Cat newbie's humble help request

[LilAnjg]

Hey all, have been an avid forums checker for some time, but have neglected to do much posting. Using info i'd found from all of you in the backlogs of the forums, i geared up and tried (for the first time) for some catfish down by the Ford Dam this weekend--to no avail. I'm a well versed river fisherman (or so i think), but am more adept at trout fishing small streams than catfish from the now raging mississip. I tried fishing from shore, and looked for current breaks around the bends below the dam, and tried by one feeder creek (w/ both liver and shiners) but no takers. I found it tough, even w/ 3oz weights to keep anything too stable in the huge current--and, everything was covering in river dump (leaves) after minutes.

-Is it harder to present bait to fish this time of year w/ the current up? and is the leaf problem a spring runoff deal?

-Is the ford dam area a decently fertile catfish stretch, or should efforts be aimed elsewhere??

-Any other ideas on how to combat these conditions or ideas to try in the Ford dam area would be greatly appreciated

I can't wait to get that first cat--thanks to all of you regular posters, it's quite the resource!!! In any case, halleluja for the sunshine, great to be outside!

[harvey lee]

Welcome to Fishing Minnesota & Hot Spot Outdoors. There are many here with better answers than I to help you out and they will chime in and help you out.

Again, Welcome to FM.

[DTro]

Welcome aboard!

You are doing the right things. Don't get discouraged. It is a tough time right now. You could bump up your weight size until you get it to hold, or just let the current find a home for your bait. The fishing won't get real good for another month or so. Don't be afraid to fish, but also don't be discouraged when you strike out.

We're all excited to start catching, but for a while, it will be more fishing instead

[slipperybob]

It's still early for me to go down there. I've fished that rapid current before and I only put my bait a few feet from shore into the water, probably no more than four feet but more than two feet. Anyway it's more like short cast down shore. I've caught some decent size before 3lbs to 10+ lbs off of nightcrawlers.

[skink]

I will try my catfish luck on a small shallow river in WI in mid-may for the first time. I've seen some very large shadows swimming beneath my canoe when I'm fishing for smallmouth, but never tried to catch them. Are there any tricks for cats on a small river? How about at night?