Tackling Cat Ice Tackle

[Tyler Holm]

A few questions for those that have done it, for those that really have not.

When you put an ice cat assault together, could you please explain some of the tackle basics.

What type of rod and reel are we looking at? Length? Stiff, or soft tip? Spring Bobber? Why?

How about line (braid / mono/ flouro)? #?

Are you jigging one rod, and bobber on the other? What works best and when/why?

What size/style hook on the bobber rod, or is it a lure?

What might be an example of a lure? Might you modify that lure (larger treble)?

Bait? Any differences from open water? Size?

Any other tips, tricks, techniques you like to share?

Thanks fellas! I hope to be putting my first cat ice assault together in the next few weeks. I'll be reporting my findings here.

[DTro]

I'd go with some 65lb PP spooled on an ABu 7000i with a 10/0 gammi and 3oz bank. For a rod I would go with anything white.

Couldn't resist.

I've only done it once, and walleye setup will work fine. One with a float/bare hook (green or red) baited with a fathead. The other a jigging spoon w/minnow head.

NASA stuff

Don't forget your flasher.

oh and if you find some, or want to go on a hunt, I might be interested.......

[Shack]

If one could get out on safe ice, in an area where cats are know to be, this (I would think) would be a great time to target them.

I posted this type of question a couple months back now and got some really good responses. Like DTRO said, all they where using was a walleye type rig. I saw some images of Hanson and his father hammering “nice” channels threw the ice and got a load of info from that post. I will post a link to my post from last Aug. and Hanson and Father fishing post. In my post, there is a link to some video of Hanson and dtro ice fishing for cats.

Good luck!

My post about cats on Ice. Alot of great links in this post! Click here!

hanson and his fathers outing. Great tips! Click here!

Sorry, I criss crossed the links. You will figure it out

[Ralph Wiggum]

What type of rod and reel are we looking at? Length? Stiff, or soft tip? Spring Bobber? Why? Any walleye rod works just fine. I like a spring bobber because they bite really, really light at times, but it's definitely not a necessity.

How about line (braid / mono/ flouro)? #? I usually use 4 or 6 lb mono.

Are you jigging one rod, and bobber on the other? What works best and when/why? I usually jig one and bobber on the other.

What size/style hook on the bobber rod, or is it a lure?

I've run a live fathead with a small octopus hook under the dorsal, but I've heard a chunk of cut works well, too. The benefit of the live is a tasty walleye might happen by

What might be an example of a lure? Might you modify that lure (larger treble)? Hard to beat a Go-Devil type spoon, 1/8 oz. I haven't enlarged the trebles on mine, but it's something I'd like to do this year.

Bait? Any differences from open water? Size? On the jigging spoon, the head half of a fathead. I covered the bobber rod already. Go much smaller. They're more tight-lipped in the winter.

Any other tips, tricks, techniques you like to share?

Sonar is a must. They will suspend quite a bit. Be ready for a really light bite. You'll be addicted in no time.

[hanson]

Thorne Bros Perch Sweetheart rod (28" or 32") is just about the perfect rod in the entire world for ice fishing channel cats.

Sensitivity is key. Feeling the bite is key. They can be crazy light biters at times.

You can bobber fish them with cutbait as well which I usually do on my other rod but it is so much more fun to jig them.

[The Chemist]

When you put an ice cat assault together, could you please explain some of the tackle basics.

What type of rod and reel are we looking at? Medium to UL, open faced reel with a max of 8lb. Typically 6lb.

Length? NOt sure but I do have 2 that are about 36". I have quite a few rods so I tend to buy when they are one clearance at FF.

Stiff, or soft tip? Tend to go for the middle of the road.

Spring Bobber? I don't but it can help. Why? i have always had bad luck with the line getting tangled in the bobber. I use my more sensitive poles and watch the rod tip

How about line (braid / mono/ flouro)? #? I use mono, cheaper and I have never had problems with lines breaking. 4-8lb. typically 6 though.

Are you jigging one rod, and bobber on the other? yes.

What works best and when/why? Alot depends on the feeding habits at the time, I have seen where a fish will ignore a jig presentation but go for a bobber. But I have also had it in my house where one hole gets all of the bites. This is only a 2ft difference in area.

What size/style hook on the bobber rod, or is it a lure?

I have a wide range of lures, (Go-Devils, Gapen's The Jerk, and other types of vertical glow jigging spoons) I also use tear drop glow jigs. I fish these with or without a bobber. These are also the same presentations I use on Red and LOW. Less need to change up lures then.

What might be an example of a lure? See above.

Might you modify that lure (larger treble)? I like to put a slightly larger treble on. I have started to have problems w/ my hands during the winter and it makes it easier to grab the treble. KEY HERE is to make sure that the hooks are sharp.

Bait? Have used anything from small crappie minnows to cut bait and chicken livers.

Any differences from open water? I don't believe so other than the crappie minnows.

Size? This will depend on how they are feeding. Most of the time I am using 1/2 of a fathead (typically the head portion) on my jigging pole and then a medium sized crappie minnow or smaller fathead on my bobber.

Any other tips, tricks, techniques you like to share? Cats tend to bite really light. make sure you have your drag set properly or as I do have the anti-reverse off.

Thanks fellas! I hope to be putting my first cat ice assault together in the next few weeks. I'll be reporting my findings here.

Good luck, I haven't been able to get out on the ice since the March 2006.

