Mississippi Cat Gathering

[Guest]

I here declare that on the 17th-18th of May, all Cat men and women shall go hunting Piggies!

Where - We shall meat at the 101 bridge park/access south of down town Elk River.

Time - Meet at 6:30pm, leave when ever your arms get sore.

What to Bring - Boat, chairs, grill, food, beverages, bait, tackle, and BUG SPRAY!!!!

Details - Those of you with boats suitable to traverse some tricky water please bring them! I'm guessing several people may need a ride. We will be using a large island for cooking and shore-bound anglers, it will be like base camp.

Side notes - Adult beverages make for a more enjoyable experience when the fishing is slow! If I am forgetting anything you need to know, PLEASE ASK!!

[DARK30]

SOUNDS GOOD! NEVER BEEN ON THOSE WATERS BEFORE BUT CATS R CATS!

WET NETS!

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[Guest]

Count me in!I'll be there till we run out of refreshments and then some.Kick back and whack some cats!If its not a long ride I can shuttle a few guys.

[riverbasher]

Hey guys count me in. I am new to the forum but I live only a couple miles from that access. ?? for you though since I am relatively new to catfishing. I am wondering what everybody uses to catch those big cats on the river between Dayton and Monticello? Any help is appreciated.....Jeremy

[wastewaterguru]

Would a Lund 17'5" with a 115 be too much boat for this part of the river???????

Sounds like a good time. I also have a 14' with a 9.8 on it, but it isn't as comfortable and it doesn't hold as many adult refreshments (or provide adequate room to stretch the legs.)

What exactly do you mean by "tricky" parts of the river (I can always use the bow mount)?????

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John K., a.k.a. wastewaterguru
Prior Lake, Minnesota

[Guest]

wastewater & Jeremy,

Glad to see a few more people are going to make it!

I would be a little bit concerned about using a 17.5 foot boat unless the water is still high from the spring run-off. I will let everyone know how it looks a few days before the gathering.

"Tricky water" - When you head upstream from the access there is some very shallow and rocky water you have to navigate before she drops off for quite a ways. I will draw up a map and hand it out at the access. If you can navigate the channel you are fine, its just really tricky until you get the hairpin turns memorized.

For equipment, just bring all your heavy stuff and hope its heavy enough for the big ones. Bring whatever you want for bait, minnows, liver, shrimp....

If you have any other questions feel free to ask!

[riverbasher]

I would advise against using the 17.5 if going upstream from that access cuz there is a very trick section about a 1/4 mile up that has eaten at least one of my props on my 14' Lund with a 15hp on her. My boat won't be hard to find at the gathering as the word "RiverBasher" is painted in white along the sides....You can probably use that bigger boat going downstream from that access. Just watch for rocks....After all...downstream is a great spot to fish where the Crow river comes in...have caught some huge northerns along with some cats there.....cya there....Jeremy

[riverbasher]

Unfortunately fellow pig chasers I cannot attend the planned gathering as a friend of mine decided to plan his wedding date on the 18th all the way in Hayward, WI. Maybe another time.......sorry.....The Riverbasher

[Guest]

Didn't you tell him you had plans!?If he was a good freind he should work around your schedule.

[Guest]

Riverbasher,
Why don't you just come for as long as you can on the 17th?
Also, how big were these Pike that you caught down by the Crow? I can't figure out how you can put your boat in at the 101 bridge and safely get down to the Crow? I always seem to find a nasty bunch of rock and rapids right where the river splits and goes around the big bunch of islands. If you have a secret path I would love to hear about it. Anyway, I hope you can make it to the gathering even if just for a few hours.

[CANOPY SAM]

If I were to show up with my 14 ft. and a 7.5 merc. how far would I have to run up river to catch you folks? Are we talkin' flatheads or forks? All nighter? Could be a pretty cool evenin' the way the weathers been lately. I'd be willin' to give this a shot as long as were talkin' about safe water. A lotta rapids in a small boat with very cold water down below isn't to safe.

[Guest]

Canopy Sam,
You would be able to find us about a mile upstream from the access. It is an all-nighter and we'll be chasing Channel Cats. The river is not real bad so you shouldn't have any problems. All the rocks are under water so you just have to use your depth finder to try and follow the channel or take it real slow and avoid the big boils. I'm probably making it sound worse than it really is, if you are familiar with fishing rivers at all it should be a piece a cake.

