open water channel cats

[frydaddy]

Hello,

I live in Rochester, mn and want to target some channel cats this spring / summer. We have a large reservoir outside of town called Chester Woods (Bear Creak res on lake finder) this reservoir has a large population of 25" + channels. I do a lot of bass and bluegill fishing on this res but would like to try and target these kittys. This is a res with a lot of water 25 - 30' deep and a lot of flooded timber. Where do I start and should I be using crawlers on the bottom or cut bait?

Any ideas or help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

J

[sparcebag]

In warmer weather I'd get in the timber, either bait,I prefer cut bait,dont be afraid to go shallow right on shore 1-2 ft. other than that anywhere. But I'd yet stick close to the timber outside, inside, around edges.If ya catch em stick close to your area,by losing your bait your legally chumming! I did alot of scuba in Mn.and when I saw cats it seemed they cruised shore lines in 10-12ft I'd follow and they'd follow the 10-12-contour.While crusing, I also saw em still in 40ft but it seemed when moving it was 10-12.

[Katman]

I'd choose cut bait over crawlers...just for the fact that I tend to pick up a cruiser bullhead or sheephead. Having cut bait doesn't mean you won't pick up a sheepie or bullie...but I think it's a bit more tasty for the bigger kitties! Stick to the timbers for sure...holes...and currents. Look for baitfish too. Down by the Minnesota river.....I usually see some cats and other fish cruise the shallower shorelines chasing shad. My first flathead last year was on a cruiser flat by a deep whole...right next to a small flowing dam. The flat was in about 10-12 ft of water chasing smaller fihes like shad. You'll see plenty of shad do "jump for your life" run every so often. Give the different depts a try and give us a followup! We'd love to know if we should give this res a try!

[SupaMan]

Cats are easy to catch... Just bottom fish using chicken liver, or anything, and you will catch em... Fishing doesnt get any easier then catfishing...

[DARK30]

Sometimes they are easy to catch...sometimes they are not. Sometimes its easy to spell...sometimes it isn't.

Catfishing IS however the most fun!

[Big Dave2]

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Cats are easy to catch... Just bottom fish using chicken liver, or anything, and you will catch em... Fishing doesnt get any easier then catfishing...

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Nothing is ever easy to me!

[bgreen82]

what is the lightest you guys would go for channels as far as action rod and line, if the places you were looking at had fish up to 10 lbs. should i be taking out the m/h rod with the powerpro or will a medium action with mono work. i was thinking i'd play it safe with the cat rod just cuz of the extra timber and junk in the river right now and that would make it easier to pull out.

[hanson]

Brian-

Curious if you received my e-mail from a few days ago?

Right now, you could probably get away with any kind of tackle for channel cats. They are still going to be fairly sluggish, but with water temps warming up, they'll fight more and more everyday.

At this time of year, I still just use my normal cat stuff. Probably more out of convenience than anything.

A guy could easily get away with bass gear, even heavier spinning tackle right now.

Good Luck!

[Katman]

You know....it may sound cheap....but my cat pole is a Shimano Clarus medium/heavy with a shimano sonora reel with 30lb power pro line. I know its a bass rod...but I love it. I have other rods....but seems like this rod is teh luckiest for me! Gets tough when you pull larger cats....but it works...and works well. Its nothing big at all....but its comfortable and I know how to use the flex and rod to my benefit during a good fight. I use to use only 10lb mono....but a buddie of mine got me going on power pro last year and I love it! You really don't need specifics for gear or bait.......only for spots.

[hanson]

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You really don't need specifics for gear or bait.......only for spots.

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Ain't that the truth. Location, location, location!

[DARK30]

I'll agree with that. Gear is one thing...Location is another.

Try using lighter tackle if you can get away with it...makes for a lot more fun. My favorite channel rig is an old 5500C with 12lb mono set on a 7' (old) abu gold max med rod. Its all about the drag.

I get on a plane in a few hours...maybe get to play with a few southern California cats this next week...I'll sure be lookin!! Gonna do some surf fishin for sure but I will be exploring all options. Gotta go give Mickey Mouse a big hug too

[bgreen82]

yeah, i got your email. i have been hoping to head out tomorrow so hopefully the rain isnt too bad and i dont get too bad a hangover. . i'll prolly just bring the cat gear. thanks again for the info.

