Flats are biting!!

[Dirk W]

Well, the first cast sent my bullhead sailing into the forest for the raccoons but after that it was better. Ended up with four flats up to 20 lbs. Had a truely huge one to the boat that bit my channel cat, cut bait rod, but then I [me] footed around and let him take some drag. He got snagged around a sunken log and it was all over. Live and learn. Anyway, looks like the flathead season has begun.

[Dirk W]

Oops. Pool three of the Mississippi if anyone is interseted.

[Dennis Steele]

It was very slow for us last night on the MN between Chaska and Jordan.Between 5 guys in two boats,no fish at all.Not even a Channel Cat.In my boat we had several half hearted runs but came up empty handed.

[deadeye]

I have had the same success as you Dennis. It has been really slow for me. I have yet to even get a cat so far this year. I have tryed everything with no success so far. Hopefully I will get the boat up and running and make a trip to some of the islands on the mississippi for some night fishin. Well anyway, good luck and keep catchin those big flats!!!
><>deadeye

[DARK30]

I heard a 54lb was caught a few days ago upstream from Mankato. The guy was Walleye fishing near a creek mouth.

I got some really nice creek chubs yesterday....Soon Grasshoppa!

WET NETS!

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

[Hubcat]

Got my first cat of the year- a 36.7 pound Flathead
I was shore fishing the Minnesota river in shallow water with a 8 inch sucker.
Dark, I am sure you have fished this area in the past.

Maybe with these warmer temps the the cats will start to really turn on

[Perch Jerker]

I fished between Chaska and Jordan with a friend on Fri and we hooked into a couple channels and a small (10lb) flat. It was slow fishing and we fished all night. The channels were gumming my bullheads all night and killing them. I'd reel the bait in and it would have 'sandpaper' marks all on it's sides.
I was with the 'group of 5' Dennis talked about and it was even slower on Sat night. I'm going to wait a bit before heading out on the river again. Things should warm up in a few weeks.
River = 57 degrees
Streams = 59 degrees

PJ

[Toad]

Been following your guys' conversation here on early flatheads, as myself and a couple buddies are doing a four day run on the Minnesota in a few weeks (I'm primed and ready ).

What do you guys think-- seems like the month of June really gets those flatheads cookin-- maybe the best month of the year. What month(s) do you guys like best for flatheads? Also, keep me posted, if possible, on water levels. How's she running right now? We'll probably do the Redwood Falls stretch, but might revert back to a few favorite spots near Judson. Thanks a lot for your help fellers!

-a friend,
Cory Schmidt

[korn_fish]

TOAD -

Water levels are coming down pretty fast. I used to check out these links and perchjerker was nice enough to post em on here too.

Gerd,
Here's some stream info for that area.
Jordan,MN
http://mn.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?05330000

Mankato,MN
http://mn.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?05325000

I have a spot by Judson where we caught a 50+ last year. But the spot was only good at the river levels we have now. email me at [email protected] and I can send you some coordinates. Plus the spot I was at at this weekend gave up some nice flats. But I want to try that snag infested snarl hole again before I post any coordinates. I think that hole might be prime still in a few weeks if not all summer. It depends on how far the river drops.

------------------
catchabiggun
http://www.angelfire.com/mn/flatheadpride/index.html

[Dennis Steele]

Hey Toad
As you allready know September is my favorite month for flats.I have run into a little trouble in July when they start the spawn.Its just a couple to a few weeks away.But it should be hot if you get on them before it happens.
Did Tom ask you about fishing smallies the weekend of the 7th?Hope you both can make it.

[collegeoutdoorsman]

Saturday night all we could come up with was one small channel...we brought six chubs along and they were toast right away but the fish never bit hard and just killed them....none of the bullheads were touched.

------------------
"I like my beer cold and my women hot"

[Toad]

Thanks a bunch korn_fish. Sounds like our spots could be overlapping a bit . Have to admit, though, I've never slapped a 50 on the beach-- awfully nice fish there. Thanks for the hyperlinks to the waterlevel sites, too!

Dennis,
Yea, guess I'd have to agree with you on September-- fewer bugs, bigger cats (though not always more), and super low water-- which makes the best spots a bit easier to spot.

Haven't talked to Tom about any smallmouth fishing, but I'll ask him about it this week. By the 7th, do you mean the 7th of June, July . . . ? Where??? How??? What???
I'm ready .

Keep in touch. Hope your fishing season is a good one.

-a friend,
Cory

[This message has been edited by Toad (edited 05-28-2003).]

[Dennis Steele]

I think we were thinking about the weekend of 7th of June.Maybee he found a new friend and isn't inviting you!
Nothings for sure yet,its in the works.If Tom can't make it I will be going anyway so there is a seat in the River Pro open for you anyway.

[Toad]

Talked to Tom last night. Seems I've been replaced by a friend called Waterdog . Go figure.

