FishingMN…

…and WI boundry waters is a great way to spend a night catfishing.

If my fishing partner had been anyone else but Commanchero15, they would have canceled on me. He has the passion and drive that sets him in a first rate class of his own. I did however mention that he should have brought warm Pepsi along instead of on ice. The water temp was 68 degrees and it was a lot warmer than the air last night.

CAUTION! Suzuki: Don’t read any further.

We left a little early to check out some new areas on the Mississippi. But again with the cloud cover, we got to where we wanted to go and it was getting dark. We didn’t think boat traffic would be too bad…with the weather and only 3 rigs at the landing…and it wasn’t. Only two barges came by.

The first fish of the night came early. Just a little 10 lbs flat. We weighed, took a couple pictures, said “thank you” and made sure she was ok be for she went on her merry way. Steve and I stopped for a few seconds and chuckled. How many times have you been out, landed a 10 lb fish and complained to each other about how small it was? We had another run and drop, but that’s all that spot wrote for the night.

We motored on to the next spot. Because of the cold Pepsi, I had a little brain freeze. I don’t think we had any lookers here. When we were moving to the next spot, it seemed like I ran into a submerged log. I was thinking how I would answer to my wife if a couple days before the family vacation; I poked a hole in the boat or lost the bottom end of the motor… (kinda ugly thought there)
After hitting the same log again, I realize I should bring in the rear anchor…this works well and I suggest it to anyone that try’s moving through a heavily wooded bottom with the anchor down. It’s easy to detect now that I’ve experience it. It reminds me of a dog running helter skelter and coming to the end of their rope…although our hind feet didn’t end up in front of us.

After sometime getting to our next spot, which I had high hopes for. I was talking with Steve about the merits of not having high expectations when going fishing. That way you aren’t disappointed when you don’t catch anything bigger than 10 lbs. We sat and chewed the fat and Steve bag of great red licorice for quite while. I’m not sure where Steve gets the special flavored red licorice. It seems to take on a new and better favor after we land a couple flats. Does it cost anymore than regular licorice Steve?

Well the catfish gods were looking down on us with a smile last night. My expensive Cabalas King Cat rod ($24.) was a nodding and a few minutes later…I had my new personal best flathead in the boat….29 pounds and some change…..along with three other hooks, sinkers and swivels. Man what a mess of a nest I had…but she fought well. (This was actually my way of keeping Steve from fishing while I was posing with my beauty…worked well!

Got her back it the water. While we were rerigging, Steve took this time to remind me of my marriage vows…the part of “being faithful in sickness and catfish…to death do us part”. Although I was a little offended at the time…I know he was just looking after my best interest.

We sat too long at that hole and then moved on. We had a ways to go and I had Steve man the spotlight while I (DELETE AFTER INSERTING PLUG HERE) worked my Lowrance Sonar/GPS from Jolly Ann Marine. Just wanted to make sure the route would get me home if the fog were to move in on me.

We stopped at our last hole. This was a great hole…it had everything. Flow, deep and shallow water and lots of wood cover near by. The trouble was, I’ve never caught anything there…just a couple runs. I remembered what JetCat told me about another spot. Don’t always just fish the wood…fish the water around the wood. Well that worked for Steve. Within minutes of setting up. Steve’s rod started moving towards the back end of the boat. It was sitting on the floor with the clicker on. For the next ten minutes all I heard was the drag letting line out and Steve saying “ooow this is a good one”… It was great! She came in at just a couple whiskers over 27 lbs. What I like about Steve is that he’s not a vengeful guy. He didn’t tangle any of my rods.

To bring the night to a close, we had one more 10 pounder in the boat.

Catten Addict taught me this….

All in all we had a great night and the weather was getting better as the night went on…it did quit sprinkling at some point. It was kinda odd that when we had a hook up we notice that the air temp raised about 30 degrees for about a half hour…

Its a well know fact that cat slime adds flavor to any food or drink. Next spring I expect the beverages and the sour baits stored in the same cooler. Nice fish guys.

Apparently I was just a warm up date last week. Every trip after that has been cat heaven. Makes sense though.
You rarely get ‘kitty’ on the first date.

Every time you go out, you catch a bigger Flat than the last time. Let’s hope the cold weather stays away for a while. Nice fish

Rootski

Good fishin, Brian. Three personal bests in a week – pretty impressive. You’re getting them figured out up there. I hope that water temp is part of the equation – it dropped from 78 to 68 here in the last four days. I get excited by falling water temps – although it’s too early to think it’s a steady trend – because it means my fall spots are filling up with fish.

Fantastic! Great story!

Brian – The directions on the red licorice bag say “Do not open until hands thoroughly covered with sucker/bullhead/flathead slime”. You got to admit it tastes great. This is a great post: I enjoyed the post game review as much as the game. I had a great time. You are no longer the “Wannabe” catman – Long live the King. When you get back from your (hang your head in shame ) “walleye fishing vacation” give me a call and we will do some real fishing again. Thanks for a great night.

As I was reading through the replies I notice the last picture that I posted. Please don’t anyone get the wrong idea…

Steve I should be thanking you! And it will be hard getting use to fishing for fish that are measured in inches….not pounds! But it’s a family thing!

Brian……..

Does your wife know someone else taught you to pucker like that?

I’ve got to get out with you buddy! I don’t need any puckering lessons but I’m ready for some reflex “ducks” and the like.