cat teacher ?

[fish-n-geek]

Okay - y'all got me thinking about cats, even though I've never caught one. All my fishing has been for eyes and crappies - on lakes no less. So I have two problems, one - my common sense about where to fish doesn't work so well on rivers, as opposed to my familiar lakes, and two - I dont' know squat 'bout catfishin. You would think I could absorb the reams of information that show up here, but I'm more of a hands-on learner. Thought I'd check and see if anyone on here would be willing to show me the ropes in exchange for lunch and a couple of cold ones. Otherwise I have to break down and hire a guide for real money. :-)

-r-

[Dennis Steele]

I would deffinatley try and make a Catfish Gathering this year.
Whiskers is hosting one and there should be a couple others going on this summer also.
There is always a lot of guys who know cats at these gatherings and love to share thier tip,techniques and of course lies.

[Catmendo]

Dennis is lending some very sound advice GEEK! besides getting too pick a few brains, I'll guarantee that you'll meet some great folks.....both men & women!

Fish Hard!

[fish-n-geek]

Aw man. I just read through the thread for the gathering in Crookston. Sounds like it is going to be an awesome weekend, unfortunately I have to be within an hour of downtown that entire weekend :-(

Thanks for the suggestion, and I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled for any other gatherings.

-r-

[Mr Special]

fish-n-geek,
Welcome to the dark side. But for starters what ya got for gear? Rods, reels, line, weights and hooks?

[fish-n-geek]

Most of my gear is probably a little light. I do have one levelwind with somr 40lb braid on a rod thats heavy enough for big norts, but might be small for cats. Some 1oz egg sinkers, some heavy swivels, think I have some 2/0 hooks. A few 3/4oz jigs too.

Those are the only things I can think of that seem "big enough."

-rus-

[wastewaterguru]

That's plenty for fishing channels and even flatheads. One thing that you gotta get is some heavier sinkers if your going to fish in the heavier current. There are times that you can get by with 1 ouncers if your fishing cut bait or crawlers in slack water, but if you want to keep your bait from moving, get some no-roll sinkers in the 1.5 to 3 ounce sizes. Bank sinkers or pyramids will work too, but require a heavier sinker for the same conditions. If you are going to live bait fish for cats using large suckers, chubs, bullheads, etc. than the heavier weights are required to prevent your bait from lifting the sinker off the bottom.

One thing about river fishing that is different than lakes is that your choice in weight is not related to presentation. The choice in weight is made based on the minimum it will take to keep your bait exactly where you drop it. Because in a river like the Minnesota, the bottom is usually very snaggy and if your bait is moving around in the current, your not going to get it back.

In the Croix and Miss, you may be alright with just an ounce for fishing with dead bait depending on the current, but for live bait, you need to upsize to 2's or 3's and some situations even call for 4's and 5's.

Good luck.

[fiskyknut]

Hey Geek! Far from rocket science, Channel Catfish in rivers have got to be one of the easiest of fish to find and catch. I'm sure this is part of the reason they are the second most popular gamefish in the US behind Bass. I fish the Red and some of it's tributaries and have no problem finding and catching them as long as river conditions are within reason. A simple slip sinker rig with a hook of appropratie size for the bait you're gonna use, a weight big enough to hold the offering still in the current and the depth conditions you're facing and you're pretty much set. Keep your leader on the short side too. Myself, I find strange streches of rivers easier to figure out than strange lakes by far. Seems rivers have kind of the same traits wherever you go, holes, runs, snags ect. I'm not sure where you're planning on fishing but if you ever decide to wander up to the Drayton or Hallock areas of the Red let me know and I'll fill you in on the catfishing....Downright easy!

If you can't find anyone to fish them with just head for a river near your home with Channel Cats in it and give it a search and a bit of time and you'll get 'em!

Regards....fiskyknut

[Wiskers]

Rivers for cats is just a matter of time and moving.. then you got it down.. Of course then you have to work your way into the knowledge of finding the actively feeding fish and the fatties... good luck..

Fish on.................................................

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

218-280-0442

[Ed Carlson]

Maybe not "Rocket Science"...but catfishing is far from one presentation fits all.

Catfishing does spring from a fairly reliable set of rules, under ideal conditions. Yet if you fish often enough your going to find ideal conditions are not all that common, and/or ideal. Successful catfisherman adapt and adjust both methods and presentations to get the best the day/night has to offer the angler.

As with any species a good working toolbox of knowledge will serve you better then one Ol' Reliable method.

I agree... it's not "Rocket Science" at all....it's "Catfish Science"...a different critter entirely...Eh.

------------------
Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding
"ED on the RED"
[email protected]
701-640-2796
><,sUMo,>

[fiskyknut]

Apparently you don't like my rocket science analogy....Too Bad! No one said a thing about "one presentation fits all".

Just offering fish-n-geek a bit of encouragement, if you don't like it....Too Bad.

[Dennis Steele]

I am a guide and since fish-n-geek was looking for someone to just take him out and show him the ropes without hiring a guide.I suggest that he attend one of the catfish get togethers we have through out the summer.They are free and there are proffesional guides that host AND attend them.There are also some catmen who show up who are some of the best catmen I have ever met who are not guides.If you want to learn cats this is the best place to start.You have an excellent chance of getting in a boat with a knowlegable catman.

So I do believe that his question was answered.

