Pool 8

I’m a die hard bass fishermen, but love a good fight, I went out night cat’n a few times last year with little sucess. I really want to get into it this year though. Any suggestions on baits, times of the night, types of spots i’m looking for or even specific areas on pool 8?

thanks, kevin

Natureboy,

if you have a boat and can get out by Goose Island area, there are tons of channels and flats to be caught out that way. I’ll leave it up to the cat men for specifics though.

I know there are deep holes out there, plent of timber, and shallow flats for feeding.

Thanks slop bass, I’ve found some mild success fishing holes on running slough for flats. I’ve been fishing at night on the up current slope of the hole with a descaled sunny. SHould I be catching alot of fish using this technique?

Yup, you’ll catch flatties that way..but don’t bother scaling they sunnie. The more lovely the better as far as bait goes.

That should have been “lively”….but lively bait is “lovely” to I guess

Sounds good, in the case of livelyness would it be better to use a sucker becuase of their hardiness over a sunny? I know sunfish is a natural forage as well as more cost effective. I had heard that the descaled fish realese scent much more effectively. At night is it better to fish sand holes or is it still best to be up in near the brush?

Nature,

Looks like the only thing you are missing is time on the water. If you only went out a couple of times and you are a rookie it is easy to get skunked just ask Brian. I would suggest leaving about 2 in the afternoon. Scout as far as you dare and pick out the best spots of the best. You sound like you know how to find the right kind of area to fish. My guess is you are fishing likely water but the cats could be 100 yards away in a perfect spot. don’t be afraid to fish the downstream edge of the hole. Timber is good but not mandatory. Catting is all about patience and knowing when to move and where. If it was easy all the bassholes would be doing it.

ooooo burned…. I guess it just seems that us bassholes are the hard working type, that is we bass by day and cat by night, sounds like something to be proud of to me. Just playing. But thank you for the advice, as far as moving goes, shoud I use the thirty minute rule or should i be waiting longer if it looks like a good spot. Also what time of night is the most productive?

kevin

Hey Kevin…burned here!

Flats are the most active just after dark and again just before light. There is a minor peak again in the middle of the night. BUT I know these other guys will tell you that they’ve had good bites going at many differant times.
Dirk taught me the 20 minute rule…unless you aren’t finished with your drink or you know it’s a good spot.

I’ve sat on the Catfish bar on the Croix for 5 hours in one spot (working) and picked up a couple flats at 1 a.m. without a bite before that.

I believe it was the Big W in his post above that said, “you just need more time on the water”, which is my problem this year….

I’m hoping the wind will die a bit, then I plan on going out tonight (to get more work done )

thanks for the help, Are the mud cats already hitting or does the water have to get a more stable temperature before they hit their summer stomping grounds?

They are feeding now…although you could never prove it by me. I’ve been out 4 times this year and my score is 0 flats 1 channel and 4 (I think maybe 5) sturgeon.

My problem is (I think) that I’m looking in the place they are over the summer months. Here on the lower St Croix, we don’t have the snags to draw them to…which makes them slightly easier to find.

But they are out there. I did manage to land breakfast, just before dark tonight. I almost used it for cut bait…but I remember in MN you can’t use walleye.

I wish it was a burn attempt. But I too am a bass figherman who went catting and never went back. So Nature.. your heart is definitely in the right place. It will only take one bite for you to start thinking of bass as a bait fish. Brian, I understand if you pee on your bait they swim more lively.