My how the river changes in a week.
Friday evening I found myself outside of the boat pushing it over a sand bar. Same track I normally take and water levels that should of allowed easy passage. The last high water may have moved the sand and shallowed up the area. No big deal. I’ve pushed before and am prepared for it.
We stuck a 9 pound flat then not too long after, one of my clients got into a biggun. Big enough that the fish hand total control of the rod, line and drag. The boat became serious. By the fight and 80 pound line coming off the Garcia 7000, I’m going with a guesstamate of over 40 pounds. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was in the 50’s but I’ll stick with over 40.
After a few minutes the line went limp like the hook pulled out. It happens. A few pats on the back and a “there there” and we were fishing again. Turns out the didn’t come out, it BROKE.
I was using smaller chubs earlier in the month and switch from my normal Team Catfish 8/0 Super J’s to a 6/0 Gamakatzu J hook. I switch all rods back to TC except for one that I wanted to use for smaller suckers.
I’ve heard catfish groups talking about Gama’s and breaking, but I’ve never experience it myself before that night. I placed 5 Gama’s in the garbage when I got home.
Time to hit up the next location. Drates! Shallow on the way out. I thought to myself that I shouldn’t have topped off the gas tank. This time all three of us where outside the boat pushing it along…for about 3 blocks. My shoe fell apart to top it off.
As I told my clients before leaving, I can’t guarantee a fish, but I will guarantee an adventure!
We dropped anchor along some rip rap and it wasn’t too long when a dandy 12 pound channel cat nailed our sucker. Man they are scrappers! Another half our goes by and a dandy 20+ flat comes to the boat.
One of the clients said that the pushing the boat seems like a distant memory now.
Each fish that was caught was a personal best for these anglers. Lot’s of smiles to go around!
Saturday night we fished a much different area. Earth banks scattered timber and a new tipped over tree that was collecting more wood.
We chatted for a good hour while we were waiting for 9:30. Why that particular time the client asked me? “Well, I never say never on the river but that’s the time I expect our first fish” I said.
9:32 and we had our first flat in the boat. Small but still a fish with whiskers.
Just before ten pm and without the tell tail “thud” of a flathead bite the line out alarm starts clicking away. A good fight and the 32 pound flat was in the boat. If the night ended there, Josh would have been a happy man. But it didn’t and 10 minutes after releasing the first flat another rod behaved the same way. No thud…just the line starting to move out fairly slowly.
39 pounds later Josh had a smile brighter then the Full Strawberry Moon shining over our heads.
One more 12 pound channel cat and flathead topped out the night.
More personal best out of the old Lund.
It was the weekend that every cat fisherman in MN/WI looks for. Tee shirts and PFD’s where the attire on the trip in. Some mosquitoes but not too bad and a full moon to light the way home.
I have two dates in June open for guided flathead trips. Now I know most people think I’ve retired from guiding. It’s partially true. I’ve cut back to the month of June (to pay for the FW’s cell phone bill LOL!) And I’m waiting for a friend to obtain his Coast Guard license so I can pass inquiries on to him.
It’s nights like this last weekend that makes me wonder why I’m pulling the plug…but then the FW sends me a photo and it all become much more clear.
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