Catfish shut out

[FishinLogician]

I've been shut out this season except for a few dink channels and wonder what I'm doing wrong. Buzbunni and I have tried multiple locations on the Minnesota from Belle Plain to the Miss covergence, suckers and cut bait to stink bait with no success. We look for snags with mostly slack water and try front and back sides. We are usually out between 8pm and 2am. We use anywhere from 1oz to 4oz slip sinkers and egg weights. We stay close to shore. It's hard for me to believe that we've just picked bad spots all season. I'd like to land a killer size Cat but anything is better than nothing. Can anyone recommend or make comment on what we're doing wrong?

[Dennis Steele]

Generaly speaking and in steady conditions...I don't look for slack water.I look for current.Current is key for cats,its what brings them there dinner.
When choosing a snag to fish,I pick the ones that are near or on the channel edge or the first snag upriver or down from a deep hole.There should be ample current flowing through it,at least enough to make good size boils behind the larger branches.
When I find a likely snag I work it by starting with the outside edge.There usually is a chute formed by the current sweeping by the snag.Most of the time this is where you will find the most active fish.After fishing that for a few minutes,I will start moving my baits toward the upstream and center of the snag.I try to place the bait where the current pushes straight against the snag and creates a hole in front of it.
If the snag is hanging on the bank I will also fish the inside,or close to shore as long as there is some current.
When fishing is tough you may need to set you sinker then let line out to allow your bait to get right inside the snag.The current will pull your bait to the point where the current slows.
After dark you may also want to fish the creek mouths or creek washouts.Here yoou want to fish the current edge or where the current gets is funneled by the edge of the washout or delta.I like the area where the current is the fastest in most situations.

[wastewaterguru]

Good advice from the master.

I used to fish the slack water snags and occasionally had some luck, but the snags the have current are always more consistant.

One other thing......don't be afraid to fish shallow. Some snags that have good current tend to be in only a few feet of water. Don't shy away thinking there aren't any fish just because you're only in 3 or 4 feet of water. You might be surprised.

Good luck.

[catfish1]

Another place is if you can find some big rocks, not in a big pile but spread out and only about three foot of water. Anchor just above it and cast down in the rocks. and again nice to have the current running though it. I also take as many different baits as I can carry, Usually nightcrawlers stink baits, chubs, cutbait,liver, bullheads, Something will trigger a bite and I what it along. Good luck fishing

Catfish1

[This message has been edited by catfish1 (edited 10-04-2004).]

[FishinLogician]

This is all great advice. Obviously we've been using the wrong approach. Could you folks clear up the weights theory. I have heard the folks here say that they use no more than 3oz weights as a general rule. In the turns/holes with higher current I can't get 3oz weights to stay on the bottom. Does this mean people have their weights riding the current near but not actually on the bottom? This is the reason that we've been looking for the slack water to allow our 3-4oz weights to stay down.

[This message has been edited by FishinLogician (edited 10-04-2004).]

[CatManLee]

There's absolutely no reason you can't use a heavier sinker. I'll use whatever it takes to keep my rig stuck to the bottom.

If you are going to fish a certain area, you need your bait to stay where you want it. If your sinker is too light for the situation, it'll just bounce out of that area. Another thing is your more likely to get hung up when your rig is drifting down or across the river bottom.

My rule when it comes to sinker size is, if it's not staying close to where you casted (within reason) it's too light. Of course if you cast across current, it will move down stream due to the line itself in the water.

I think if you're casting behind the boat in current, you should be able to feel the sinker hit the bottom. If you can't tell if it's on the bottom or not, then your too light.

Another thing to remember is bait size! If you have a small bait, you won't need as much weight. A larger bait will require a larger sinker. (simple Huh?)

Hope this helps.

One more thing, if you want to catch cats, try the main river channel or close to the channel. Any location that has some type of feature will almost always hold fish. Long flats with a hump of one foot or so will likely hold fish. It may look small, but don't let that fool you. Find something different and your in. The most productive of these locations will typically be near deeper holes or feeding areas. And long stretches with no features, but the one you found.

There's much more to this, but this should get you started. Good Luck. With everyones help on this forum, you should have no problem catching a catfish on your next outing.

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CatMan

[FishinLogician]

Thanks CatManLee!

I appreciate your thoughts and ideas. I have always thought the size of the bait would effect the how much weight you need. I never had a problem using larger weights but with my lack of success I wanted some confirmation if this was my problem or not.

Chip

[Rick]

More often than not though,
3oz will hold you when fishing directly behind the boat.

Of course, sometimes less and sometimes more. I wouldn't use more weight than you need. Also, the no-roll sinkers help you stay put as well.

You can call Jeff Beckwith of Scenic Tackle if you need those at (218) 751-9669