my best channel cat!

[FishOn!]

My best cat. caught in carlson lake in eagan on a leech. fought this thing for 45 minutes because i was in an inflatable raft with an ultralight rod and reel!

[FishOn!]

had to row to shore and beach him to get it landed because i wasnt about to haul it into a raft!! so much fun!

[DTro]

That looks like an awfully large channel. Nice fish! Did you get any measurements on it?

Do you catch channels there often?

Nice crappies in there too huh?

[FishOn!]

I did a quick tape on him. 34". dont know what that equates to in pounds but that was my first catfish and boy was it fun! I was floating around on the 4th of july trying to catch one of the very few walleyes in that lake when he hit! as for the crappies, they arent very big on this particular eagan lake! my biggest was 9" or 10. ive called it quits during ice time on carlson. just gets too slow!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Wow, that is a big channel cat! Congrats. Tough to guess a weight without a girth, but 34" is a monster.

[FishOn!]

I checked the stocking report and learned they were put in there in 93! So if hes still alive in there, hes old!

[Flaco651]

I wonder if it came from the '93 stocking?

[FishOn!]

Can anyone tell me, is the coloration different looking on him than most channels? I dont have any cat experience, and all ive seen pics of are flatheads! He looks like a world record bullhead to me!!

[DTro]

I couldn't find any info on Carlson Lake other than a DNR map. Where is the stocking info?

The coloring looks dark, but nothing out of the ordinary.

[FishOn!]

Check quigley. for some odd reason it is named with both names?? thanks for the info on color. I would love to get more experience with cats this summer, but with no boat, im thinking river banks. And thats scary because i have almost no river experience!

[Flaco651]

There were a 1000 channels stocked back in '93, but none since then according to the eagan HSOforum. I've never caught channels in eagan lakes but my uncle has pulled some out of a couple of the lakes. Never consitently.

[DTro]

11 acres

I'm afraid you'll be having a lot of company out on the ice in the near future.

[Flaco651]

 Quote:

I'm afraid you'll be having a lot of company out on the ice in the near future.

It was already looking like swiss cheese a couple weeks ago.

And nothing was going on besides small crappies...pretty slow..

[FishOn!]

Yep! they are welcome to try it! like i said i wont fish it anymore in winter! Ive got plenty of other holes that have been much more productive through ice! but summer... ill be back there in the raft!

[Blue Kayak]

 Originally Posted By: FishOn!

I would love to get more experience with cats this summer, but with no boat, im thinking river banks. And thats scary because i have almost no river experience!

Check out the Belle Plaine Catfish League on the Minnesota River forum. There is no better way for a newbie to learn about catfishing. I sure hope Papa Grump will run it again in 2008. Here is a link:

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/1026627#Post1026627

[-Marc V-]

I grew up fishing this lake. Knew a guy many many years ago that would catch smallies, walleye, and channels in the Miss', then bring back to Carlson. When I was a wee-lad we had an awesome summer day of catching channels. Think the biggest went about 8.5 lbs, but considering how small the lake is, it was impressive. In all those years of fishing only caught one other channel that went about 2.5lbs.

It's sad this lake gets so much pressure from a take stand-point. Like Dtro said, it's only 11 acres. My folks still live right by the lake, so I get to see the pressure it gets. Used to be nice bass, walleye, crappie, and northern in it. Everytime I was down there 3 to 4 years ago, someone was keeping at least one large fish, and usually more. I don't bother to stop down there now because still see people stacked up on the pier. Just figure either their catching nothing because there isn't much left, or they're keeping. Lake of this size can't handle that kind of take. All I see is little stuff in recent years, so don't bother to fish it anymore. It's legal...what do ya do...wish I'd see more conservation minded sportsman, especially on tiny lakes lakes like this is what I'm getting at I guess. May rub some folk the wrong way. It is what it is.

And like was previously mentioned, posting of lakes, or spots online is probably not a great idea. You'll definitely have more company next time ur out. And less fish of quality to catch in the future. I guess I'd like to see the glory days of this lake come back, but that's probably like tinkling in the wind...

