Kitties vs Big Cats

[wallyH]

Hi all,
I work right near Ft. Snelling overlooking the river valley and some of us here at work decided we're going to head down and dump a couple of boats in the river next week and try for some cats.

Couple of questions. I read a couple of threads that referred to chicken liver as being good bait for the kitties. What bait is better for catching the big cats? =)

Also, do people actually eat cats out of the Mississipi or Minnesota? Not that it's important, just curious.

Thanks,
Wally H

[Sturgeon46]

Cut bait is easier to use than chicken liver because it stays on the hook better. Many would say size of cat is better on cut bait too.

Big cats like the flatheads absolutely prefer live bait. Big sucker/chubs and bullheads. If you are a casual fisherman, you are probably not suitably equipped for flats. Think really, really heavy tackle.

[wallyH]

Hehe, thanks. I was thinking of rigging it up on my muskie rod if necessary. =)

Wally H

[Fisher Dave]

Theres lots of flatheads in that area. Try the largest suckers you can find(live) or bullheads(live). Fresh cut bait works best for the smaller cats (channels).

Good Luck

[Guest]

Muskie tackle might do it?

Seen a lot of Muskie style rods go KER-SNAP under the weight and pressure of a ><sUMo> Kitty.

A good economical rod option for big cats is the 8-9' Berkley Re-Flex in med to heavy action. They come in Baitcasting or spinning and will cost about $35-$40. Very good E-Glass construction, suitable for cats and take a lot of abuse. Very good
sticks!

ReFlex™
Rods Specially Designed For Night Fishing

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/PreDetail.cfm?PassPrev ious=1090&PassCategoryStructureId=1216&PassLevel=2

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 07-11-2003).]

[Aquaman01]

I use an 8' med. hvy muskie rod as my "big a** river fish rod" and it does okay, but I think I need a more flexible rod like a Reflex (anytime you wanna say "I told you so" just go right ahead, Eddy ). I miss a lot of hook-ups 'cause I think the stiff rod spooks the take.

The Mississippi & Minnesota Rivers are no more toxic than the lakes in their watersheds, until you get south of the twin cities. I'd stay clear of bigger fish and top-chain predators, though, like big walleye, big northerns and flatheads. My personal eating slots for Mississippi River (& it's tributaries) fish are northerns, 20" - 24", walleye 15"-18", Crappie/Sunfish/Rock Bass, 7"-10" and channels cats 15"-20". These slots aren't based only upon toxin levels, but on my own lack of fish-cleaning skill.

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Aquaman
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Peace and Fishes

[Crawlerman]

Hey.. The reflex is what I use. I have to say I like it, and it's more than economically priced.

Altough mine is only a medium heavy with 17lb test. It's great for channels and carp; but there'd be now way I'd even think about it trying flatheads or muskies on that thing. I guess it COULD do it; but the weakest thing would obviously be the line; as its rated for no more than 20 or 25 and the reel is only rated for 17. I guess I've never believed in superbraids for the fact that if you get snagged (which happens ALL the time on the river) your SCREWED. The stretch of Mono helps shake off snags, where as a superline will just dig it in deeper.

Then again I never really been a flathead fisherman. Might do it someday. But the odds are just too unfavorable of catching one, that I'd rather "accidently" pick one off cutbait while targeting channels. Same goes for muskies. I figure I have about the same odds of catching one of those on a #4 mepps targeting Northerns. Smaller fish are what keep life interesting; atleast I think so.

Now I just need to find some bigger channels, in the 10 lb+ range. Only got one that size in my life, and that was not even expected.

[This message has been edited by Crawlerman (edited 07-14-2003).]

[Flashman]

Crawler,

I don't know what you've been told or have read but Flats are not that difficult to catch. It's true that you might have to look for a while to catch a really big one but they are not as elusive as you suggest they are.

[Crawlerman]

Bout eating them; I still feel safer taking fish out of the Croix (lower is fine) but I guess that's just me... Thats a body of water I need to fish more. Now if there were only some DECENT launches that didn't require you to dump you wallet out in a box near the Hudson area... I'd prally get out there a lot more....

[Guest]

As Aquaman01 recommended channel cats 15"-20" are top quality eaters. I completely agree, for a couple of reasons.

By harvesting younger catfish that have not had a chance to develop contaminant loads you limit risk.

Contaminants built up in fatty tissue that in time and with age will travel to the fleshy tissues anglers consume.

By avoiding consuming older mature fish, (especially predators), you avoid most contaminants.

I strongly encourage selective harvest in all species of fish, on any body of water. I do so for conservation considerations as well as for potential health considerations.

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"

[Guest]

I was looking at the Reflex the other day while out at the tackle shop. Looks like a very good quality rod for the money. Would that rod be suitable for flatheads? All they had in stock were the 8' Med/Heavy action that was rated up to 25 or 30 lb. line. I would mainly be fishing channel cats, but would like something that can be used for flats as well. I use 60 lb. spider wire down to the swivel and then a ligher leader (20-30 lb. leader). Would that set-up on this rod work for flats? Maybe increase the leader weight a bit (can you go above the line ratings on these rods? It didn't appear that any of them were rated as high as I'd think for flats).

As for eating the fish in the Minnesota and Mississippi, I agree with others. Harvest the smaller fish and as long as you don't eat them very often, you will be fine.

[This message has been edited by fishnAddict (edited 07-14-2003).]

[Dennis Steele]

I have several 9ft Berkley Reflex rods that pull double duty for both channels and flats,heck I use them as trolling rods also.THey are plenty tough to take on grampa whiskers.I doubt very much that a guy could break these rods on any fish.For the flats I use the same lb leader as my main line.Why have a weak link when targeting big fish.If your going to break somewhere its going to be your knot at one side of the leader or the other anyway.

