Author Topic: Are there catfish in Michigan's Upper Penninsula? (Read 1957 times)

longwinters · « **on:** May 19, 2004, 11:58:33 AM »

I love catfish and would like to fish for them but . . . are there any in northern Wisconsin or Michigan's Upper Penninsula?

long

ihookem · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2004, 02:55:56 PM »

Longwinters, there are catfish in the Menomonee River, down stream from you. They should be good eating in that river. All you have to do is go to the bait store and start looking at pictures on the wall. The further downstream you go the better it wil be though, and I doubt there are flatheads in the Menomonee. If you go down to Green Bay, you will catch flatheads and channels. I hear you shouldn't eat the fish from that river. I think there are some channels in the Escanaba River too. Have fun with those cats, and you won't have much competition neither.

longwinters · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2004, 10:36:50 AM »

You wont see any cats on the pic boards in the U.P I live within 5 minutes of the Menominee river, alittle over an hour from the mouth of the Menominee as well as the Esanaba. But never ever heard of anyone catching catfish. I gotta do more research.

Thanks,

Long

ihookem · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2004, 01:27:12 PM »

Longwinters, I know there are cats in the Menomonee. I am willing to bet most people up by you still think cats are bottom feeders that eats mud. So taking a picture of them is not thought of. Some people are afraid to touch them. Like I said you wont have much competition up there. When you catch one you will be amazed how good eating they are if cooked right. Later.

longwinters · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2004, 02:35:54 PM »

Ok, I am going to look for cats in the Menominee river. How do I start :oops: The Menominee is a relatively shallow river with hydrolic dams every so often which create flowages. It is clean/stained water and tends to be home to pike, bass, walleye, musky and assorted pan fish.

long

ihookem · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2004, 04:34:58 PM »

You are in the right direction. Dams are good. They really are a lot like walleyes in a way. Don't tell this to walleye fanatics or you will get scolded for saying something like that. But anyway, find yourself an eddy around the dam, or a hole in the river with downed trees or in your case ROCKS! They love to sit in deep water behind current breaks. In June they spawn, often easy to catch, nightcrawlers may work if other fish don't get it first. Take a big minnow, cut the head and tail off, or a sucker and cut the back out, three to five inch long by one inch square piece of sucker. leave the skin on and put the hook through the skin. This is cut bait. Good stuff most of the time. Let it sit in that eddy or above a snag in deep water. You won't believe how well they smell the oil in the bait, just keep the bait fresh! change bait every ten minutes or so. Later on you might want to try stink bait. That's another story for later on in the year like July and August. Later! Oh yah a heavy rod and reel, 14 to 17 pound test.

momsworry · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2004, 02:14:48 PM »

It's been quite a few years, but I saw a bunch of kids fishing under the old bridge on Marquette county road 550, in the Dead river. They were catching large bullheads with almost every cast. The spot I am describing is just North of Tourist park, just downstream from the old Marquette Power & Light hydro dam. I tried it myself for a few minutes with night crawlers and caught a few. If the water was suitable for bullhead, I'm sure there must be channel cats in there as well.

willysjeep134 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2004, 09:47:42 AM »

I caught a nice tasty channel cat by accident on a hook and crawler in Little Bay DeNoc. Ihave also caught bullheads, which are in the catfish family and just as tasty. Out in that pond by Hermansville there are supposed to be lots of bullheads. My neighbor says he used to catch them there.

ihookem · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2004, 03:20:48 PM »

Longwinters, have you been "cattin on the river" yet. They should be going strong now with the spawn on. caught two 30" channels on a river in northern Wisconsin last week.

longwinters · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2004, 05:06:19 PM »

Sorry for the lack of response guys. I have not ckd this forum for a while. I will have to start looking. This is an itch I just gotta scratch.

Long

willysjeep134 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2004, 05:30:52 AM »

I just heard there are supposed to be channel cats in the Dam No. 3 basin on the Escanaba river. That's only 3 miles from my door! I may have to go out there some evening with some Ivory soap or something and give them a try.