As far as giving out tips...
Ask away.I as well as the other guides and seasoned catmen on these forums give information freely and with pleasure.
The thing is..like Ed said.Each circumstance deserves different answers.If I wrote everything I knew about catfishing on this thread it would be 50 pages long.There are so many conditions that a river fisherman must face and each situation calls for differnt techniques.Cats relate to different structure such as wood,rock,sand or mud(or don't) differently,with rising,falling or stable water and at various water levels,temperatures, weather conditions as well as current speed.Then there is the forage factor to throw in there too.Not to mention what gear works best in any given situation.
You just can't give tips out without a fairly specific question.

And yes...once in awhile you can do no wrong and will catch fish no matter what is on your line, or where you throw your line.Once in awhile that is.

[This message has been edited by Dennis Steele (edited 06-16-2004).]

[DARK30]

...Some people's kids.

------------------
cast,cast,cast,cast......

[Ed Carlson]

Fish'n Get-togethers are a great way to pick the brains of fellow catr's and/or just plain learn from do'n...I am all for that as a learning tool. I have done a get-together the past few years, open to all who chose to attend. And to date I have yet charged anyone for the experience of attending or fishing the event, just come & fish, and have a hoot. Ya, I have had client’s book trips on the same weekend as the event as that was their choice and they have a hoot right along with the rest of us, but the event and its stewardship is free to all. Heck...I just try to smoooze a free meal or two....as it's also my B-Day....who can blaim a guy for that Eh. Besides...Dark 30 and crew always have good Cow...MMMMM....COW!

MMM Pa-Pa eat COW now!

Guides are not for everyone, or are they the only way to learn new methods. As anglers we all evolve and if we are wise, we continue to learn all our life. I feel if I do not learn something on every trip I was just not paying attention, be it useful or not...you always lean something. On many trips it can be how NOT to do something, but that be learning too.

FM is a great site to learn new things, as are fellowship fishing events, and for some so are guide/outfitters...to each their own. Find what works for you and have fun.

------------------
Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding
"ED on the RED"
[email protected]
701-640-2796
><,sUMo,>

[Slayer=DOB]

I SEE THE GUIDES IN HERE GIVE YOU NO HELP JUST AN ADRESS TO GET YOUR BUISNESS......

ME THINKS I WOULD AVOID THOSE THAT DO NOT OFFER ANY HELP WITH OUT AN $ SIGN ATTACHED TO IT!!!!

NOTE: HEY GUIDES LEAVE SOME HELPFULL TIPS AND YOUR BUISNESS INFO THEN MAYBE YOU GET OUR BUISNESS!!!!!!!

[fish-n-geek]

Well that got more heated than I intended This post wasn't intended to have everyone dump all the information they have at me. As a couple have mentioned, it was a general question and got general answers.

As it stands, I'm trying to reschedule the weekend of July 10 to try to make it up to Crookston. Otherwise I think I'll go for picking a guide the following weekend, since that one's open now.

-rus-

[Slayer=DOB]

walked up to ford dam from north enterance of park..

1 eye
1 chan cat: on the shrimp
2 smallies
and more sheep than i care to count

weather was great!

was only using crawlers and shrimp

i think some fatheads would have produced more smallies and eyes....

well i am no pro, Geek but this is how i start....

i look for current breaks where fast moving water meets slower water and try there.

my gear is good bait casting set up with a slip sinker, barrel swivel, then about 1 foot leader to hook.....

tight now i am using a 1oz egg sinker in this area as the rocks are small and i am not to worried about snags

this is a BASIC setup and should catch u about anything the river has to offer but most important is u should catch somethin to keep ya interested in riverfishing.....

from there the other guys are correct to many variables....

so try this basic approach and pick these guys brains here as i am sure they are full of good knoledge and after u have the basics of river fishing down then u should get yourself one of those guides and go after the
fat flats & channels......

[Slayer=DOB]

sry my post was not meant to be heated....

your ? was basic and u said u mostly fished in lakes.... and none of the "guides" even gave u a basic river setup to start fishing the rivers ...

there advice is good and true...

just from your first post sounded like u needed a basic river fishing run down to even get started

p.s. sry if you guides felt i was flaming you

[fiskyknut]

Slayer, sometimes you have to seperate the wheat from the chaff. Don't let this one thread be an example, sure some folks mainly just toot their own horn, most share worthwhile info. Hang around awhile and you'll be able to tell who shares and who....well what you said. Some of these folks pay to advertise here, and that is their main reason for being here, and they are free to post whatever they choose so just glean the good stuff! There's alot of it here and there too.

Welcome and enjoy

Regards....fiskyknut

[foods]

f-n-g
there is a very good book put out by in fisherman called catfish fundamentals i belive. its a very good source of info.

cheers,
-foods

[Lost]

fish-n-geek, don't forget that there's a library that most likely has a video or two on fishing for catfish. I know we had no luck out on the 'sippi but I think the current had a lot to do with it. Where's Crookston anyway? I've hard of it but never been there. My geographical knowledge of MN is still majorly lacking. I need to get out more.

Maybe we can head up there together if you can get that weekend off?

[fish-n-geek]

Well, my schedule shuffling isn't working, so I'll still be stuck in the Cities the weekend of the Gathering. Crookston is vaguely next to Grand Forks. 'tis a hike, but would be worth it if I could go.

-r-

[Wiskers]

Fish-N-Geek... man that is too bad you cant make it... It is going to be a good time.. Never give up... You still have 17 days to get lucky..

The cats have been odd lately.. small kitties galore in the dam.. Some of the bigger ones are getting real dark and the heads are getting some big bulges on their heads... Spawn is on.. Water temps are ranging from 64* to 68*.. the biggers ones are just packed with eggs. A few are being caught but even the snags are tough..

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

218-280-0442