mills ruins question

has anybody fished the ruins. i bet the cats are biting now, i looked over the bridge while driving and noticed some guys fishing. and the ice is out, so any reports yet?

I haven’t fished there yet this year. I was going to give it a shot on Friday, but it was covered with skim ice. Didn’t get a chance to go over the weekend, but I’m planning on getting there this afternoon, after work. We’ll see what happens.

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has anybody fished the ruins. i bet the cats are biting now, i looked over the bridge while driving and noticed some guys fishing. and the ice is out, so any reports yet?

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What? You can’t say hello?

I was down there yesterday as well as another member I met at Bob Moore’s. They aren’t biting. They will turn on at some point this week (I assume). They might now have moved in yet and are out by the main current off the point of the rocks. Either that or they just haven’t started gorging, which I would find less likely. There are still sheets of ice on the outside of both ends of the culverts, but it is open between them.

Some time this week the switch should flip and it will be on. Unfortunately for me I can’t hit them again until Thursday or Friday. I really wanted to hit them on that first bite, because it seems the fishing tapers a little from there or at least roller coasters.

My only concern is that the water flowing in from the culverts seems more stained than normal. Maybe once all the crap from off the streets or water comes through those things get purged, they will move up closer to where they can be caught.

Hopefully others will be reporting from down there this week.

Pug, let me know if/when you’re going on Thursday or Friday. The wife has school on Thursday night, which means Ben goes fishing, and I have Friday off, which also means Ben goes fishing.

Last year, the bite just never seemed to turn on like years prior. I actually had more luck at the Red Dot last year… more and bigger. Might check that out this week too.

You’re probably right, though… the switch will be flipped this week.

Maybe we should shoot for Friday, because I have both Thurs and Friday off. PM on the way.

Should probably include jakob too!!!! HAHAHA

if you could throw a photo with it too…

Will do!

I think that would also depend on the season? Since it still is a little cold and starting to warm up, I would think they would bite better now during the day. As the summer comes and the water temps start to stay warm, I think a night presentation would work better?

Don’t know if that’s true or not, just a guess! LOL

Ya i will probabally be out there again on thur afternoon so if any of you are out there i’ll see you there i was out there this past sunday but not much for action a few small taps so will see

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I think that would also depend on the season? Since it still is a little cold and starting to warm up, I would think they would bite better now during the day. As the summer comes and the water temps start to stay warm, I think a night presentation would work better?

Don’t know if that’s true or not, just a guess! LOL

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Agree here!

My 2 cents are that generally you will catch bigger ones at night. The younger ones with the higher metabolism will feed throughout the day. The darker or more stained the water might mean the older, bigger ones are more inclined to feed during light. Especially earlier in the evening as the sun goes down and later in the morning as the sun goes up.

It’d be interesting to see if these clouds turn them on today. Not that I am interested in a fish’s turn ons.

Creepy pug… creepy….

what size hooks and sinkers are the norm for this catfish bite? and how long of a handle do i need on the landing net? ……………tom fellegy

Depends what part you fish. If you are on the railings, you’ll need a longer net, otherwise there are open areas you can fish on the ‘grass’ where a normal net will do. You won’t need heavy weights, the current is light, but you’ll want enough to get you distance.

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You won’t need heavy weights, the current is light, but you’ll want enough to get you distance.

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I have started to use bank sinkers and egg sinkers due to their aerodynamic properties. No need for no-rolls here… they tend to catch the wind and not get the distance.

thanks for the quick reply. one more question, live or cut bait?

2 or 3 live crappie minnows mushed up on a hook. I don’t know how many people have tried shiners, but those might do better. Shad are as good as crappie minnows if you can find them.

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2 or 3 live crappie minnows mushed up on a hook.

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“Live” and “mushed up” — I think you only get one or the other

I usually mush two and leave one live to kick.

Puddle, shoot me a pm on where you plan on fishing. An 8 foot handle on your net will cover many places…there are some that a “lift net” is the only way to get a big fish up.

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2 or 3 live crappie minnows mushed up on a hook.

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“Live” and “mushed up” — I think you only get one or the other

I usually mush two and leave one live to kick.

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The point being keep’em fresh.

i was down there for half an hour yesterday, there was still ice in some areas, i did not fish because i did not have a fishing pole, but i did not see anybody else there too. so i’m guessing the fish is not biting yet.

Will give an update later tonight!

Did you check with Bob? I’m going to say it’s a bit early to fish with live bait yet…but ya never know unless it’s tried!

I think I will be down tomorrow late morning.

Look for the walleye guy in a white Dodge Quadcab who is a whisker fish want to be.

Will a #6 Octopus hook with 4# Vanish as a leader work good? I should be able to sling that a mile on my ML spinning rod.

Brian are you going too the pool 4 gtg?
Is their going to be a Mill Ruins GTG April 1 again?
Puggy, do you have Casey this weekend? Mora on Saturday?
I may hit the Ruins tomorrow evening. A bit nippie for air temps though. What else have I got to do….

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thanks for the quick reply. one more question, live or cut bait?

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Parking will be limited ESPECIALLY for the HOOk n’ Ladder “fire-engine” you guys may be arriving in!…

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Puggy, do you have Casey this weekend? Mora on Saturday?

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Mora? You looking to fall through the ice? Iheard all about your “fishing” the last time the Zych brother’s went up there. Sorry about the auger.

so has anybody tried the area over the weekend? stills seems pretty cold.