I am going to be fishing from shore this evening on the Mississippi around the Camden area. It has been a good week and a half since I’ve been out in the cities. Anybody noticing where the channels are hitting? Are they in the shallows, are they near current breaks, are they near structure?
Any help would be appreciated! 
They have been everywhere but I would look for fast water right now and have some good fresh cut along.
Thanks. When you say ‘fast water’ are you suggesting casting the cutbait directly into the fast water or hitting the current breaks?
D…because the temp dropped a bit..I would start with the breaks…then move into the faster water…if the temps were in the upper 70’s…I would start in the faster water…
Let us know where you find them! 
Found a couple smaller ones last night at the current break. Ironically, kept getting my catfish rig with cutbait smashed and the bait stolen with no fish to show for my trouble. I switched to night crawler pieces to fish for more cutbait and lo and behold, the first fish was a 2 pound channel! This was caught on my old broken down walleye pole that is always rigged to catch bait.
This fish was not used for cutbait, of course. Caught a small SUCKER and was back in business.
More smashes and misses, then a 5 pounder before I was done for the night.
I think my frozen suckers had lost some of their ‘hang on’ strength because they had been thawed and re-frozen a few times.
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…Caught a small carp and was back in business…
Careful, I’m pretty sure that using carp for bait is illegal.
D, Im sorry and sould have explained a little more! are you fishing from shore or a boat??? Fast water area attract channels like flys on 
. I like natural washouts or wingdams. There is typically a dead water area at the front side base of these spots with fast water at the end of the structure. The fish usually are near the end or top right on the edges of the dead water but not always in it. Usually any area around the fast water will pick up channels and sometime right in it as well but I would make sure to pick up about a half dozen nice fresh lively suckers and you will be suprised how much better they work. I have had alot of trouble with frozen suckers. What area are you fishing?? You might also want to give circles a try they work great for channels. 2-3 oz no rolls right now and about a 2-3/0 circle with about a 10-12 inch leader. Usually theres no need to set the hook the fish will hammer down on the bait and turn the hook himself. Just be ready for it. Thats my best advise but that what has been working on p2 other areas me be different. We also have olny targeted channels in the middle of the day and that will make a difference on location.
Good luck!
That’s OK. I was just shore fishing. I was using 3/0 circles and a 3oz no roll. I have my suspicions that there were just lots of smaller fish out there whacking at it.
I was fishing way North of P2, up in North Minneapolis, just where the barge traffic stops heading upstream.
Ryan – you sure carp is illegal to use as cutbait? I was pretty sure they were considered rough fish and as long as you don’t leave dead ones or parts on the bank or in the water, you are in the clear. If they are illegal, what else can be caught and used?
Page 10 of the 2006 regulations:
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Using whole or parts of game fish, goldfish, or carp for bait is
unlawful.
You can use any rough fish other than carp (and goldfish, if you consider them rough fish).
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what else can be caught and used?
Sunfish 
Just kidding.. carp are illegal as with the sunfish. You can use sheephead and suckers.. any other rough fish besides a carp you can get your hands on.
Mooneye…buffalo…bullheads..eels…northern water snakes…new born kittens…did I miss any??
PS if you do use kittens…don’t post it here…even I don’t want to see that! 
Let’s just turn that carp into a sucker and I’ll promise to be good from now on, K?
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Mooneye…buffalo…bullheads..eels…northern water snakes…new born kittens…did I miss any??
I believe you missed small puppies, guinea pigs, rats, piglets, and at times I think my wife 
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and at times I think my wife
Is there times when she kicks and trashes more??? 
Over the line Brian!!!!
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