[sparcebag]

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Cats are easy to catch... Just bottom fish using chicken liver, or anything, and you will catch em... Fishing doesnt get any easier then catfishing...

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Well I sure wish I could say that about cats!! Its the walleyes for me thats easy! cant get my cats with live bait them trash eyes get it unless its 7" bullheads the small bullies the eyes eat them to!

[hanson]

Post deleted by hanson

[sparcebag]

AHHHH City life!

[honky kong]

hanson, i'm still a few weeks away from the boat purchase but we'll have to get out and fish together again. i'm pretty sure rushing and our buddy chris wouldn't mind seeing some new stretches of river this year. we'll have to come up your way a little. i think i will have to go get licensed up this week or next. i can't wait anymore!

[Flaco651]

I was out Fri & Sat early (7:30a.m.), hours before the crowds arrived. We did all right. Largest one went 11 lbs. Once it got packed we checked out a couple other options around town. Picked up a couple more, but it was a lot slower.

[vern]

I agree Hanson, but without the internet you probably wouldn't be there either. I've been fishing spring cats in that spot since 86' - back when it was a nasty sewer & a hobo camp. No one's more disappointed with the crowds than the people that have fished these spots for years. Same thing with the Horseshoe ice fishing spots. It seems like a lot of people have recently discovered catfishing from websites like this. That's great, but when you post numerous reports, pictures & have big get-togethers you better expect the crowds.

[hanson]

Vern-

I can't argue with you one bit and its a situation that really eats at me. I'm not sure if its so much the internet that "hooked" me on catfishing but it accelerated my learning curve big time. For that, I am grateful. So I will continue to discuss gear, baits, tactics, etc since those are the topics that are generally of interest and importance.

But when it comes to spots and locations, that is where I draw the line now. Its taken the last couple of years to really bring that to light but I really feel guilty about posting conspicuous photos in the past. The same thing has happened to me on Upper Red Lake ice fishing. I post a good report with no details at all as to where I'm fishing, and I have 20 visitors in my "area" next time I'm up there fishing. Coincidence or not, I don't think so. Some locations I have fished I will not discuss out of respect to those who have showed me those spots.

So goes the dilemma of the modern aged fisherman.

[hanson]

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hanson, i'm still a few weeks away from the boat purchase but we'll have to get out and fish together again. i'm pretty sure rushing and our buddy chris wouldn't mind seeing some new stretches of river this year. we'll have to come up your way a little. i think i will have to go get licensed up this week or next. i can't wait anymore!

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LOL! I was thinking of coming down your way a little more this summer. Until the water won't let me.

I here ya on the being anxious part, I've got 3 1/2 days on the Rainy River/Lake of the Woods for Sturgeon in about 3 weeks. I can't wait.

[fiskyknut]

Hanson you should see what this internet thing has done to one of my favorite Sturgeon fishin' holes the past few years!!!!! LOL!!! You think you got it bad, and the place I'm talking is'nt in the Metro though many weekend anglers up here sure seem to be coming from down there these past few years!!!!

Norm

[hanson]

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Hanson you should see what this internet thing has done to one of my favorite Sturgeon fishin' holes the past few years!!!!! LOL!!!

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I know I've seen it. Guilty as charged.

[fiskyknut]

Fortunatly we have miles of river with many good spots here and there that see some darn good Sturgeon fishing too, and hardly a boat 1 even on a weekend. Just requires a bit of searching, and I'm not talkin' web searching!!!

It's all good though and I'd have never of met that Chuck N fellow last year had it not been so crowded!!!

Chris the only thing your guilty of is real enthusiasm!!!

[hanson]

The great thing about the majority of Sturgeon, Channel Cat, and Flathead Cat fisherman is that they adhere to a good C&R ethic, or selective harvest. So even though we are bumping shoulders and rubbing elbows at times, we are also releasing fish so others can enjoy them too.

3 1/2 weeks until I make the trip, I can't wait, although I'll probably get skunked this year.

[sparcebag]

Hanson; do you eat any of your cats?Which are your favs.Channels or flats? I had flat 2 nights ago and prefer them.but catching a eater is hard! they seem to all be larger than I'd like.