All CAT Enthusiasts Check this out

[shb]

Hello fellow cat lovers, I originaly discovered all these outdoor forums while looking for " how to " info.  Now I come around every time I get a hold of a computer because it is entertaining to read everyone elses hunting and fishing adventures. These forums have a great ability to share info and techniques that might take a beginner years to learn by trial and error. So I will try to stimulate threads in that direction.  I Aslo love to poke some good natured fun at the folks who chase those cute little glamour fish, like large mouths, walleyes, and trout. I can't poke too much fun though because I like to fish for them myself, that's why I say good natured.  



This flathead is my best so far , and I hope to catch one twice this size this year.

If you have any advice on catching cats or catching bait to use for catching cats I expect you to jump right in, any info you might have just may spark an Idea for someone else clear across the country.

[Graybeard]

So how much did it weight?

I've never gotten into trophy fishing for anything. I fish primarily for cats and bream and for the table.

GB

[Wags]

THat is one impressive catfish!  My biggest was 14 pounds that I caught by "accident" while trolling a perch finish Hot-N-Tot.......... :grin:

[shb]

That fish weighed 28lbs, and I caught him on the last trip of the season. By the following weekend the water temp had fallen below 50degrees and I never got another flathead  bite for the rest of the year.  Last year was my first attempt at catching cats on purpose, and I caught my first flatheads ever.  The excitement level skyrockets when you hold up a freshly rigged live bait that is big enough for most folks to fillet for shore lunch, and contemplate the legitimate chance that you have to catch a fish thats as big as most second graders. Sometimes I really feel foolish when other fisherman see me casting out a 1lb shad, but it finally started paying off at the end of the season with the biggest gamefish of my life.

 I don't know but my guess is you were trolling a hot-n-tot for walleyes or some kind of trout or salmon. I want to know what you thought of the fight the cat gave you, compared to the species you were targeting.

[Wags]

I understand that if you want to "catch" big ya gotta use big bait!  I was very surprised to catch the catfish while trolling the lure, and thought at first I had a muskie on, but then the tell-tale roll started when I finally got the fish close to the surface, and knew what it was before I had seen it.  I enjoyed the fight, it lasted about 10 minutes, much longer than any walleye that I've caught......!!!!

[shb]

I have been suprised enough over the years that it doesn't suprise me anymore when I catch a good catfish on lures intended for other fish. Two summers ago I caught a 12lb channel on a charteruse spinnerbait I was throwing for smallmouths. I was lucky I had the drag set looser than it should have been.

[Wags]

That's the best part about fishing in general, ya just never know what you are going to hook up with....