What tree is the clip board on? I am heading down to the spot before the cottonwood. Just idle up and say “Hey!” I will be doing a day deal for a while, and heading back out for the dark bite. Anyone besides BK heading down?
If the wind does not die down, I may have to tie the boat to the cottonwood, and me to the boat! 
Jez Tuck! The cottenwood isn’t THAT big that you can tie off on it!
I thought i was going to take Nubby out last night…but as it got closer to zero hour…the weather just kept looking worse..when the sirens went off, I didn’t feel so bad to pull the plug…even though Nub drove all the way down from Heights! 
At this time, I’m planning on fishing the number two spot…but if someone else pops in out there…I have a couple alternative holes to smell out. See ya out there…your on ….83?
82. But if we are practicing radio silence, I will give you a few flashes with 1.5 million candle power. That means I got one. No clonking! I think I will be able to see you from my #1 spot! And my guys will have cameras!
Tuck
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At this time, I’m planning on fishing the number two spot…but if someone else pops in out there…I have a couple alternative holes to smell out. See ya out there…your on ….83?
Sounds like y’all are hammering the heck out of spots #1 and #2 – might want to diversify anyway. I know it’s hard not to fish the honey holes, but sooner or later aren’t you going to want to test your fishing acumen and ply new waters?
Have you ever noticed, as I have, that fishing holes on successive nights always seems to produce less? When I fish a hole for a second consecutive night I get more lackluster action, and third nights in a row outright stink… Could have all been coincidence – do you ever notice it?
Matt
I have noticed Flathead. That is what I like about pool 8. Plenty of water to search out new spots between the Mississippi and the Black. But I still have 2 favorite holes I like to hit. I have yet to see anyone in my #1 hole.
I’m sure there will be a night when I will have to keep going.
Have you fished the Goose Island area much? I keep wanting to, but I fish pool 7 most of the time. I know there’s a lot of boat traffic on pool 8 (especially this weekend) so I pretty much avoid it, but looking at the aerial photos, and from the exploring I’ve done so far, there looks to be a ton of good cat water in the channels around Goose.
Haven’t been in Goose Island for some time. I use to fish it alot and yes, there are some good Flatty spots. There is also some good spots out of Stoddard. Now that I am in Sparta I stay more to the north. This still gives me a couple hours sleep before work
This weekend will be a good weekend to catch up on the honey do list and leave the river to the pros in LaCrosse 
PS: Flathead,
Sorry I didn’t get a measurement of the Flatty we caught Tuesday night for your web page, which is a very cool 
I had it in the back of my mind but must of spaced it out trying to get the girl back in the water as soon as posible. I will try to remember next time.
Brian and I have talked previoulsy about where we plan to fish tonight. Common courtesy up in these parts, as most cat guys I know up here are armed. One across the bow is one thing, but most guys I know will go for the waterline. That can be a problem. 
I have enough spots to keep me hopping if need be. Thanks for the concern though.
Waterline? I go for the motor! I’m not very good so sometimes it does hit the waterline 
That is true thou FHW. The only reason I picked position two tonight was because I wanted to get into eye guides pictures! 
Ok seriously, because the cotten wood tree is kind of a running joke in this forum…in my posts I mention it whether I’m fishing there or not.
As I’m learning how to read the water…thanks to many IDA members…I’ve realized that there are a ton of GREAT flathead spots…some that I’ve been too, some that I want to try…and some, I’m sure I haven’t found…yet.
I’m telling you! I’m sure you’ve been up this way and know what I’m talking about.
Reading the water is really the learning curve that I’m on the lower end of…as a very respected cat guide told me….you learn something from everyone.
I’m very thankfull to the members I’ve met that have shared a location. In doing so…it opens my eyes…although ever so slightly. 
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Reading the water is really the learning curve that I’m on the lower end of…as a very respected cat guide told me….you learn something from everyone.
Believe it or not I learned from the smallest waters on up to read current – I started trout fishing with my dad at a very young age and spent countless hours on small streams. In high school I read a book by Dan Gapen on rivers and graduated to the tribs of the Miss. where I fished mainly smallies and walleyes, but really anything I could catch. It wasn’t until about ’93 that I started into flatheads, and I spent a few years on the little tribs again doing very little right before I hit on successes (and learning everything I knew from a good fishing buddy who paved the way).
Moving out to the big river opened up unlimited possibility for me, but also made things incredibly complicated. The Mississippi is huge from a “river reading” point of view, and there’s a whole lot of water to go through in finding spots. That’s what makes it so tempting to lean on favorite spots once you find them (which I’ve done enough myself). In fact, last year was the first year I focused on trying lots of new water, and it was a great one – turns out there’s cats all over in that river!
