Channel Catfish in the Snow??

[hanson]

I have to admit, normally I'm not too excited to hit the open water but this winter has been a little different. For the most part, icefishing has been pretty tough across the state with light biting fish being the name of the game. I've fished pretty hard since mid-December criss-crossing the state fishing with old friends, new friends, tournament fishing the I.C.E. Series & Ultimate Panfish League, and attending some Fishing Minnesota Get-Togethers.

But unlike years past, I think my short rods have been put away for the season. I'm not going to make that late March run up to Upper Red for a chance at a good crappie bite, and my tip-up bucket is put away as well. No trophy pikin' for me on Lake of the Woods this winter.

Instead, I went catfishing today!!

And did I have a blast!! We're very fortunate in the Twin Cities to have a few spots on the Mississippi River where the channel cat action turns on very early in the spring. How early, well today is March 19 and we had steady action most of the afternoon.

I joined Fisher "That Guy" Dave, Brian "I Da Man" Klawitter, Manny "Blacksportsman" and his son Marcus on the banks of the Mighty Miss and held a channel catfishing clinic! I don't think anyone was counting but there were easily over 30 channel cats caught ranging from 2-11 pounds.

First Cat of the Day for Myself.

Manny (blacksportsman) with a pretty typical channel cat

Catfish Triple Header!!!

with Manny, Dave, and Marcus

And here is the big fish of the day...

Myself with a 31" 11 pound Mississippi River Channel Catfish

It felt good to pick up the long rods again! The Abu Ambassadeur & myself picked up where we left off last summer. Now we just have to be patient for another month or so to fish for big cats with the clickers on. LOL! Zzzzzz... Zzzzzzz... Zzzzzzz...

[DARK30]

Yah Kool!

[Random guy]

LOVE IT! I gotta go I gotta go I gotta go!

I thought about going but the snow and recent colder temps kept me at home, guess I should have went after all.

[DTro]

ok when's the next outing?

[Fish'n guy]

Nice fish guys!! Glad to hear that the cats are puttin on the feed bag up in that neck of the woods. A good month (warm weather) and we'll be chasin flatties!!!

GOOD FISHIN!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

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ok when's the next outing?

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I'll be out just about every day (thats not unusual)

[HaywardBound]

Wow, sounds like you all had a blast. Great pictures.

Mind if I ask what you were using for bait?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Oh jeez, I was so close to going out, too. Should have just braved the weather.

[hanson]

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Mind if I ask what you were using for bait?

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Little bit of everything. Cut mooneye was doing pretty well today. Dave was getting a few on fatheads. I don't think cut sucker was working at all.

It was a lot of fun and the weather was actually really nice.

[Ralph Wiggum]

And most importantly, you were able to break Manny's curse!

[fiskyknut]

Hey far out a catfish. Oh well it'll be weeks yet before I can even think catfish on my rivers.

A bit more LOTW icetime smorgasbord to go yet, and then some eye jiggin on the rainy, some openwater Pikin' and Sturgeonfish, and then the walleye opener.....Channel Cats soon to follow!

Think Spring.....fiskyknut

[blacksportsman]

Nice report, Hanson! Definitely was a good idea to get out and chase cats yesterday...I had a feeling the kitties would cooperate for us, they weren't bothered by the snow and cooler temps.

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And most importantly, you were able to break Manny's curse!

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Broke it several times over yesterday

Believe me, Ryan, I was starting to get a little worried, wasn't sure if I'd be able to shake "the monkey" any time soon. Prior to yesterday, I've been out 9 times on the open water this year and couldn't catch a thing, even as people to the left and right of me caught fish!

[Dennis Steele]

Sounds like you guys had a blast!

Wish I could have joined you but I was up on the Northwest Angle spanking crappies, and walleye. Picked up some bait as well (tulibee).

I might have to run down and join you guys if your going to be out this weekend. Got a few rods ready to go allready.

[ktcrew]

Where on the mississippi did you guys fish? I tried this past weekend on the river underneath 694 on East River Road, and I had no luck. You don't have to tell me your "Spots", I just want to know good spots

I ended last fishing season, fishing for Stripers down south and Carp up here. Man was it fun. Now I'm only about catching big fish. Well, sorry 'bout that last bit, got carried away.

[Dan Thiem]

Cats in the snow? I caught and released this one yesterday. It came to a piece of sucker meat on an Angel Eye Jr.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Manny, I caught your "curse" tonight It'e even colder when you don't catch anything

[hanson]

Ryan-

Were you out tonight?

Looks like a cold front pumping through right now.

Wind is ripping pretty good out of the east.

You know what they say about wind out of the east.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Yes, I'll send you an e-mail report.

[Guest]

From the looks of it, RW might have caught the Manny curse.. fishing wasnt fantastic, but there was definitely a steady bite and plenty caught.. when RW wasnt there

I think this curse is just a renamed monkey that Dark30 was passing around a few years back.

[DARK30]

I almost miss the little guy. I think Dragonmaster took a liking to um though...

[Ralph Wiggum]

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From the looks of it, RW might have caught the Manny curse.. fishing wasnt fantastic, but there was definitely a steady bite and plenty caught.. when RW wasnt there

I think this curse is just a renamed monkey that Dark30 was passing around a few years back.

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I'm not ready to admit it yet. One bad trip doesn't equal a curse...now, two in a row, and I am going to start to worry

[hanson]

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I'm not ready to admit it yet. One bad trip doesn't equal a curse...now, two in a row, and I am going to start to worry

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Talk to the guy who broke off on 2 flathead runs in 1 night. Heeeeeerrrrrrreeeeeee's your monkey! LOL!

[Dennis Steele]

DO NOT LOOK INTO ITS EYES

Its just plain creepy how that little guy can get attached to a person.

[DARK30]

True, don't look directly into the monkey's eyes or he'll own you. The best thing to do is get a pair of these...

I've started keeping a pair in the tackle box just in case I find myself in monkey looking areas. Whatever you do, DON"T look at your fishing buddy with these on!

[DTro]

TAG YOUR IT!