[Matt Johnson]

I prefer a Perch Sweetheart with a Perch spring bobber for a lot of my cat fishing. Oftentimes those fish can be very finicky and a lot of the bites will go undetected. The Perch rod my seem light, but you want to balance the rod to the presentation you're using, and my most productive size spoon for cats is a 1/16oz.

I like to replace all the treble hooks with a single hook. I usually use a forged tarpon hook (usually grab a couple from the Fly Angler ). My hooking percentage is much better with the single hook and those brutes will not be able to straighten out the forged hook. I've had larger fish destroy my trebles. Just pack the single hook with a couple minnow heads and you're good to go!

I also like to use 4 or 5 pound test P-line. It'll handle big fish. We've landed fish up to 16 pounds on 4-pound test line and Perch Sweetheart rods. The light lines give the lure more action and allows makes it easier for a weary cat to pick up the offering. Sometimes I'll get end up hooking the cat through the wisker because thats how they feel before they eat... the spring bobber helps with this

Somedays I'll also have to downsize to panfish gear in order to get them to bite. Drop down a size 8 Fatboy packed with maggots and a finicky cat can't resist.

As a set rod I like the Thorne Bros 32-inch deadstick. I'll use a plain circle hook and cut up a shiner minnow and use it as cut-bait. The shiner works well because it really glistens in the water and works as not only a triggering agent, but as an attractant as well. The fast action of the deadstick allows me to see a bite before the cat really feels too much resistance. Then its game-on!

Gotta love those cats through the ice, probably one of my all-time favorite winter species!

Here's a link to a couple videos I put together from some of our trips out chasing cats... Catfish Through the Ice!!!

Don't also be surprised if you hook into walleye, crappies, pike, etc, while fishing for cats, they all like to hang out together

[Shack]

Quote:

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I like to replace all the treble hooks with a single hook.

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This the theme to my year of 2007/2008 ice time. I am going to devote the year to this kind of presentation.

Mr. Johnson,

I never figured you as a cat guy of any kind.

Nice to see you post!

[Matt Johnson]

Quote:

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Mr. Johnson,

I never figured you as a cat guy of any kind.

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I guide for catfish through the ice all winter. This will be my 5th season. I like to keep it hush hush

Big panfish and cats... those are my two favorite wintertime species...

[so haaad]

I was catting at the most popular MN ice spot last week. The cats are still there, though most were on the small side. The smallest was about 6 inches long and almost went home to the aquarium.

[DTro]

Here's some more tackle info....

Morning bite was phenomenal, but slowed down a bit in the afternoon. The average size of the fish was much larger than my previous trips.

Our overwhelming bait of choice was an 1/8th oz JB Lures Rattling Varmint in Glow Red color, tipped with a piece of cut sucker

Click Here for purchase info

As the day progressed we were seeing a bunch of fish, but no takers......a major case of lip lock. I decided to try to downsize a bit and tied on a #6 Orange/Chartreuse Neon Tiger Jig, tipped with a pink plastic and a crappie minnow head. Bingo! The fish started to bite again.

Click Here for purchase info

When the fish stop biting suddenly, don’t be afraid to experiment with odd baits and sizes, you just might find a new favorite bait….I know I did.

[rockman]

Thanks,dtro.Nice fish and pics.It is now the time for me to go chase catfish, once again.I can hardly wait for the next trip.

[harvey lee]

I made my maiden voyage for channels this past Saturday and learned how simply these fish really are. I used a Jason Mitchell Perch rod for jigging and a Thorne Deadstick for my other.

On the perch rod, I used a glow red Rattling Varmit tipped with a minnow head or two or a chunk of cut sucker which seemed to work better at least this day. The only issue I had at first was setting the hook with the lighter Perch action rod. I missed a few as I didnt set the hook firm enough. If I were using a stiffer rod the hook set may not have to had been quite so firm. These fish can really bite light as they were this day. At times, one didnt even know you had a fish unless you just lifted the rod tip and felt the weight of the cat.

For the deadstick, I use a plain red hook with a piece of cut sucker and placed it in the rod holder. The line I had spooled up was 4# P-Line and this was good enough for cats up to 6 pounds without an issue. Good drag also helped on a couple fish for sure.

Seems a great way to catch channels and they can really put up a great battle through the ice.

[Borch]

I tagged along on this cat excursion as well. My rods of choice were a Thorne Bros. 36 Panfish Sweetheart. Had the soft tip and plenty of backbone the drive the hooks of my 1/8 oz glow red varmit with a chunk of cut sucker home.

Fish showed up all over in the water column. Having a good flasher is a must and my Marcum lx5 really made the difference from just a few cats and a steady day.

Good Luck!

[PFUNK]

when i'm cattin through the ice i like to use light everything. I fish a lighter action rod that still gives you a little backbone (don't wanna be snapping rods on the hook set). 4 or 6 pound mono works great for line. I have had good success with smaller jigging spoons. I prefer the forage minnow myself. Like the last post said, a good flasher is a must as they can come through belly on the bottom or 8 feet off. I usually jig a little until i see them on the vexilar, then put it in their face holding it dead still and wham. I ALWAYS use a spring bobber as they can be super light biters. Fathead minnow heads work fine. I'll also throw out a tipup set about 10 inches off the bottom with a minnow head or a minnow hooked right through the lateral line so they arent real active. I cant think of a better winter day than pulling 10 pound channels through the ice.