Thank You for Cool Cats 2006

[Blue Kayak]

I'd like to thank all the FM'ers responsible for Cool Cats 2006. I can't believe what a wonderful resource FM is for anyone interested in fishing. If you have never attended a FM get together, you are missing out on a great opportunity to meet some wonerful people and learn some great fishing tips.

Today Dennis loaned me his Marcum and gave me some tips on using it. Deitz also gave me some additional tips on using a flasher and moving from hole to hole. The Chemist drilled some extra holes for us and gave me the hot lure the catfish were hitting on. Papa Grump gave me some tips about fishing in the Minnesota River. You can read about these things in the forum, but it is much clearer when go to a get together and actually see how it is done.

I was also impressed with how well everything was organized. There was even a porta potty. The pot luck was great.

Thanks also to you sponsors. There were lots of great prizes. I came with my daughter, brother, and niece. All of us won raffle prizes. In fact, my niece won the grand prize, a Marcum LX-2 Ice System. She thanks you very much.

Thanks to all you FM'ers that are so willing to share. It is really fun to have an opportunity to meet with you.

Oh--I also learned the secret bait Keith's wife uses. But, you can't pry it out of me.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Glad you had a good time Jerry... It was a pleasure meeting you. I too had a blast. For those who left early there was a little flery of bites again near sundown.

Again, when ever I attend these events, I am just reminded what a wonderful family we are a part of! Love seeing the kids there, each one was SOOOOO well behaved. And that went for the adults as well. Just an awesome of people.

[Dennis Steele]

Hey Blue, Thanks for comming. I'm glad I got to meet you.

We'll have to get together in the open water and take a look at the river together.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Yup, thanks to all. It was a great time, and I look forward to doing it again. Thanks, Dennis, and all involved!

[Blue Kayak]

Dennis and Deitz -- I really enjoyed meeting you, and also your father Deitz. Saw he caught a couple of nice cats and a crappie. Thanks so much Dennis for letting me use your Marcum. A flasher or graph is my next purchase. These FM Get Togethers are great. I know my niece really had fun.

[Deitz Dittrich]

BK- actually he(my dad) cheated... thos 2 cats you see are ones that I caught he is just sitting next to them.. We stayed till sundown and I think he was able to catch 3 in the last hour of light.. so he did manage to get a few. I think I finished with 9 for the day and 3-4 lost fish that I should have landed but lost...

Was a great time.. and was a pleasure meeting you as well!

[Random guy]

It was a great time. I enjoyed meeting everybody and seeing some fish come through the ice made it even better. I will definetly put this event on the calender for next year.

I never did catch one of those cats...stupid fish.

[Blue Kayak]

I was embarrassed to admit that I didn't catch one either. But, I sure learned a lot. My niece is giving me the Marcum LX-2 she won. I'd better catch some next year, cause now I won't have any excuse.

Jon--I know this is ridiculous, but have you ever considered a kayak for river fishing? They're easy to store. You can't fish for big flatheads in them, but you can easily get out and fish from shore. You'd be welcome to try mine.

[Deitz Dittrich]

BK- I have been thinking of getting a kayak for fishing small cats and smallies on the Upper St.croix.. any tips you could share as to what I might be looking for?

[Random guy]

Quote:

---

Jon--I know this is ridiculous, but have you ever considered a kayak for river fishing?

---

With my fat head once I rolled I would never come back up...its tough going through life like a living bobble head.

[Blue Kayak]

Deitz -- I have to tell you my kayak experience is very limited. I bought one on hsolist late last October. With the mild fall I got to make three float trips on the Minnesota River and also tried it out on several lakes. This is the first and only kayak I've been in. Mine is a little tippier than I'd like for fishing, but it is fun.

I really like fishing from a kayak for a lot of reasons, especially on the river. You don't have to worry about damaging a prop, it is so easy to put it on top of the car (or even inside my wife's van), and it's easy to add a milk crate and PVC pipe to hold rods and tackle.

If you saw the milk crate on my sled with the rod holders, that's the one I use on my kayak. I just put it on back of the kayak with bungee cords.

My wife and son don't kayak, but they're willing to drop me off downstream and leave a car for me at the St. Peter landing. If you can arrange something like that, it helps.

For river fishing the best use of a kayak may be to go from spot to spot and then wade or fish from shore. On the MN River it is very difficult to paddle upstream for any distance. It would also tricky to handle the current if you happened to hook a large fish. Even a snag can cause problems, as I found out.

I originally thought it would be great to drift with the current and have a big bait for catfish. Sort of like jug fishing with the kayak acting as a jug. I think that would be a recipe for disaster, at least in my kayak. Even a small fish can tow you around. You also shouldn't anchor a kayak in a river. If a tree drifts down with the current you can get into real trouble.

If you fish from a kayak, you should be comfortable with your swimming capabilities. Always wear your life vest and I'd recommend a paddle leash. Also, use the kayak a couple of times before fishing out of it. Try to make non-permanant improvements until you are pretty sure you know where the rod rack, gps, fish finder, etc. should go. Well, you really don't need all those, but a lot of kayak fisherman have them. Google "kayak fishing" and you'll find lots of web sites featuring kayak fishing. But, it seems to be more popular in the ocean.

There are two types of kayaks, Sit on Top(SOT)and sit inside. Most fisherman favor the SOTs. These are sort of like a modified surfboard with holes that allow water to drain out. You basically sit in a puddle of water and have water splash on your legs from the paddle. However, with the right clothes (or waders) it isn't a problem. I was comfortable even in late November (except for the one time I capsized).

Last fall I posted about my experiences with the kayak in the Minnesota River section. I just put a short note on that thread so it will be near the top. There were some good tips from people with more experience than me. Jim43 had some pictures of his kayak fitted out for fishing. Unfortunately, the pictures are no longer up, but there is still some good info.

My purchase was kind of impulsive. Next time I'd try out some different kayaks. There are some that are designed specifically for fishing. You'd be welcome to try mine out. I'd be up for a trip to the St. Croix or one the Lindstrom area lakes this summer.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Jerry- I'l pull your e-mail off our files and e-mail you.. I have a cabin in Grantsburg WI... and there are a few baot access near the cabin on the Croix.. I really want to hit this area this summer and learn it.. supposely the catfishing and smallies are quite good.. thanks for the advise..

[I Da Man]

Dennis...you don't even think about a kyak! Staying in the RP is a challenge!!

Had a great time up there as I did last year guys...even caught some fish, poked fun at a bass guy, poked fun at some morgage leaders... and ate my first ever channel cat...Very, very good....or shouldn't I say that out loud?

5 weeks to the open water season! But I might have to run up to 'shoe one more time before we head into our spring thaw.

I'm going to find out if Thorne Bros handle Gamakazu hooks. The gift cert I won should get me a bunch of hooks!

Thanks guys!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

---

I'm going to find out if Thorne Bros handle Gamakazu hooks. The gift cert I won should get me a bunch of hooks!

---

I've gotten big Gamakatsu circles at Thorne Bros before. I can't remember if I saw your big octopus hooks there or not. Let me know if you head up to Horseshoe again. I may go, too.

[I Da Man]

What day are you free? I would like to get there early enough to get that early morning bite action...without all the noise...it might last longer.