Not intending to take away from your personal best. Guess it just hurt to see this lake posted in the internet with a big fish associated with it. Nevertheless, that is a nice channel! Congrats man. My channel from this lake was my personal best for many years.

[FishOn!]

Say what you will. It does get pressure, but you know what...its a catfish... that was released. And also worth mentioning, I have yet to see anyone, ever targeting catfish on this lake. Nor have I seen anyone catch anything from shore worth keeping. Ive seen alot of nice bass caught... and released. lots of small panfish. I have also seen alot of kids fishing it. And you know what? I think that is a fantastic thing! Its great that you have an opinion, but you know, Im not feeling bad about mentioning the lake name. You USED to fish it but dont bother to anymore. So, go to your own personal, secret lake and have it all to yourself. What a mentality in the land of 10000 lakes?!?!

[Burnham]

wow catchin smallies on the river when tubin is fun enough of a fight..catchin that on the same type of deal, wow!

[FishOn!]

It was a blast! I surely didnt expect to tie into a fish like that, in fact, it was the old "i thought i had snagged something" tale! Ultralight equipment is SO much fun!!

[-Marc V-]

I love to see kids fishing, anywhere. I take my nephew, and neigbor kids down there to get them exposed to fishing. Get them connected to something real other than TV, movies, and video games...kids aren't the issue.

I'd be a little more cautious of posting of smaller lakes, or specific spots on the internet. Just some friendly advice. Your free to do what ever you like. After you've disclosed a few lakes, and spots you'll probably understand. Hundreds, if not thousands of people read these posts that aren't as conservation minded as you and I. Check out how many views this thread has already received. Imagine that many more people fishing this lake...

Finding a productive lake, or spot in the cities area is becoming quite a challenge. It is the land of 10,000 lakes, but metro area waters definitely see more pressure than lakes outside of the cities. Thus, less quality fishing as a consequence.

Otherwise I love seeing people post personal bests and seeing successes. It's what these forums are about.

[FishOn!]

I do see your point Marc. I apologize for being short, i can be stubborn when im called out on something. I'm still pretty new to the site, and I got ahead of myself by naming the lake. I thought id be informative, and didnt think of the possible impact. Thank you for your input on the subject...lesson learned!

[-Marc V-]

No problem man...we have quite a bit in common...short tempered , love kitties, and love a local lake. The smaller gems of lakes we have south of the river are something to be treasured. It's a great place to live.

As you meet folks online, as you can trust them, feel free to disclose some of the secrets via email.

I'll keep an eye out for someone fishing from a raft on this lake next year, and maybe we can talk about some of the other local haunts. A raft like yours can get on quite a few lakes in our parts that have some good fishing.

I'm just started getting into cats the last couple of years fishing the 'sota, and 'sippi. I'm not the best at it yet, but if things work out, maybe we could get out in the boat and hopefully catch a big old flathead. Can't wait for open water.

I can't imagine catching that thing on a ultralight...what a blast.

[FishOn!]

Sounds great! I honestly never had an interest in cats until I caught that thing! As for the raft, Ive been laughed at while floating in that thing, and normally that would burn me up. But the fun(and fish!) that its gotten me into, I didnt care. Ive even rolled it up, tucked it in a backpack and gotten deep into the woods and fished some very unfishable waters!

[-Marc V-]

 Originally Posted By: FishOn!

Ive even rolled it up, tucked it in a backpack and gotten deep into the woods and fished some very unfishable waters!

I've considered doing this same type of deal. It's between a pack raft kind of thing you use, or a kayak.

Can get into some great fishing trekking back to where people typically would not venture.

Unfortunately the wish list is quite long, and there's many needed items before a raft or kayak is brought into the mix.

[crazyice]

I picked up my float tube off of hsolist for like 70 bucks, retails for like 150 though. The place I got it from specialized in overstock, so it was brand new and unopened. If you just do some looking, you can find pretty good deals out there.