I keep a few small channels for the table now and again.I stay under 20" not only for the sake of the fishery and health concerns but they fry up much nicer! MMMM tasty!

[Wiskers]

WalleyH:

Here is another good action combo set for cats that I use a lot. Fishbonz, http://www.silstar.com/PAGES/fishbonzhomepage.html

I have had great luck with them so far and they look good to. You can pick them up as a combo for around $35. -$45. depending on the size you want. If you in a boat the 6-7 footers are ok but from shore you can get by with a longer rod and have more play and leverage. Some times them kitties just don't care what you are useing and they just try to break it for fun.

Good fishing.

Rusty

[Guest]

I am not a big fan of the Silstar cat rods because of the quality of glass used in the rods, and the rod guide components. Same with the Cabela's combo's that are basically Silstar blanks.

For the $$ the Shakespeare big cat rod is a better built rod, as is the Berkley Re-Flex.

Just my personal opinion. I have seen too many of them snapped at the fore-grip or at the tip. Far too thin of glass is what I personally suspect.(IMHO)

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"

[Dennis Steele]

What is it that makes the Cat Classic the best cat rod?I haven't realy looked at them to closely.

[Guest]

Far as I can see with St Croix, the high'r da price, the better day tink day are?

It all depends on a guys needs I guess?

Not 1 rod has the right action for all cats on any given day anyway. Some come kinda close, but it usually takes about 3-4 rods to cover cats in most conditions.

From pecker cats to boat towing Sumo Piggy's there is a big difference in rod designs needed to land the cat.

The E-Cat series was on the right beam, a great system. Big Jim Moyer chewed on the right rod weights a while to come up with them. It would not surprise me too terribly that Berkley reintroduces the line in another form? Maybe ranging from E-glass to Hi-Module, maybe? There is some talk on that around the big chief Bonfires.

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 07-18-2003).]

[Guest]

The best catfish rod hands down is the Classic Cat made by St. Croix. There is no bettter cat rod out there in my opinion. Couple an eight foot classic cat with an Abu 7000 and you have a mean catfish set up. Not a fan of the reflex.

[Canuck]

My favorite rod is by Berkley and they have stopped making them. They made them for Canadian Tire, they are 9'6" with the end couple of feet very sensitive and more than enough backbone for the sumos. Every client that has tried them just love them. I really like them for the days they are very light on the bite as you can feel every little peck. You will have to try them when U come up this year Eddy. I have put Abu 7000 on them this week and they are some fine unit. I am actually taking one salmon fishing next week.

[Guest]

What name or model did them Berkley rods go by Canuck?

Eh Canuck, Rod E is making me a special "Cork'n Sucks" model that I think your going to drool over...Eh.

I should be able to show it off the second week in August, if your home for a change?

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"

[Ozzy169]

It depends on what time of the year it is, If the fish are very active, (late fall) Glass is just fine. But, if the bite is tough and slow a person needs to down size and "feel" the bite. St. Croix Cat Classic is a phenominal stick. Graphite, good back bone, and very sensative, I believe I will be spending the money to put a few in my boat.

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Puff-Puff-Pass

[fiskyknut]

Fiskys opinion,
I'm with Ozzy and BigTime on the St Croix Classic Cat series. When it comes to quality of rods you get what you pay for, period. With the Classic cat series you are paying for top quality components on a high quality blank....Fuji cushioned reel seats, Pac bay Hardloy guide set and a Fuji flanged silicon carbide tip top, and cork grips. The blanks are a blended matrix of high quality SC1 glass and SC2 graphite making them strong and light for their size and strength. The cheaper rods mentioned above have low grade aluminum oxide guides, and or cheap stainless steel guides on lower quality, heavier e-glass blanks, and who knows what kinda reel seat as the manufacturers do not want to tell you what components they use on their websites or in any catalogs {wonder why?} With these cheap components these type rods can be sold at much more of a bargain price.

I have 2 CC76MH matched to custom ABU 6501 C4's and these I find near perfect for my Cattin on the Red River and it's tribs. I also have a CC80H with a 7001C3, slight overkill for Channel cats as these are major heavyduty rigs! These would work great for trolling XLG Muskie baits, Flatheads, Blues, Sturgeon? You could definetly land large marine gamefish on these no problem! Those GT80M glass trolling rods work well for Catfishing too, and are a bit cheaper in price than the Classic Cat series. These were designed for trolling planerboards but have a nice moderate action and plenty of backbone for those big Red River Channel Cats. The moderate action of these makes them great for no strech superlines as well.

One man's junk is another man's treasure, but you do indeed usually get a superior rod when you spend a bit more coinage! Guess it comes down to what you wanna spend. In my book comparing the St Croix Cat rods to the Silstars and Reflexs is like comparing Primerib to cheap Hamburger, but to each his own.

With the St Croixs you also get a great warranty and the rods have that pretty blue color blank that looks really nice with a blue C4 or a silver C3 sitting on it!

If you want a Reflex buy it off HSOList as they usually sell for about 15 or 20 dollars brand new. They are a functional rod.

Regards....fiskyknut

[Guest]

The Cat series rods from St. Croix only offer the 2 year limited warranty. Not their full life-time warranty. From what I've seen most companies stand behind their product for at least 1 year, so that 2 year warranty isn't the biggest deal. The full warranty on their Avids and Legend Elites, however, is a very nice program.

[vern]

I'm a St. Croix user myself. They make a great product with a good service record. Vern

[This message has been edited by vern (edited 07-21-2003).]