I was out on Saturday, 21 October. My primary mission was to GPS a few spots for ice fishing this winter. As long as I was out I figured I would try to drift up a few late season St Croix channel cats. Water temp was a cool 46 degrees and the air temp was about 40. I had just about a perfect drifting breeze from the northwest but the wind chill was a little tough. At least the cruiser traffic has finally dropped off. I only fished for about an hour and a half and all I could manage was 1 channel cat. He was a chunky 27″ fish that just hammered a piece of cut sucker. He hit hard but tuckered out pretty quick. I think they get a little lethargic in this cold water.
At least I know they are still home and will still take a nice piece of cut bait drifted in front of them. I am hoping for a couple of nice days yet in the 50’s, maybe even a 60 degree day. I want to see how effective this drifting technique will be in the late season cold water.
