Metro Catfish League

Cant we just assign pug to captains who dont know any better?

I’m still on a toss up about the launch thing. Yes, its more interesting being forced to fish areas you are not accustomed to.. on the other hand, it can be pretty difficult to run an unknown stretch of water(watch me on the minnesota when I cant see over the bow )

I think that is the sole most important subject at hand, and everyone who is interested should state their thoughts. Some captains may not be comfortable on uncharted waters and refuse to join if that is how its going to go… myself, I dont really care either way.

The access areas I know about to be open late…

Boom Island Park in NE Minneapolis.. park patron sticker reqired, or a meter at 50 cents an hour(tolerable). This is the best launching area on the river. Lots of nice channel cats in the area with the possibility of very big channels.. flatheads are few and far between. Its an industrial area with LOTS of great structure.

Watergate Marina is a pay launch at $10 night and is located on Pool 2 about a mile from the Minnesota River confluence. Channels of all shapes and sizes and monster flatheads to boot. Not much for structure, but lots of nice fish.

494 launch is where the river gets big… lots of wing dams, plenty of lumber, more structure than one can fish in a lifetime, lots of places to wreck a prop if your not careful.

There is also a camden launch, and a 694 launch.. but I am not sure if parking is allowed late, and i REFUSE to use the Camden launch area.. broken car windows and too many trouble makers in those parts. I think these areas are plenty accessable by the Boom island park launch which is well lighted and patroled regularly.

Hastings is out of the question I think because we would have to lock upstream after launching at prescott.. just to get up to spring lake(pretty sure thats the name) which is a giant flooded stump field in my opinion.. and I like my lower unit the way it is(area is problems waiting to happen at any water level).

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Cant we just assign pug to captains who dont know any better?

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Wait a second…

694 closes at sundown as I think all Anoka county parks do. I could have homefield advantage up here, since I grew up in Fridley. That would probably have to be a channel tourny, eh? Unless people float down to NE were there may be a few flats.

I’m in either way the launch thing plays out. I think there are a few of us that now all of the proposed fishing area good enough that it shouldn’t matter where we launch. The biggest thing that will come into play is the size of everyones boats. Mine goes 35 with 2 guys and and all the gear you need for a night on the river. If things go the way I want over winter, I will have a new boat by next April and then I won’t have to worry at all about where I launch

So like I said I am in no matter what. I am also interested in doing something this year too

Is there a chance for some outstaters to get in on some of the fun here too. I would love to do a few of the events, but don’t think the gas bills could be covered over the course of the entire year. Maybe I could show up as a boater or a non if there are available seats, or guys who can’t make an event.

I am assuming this is a cummulative tourney over the course of the year, or is it a nightly event? If it is cummulative and there is an overall winner based on some points system, then I would assume you would need some alterates at times, and if it is a one shot deal, I could still hit a few when I can hit them.

Is this a possibility or do you want to keep the riff raff from the lower half away

Id say the more the better Farmboy1! Come on down… er up rather!

Sorry for the late reply… I am sure we are going to need some extra folks.

The leaugue night would be every other week, or something close to that. It could vary a little depending on when the league starts(examle april) where it would be a problem come May if opening fishing fell on a league night.. etc.

I will try to work on a set of rules and a proposed calendar tomorrow. I will see if I can think up something for this year.. its really late to plan much with hunting season closing in.

What is this huntung you speak of? I don’t catch any animals I can’t release. Even today I said I’d keep a few eater channel, but they were so cute with that little groaning noise they make.

Anyways, personally I think getting something started for this year is pretty silly. Maybe just do a tournament here and there. I am out this year.

Time has be of short supply lately, but I was kinda forced to read this thread.

I think it’s AWESOME of you guys to get something like this going!

As I was reading through (all 5 pages this morning…I have to try and keep up better ) I was looking for the three things.
1 Safety 1st
2 Educational
3 Fun

Looks like you guys covered off on all three well.

You might want to consider one more rule. *Must follow all laws for the water you’re fishing in.* My thought is that we as fisherpeople need to protect the image of the lowly catfisherperson. One ticket with a little publicity will hurt leagues, catters and fisherman in general.

We can have a stickied and locked post showing the standings in the cat forum if you like.