[DARK30]

Are we on?

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[Guest]

I am geared up.This should be a good time.I can't wait to try out my new Poletender Big Cat rod holder.Sitting on the bank sipping a barley pop telling lies and waiting for my clicker to scream!

[Guest]

We are on!!! Swung by the river this evening and she is a bit high. Shouldn't be any problems getting up-stream. Not sure how much island we will have to work with if it doesn't go down some, O well, we will make due with what there is. I'll be heading to the river in a few days to see if I can locate some hungry pigs before the weekend. This nice weather should really get em going, fingers are crossed.

[Guest]

I was trying to get things set up so I could swing over for the kitty hunt. Don't look good for me to be able to get away this weekend, BUMMER!

Truck/Blazer is in the shop and I have bookings set for the weekend so I will be close to home. Gots to pay that repair bill......YIKES!!

Good hunting folks!

Be sure to get a few pictures so Rick can get them on the front page.

We need some piggy kitty shots up front boyz and girlz, go get em!

Sure wish I could make it!!

Next time eh.

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Backwater Eddy..><,sUMo,>

Backwater Guiding
"Ed on the RED"
(701)-281-2300

[email protected]

http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html

[Guest]

Eddy,

Bummer!!! Was lookin' forward to meetin' up with ya' Maybe some other time

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Paul
[email protected]

[chucker]

How did the piggy catching go? I would love to hear all the details!!

Are there any plans for another cat outing this summer, I would love to learn more about cats and this section of the river.

[Guest]

Details?
It was fun.Not many showed up and the fishing was not real good but I had a good time staying up all night freezing my but off and not catching anything but a clam!I am sticking to the story that I got too stupid and lazy to catch any fish!I think only four fish were caught and I think Canopy Sam fooled three of them.There were probably three times that many bites but the fish would end up dropping the bait before you could get to your pole.(we were all huddle around the fire,dang it was cold!)It great to have met some more catmen.You can learn a thing or two when fisherman get together and you can see how each guy does the same thing differently.
Ther will be another couple cat outing this year.One will be on the Minnesota River and I believe there will be another on the Red.Try and make it to one or both they will be a blast!

[Guest]

Details?
It was fun.Not many showed up and the fishing was not real good but I had a good time staying up all night freezing my but off and not catching anything but a clam!I am sticking to the story that I got too stupid and lazy to catch any fish!I think only four fish were caught and I think Canopy Sam fooled three of them.There were probably three times that many bites but the fish would end up dropping the bait before you could get to your pole.(we were all huddle around the fire,dang it was cold!)It great to have met some more catmen.You can learn a thing or two when fisherman get together and you can see how each guy does the same thing differently.I definately did.
Ther will be another couple cat outing this year.One will be on the Minnesota River and I believe there will be another on the Red.Try and make it to one or both they will be a blast!

[CANOPY SAM]

I can't speak for everyone there, but I had a great time, and so did my boy! The clam bite was ferocious! I only wish the pesky catfish wouldn't have kept bothering my clam bait...
I was a little surprised to wake up and find everyone gone, though. I was soooo warm and comfy in my sleeping bag and tent. I'm guessing my snoring probably chased everone off. Har Har Har!!!
Hey fishhead, how do we get together for some scoutin' on the MN? I heard through the grapevine that somebody caught a giant the other day..

[Guest]

We thought there was a bear on the island!!So we ran away!
Sorry to leave without saying goodbye but nobody would volunteer to wake a guy who was snoring like that!
I am going to be kinda busy in the next few weeks but could probably sneak away for a weekday evening.Shoot me an email

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[email protected]

[CANOPY SAM]

I can't speak for everyone else, but me and my boy had a great time. Gotta thank you guys for allowin' us to join ya'.
I've never experienced such an intense clam bite! I only wish those pesky catfish and pike would have left my clam bait alone.
I gotta admit I was a little surprised when we woke up and all you fellas were gone. I was just sssooooooo comfy wumfy in my warm sleeping bag and tent I didn't even here ya' leave. Musta been my snorin' that scared ya' off, huh? Oh well! Did you guys catch anything after I sacked out for the night?
Hey, fishhead, how are we gonna get together for scoutin' the MN river? I've got a couple evenings open over the next few weeks - we could just as well fish some night dontcha' think?