solo cattin

how many of you guys fish by yourself? personally, i think i am solo 90% of the time which has its pros and cons. landing big fish can be a chore but i have managed to land ’em eventually…..even last night, the current was buckin’ pretty decent so the pigs (29 and 19lb) would get caught in the current and i had to make a quick stab with the net b4 they got pulled away.

anyways…………. how do u guys get decent pics of your fish??????? usally i just set them on the floor and take a pic since my camera is half broken (menu screen dont work…cant set up a timer). then release them…….i am trying to figure out an adjustable doo-dad to set a (working) camera on. then set the timer and whalaa. any suggestions????? i am sick of fish-on-floor pics. possibly, it may be as simlpe as a little stand that sits on my bench, or maybe i can buy a mini-tripod. …??

(if i get time today, i will transfer my pics onto this computer so i can post them)

Last year I was solo a good bit – not quite half the time, but maybe a third. I enjoy it for the solitude but would rather be sharing the good times. Of course it’s also nice not to feel like I’m responsible for somebody’s good time – I tend to try more spots and learn more.

For pics I have a lousy system – a good self timer, but a bad tendency to try to prop my camera up on a tray of my tackle box. I’d like a tripod too. I hear you on the floor shots – I haven’t taken one of those in years.

I fish alone almost all the time. Mostly because I don’t know when or where I’m going until I go. I’ve been getting some nice walleyes including one 9# but no pics to show for it. I do have an old Minolta 35mm with a tripod but its just something else to lug along. I did actually make plans to meet a few guys downtown Mpls last night and got a pic of a nice 17# channel finally.

The Minnesota is coming down nicely and Flathead fishing is at hand ….oh wait, what was that…Thunder! Two inches of rain upstream according to the weather service…oh great!

I’m just drying out from my trip to P4…made it just south of Redwing when I looked over my shoulder. Told the wify to get out the rain gear…Man did we get soaked!

I’m glad it was her idea!

I think Jon Jordan has some small clamp on tripod a year or so a go. Maybe he just bought one…I’ll check with him.

I bought a used casio digital. The lens turns all the way around. I can see myself on the screen. I just place it on a seat….but that isn’t going to help you much since you can’t buy them any more.

Without a timer..your kinda screwed…although Matt’s an expert at fixing them now…I hear.

Right now it’s about 50/50. I enjoy both…Although Fisher Dave said it well the other day…”nothing like seeing the look on a persons face than when the hook into their first biggun!”

I one use one of these. If you look around the site you should find something that you will like.

Ron

I barely fish by myself at all anymore…it seems there is never a shortage of people who want to fish for big cats. It’s nice to have someone to share great experiences with, take pictures, and help with fuel costs.

Jason.

Fishing with someone else always provides some conversation, extra frustration, help when needed, and an extra eye over the shoulder if your fishing anywhere where one might not feel comfortable alone.. but solo trips are completely do-able with proper preparation and precautions..

for the camera.. sit on your couch and get the timer down packed to where you can do it with your eyes closed.. might take a while, but its worth it.

I seen some small tri-pods at walmart for what I think was about $20 in the past.

I did actually make plans to meet a few guys downtown Mpls last night and got a pic of a nice 17# channel finally.

If I remember correctly.. that was 17 lb 10 oz .. I think the *eye brows* gave the extra weight… by the way.. you owe me 50 cents!

95% of the night fishing I do alone. I like how a lot of friends say they want to give it a try. When you tell them what time you are picking them up and you promise to have them home for breakfast, it hits em Well maybe next time
As fare as getting pics, if the timer is not working I have know idea. Time for a new camera.
Good luck fishing people

I fish by myself about 90% of the time. I am really lucky to have some good cat fishing within minutes of where I live. I have my boat, my own bait tank full of bullheads and suckers and all my gear rigged and ready to go on a moments notice so I am able to just make up my mind at the last minute and be on the water within 30 minutes and fishing. I enjoy company and if anyone is available they are welcome along but I usually find myself alone. I love to catfish and listen to a good Twins game. I try to get set up on a good spot about game time, turn on the game and wait for that clicker to run (ZZZZZZZZZ fish on – wait it’s a home run for Joe Mauer – clap your hands and reel at the same time).

For pictures when I am alone I use a short camera tripod that I bought for $20 at the Eddie Bauer Outlet in Woodbury. You can set it up anywhere in the boat, focus on a spot to stand, hit the self timer and smile. Here is a pic of the tripod, it works great.

I fish alone more than half the time. I have lost the two biggest fish I have ever stuck because of this. I enjoy a quiet night fishing and I tend to have a lot more patience when I am alone. If I take someone I feel like it is my responsibility to put them on fish. Sometimes I like that Sometimes I don’t. Two years ago I caught a 46 inch musky while trolling alone and had to release her without a picture. It sure is fun trying to net a big fish or chase one by yourself.

The only thing Comanchero15 forgot to mention is that you have to remember to pull your zipper up before you set the timer!!!!

That still cracks me up!

I almost forgot about that post, Brian. It never fails. When you stop to take a pee, you will get a screaming clicker run and you scramble to the rod and fight and land the fish by yourself in the dark. You are all hectic to take a photo and get the fish back in the water. When you get home and download the photo – there you stand with this itty bitty flathead that you shouldn’t have even bothered to photo and your zipper is down so you look like an idiot. Just then you wife walks by, looks at the screen and says “Your fly is open, nice picture, Homer!! “.

I just got back in from a night on the St Croix. Got skunked. Water temp was 62 degrees and coming down slowly, should have found some action but nothing doing anywhere, I moved around a lot to no avail. It sure was a beautiful night though. I just read Dirk’s post about his Canada trip, I think I will go throw my rods in the truck and head north.