Cattin' Around on Mothers' Day

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]TubeBabe had to be out of town on Mothers' Day. She missed probably the best catfishin' trip I have ever had. We will probably be able to hear her whinin' all the way from Texas when she reads this report.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Thanks Coldfooter for introducing me to "THE SPOT". [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Met up with Coldfooter and 3M a little after 7 at Lincoln Beach. We drove a ways toward Goshen to a long stretch of gravel beach with a lot of flooded brush along the shoreline. Probably a lot of fish all up and down the area but this is THE SPOT...for Don, Mike and Fuzzy.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Don and Mike advised me that they were only going to stay a short time because of some things they had to do back in town. So, I dled up my tube and left them bank tanglin' while I kicked out to try to find some fishies. Water temp 57 at launch with a light NW breeze.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As per usual I was draggin' a minnow on one rod and pitchin' plastics on the 'tother. No hits in shallower water. Kicked and casted out into deeper water. Just as I reached the 6 foot depths I started to see fishies on the sonar and something smacked my minnow. Game on. And it just kept getting better.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I got about six cats in the first hour. Most were "cookie cutter" 23" - 24" chunky mamas. Fitting for Mothers' Day. Actually my second fish of the morning turned out to be the biggun of the day...about 28" and just under 10 pounds. Gave her a big Mama's Day smooch and sent her off to make some more kids.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As I approached some new reed beds just breaking through the top of the water I pitched a tandem plastic rig into a hole in the visible growth. Oops, snag! Oops, not a snag but a double on small white bass. More bait. For several casts into that magic little opening it was doubles most casts, singles on all the others. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Whities are fun to play with, but they were running small so I moved back out into deeper water and resumed trying for walleyes and settling for frequent kitties. It was strange. Throughout the day I did not catch any cats in less than 5 feet of water nor did I catch any white bass in more than 4 feet of water.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I tried all kinds of baits...chub minnows, carp meat, white bass meat. The kitties were down for any of it. Probably caught the most and biggest on white bass meat. Also caught a few white bass on white bass meat. Cannibalistic little buggers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Don and Mike waved as they sailed off about 11. I had caught over 15 cats by that time. I stayed until 1:30 and caught at least 10 to 12 more. Lost count. Us old folks got bad memories. Kept 3 small ones to fillet.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have no idea how many white bass I caught. I stopped to play with them some more after getting wored out on catfish and starting back in. Picked up where I left off earlier. Caught them on several different sizes and colors of plastics. They weren't picky. Got no pride. Kept a few to replace the bait I used up today.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water temp was up to 63 when I hit the beach. Still only a light breeze. Terrible. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Was glad to see the fish cleaning station open at Lincoln Beach. Made a brief stop to put the three mama catfish on a weight loss program. Better than messing up the kitchen.[/#0000ff]
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[idahoron]

AS always I enjoyed the post. I am going to try for some cats in Brownlee the first week of June I hope.
I know this is probably going to be in you book,(I plan on getting a signed copy BTW) But do you have any hints for me. I read the stuff about cats in Utah you posted before.
What kind of bank, bottom contour, what do I look for in the river to day I bet a cat is there? If the water is XX temp, how deep should I fish?
How do I rig up my line for cats? Sorry but I am a newby that needs help[fishin]. Thanks Ron
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I have not fished Brownlee, but do know a bit about it from secondhand info. I have also fished a lot of other lakes that have "a river runs through it". I am also pretty experienced at both channel cats and flatheads. So, here goes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As I recall, there are crappies in Brownlee. Catch some, scale them, fillet them and cut them into strips about 2" long and 1/2" - 3/4" wide. Fish them on a single size 4 or 2 bait hook (Octopus). Hook them once through the end, with the hook point exposed.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In calm water, rig without weight. Tie your line (8 to 10 pound) to a size 10 or 7 barrel swivel and add 2 feet of heavier leader...maybe 15#. Cast it out about 30 - 40 feet behind you and let it settle to the bottom. Then just kick a little from time to time to drag it along, leaving a scent trail. When a fish picks up the bait, let it run line a ways from an open bail. Then, flip the bail closed, let the fish bring the line tight and then set the hook...twice.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In moving water you will add an 1/8 or 1/4 oz sliding egg sinker above the swivel...to get the bait down.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I can't suggest depths without having fished the lake an used sonar on it during the time you will be fishing it. But, I am guessing that by June the fish will either be spawning or just finishing up. They should be in water between 10 to 15 feet...maybe shallower if there are rocks along the shoreline.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You can also them by vertical jigging with small spoons or jigs...tipping them with smaller pieces of the crappie meat...or crawlers. Catfish hit jigs well. And, that will probably be your best shot at getting a flathead. They only hit live food, since they feed almost exclusively on crawdads or fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Start by getting as many reports as you can, as to where the fish are hitting and at what depth. Then go there and start working...and watch your sonar...if you have it rigged up by then. It will be invaluable. Not just to see fish, but to mark the depths at which you are getting bites and then staying in that depth. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope that helps.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]PS...I have only two more chapters to complete on the final edit and the BOOK will be ready.[/#0000ff]
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[idahoron]

Thank you so much!
I am going to strike again this weekend and I will try for some cats there. I have hear that some guys are starting to get some. Again thanks a million. Ron
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