Lockport Report! 7-23-03

[shefland]

Just returned from a quick 2 day trip to the Red river of the North! What a fishery! 51 Cats, 962# a 18.8# average! how good can it get! The cats are snapping! mean and angry! they beat me up! I was by myself on this trip, I had my faithful dog Ben the golden retriever along who is poor at netting but good at trying to bite the fish! Have to work at that, ever tried netting big cats in current by yourself? its a challange. As usual Stu McKay at Cats on the Red is the man when it comes to Lockport Cats, can't thank him enough for what he has taught me. I consider myself a good Minnesota fisherman but am a realative newcomer to Cats, although I have river experience, the Red bit me, my prop, and my skeg, I let my guard down and got nailed! Use caution when you are near the dam. I suppose I'll take a break, head out and see if I can catch a couple of walleyes, maybe? and count the days till my next trip to Lockport in September. Can it get any better?

[Guest]

Yaaa...Sumo Cats Suck Eh!

You bet netting big cats by yourself is a workout! It will beat you up pretty darn quickly.

You will need to work on netting skills with the pooch so he can take some of the stress off ya. You have tell September so better put some extra vittles in his dish, and your too.

I bumped a rock (or two) up there before myself. But I bump a lot more around here on the Red. The Lower Red is thumper/knocker free compared to the Upper and Central Red. Those two rock reefs can sneak up on ya though, especially that darn West one.

I'm headed back North very soon for a week or so. OH JOY....Can't wait! Always a fun time at "Cats on the Red", and hanging with Stu and the crew is a hoot too. We hope to do some sturgeon fishing on this trip. Plan to pry ourselves away from the cats for at least one day, maybe even two? Might jig up a sauger or 3 for the pan while we are there, they should be going soon.

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"

[Catmendo]

Hey Dave, I don't think that old hound of your's is ever going too get the hang of helping you land fish, but then again does it really matter.....
Ed, as far as a sturgeon trip you bet, but it will be after hours because they're not doing anything until the sun goes down. Then all hell breaks loose! Who knows maybe the patterns will which by the time you guys head up here.
Dan T. one of my guides put 58 kitties in the boat yesterday in 6 hours. The guests simply had had enough and actually threw in the towel.

See ya in a couple of weeks.

Stu

[Guest]

Night or day, it's all good to me.

I got my new Rod by Endel last night, the "Cork'n Sucks" special.......SWEET! Rob builds the best rods I have ever seen, hands down. Thanks Scoot & Rod!

It should prove handy for sturgies too, some serious backbone to it. That Roberts Wrap should prove to be the ticket on boat-side screamers.

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"