Newbie.

[rangerforme]

I've never fished catfish through the ice, I spend many days a year on the H-Chain catching them on a flipping stick with a jig-n-pig during bass tournaments but have never tried for them. Any suggestions on this body of water and what kind of bait/rigs I should try would be great. Do you guys fish them in the lakes or on the main channel? Also, is the ice worth a dump on the main channel now?

Thanks in advance.

[Mr Special]

Get a hold of Dennis Steele or Matt Johnson was just up that way catching some. If you look on the Ice Fishing forum he has a video of a recent trip.

Good luck and tell us how you do and be careful some spots stay open all year round

[Dennis Steele]

Hi ranger,

There are deffinately pelnty of cats in that system.

The river channels are a bit dangerous this year. We haven't had enough cold to freeze it up good.

The last time out, there was lots of open water in those areas.

You can still find plenty of cats all throughout the system.

Horseshoe, Cedar Island and many of the other lakes produce well. I typically look for holes with an adjacent flat nearby. The cats usually suspend just of the break over deeper water.

Most of the time I use jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head. My favorites are Scenic Tackle Go Devils, Jrs Flasher, and the new JB Rattling Varmits are also a good choice.

The best colors seem to be, chartrues orange or glo red.

Some times they bite as light or lighter than a crappie.

Keep an eye on your flasher and be ready when you see one approach your bait.

To help detect bites I like to use a Rock-n-Reel or as of late, I have been having some good success with Todays Tackles Rod Rocker 2.

You just balance your rod on it and you can see the slightest bite.

ANother option is a spring bobber or trimming down a Ice Buster bobber so that it just barely floats.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ranger- Dennis is a great cat angler, listen to what he says for sure.

I have only done it a few times, but have noticed that catfish are not your typical fish that you ice angle. Normaly when I see a fish on a flasher, I will drop my bait short of the fish and try to work that fish up. Although this can be done with cats. It seems to happen less.

Pretend you are fishing crappies, they suspend, and will take many lures you have used for crappies. However, once you set the hook you are set back to reality! You dont have a crappie on the other side of you line!

[hanson]

Dietz-

Funny you mention crappies. My first time cattin' on the chain, I was doing EXACTLY what Dennis described. I happened to be jigging an 1/8oz Perch colored Go-Devil tipped with a minnow head. I had a "pod" of suspended fish, what I thought were cats. WRONG!!! I yanked 3 or 4 of my nicer "non-URL" crappies of last winter in that day within 5 minutes. I was not happy to see them slabs pop out the hole.

[IceHawk]

The main river system that runs through the chain is a NO-Go. She's wide open through most of the good cat holes. I strongly!!! suggest fishing some of the flats that lead out of or are in conjuction to some of the deeper holes in the lakes. All of the presentations and methods mentioned by the above posters is right on. Those guy's are some definately some top-notch catters. I live on this system so if you have any questions feel free to fire away.

[Gadgetman]

Have any of you guys tried the gulp chicken liver on a jigging spoon? I have only been out on the chain twice and am still learning. Have only used the spoon and cut bait option to this point. I imagine that the question is are they responding to the visual of the spoon or would something really smelly work better? Smelly Jelly perhaps? We did ok in the past but am looking for some direction for future trips. Bummed that the ice conditions are so poor

[hanson]

I like to jig the cats because they hit like a ton of bricks. Lots of fun!

However, I've probably been more successful using a small fillet of golden shiner or sucker on a plain hook with an ice buster bobber. Trim the ice buster down so it just breaks the surface of the water. Sometimes, the kitties will only pull it down 1/4" but they are all the way on. Set the hook!!

[rangerforme]

Thanks for the info guys, where are the winter accesses for Horseshoe and Cedar Island? Ever have any luck in Schneider's? I've never seen or caught any in Becker so I'm assuming that lake is out.