My two pennies. I wish I could commit to being there each time…(Saturdays the FW has my butt) but I’m sure I could make it a couple times throughout the summer. Sounds like great fun and an excellent learning experiance.

Well guys, I talked to Bob and he agrees a metro catfish league will not happen this year, but it can happen next year.

He agreed to give this contest stuff a try this year, with the 1st contest being in 2 weeks to give it a try… If nothing else it will give many of us more of an excuse to go fishing than we already had!

The 1st contest date will be Saturday, August 5th. You must register in person(or send someone else in to register for you) and the entry fee will be $10 which must be paid at Moores Bait & Tackle before 5:00 p.m.(closing time) on the contest day(August 5th) and he will put your name on the list.

Fishing time will be from sunset to sunrise.

The area allowed will be Mississippi River pools 1 & 2, and the Minnesota River from 35W downstream and the tributaries.

Winning fish will be determined by length + girth, and a photo of the angler holding the fish being registered. You will be able to register one fish of each specie(Flathead and channel cat). You must submit the measurements and photo to Moores Bait and tackle by 3 pm on Sunday, August 6th(the day after contest). Payouts can be collected after the 3 pm deadline.

The contest will be 100% payout, and will be determined upon the number of participants. The prize money will be split between the flathead and channel cat categories. If more than 20 people participate, there will be a 1st and 2nd place payout in each specie.

This contest will be open to everyone… boaters, riders, and shore fishermen alike.

It official.. I’ll make another post for it later this evening! .. for now, I need to run over to Moores and unplug a minnow tank

Good work putting this all together Dave and Bob!

I hope to join in on the contest if all things go as planned (Get the green light from HQ).

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I hope to join in on the contest if all things go as planned (Get the green light from HQ).

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I’ll take *HQ* along that night.. leave early and make a base camp… Hard to beat fish a contest next to a bbq and a tent to crash in when you get tired!

Besides.. taking her and the kid along will add another $20 to the pot.

I might just be able to hit this one. I have my daughter that weekend, but might be able to pull something off. My back should be good to go by then. If the house we looked at tonight to rent pans out, that’s another thing out of the way too!

Thank you Dave you picked the perfect day for this. I have a wedding that day that I do not want to attend. The wedding is at noon and reception is at 2pm. So since I already do not want to go to this wedding and with it being so early in the day, I am thinking I will cut out early and get ready for the contest.

Thanks again for giving me a reason to ditch a boring wedding and do some fishing

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Thanks again for giving me a reason to ditch a boring wedding and do some fishing

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I was unaware that you needed a excuse to bail out on a wedding for fishing I think I could have missed mine and nobody would have noticed

You going to come up for the contest farmboy? Let me know!

I think I may have to be on standby. The wife could pop at any given moment, in which case I don’t think she will let me go play If the baby decides to stay put for a little while, I could maybe figure something out. I will keep you posted.

Sorry I can’t be any more specific then that. All kinda depends on Mommas belly

Well I’ve known the guy for over 12yrs, but we don’t see eye to eye anymore so………………Just for a second I felt obligated to go. Then Dave had to go and save the day

Myself, Sherry, and Tyler will be fishing this contest for sure. I am going to go in and pay our way tomorrow and get the list started. It looks like we have audemp and gocatfish.. thats makes 5. There was another metro regular that was very interested at the shop this afternoon.

Good Start!

I will make a post and simplify the rules this evening, and hang a flyer at the shop tomorrow. I know its really short notice, but it would be nice to see some folks attend. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

Count me in. No conflicts that I’m aware of. May not pull an alnighter. Guess it depends on the bite I probably will be able to pull another contestent into this deal also.
Nice work on putting this together Dave and Bob.
Look fwd to it.
thanks
Larry

It will be fun to give you a whoopin larry!

My nephue wants to fish also.. that will make 7 so far.

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It will be fun to give you a whoopin larry!

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We will see my friend.
I have been riding a decent fish catching wave for the month of July.
I had a tough run on finding big flats in the month of june.
I’m aiming to finish on a high note with a contending catch.
But as with any wave its gotta crash sometime.
Look Out!
thanks
Larry

98% sure I will be in. I have some logistic issues.