Hot night, with alot of action!

[Shack]

We hit river again last night and spent night on island in Mississippi North. It was great weather and as close to perfect condition's as you could get. Warm breeze, clear skies and full moon. The best bait was cut sucker (around 2-3 " middle body hunk, with head on last to keep bait on hook). We did get down during late after noon and they seemed to light 3" pike minnows, but as night rolled on the cut swucker was key again. We peaked out baite between 9-11, but all night the bite was hot. Between 4 guys, we used 2 1/2 to 3 lbs of frozen sicker. All in all we ended up with 28 total fish (26 channesl and 2 bass). We had most our luck on outside bend about 20-30 feet out. We also did have a good portion of ourcats come from out in main channel, but I figure with the full moon they were in a little shallower than normal. Not much for monsters, but most ranging between 6-10 lbs. Here a couple of pics from last night, it got old quick taking picutres of every channel with that much action.

Good luck.

P.S.

We also did get one mud/sand turtle.

Good times!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shack]

Hey DTRO,

Would a 32" longx 18" channel spell an upgrade for me. If so, I will submit all needed info.

Thanks

[aanderud]

Wow, that's an awesome night! That action is just about like panfishing but instead of 6-10 inches they were 6-10 lbs! Sounds like a great time!

[harvey lee]

Shack

Looks like you had 41.5 points for your last channel so, with a 32x18 which would be 50 points, looks like a 8.5 point up grade. Way to go if my math is right.

[Shack]

Thanks Harvey Lee!

I could not remember if it was a total of 5% of points or 5 points. I will submit when I get home tonight and see what happens.

The channels are stacked up like cordwood up here right now. Most of/ no all of the channels we caught seemed much slimmer than normal (early to mid spring). We did catch some skinny rails that night. We also had a couple with open visual sores around head area, kind of like a bullet wounds. I figure with the slimness and wounds, it could be a sign of spawning. I could be wrong, but I figure if I had caught this same fish early spring, it might have had a girth of over 20".

It sure was fun to get out again. The elusive "15 to 20lber" did not show it self, but I know they are out there.

Water is down to drought levels and being on out side bend, deep. 3' from shore on up stream side of bend was over your head. Down side of bend on sand bar was a little shallower. One of my buddies had a 1 once on all night and his bait would float back to shore. He ended up catching the most channels and the biggest (weight wise).

We do this every year since high school. Everyone has a great time and we might have another outing next month.

I hope the KOTC shore event with be just as good weather as Sat. night.

[big musk411]

Shack, that is about the same fishing I have been having lately out there. One after another from about 9-11pm then it slows a bit. In my spot the cats start going nuts on the surface for the mayflies at about 10 pm, litterally hundreds swimming on the surface with thier mouths open. Lots of fun, but I whish thoes Dobson flies would stop hatching. I get scared when a four inch bug flies infront of my face.

[harvey lee]

We have also had many hit and run bites in the last few nights fishing flattie's. Maybe all channels and yes they have been on the surface for sure.

[Grant]

shack- email me, I need to upgrade

[Shack]

dobson flies!!

We had a couple land on us. My buddy did get freaked out a little, but I told him I had read up on them from MFM. They do not hurt you. We had a nice cool warm breeze that kept most of the bugs at bay all night.

BM414, we were not far from were you fish. Just down stream a little. This channel bite had been consistant for years, it the big ones that are hard to come by.

We should of have many more. We went threw almost 3lbs of frozen sucker and most of that was from getting robbed. We had countless hit and misses and empty hooks.

[Shack]

Grant,

I thought of you on Sat. night, but did not bring your number. I will e-mail you some hot spots tonight when I get home.

I will also let you know the next time we get out to islands and maybe a pick up from shore.

[Grant]

Saturday I was out on Captain Tom's boat~ the flats were a little distracted it seems, but we're talking about a second attempt in a few weeks.

I should be able to do a bit of Miss/North fishing in the next few weeks, mostly weeknights with a few weekends.

[sparcebag]

Harvey & BigMusk GET THE FLY RODS OUT!!! You'll have more fun than ever!!

[harvey lee]

Do they make a fly rod heavy enough for Flatheads? I can see where a fly rod with channels could be a real rush.

[rushing]

If you look through the archives from last summer there is a guy who got a 20lb flathead on a 6 or maybe an 8wt flyrod while fishing for carp out a pond.

[big musk411]

I have had the fly rod out! It's a blast. My niebor didn't belive me, he was impressed. I'll get a good action shot posted sooner or later of my 9wt doubled over.

[harvey lee]

I think it may be fun to try a fly rod for flatheads. My only concern is if I get hooked up with a larger one, I may tire the fish out too much playing him that long. Might not be the best for a good release.

[rushing]

Quote:

---

but I whish thoes Dobson flies would stop hatching. I get scared when a four inch bug flies infront of my face.

---

Yeah those Dobson flies are nuts. So huge and with their double wings. Strange bug. I have seen em in the nymph stage "hellgrammites" but I had never seen a adult until this year. weird lookin things and they still have them huge pinchers

[sparcebag]

It would be fun but I was thinkin channels,Ya on a larger flat you'd have to tire it out and have a heavy backer,but ya could'nt horse it in! So for release flyrod on flats probably out.I do get channels on my fly rods but the timing has to be right for me to be there on a hatch.But its always with me just in case!

an harvey its at my spot perfect sand bar flat water.

[crazyice]

For the fly rod question, there are 10 and 12 weight rods available, but they usually are a special order item. They use them alot for tarpon and other salt water fish near the coast. Also they are used for pike and musky.

[Shack]

Big Musk 411,

Is that fish in your avator from up around here?

[big musk411]

Yes.

[Shack]

Cool! What size was it? LBS or inches.

[big musk411]

I think it was about 30 inches give or take. About a 10lb fish. I got one around the same size last weekend. Hopefully I can get a bigger one this weekend, camping out on an island for an all night fish-a-thon!

[Shack]

Did you see anyone out on island last weekend?

[big musk411]

I didn't see anyone camping in the spot I am heading out to. I was going to go near Otsego, but with the low water I am going to a more easily accessible spot. I noticed that you posted about the islands on the mississipi north forum, do the signs on some of the islands say no camping?