.

Still my favorite hook.

I also looked through my hook box and found some gaps on my Tru Turns and Eagle Claws as well.

I should mention that the line on that rod was 50lb Spider Wire Stealth. Its quite a bit thinner and tends to flatten out a little more than Power Pro.

I usually use 80lb Power Pro for flatheads, but just grabbed a rod with the Stealth after breaking off.

I checked to see if the 80lb Power Pro would slip through the gaps on the Gammy's and it didn't on all except one.

I worked it hard around the eyelet too!!

I'm still going to take a good look at each hook from now on!