Selecting a spot

[jeff042479]

I have been fishing for Catfish in the Mississippi between 694 and the CR dam (because it is close to home). I have been fishing mostly behind fallen trees using night crawlers. I have had a few channels between sunset and 9PM, and nothing over 6 lbs. What kinds of things do you guys look for when driving up the river and looking for a spot to fish? Should I be using some other bait selection? I have been using a slip sinker with about 3' of line between the sinker and the hook? I started to adjust the length, and seemed to get less carp and more cats the shorter I went. I am sure this has been discussed before, but thought with the weather changing, "Selecting a spot" might be an interesting topic.

Jeff

[Ralph Wiggum]

You might want to try cut sucker for bait. It'll keep the carp away. Just cut a sucker minnow in 2 or 3 pieces (depending on size) and use that. Also, you can shorten your leader. I usually keep mine around a foot or less.

[Mr Special]

Ralph's right cut sucker would keep the carps away and produce bigger cats. Also look into humps, eddys and points. Creek oulets usually have some sort of point and hole after it. Fat cats like to lay and wait for food to come along. They will roam more in low light, but won't past up a nice chunk of cut bait at there nose.

How this helps and good luck

[jeff042479]

Thanks guys. The river averages 5' where I am at with some holes down to 10' or 15', maybe I should try some of these holes too eh? Has anybody ever tried to use Frozen Smelt as cut bait? They are dirt cheap at Cub Foods and they do stink. I may have to give that a shot too. Do the cats normally come up shallower after dark, or should I be looking for deeper water? Again, thanks for the help.

[maj330]

I caught many channels and a few flats with frozen smelt from Cub. I have limited shore spot options but the smelt worked where I fished. The smelt was not as sturdy, however, as fresh cut sucker or even frozen cut sucker. I would have liked to have used it again but it came into Cub too sporadically so I gave up looking for it. Thanks for reminding me to look for it again. Please post your results for frozen smelt.

[jeff042479]

Maj,

If you can't find them at your cub, I am pretty sure they have them at the Fridley one. I can check next time I am there and let you know. I have a bunch from this spring, and tried for a while last night, a few bites, but I couldn't convert because my hook was too small. I am going to try to cut them and give it a shot with a bigger hook. I just need to find a spot that I have confidence in so that I can start trying these different baits and know that there are fish in the area.

[hanson]

jeff042479-

-You might want to try fishing on the upstream side of those snags you are fishing rather than behind them. Place your bait close without getting hung up in it. The general idea is the cats are hanging in the snag, behind the snag, or somewhere around the snag waiting for food to come their way. By placing baits upstream of the snag, you are allowing the scent from your bait to filter back to the fish and they'll come find it.

-I would go with the cutbait sucker also. I like a Gamakatsu Octopus in the 3/0-4/0 range for channels. Gamakatsu Octupus Circle in the 3/0-4/0 range also if you are a circle hook kind of guy.

-3' is a long leader in my opinion. I like them short also 8"-16" should be good. Shorter leader should be a little more snag free and also keep your bait placed better.

Just a couple thoughts that may help you out.

[jeff042479]

Hanson,

That is very good advice. I will indeed try to fish the upstream side of the snags. I guess I have just gotten in a rut fishing below them because that was what I was taught as a kid... Think outside of the box right. Wow, those are much bigger hooks than I have been using, that means I need to make another trip to the hardware store (Gander Mt). Your logic about the short leader makes sense, I will give it a shot. I think I am going to try to implement some of these new suggestions on Thursday night, but I might go to look at a boat instead... If I make it out, I will definately post a report.

[Guest]

I will add an important bit of info here... If your looking for larger cats, I would highly recommend moving to another section of river. I have no doubt there are a few nice channels in that stretch.. but it is well known for numbers(on a good day) than size.. It is very rare to hear of a 10 lb channel coming out of the river above 694 until you get around the CR Dam... and then its still few and far between for larger(10 pound+) channels.

Location is very important.

[I Da Man]

I would have to agree with TG. I haven't fished up there in recent years...but I would guess you would have to really work it to find a good fish up there. There's some good places S of the CR dam that will give you a better shot at a piggy.

