New to Catfishin'-- help needed.

[Crawlerman]

I've just turned to fishing for some of the larger "overlooked" Species in MN, Catfish and Carp. I've got Carp pretty well nailed-- I know of a small lake that I catch a good number of decent carp running between 8 and 15 lbs-- and I've hooked bigger.

With Catfish however, it's another matter. I caught one decent channel cat in my life-- but that was a freak accident. One of the 'carp ponds' I visit; I was fishing for carp and landed a 12lb channel cat someone had prally caught at the river and thrown in.

When I try fishing on the river, however-- it's another story. I end up catching itty bitty ones running less than 2 lbs! I've tried a number of different baits-- from chicken gizzards, to cutbait and prepared catfish bait; but have only caught any cats on crawlers: and they are small and mixed with Carp and lots of annoying little sheephead. I primarrily fish from shore on Harriet Island and the launch under the Wakota bridge; and I have seen large channel cats caught in those areas-- I just can't do it. I'm not looking for giants.. just maybe 6-10 lb channel cats and smaller flatheads? I have 2 rods: one with 30 lb test Spiderwire, and the other with Berkley Trline 17lb-- so I'm not really looking for a 60 lb flathead! Just something big enough to put up a decent fight.

Any ideas on what to change? Or any other metro locations that are easily acessable from either boat/ shore?

Thanks

[Guest]

Hi Crawlerman,
Welcome to the forums.

I have fisher the area that you are talking about and have not done well on larger cats.They are there just not in the numbers you can get elsewhere.
The MN River has numbers of channels in the 5lb plus range and 10lbs are not uncommon.Right now I would be targeting the creek mouths and using cut bait or soured baits whole or cut.Livers,dip,and crawlers with catch plenty of cats but they will be on the small side.
If the creek mouths don't produce try the inside bends that have a little deeper water and have rock or wood for cover and a little current.Look for humps or small depressions and fish the upstreams side of these.
Good luck and let us know how you do.
Check out some of the cat get togethers we are having this summer.