Questions about cats.... see inside..

[The Yeti]

I have not fished a river for cats, carp, etc, since I was a kid. So trying this again is very exciting. I've fished a couple times in the last week down by the Ferry Bridge with not much luck. Really small cats and some sheep head. I have a few questions to hopefully get the ball rolling and hook into some nice ones. 1) Last night I was fishing on the south side of the bridge, just west a little, where the rock shoreline meets the mud, theres a small rock point that creates an eddie. Would this be a good area and what would be the best technique? 2) The small cat (really small) I caught last night was wiggling it's fins and it was making a grinding noise.. weird? 3)I tried smaller suckers and slit the belly. When it looked like I had a bite, I would attempt a hookset, nothing on the line but the belly was cleaned out.. Turtles I assume?
Thanks for any responses. Me and my wife have not bought a boat yet so shore fishing is it for now.

[EBass]

Sounds like a good spot with that point and eddy; however, you may want to find a couple of spots and hop around, you know the small fish thing. Try fishing right next to the fast current if you can.

I like to keep it simple and use a 3/4 - 2 1/4 oz weight and use a split shot to keep the weight 4-12" from the hook. I like to use circle hooks - no setting involved. Others may use the weight, bead, swivel, leader then hook to help out on the line twists.

It was probably those small kittens that were nibbling on the sucker guts. Try cutting them into hunks instead of slitting them open.

Dusk on into the AM is the best time for big kitties. Big kitties will hammer it most time and you won't even have to set the hook cause they do it them selves. (circle hooks rock)

I haven't been out for cats in over a week. Last time I did was in Chaska. My friend caught a released a nice 29" channel. I caught and released a little flathead. We got some carp on corn to. But only had two solid hits on cut sucker and that's what we caught.

Good luck

[This message has been edited by EBass (edited 08-20-2003).]

[Wiskers]

The Yeti:

Well first off wellcome to the family of addicted catters.

Your best bet is to keep trying diffrent areas along the shore. Look for steep banks meaning it will be deeper there and provide good shelter fot kitties. Watch for current breaks, where the water is going in two dirrections, back water from washouts. Those areas are also great for cats.

Circle hooks work well if you don't mind giving up that thrill of the hook set. this time of the year suckers are fading out and will not work as well as they have been. Try diffrent baits in your area. Frogs, leaches, dip baits and #1.Cubed steak soaked in Chicken liver and blood.

12:00 pm to 4:00 pm and about 7:00 pm till 1:00 am are prime times around here.

Good catting. Think SUMMMMMOOO kitties.

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Wiskers Guiding Service
Red River & Minnesota RIver Channel Cats, Flatheads & Walleyes
Crookston, MN
[email protected]

218-280-0442