Fishing from shore...Big cats?

[Guest]

I (unfortunatly) can only fish from shore. The current at the spot I fish on the Miss. is super strong. When ever I cast out into the current, it takes it down about 40 yards and drops it in an eddy. I'm not complaining though, because, I've always caught fish there. Just never any over 3 pounds. I want to hook up with some big boys but there doesn't seem to be any in that eddy. Would my odds be better if I could keep it in heavy current? I don't know what the bottom is like there because my bait has never touched it there. Any suggestions???

[Guest]

Look for a wing dam near main river dam. Or a wash-out below a big bridge.

Tie up a 3-way rig with a lighter drop link to the weight. Make sure the weight is significant, like 4-5 oz. Make your leader half the distance of the drop link and sail a bait out into the flow. If your targeting a hole, try the head or tail-out area, NOT the hole itself.

Once it sticks keep the rod tip vertical, keep it as high as possible to lessen drift.

Don't tinker with it, let it sit tight.

The lighter drop link will bust off if you get hung up too tight, no big deal, that is what we want.

Try a 6-8 O/T Gamakatsu Circle hook on the leader of the same weight as the mail line.

Don't worry about the pecker cats, ignore them.

Just wait for that rod to buckle over, then start to reel, no jerking, just reel with steady pressure.

A 3-way rig is often the best option for shore casting baits for cats. You can stick the bait yet keep the bait up in their face and out of the muck or rock. Works well for channels, blues, or flats, depending of the bait offering.

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"