Cool Cats on Ice

[IceHawk]

Guys the safest way out there is the winter access where cedar island and horshoe meet. Don't try to drive a vehicle out there from the 22 public access, its all river through there and is not safe for a vehicle. It's fine to run a ATV from there though I have done it quite a few time already.

[Dennis Steele]

I'll be out around 9:00.I plan on scouting the area them getting some of that ice out of the way so people can fish.
Its good to know about the public access.I will deffinately be using the winter access then.I did see a few cars come out of there over two weeks ago.One headed up the river to Becker.

[Flashman]

I plan on going on the lake where you marked on the map, the winter access. I'll be unloading the wheeler and pulling a trailer accross the ice. 16 inches is enough to hold up a truck but I just don't know how many trucks will be parked all in the same spot. See you all tomorrow.

[The Chemist]

Well I'm on my way out to the lake. I might try to get stuff set up tonight. So we'll see you tomorrow.

[Dennis Steele]

Well tommorow is the day!
SHould have decent weather with highs near 30.Might be a bit breezy.Fishing should be good as we are ahead of a cold front.
I have lots of stuff to give away so make sure you sign the guest sheet when you show up.
Here are some of the door prizes I have.
Eskimo Barracuda auger
Stone Legacy Un Bucket and a Tip Up hole cover
Lots of Catch-N-Tackle Ring-n-Grubs and Ring-n-Tubes.Along with some catfish BIo Bait.
TSjigs tackle package.
DVD from FishFever.com
and a free guided trip for cats and a ride that you won't forget in a River Pro from yours truly.Minnesota River Guided Fishing.
Hope to see you all there.If you are driving on use the Winter access.

[This message has been edited by Dennis Steele (edited 01-16-2004).]

[Mr Special]

Dennis,
You guys kick butt and take names. Ebass, Moby1 and I will try our luck at trout tomorrow. Oh save some cats for us if you can.

Good luck everyone

[Matt Johnson]

A great time out on the Horseshoe Chain today for the Cool Cats Get Together. The wind made things interesting and for those of us who got there early the bite was pretty good. A lot of cats on the LX-3 and quite a few were suspended 10-12 feet off the bottom in numerous occations. Here are a few pictures of some cats caught today...

It was nice to put some faces to a few more names and to ice a few of those hard fighting cats! Red glow spoons tipped with the upper half of a minnow was how I got all my cats today. They were light biters and some bites even went undetected. If you get the chance to ice a few cats then give it a try. They are a blast!

Good job Dennis! Awesome event!

Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

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First Choice Guide Service

[email protected]
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait
MarCum
Stone Legacy

[This message has been edited by Matt Johnson (edited 01-17-2004).]

[Wiskers]

It was a blast out there on the shuuuu....

Granted I did not catch any cats .. but that seems to be my destiny after freeze up..All I got was 8 Rock Bass, 3 Walleyes and sea sick from being tipped over in my fish house from the 4000mph winds out there LOL LOL

I seen many cats on the cam but they just would not bite my jigs. Most of the cats I seen would just dart up to my jig, ram it with their nose and dart off again?

I was great watching others catch cats though, they still put up a good fight under that ice.

You did another great job Dennis. Them were some good viddles buddy.

It was fun getting to meet the faces of the names on here but I do feel bad for not getting out of my house enough to visit and chat but every time I stood up or tried to get out my house wanted to take off with out me.

We even won some real nice prizes. We are going to have to start gatherings all over and beebop to each others areas.

Thanks Rick, for starting such an awesome way for fellow fishermen to unite.

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

218-280-0442

[Dennis Steele]

Hey! That was FUN!
I want to thank every one who came and made it a such good time.Met a bunch of old faces and made some new friends,and caught a few cats.Could'nt have been a better time for me.(of course some one could have turned that wind down just a notch!)

The morining bite was decent allthough they were biting VERY light.Almost undectible.A slight slack in the line was all the give away that the cats would give me.My Rock-n-Reel helped me pick up two of the cats I caught.The rod tip just rose a fraction of an inch then I would slam the little puss and the fight was on!Oooh I just love catching those whiskered devils!

Here is a few more pics

WWG and Matt Johnson icing a cat

Wastewaterguru with his first Cool Cat

Roy,all the way from Phoenix with his first icy cat.

Cat snacks Yumm!

Wow! I won an Eskimo Barracuda auger!

Cody has a Stone Legacy Unbucket to put his gear in.Daddy buy me my own rod!!

[This message has been edited by Dennis Steele (edited 01-19-2004).]

[Dennis Steele]

I would also like to thank all the great sponsors who donated prizes.There were some vey fine prizes to be won.Please support these guys,They were very generous.

We gave a way:

An Eskimo Barracuda Auger
http://ardisam.com/Eskimo/pwrAugerHome

Stone Legacy Unbucket Jr. and FreezeBee
http://stonelegacy.com

Bio Bait and and every one recieved Ring-n-Grub/Ring-n-Tube tackle packages.
http://catchn.com/

A DVD video magazine from http://www.fishfever.com

A jig kit from TSJigs.Our own "Crappie Tom".
[email protected]

Rock-n-Reels from TBone.A bunch of them!

A free guided fishing trip on the Minnesota River and a ride in a River Pro Jetboat with ME!

Uncle Grump also added a couple 12 packs of Pepsi to the prizes.
And Chemist put in a bunch of FM bumper stickers that he had left over.
Thanks guys.

I can't wait till next year!

------------------
Minnesota River Guided Fishing
www.mnriverguidedfishing.com
[email protected]
NPAA #863

[Tator 65]

Hello from Illinois...In 1986, myself,my parents & large group of friends spent a week fishing on Horseshoe Lake. We stayed at Horseshoe Lake Resort on Hwy 22. We caught some awesome fish while we were there. My husband and I are planning a cats vacation this summer. I have been surfing the net...checking on places to fish on the Red River....and then got to thinking about the nice fishing we had done years ago on Horseshoe Lake. I was pleased to read the posts about your cats on ice.....was wondering if the summer cats were still as good on this lake & Sauk River. I remember the Blue Heron restaraunt & drinking Kagle Brau (a locally brewed beer, Cold Spring Brewery) I am hoping that someone will respond to this post, and let me know if the summer fishing is still as good as I remember. Thanks...Rhonda

[catfish1]

Rhonda; Welcome to the board. Alot of good info and great people here. I personel have not got a chance to fish the chain but hear it is great summer and winter Seems like every time I'm getting ready for a gathering some one either dies or gets real sick in the hospital. Only got to one gathering last year in Iowa and had a blast even though it rained most of the time. Again welcome and sure someone here can till you all about the chain.

Catfish1

Keep setting that hook

[IceHawk]

Rhonda: First off welcome to the site, I grew up In Cold Spring and now reside in Richmond. The catfishing on the chain is hot right now, there is a abundant average size of 2-4 lb fish available, with 5 lb plus fish mixed in. The chain is still good in the summer the cats are scattered in numerous areas and finding them isn't a problem. There are also a few resorts on the chain, so lodgeing won't be a problem.

As far as the Blue Heron it's still there under new owners but still is a top notch eatery. Kagle brau is long gone, but the brewery is going strong, they have a hole line of new brews to try if you come to the area. If you need any help with lodgeing or any other info shoot me a email at [email protected]

[The Chemist]

I too would like to thank Dennis for putting on a great time. there were 3 times as many people there this year as there were last year. I got to meet a few more FM'ers that I hadn't before. Cody has been bugging me to buy him some rods for his unbucket so I guess a trip to a shop is in order.

Thanks again.