[jeff042479]

How far down would a person have to go to get into some better cats? I used to fish S. St. Paul, I know there are some nice cats around there, but now that I live on the north side, I can't justify driving all the way down there for an hour and a half of fishing. Any suggestions for a stretch of river that is downtown or north?

[Mr Special]

SportmansWarehouse, they have the best catfish gear selection hooks, sinkers, swivels. As you go into the store head to the back right corner. Bait wise I have used smelt and they work great. But just like an earlier post stated they tend not to stay on the hook, on a long cast. Cut fresh suckers (MED size) 1'chunks are hard to beat. If you can find some frogs thats another good bait, especially in the fall.

TG, is right that stretch the average size is lower but good numbers. A #10 is about max. But if you go a little north of CR, #10 aren't that uncommon Dayton, Elk River, Anoka.

Good luck

Later

[Guest]

Quote:

---

How far down would a person have to go to get into some better cats? Any suggestions for a stretch of river that is downtown or north?

---

I dont mean to be too vague here.. but pretty much anywhere from 694 down has excellent possibilities for large channels... with the Camden area to downtown being the best on the area you specified. I highly recommend using fresh cut baits if your targeting larger fish.

If you are launching a boat.. security is an issue at the Camden launch.. had a window busted earlier this year. Boom Island park is the best launch on the river around these parts.. but you have to pay a meter(50 cents/hour) or have the Minneapolis park patron sticker.

[jeff042479]

Thanks Guy,

I posted a while back about Camden and got about the same response in regards to Security, and actually, yesterday morning, they pulled a stolen Jeep out of the water there - Nice. I will have to explore some of the areas around Camden and see what I can find for cats. Do Camden or Boom island close at 10pm like some of the other landings in the area?

[Guest]

I have parked my vehicle all night several times at boom island(I have patron sticker so no meter)... never had a problem.

I know Minneapolis city parks close at midnight on paper.. so its not impossible one would be asked to leave on shore after midnight.. but very unlikely unless there are too many people and someone complains.

[HaywardBound]

Jeff,

Do you launch a boat from the East River Road launch? I'm wondering if I could get my 18' Crestliner up river from there. (I'm a newbie at catfishing).

I had a little trouble finding what I was looking for at Gander. I found Bass Pro Shops on Hwy 65 has larger hooks and weights. I do get my 'monster suckers' from Gander though.

[hanson]

Sportsman's Warehouse in Coon Rapids is about your best bet for catfish quality gear in the twin cities.

They have the full range of Gamakatsu Octupus hooks up to 10/0.

A variety of sinkers to 4oz I believe (pyramids, bank, dollar shaped river sinkers)

Now, I was just over at Cabela's in East Grand Forks, MN and they are definitely outfitted for the catfisherman.

Rods? - Cabela's King Kat rods, pro series King Kat rods, Berkley Glow Sticks, Eagle Claw CatClaws, Shakespeare Ugly Stick Tiger rods, as well as a few others.

Hooks? - Oh yeah! They've got Gamakatsu Octopus, In-line Octupus Circle, Offset Circle up to 7/0, Eagle Claw Kahles up to 7/0 and a variety of other large hooks by VMC, Mustad, etc.

Sinkers? -Yep! They don't have no-rolls but have alot of the other styles sold in bulk packs.

Must be good to live in a "cat" town like that.

[Ralph Wiggum]

If you're looking for large hooks, try out Thorne Brothers in Fridley. They've got some big stuff.

[sticky_nuglets]

hey when your window was broken did you borrow a cell from a guy in a green dakota with a meen lookin dog, that guy is me

[Guest]

no, I didnt borrow a phone from anyone... I had my cell on me, as did the other car that was there(only other car) and they had their window broken too. Sterio equipment stolen.. teenage kids. I had lots of tools in my truck that werent touched, just the speakers (6x9's) in the back.

some peoples kids.

[jeff042479]

Hayward -

I haven't been on the river since the storm as I have been cleaning up storm damage, but the water looks to have risen. If you are a risk taker, you might be able to get your 18 footer in there, but put on a junk prop and be very careful. I am guessing you will find an average of about 5-6 feet. You just have to watch for rocks, but if you can read the river and stay in the channel, you should be ok. One place that you could try is River park in Brooklyn park. If you put in and go straight across the river there are a couple of deadfalls. I have caught fish there and you wouldn't have to go far from the landing.