Spring Cattin…..

So when do you guys normally start to go out cattin’ in the spring? When do ya think them channel cats become active enough? I know last spring i didnt go cattin until school got out mid May, but i was having mixed results.

There are nearly legenary tales of catfishing immediately after ice-out on Coralville, MacBride, and Rathbun. Dead shad blow into the shallow bays (<2ft of water) and guys will fish cut-bait and just hammer them. I have never made it out during that time, and usually just wait until after the crappie spawn is over to go for cats.

Please don’t start talking about Spring. Just hung up my motor and want to enjoy the ice a little. I actually hope to find some cats through the ice.

cats on ice how does one catch cats on ice and where.
always looking to try somthing new.
kevin

This year mid April is when Mike and I started getting channel cats consistently. Water temp in the backwater areas 50 degrees and up. I’m not saying you cant get them earlier but the colder the water the tuffer it seems. Once they start migrating out of their winter areas it gets a little easier.

I’d stay out of the main channel in early spring. Cold water and high flows really make things tuff. After two years of at least modest attempts in the main channel in early spring I’ve learned my lesson. If you get em in the main channel early let me know. I’d like to know how you do it. We’ll compare notes.

I start fishing cats right at ice out. These fish feed on the dead shad floating down river. What I do is farvest shad in summer and freeze them, and in spring Im ready to use these fish for cut bait. Good luck and have a great time.

aaaah… i cant even make it through one day w/o thinkin about it! MELT MELT MELT! ………………actually, some good snow would be nice…wanna keep them snow geese south a little until spring break……..then MELT MELT MELT

couple more months……