My First Kitty!

[Tim_Anderson]

Well guys, I've reached a major milestone in my life...my first ever flathead catfish! Got it on the Mississippi on a jig and minnow while fishing walleye and sauger. I thought it was a pretty nice "accidental" fish. When I set the hook, it didn't move for quite a while, so I thought I was snagged. Then it started moving and I said "OH YEAH!" this is a fish. It put up a great fight, and took me awhile to get it up out of the deep water. I had it snagged on the bottom side of the lower jaw. Maybe he was just "sniffing around" and when I jigged up into his body and felt the weight I got lucky, or maybe he was planning on eating my offering? Either way, it was a blast and I want more. Hope to catch some bigger ones in the near future. You'll likely see alot more of me on this part of the forum now!

Here's the picture...background modified (this river goes on forever...haha!)

[Lowblazah]

Nice! Congrats!

[Tyler Holm]

Background looks great. Nice little guy you got there.

[harvey lee]

Great to see the flatties are starting to feed again. Congrats.

[Scott K]

Another one hooked for life!

[wolkie]

Beautiful fish!!! congrats, love the pics on your web page too!!!!!!!

[peder]

Nice fish! Be careful if you start to fish for flats as it can quickly become an obsession.

[hanson]

Congrats on Flat #1 Tim! You gotta start somewhere!

 Originally Posted By: Tim_Anderson

I had it snagged on the bottom side of the lower jaw. Maybe he was just "sniffing around" and when I jigged up into his body and felt the weight I got lucky, or maybe he was planning on eating my offering? Either way, it was a blast and I want more.

I quoted this as I wanted to point out how common this occurs at this time of year on the river. They do bite from time to time in these cold water temps but they are still in their "winter hibernation" phase for the most part. Once the water temps get in the mid 50s, they'll be waking up and actively feeding and its total game on at 60 degrees.

[Larry FlatCaster]

 Originally Posted By: hanson

Congrats on Flat #1 Tim! You gotta start somewhere!

 Originally Posted By: Tim_Anderson

I had it snagged on the bottom side of the lower jaw. Maybe he was just "sniffing around" and when I jigged up into his body and felt the weight I got lucky, or maybe he was planning on eating my offering? Either way, it was a blast and I want more.

I quoted this as I wanted to point out how common this occurs at this time of year on the river. They do bite from time to time in these cold water temps but they are still in their "winter hibernation" phase for the most part. Once the water temps get in the mid 50s, they'll be waking up and actively feeding and its total game on at 60 degrees.

Kinda makes you wonder about the two pigs that were posted in INfisherman 07 Monsters caught in march?

[polarsusd81]

My buddy was out on the Sippi a couple weeks ago and found a nice deep hole that was absolutely loaded with cats. I am pretty sure they were into the channels, but he said the fish were so thick in there that he could not lift his jig 6" without snagging one. They would not bite, but were stacked up so thick that they couldn't effectively fish them. He told me they would drop the jig to the bottom and just sit there and feel the cats rub up against the line. He only snagged into two before he moved as that is not the way he wants to catch cats, but after the first one he just had to see how thick they were.

[Peachy]

nice looking Cat

[DTro]

Nice Cat Tim.

[Shack]

I think that is the same one I caught last year?

No!!! Mine was smaller!

Nice fish dude!!!!!!!

[JimBuck]

Nice cat! I hope to catch my first this Spring! Happy Fishing!