Last night I had the pleasure to fish with fellow IDA member Catdadmn (Chris Winchester) on the More than Mighty Mississippi (water is high and fast).
Once we launched his Alumacraft tunnel boat, I was fitted with a 
blindfold…and we were underway. Last night was likely the best night of the year as far as weather was concerned.
Once we arrived and I was given the ok to see again, I found we were at a hole that was as “catty” looking as a golf course! In looking around the area…this would be one of the last places I would think of for enticing a flathead. However, we baited our hooks with our 6.997 inch bullheads and plunked them down just in front of a overhanging tree. I notice one of my rods was hung up right off…reeled it in only to find the hook covered with weeds and weed roots. I thought Chris had me mixed up with someone else and we were bass fishing! 
Chris introduced me to his friend, Beaver Jr. who was floating next to the boat. We could have easily grabbed him by the tail…which Chris invited me to do…and I passed on. Mrs. Beaver came by shortly and they both left with a splash of the tail.
We were there a couple hours prior to show time far as cat fishing goes and started into conversation about catten, catten equipment, tactics, ethics and secret spots. His views on many things were very much like my own although he had a number of twists in them that I’ve never considered. Things from missed fish are generally caused by using too small of a hook to keeping the length of the leader to about 6 inches…or less. Chris has been fishing for cat’s all his life and still has the attitude “I learn something from everyone” philosophy. This seems to be a trait that is becoming increasingly hard to find. 
One of the more notable runs (which will be imprinted in my mind forever) comes as we were talking away. Chris was about to tell me that my rod to the left was just hit…when the clicker on my Garcia 7000 screamed. Now this has happen many times before…but this time….it never stopped…it just kept on screaming! I became so flustered I didn’t turn off the clicker and used my wrong hand to lock down the spool… I did remember to set the hook however this fish thought he was a spring run stealhead and just kept going. Once the spool was engaged…and I stopped and turned him…there was all sorts of commotion going on in the darkness at the surface. He changed from Stealhead to bass…Suuunnnn! I felt like Roland Martin!
As I was putting on my jacket to leave, I said it would be nice to land one more before we go. I literally just got those words out of my mouth and Chris pointed to my rod and said…there it is, you have a fish on! What a great way to end the night. :woat:
I’m not sure how many cats we ended up boating last night (this is not like me). I believe it was five with just under 25 pounds being the largest with a couple teens mixed in. A very good night in my book!
It was pleasure fishing with a true cat fishing professional. His work with In-Fisherman and North American Fisherman (to only name a couple) speak volumes for Chris. Although he’s not guiding every night as he has in the past…he still guideing. If you have a chance and want to get into some cats shoot Catdadmn a pm and set up a trip. You can learn more in one night with Chris than in months on your own.
Thanks for a pleasurable and informative evening of catt’en Chris! 
. What got me was where I heard the noise and was expecting to see a critter was not the same place that @#$ beaver was at. Good thing I was alone 
.