Seriously, I'm gonna try to make it if possible. Smalljaws will either be going nuts by then, or it'll be postspawn, in which case, there's always cats. So I suppose that wouldn't bother us too much, right?

-Cory

[Flashman]

fished the MN infront of the east Blackdog outlet last night for a couple hours, one flatty about 30 inches long and a couple runs. Going back tonight with Bullheads.

[DARK30]

I got my first one of the season tonight downstream from Belle Plaine. Only 30 inches but it was nice to get the net wet again! It took a smashed up chub and he really wanted it too.

WET NETS!

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

[DARK30]

I struck out last night down in Mankato but I had the pleasure of meeting up with the Hubcat. Thanks again Bob!...That is a good area, I know they're in there!

Tonight I put a notch in my new Gapen Far North Cat rig. Pulled a 40" 30 lb yellow one out of the Minnesota near Belle Plaine. I got the 25 lb Iron Silk on there and I'm real happy with it.

Had to get the sponsor out of her pajamas to come down and take a couple of pics for me....Shes such a good sport!

WET NETS!

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

[Hubcat]

Dark30 is was nice meeting you also!!
Glad to see that the Cats stop teasing you a took your bait for a run.

[Aquaman01]

Gapen has a cat rig!?! Tell me more - tell me more! I checked their site before I purchased my river rig and I didn't see doodly.

------------------
Aquaman
<')}}}}}><{
Peace and Fishes

[Guest]

Personally I like the Gapen rods OK, but the reels are not well built at all. I have seen 4 NEW Gapen bait-casters dump out on the very first outing. Not mine, they work like new, I use ABU only.

But they belonged to a very good friend. He went around and around and around with them and finally tossed them in the drawer and gave up dealing with Gapen.

He likes his rods OK, but I wouldn't recommend asking Big Shanon about Gapen reels. If you seen Shanon once, you would not risk it either.

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 06-05-2003).]

[korn_fish]

DARK - when you were fishing with HUBCAT, what area did you go to? were you out in the area you, Dennis, and I were at the other night?

Curious to see if you were getting the same types of hits or what.

------------------
catchabiggun
http://www.angelfire.com/mn/flatheadpride/index.html

[DARK30]

Korn, We were fishing near the Blue Earth confluence in Mankato. We had bites but yes, they were not too aggressive. I went down to the river last night for about an hour here in Belle Plaine....Got one run but missed it. Man! The Skeeters are thick down there!

Aquaman, I've picked up a new Gapen rod at the sportshow for three years in a row now...Just can't walk by um! I honestly can't say yah or nah about the reels yet...I've only used my new Wilderness 1 baitcaster a couple of times so far but (so far) I love it. I've got a DAM on another one and a Shimano Corsair on the third. My favorite will always be the E-Cat #3 with a Penn 320GT2 on it.

Hey Ed, My friend can beat up your friend! I got a couple Abu Garcias too and I like them also...Oh and the Diawas....Gee I can't make up my mind all of a sudden!

WET NETS!

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

[Guest]

Oh ya Dark..your Mama! HA!

I seen the Special Edition Abu-Garcia Trophy Collection Series 6500 Musky Reel for $86 on a certain cat gear web site. At Catfishworld.net.


I got one last year, a very nice reel. It has good heavy duty clicker, wide spool, power crank. I think you would like that reel Dark30. I know somebody that has also a stash of E-Cats too, 2's, 3's, and 4's. But I like the Re-Flex and the Maina rods more. The E-Cat 4 is a good stick, like that one.

I like the Ambassadeur Bigwater Level Wind 7000 too. Much the same as the 6500 Musky Reel, just a bit bigger. They run about $96.50.

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 06-05-2003).]

[DARK30]

No argument here...Abu makes a fine reel as well as a rod. I don't have any of the big ones (yet) but I do have a 5500C 2-speed on a matching 6'6" med action Gold Cast for lighter duty bottom fishing. I also have a tournament series spinning combo for the eyes and also a small baitcaster for casting rapalas called a SM series 3600 with matching 6' rod. Its great for wading but is no longer available new.

My new Gapen rod is actually a 7'6" downrigger rod but fits on the river bank just fine and looks good sittin there too! It even looks good in Fishhead's new River Pro....I suppose if the boat ever quits, I could just cast to shore and winch us in!

WET NETS!

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

[Guest]

Them channel kittys are getting v-e-r-y...s-l-o-w here. I am sure the spawn is on, going to be a s-l-o-w w-e-e-k.....or soooooooooooo..yup.
-
So........I am think'n......maybe it's time to wonder over and hook up a Flatty Eh?

Dark and Fish, you guys have any free time in the next week, or so?

May just be little ol me, or it may be Big Shanon and I, not sure yet. If I wonder over in the week it would just likely be me.

If I don't do that...I may head North Eh, and beat the spawn for a week?