What I said all along is that I wanted to “crack the code” on big cats in the Mississippi, and the code is still safe, I can tell you, but I’m getting closer. Good to hear you’re pursuing it in the same way. Don’t be afraid of a few failures out there trying new things – you’ll learn just as much from those as from the great nights on known spots.
Happy Hunting,
Matt
Wow, we sure drifted a ways from “what tree is the clip board on.” Sorry EYE-GUIDE 
I believe time reading the water during day light hours, making mental notes of good looking spots, then trying these spots is a blast. It is all part of the hunt. There are kitty’s all over the Mississippi but, what a great feeling to set up on a spot you eyed up, checked out with the locator, thought it looked good and wham, big Flatty. Makes a cat guy proud. Even if you set up and nothing, you can’t beat being out in the dark, no hurries, no boats and the cold beer taste great 
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we sure drifted a ways from “what tree is the clip board on.”
If this is the way we’re going to drift…I say pull up the anchor! Good stuff right there!
I think the most pronounce thing that I’ve learned so far this year is that you can fish very slow moving water and still get into some big fish.
FisherDave taught me that along with Catdadmn re enforcing it.
There’s a lot more to it than “just find timber/snag, with a deep hole and some shallow water close by”. I don’t think a person can describe it…you have to experiance it.
Then of course the slow flow period will come around and change everything! (but I don’t want to think about that yet!)
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but sooner or later aren’t you going to want to test your fishing acumen and ply new waters?
i totally agree with matt here………… i cant fish the same spot two nights in a row, and if i do, its only for a brief amount of time. i make myself try a new spot every night….or at least a new portion of a spot, and try fishing it a different way. if u know me, u know that i have the attention span shorter than a new york minute, so i gotta do new stuff every time or i get bored.
This post should have been labeled…”Should have stay home to night!…
No pictures of a cat and my ugly mug today!
I did stay home and I didn’t hook anything there either 
Sure was a tough nite on the crick last night! I moved 6 different times. Had a few runs, but could not get the hook into any. Tried circles with cutbait, and Gammies and suckers of all sizes. Lots of new water? Lots of baitfish? saw lots of both last night. (There are more minnows in the river this year than I have seen for a very long time! 
)What I like about the river is it is constantly changing. Three of the spots I fished last night looked good to me because of the current transitions they created because of the high water. In low water, I would have motored right by. I will be back to those spots later this weekend, as I know fish will go there. (Brian, I don’t know if you went any further down than where you were, but there is some new flatty structure thanks to Ma Nature! . A couple of bends down.)
Tuck
HAH! Chris…we ran out of time…but isn’t that pirate water down there? I don’t have a cannon onboard!
..arrgh….shiver me timbers…..we’ze fight back over these waters so you better be ready to walk the plank
See! Ol’ Peg-Leg Captain Mudcat will pirate your boat, take all the valuables (10/0 hooks, no rolls and clonks), then it’s down the plank…
I had my bandana and eye patch on. Could a peg leg be used as a clonk?
Beavers are bad. I don’t care what anyone says. Bad, bad animals. They have taken many years off my life at about 2:00 AM. We did see a deer that came to waters edge last night as I was signing the clipboard, and got it on film. She was fine with us, then the beaver had to go and mess things up with that tail! She was gone like a shot!
We figured the kitty’s were camera shy last night, that was our problem! Here are the guys responsible!
Brian K
Thanks for taking this ‘Johnny come Lately, clicker-listener’ down to the cottonwood. I appreciate the knowledge you bestowed upon me.
It was a pleasure Nubby! Sorry I couldn’t put you on a fish of any size…sometimes it’s like that.
Please keep the cottonwood tree a secret. Although I think it was caught on video last night when you were landing your kitten… keep an eye on ESPN…
No problem, Brian. I’ve already forgotten the spots. he he.
When Yum gives you access to the corporate jet in 2006, fly on down to Milwaukee, and I’ll put you on a few Salmon !!
You got it!
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Thanks for taking this ‘Johnny come Lately, clicker-listener’ down to the cottonwood. I appreciate the knowledge you bestowed upon me.
My Dad bestowed knowledge upon me in the wood shed
Might be hard to believe, I always had it com’in 
PS: cool pics EYE-GUIDE
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I always had it com’in
No! Now you’re pulling our clonks!
I was hoping eye guide would get a picture of our overly freindly beaver…but they are good pics.
Have a great weekend all! 
I will be near Milwaukee(sp?) sometime this weekend.. either tomorrow or more likely sunday… If you need someone to reel in a couple fish for Brian and deliver him one or two.. I am more than willing to dedicate myself to that chore.
I think your closer to the Rock River than Milwaukee….but either way…smoked trout sounds pretty good right now.
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