anyone here? are they biting anywhere?

[fishdog]

wondering if anyone has been catching any cats lately? its been 2 weeks since my last night out on the cedar river,I caught photoed and released a 12lb channel cat, just before sunrise (fished all night 3 caught 2lb,3lb, and the 12lb)
anyone else had any luck this month (oct)yet?

Fishdog

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[Dennis Steele]

I was kind of wondering where everyone went.Seems this cooler weather has scared away all the cat guys.
I have been having some very good luck the last few weeks.The channel cats have been on a good bite.
I have been finding my fish in the shallow runs.I wouldn't be afraid of fishing in a foot of water.I concentrate on the first set of snags upstream or down stream of the holes.I dont think the bite will last much longer but with a little warmer weather coming our way we may a get another week.

[rushing]

The cold weather has scared my fishin buddies away so I haven't been to excited about fishing by myself so I hqaven't been out but I hope to get out a few times this week.

Dennis have you been fishing during the day?

Rob

[This message has been edited by rushing (edited 10-04-2003).]

[Dennis Steele]

Its been a day time bite,or at least thats when I have been out.Last weekend we even picked up 2 flatheads.A 32 and 17lb.

Today I chased walleyes for the second time this season and picked up more channels than eyes.I was pitching jigs next to the fastest water I could find.(you probably know just where I was )I picked up half a dozen decent eyes and nine cats ranging from one little guy to ten pounds.I lost a few nice cats too.8lb line dosen't bring in the bigger cats when fishing water that fast!!They were slaming the chartruese Ring-n Grubs fron Catch-n Tackle.No need to get your hands stinky today!

[Note from Rick: You can see Catch-N Tackle by Clicking Here

As the water cools, plastics keep getting better and better.

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 10-07-2003).]

[rushing]

Sounds fun. Thats a sweet spot its just gotta have fish there. You do have some nice water up there. You must have all the water and fish down there now. Since we seem to have neither. LOL The water is so low and just keeps getting lower.

Rob

[Dennis Steele]

There is no water here either.A lot of the runs are only inches deep now.I have never seen the river so low.If it wasn't for the River Pro I would have to go fish a lake.Man I love that boat!
I saw a canoe get stuck on a bar that I had just cruised over.They looked a little dumb founded that a big boat like the RP could go where they couldn't.Matter of fact I think it was the same bar that you and Dragon got stuck on!

[rushing]

Man that boat landing is tough when the water is low! Well I just got back from some catfishing and again we were skunked! I'm getting close to calling it quits on the river. No runs = No fun! I have spent more money on bait the last two trips out than I did all summer long! I just want to finish up this roll of film. I have like 5 pics left to take. LOL

Rob

[Dennis Steele]

Rob
shoot me an email

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Minnesota River Guided Fishing
"fishhead"
[email protected]
www.mnriverguidedfishing.com

[Aquaman01]

Hi guys -
I'm taking the kids out to an island on the Upper Missy tomorrow for some beachcombing and fishing. I'll let ya know how it goes.

Rob

[MURPHFISHER]

Any idea if the cat bite will turn on again with the heat wave this week? I have only been going to lake zumbro above and below the dam. I have not caught a 10 pounder (or more) yet. Any of you cat guys willing to share your spots with me? Close to the Rochester area? Camp fires, coke a cola, a mini radio and the fold out chairs. Something about nite fishing I just love. E mail is [email protected]

I just spent 4 days camping/fishing at Mille Lacs without a single fish and need to catch something soon (have not been skunked that bad for years)

[Aquaman01]

Sorry Murph, but I know squat that far south.
Wait - I know squat this far north!?!

Anyway - the kids & I hit the island in Elk River that we had the first '03 Cat Gathering. The Boy got a 6 or 7 lb. channel using the foot from a river clam, and The Girl got a few redhorse and goldeye on same. dad waded around for smallies and got many. None of any braggable size, but it was fun finding 'em. Water has visibilty of like 2 1/2'! Amazing!

------------------
Aquaman
<')}}}}}><{
"The bow is set to distant shore,
then loss is gained and gains once more.
When beach is reached and sails are torn,
the journey is it's own reward."

[rushing]

Be careful clams work great but in some places are illegal. We were using some we got from a private pond and were told is't illegal on the MN River by the DNR but it was great while it lasted.

Rob

[Wiskers]

Dennis,

when you zip over them clam beds have you had any trouble with sucking up rocks?

I really need to get in one of them boats and see how they work....
Did you see my post on Red River, ottertail forum?

The Red Lake River here has been real spotty as of late. I have not been over the the Red in quite a time now. Starting to get the shakes even....

The water clairity in the Red Lake river is getting unreal... I'm guessing on a good sunny day you can see about 4-5 feet. That is having a real effect on the fish here that are not used to seeing us above them. Not shure how to deal with this? In all my years of fishing I have never come acorss any situations like this.

