Pulled out of your hammock?

[Guest]

Hey Toad and Gullguide
How did your cat fish trip go.I've been picturing you guys slung up in those hammock/tent things and forgeting to set your clicker and a big one pulling you right in!

[Toad]

Hey fishhead,

Ya, those hammocks were an interesting way to do an overnight river trip. Trying to pry yourself out of those things at 3am to get to a singing clicker was about as easy as climbing one of those rope ladder (torture devices) you see at the Renaissance Festival. Nearly fell on my keester more than once, I can tell you. On the flip side, they kept the bugs out and did provide a few quality Zs.

Unfortunately, we couldn't have asked for worse river conditions-- major cold front, constant and incessant rain, rising water levels and cooling water temperatures.

We did manage to find and camp two nights on one of the best looking bend holes I've ever seen. It was a beautiful transition area with big slabs of granite on the outside bend, dropping from 4 to 15 feet. In the middle of the hole a huge gnarly snag lay in 6 to 10 feet of water. We managed tons of small channel cats on cut sucker and goldeye, plus a few nicer fish during the day.

The flatheads gave us a number of lackluster runs around midnight each night and again just before sunrise. But the fish either dropped our baits or wrapped us in the rocks before we could get to our rods. Tough trip . . . but that's the way she goes sometimes. Time for this boy to run on over to the Red to cure a little catfish fever before it gets too late. Take 'er easy.

-a friend called Toad