The Red Lake has always out fished the Red on any given day but not now... ????? I have even sat on shore near shallow water and watched it for hours hoping to see some movement but not a thing. Winter freeze will interesting.

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

218-280-0442

[This message has been edited by Wiskers Guiding Service (edited 10-10-2003).]

[Dennis Steele]

We are still getting cats consistently.
The water temps have risen into the low 60's with the warm weather.
With the water clarity greatly improved,some cats are feeding by site.They have been hitting Ring-N Grubs pitched for walleyes.I have been thinking about dipping the Ring-N Grubs in stink bait and pitching them for cats.The grubs look like little dip bait worms with curly tails. I bet it would work!
I don't know if extreme water clarity like The Red Lake River would have an adverse affect on the cat bite.I fish the Miss north of the cities once in awhile and that river is fairly clear.We have done well catching cats right under the boat in less than 4 feet of water.Of course the cats seemed to be on the shady side of the river.I think they would also use the boat as cover.You could actually leave your motor running and still get fish under the boat.I doubt they spook that easily.

I have been picking up a few rocks with the River Pro here and there with the water low but its only when I am going slow over very shallow water or when I am skipping bars.If your going fast enough and have at least six inches of water you don't pick up a thing.
With all the leaves in the water the intake is getting a little plugged up when at idle.I still have enough power to get on plane and then shear power of the jet sucks them through and clears the intake itself.I have not had to clear by hand.At cruising speed she just chews them up and spits them out.A great improvement over my last jet rig.With that OB jet I had,I had to stop every couple hundred yards and clear it by hand.
I have been bumping a few things here and there too.I ran the rapids a couple days ago.Its a large grantie shelf that drops about 3 feet in 10yrds with little "stair steps". I had no problem getting up them,but bumped one of the "stair steps" coming down.I could'nt find a dent.I did put a small dent in the bottom on something very solid.It was very windy that day and the sun was on the water in the evening so I could see anything directly in front of me.When I hit I actually felt it in the floor.I didn't even notice the dent for about a week.I am still sold on the River Pro!
If it wasn't for that boat I would be standing on shore this fall.I can go anywhere I want to go with little difficulty.You just have to be sure you can set the boat down in enough water.
The water is about foot lower than I have ever seen it.In most places you could drive your truck across the MN too!

[LuckyFish]

Yep Dennis I hear ya on the leaf problem. Ever since the trees have been dropping their leaves I've been cleaning out the intake constantly. Oh well I can still go where no other can go.....well except you.
Lucky

[DARK30]

Hey Fish, Heaven forbid you having to fish from shore!! Lets go to Granite.

I actually tried for some Flathead action tonight...One run and a miss. Water 63 degrees and the bugs were out.

Jim W and I are gonna putz around on the Blue Earth tomorrow in our hip boot pros. Good luck!

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

[Aquaman01]

Thanks for the heads-up, Rushing. I'll check the regs for my stretch of the Missy.
I hit the bottom a few times in the Rivva Po'/H.M.S. J.B. Weld. Had to portage around the main current into a back-channel, then drifted over the rocks on the way back.
I have a question - I hit rock with the prop maybe a dozen times, but didn't even stall out. Is it 'cause of the low HP of my motor? (5.5) and it's lack of torque? I mean, I hear of guys tearing up everything - prop & LU, and all i did was shave some aluminum.
I'm not gonna make a habit of it, but is the low torque why I still have a prop & LU?

Rob

[CANOPY SAM]

Went out with Rushing and Fishhead today! Had a great time despite the rain. Many, many thanks to you Dennis for taking me out on another great fishing trip that wouldn't have been possible without that awesome boat.

We worked pretty hard for a coupla eater eye's and saug's. I managed 3 or 4 nice fat channel cats, with one around 13-14 lbs. That was the biggest channel cat I've personnally seen on the Minnesota. Lotsa fun!!! Tough being out in the rain today, but awfully happy to see it! Maybe, just maybe, it'll bring the river level up a whee bit more so we don't get shut out before the eye's really get going.

Thanks again Dennis. Hope you get great luck on the Rainy.

[Dennis Steele]

Well your very welcome Sam!
I had a good time too.
Little on the slow side but the best bite has been in the late afternoon.
The way I figure it if you and i fish together more often we would'nt be having this drought.It rains a lot when your in my boat!
Hope you enjoy that limit of fresh eyes.

[rushing]

Thanks Dennis for the fish outing! Too bad you had to go swimming though! I thought it was 5 sheeps for every walleye...well I caught 6 and no walleye??? LOL
Good meeting you Sam!

Rob

[Dennis Steele]

Hey Rob its always a good time fishing with you and your always welcome in my boat.I also appreciate your herding the sheep away from my line!

Was out again today and we only managed one decent channel cat.We did however get two flatheads.One was only about 8"!That is the smallest flathead I have ever seen.The other flat that Grabs cought was much bigger going about 14".

[rushing]

LOL Did you get any pics of those monsters?
Its weird how the river and the fish can often change so quickly.

Rob