St Croix Cats are Waking up!

  • steve-demars
    Stillwater, Minnesota
    Posts: 1906
    May 15, 2009 at 2:54 pm #1221444

    St Croix channels are waking up now. Picked up two nice channels last night on cut sucker. This one was 33″ X 18″ and full of fight. Looks like we are entering into some summer time stable river conditions which should turn on the bite. Last night the St Croix River was at 676.8′ (normal is 675.5′), water temp was 61 degrees, backwater areas are getting shallow and current flow is low and I found these cats in the main channel areas.

    I drowned bullheads for several hours last night but still no flatheads yet this spring. Seen some nice catches by walleye guys but can’t seem to find them in their normal haunts. It is still early for flats and the channel bite keeps it fun.

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    May 15, 2009 at 2:57 pm #776999

    Chunky!

    Who won the ball game!?

    Whiskerkev
    Madison
    Posts: 3835
    May 15, 2009 at 2:58 pm #777001

    Post deleted by Whiskerkev

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    May 15, 2009 at 3:13 pm #777004

    They’re much more manly than gloves!

    Steven Krapfl
    Springville, Iowa
    Posts: 1722
    May 15, 2009 at 3:15 pm #777006

    Yeah, I need to get one of those grippers. I tried to hold one up that I caught yesterday, about 7 pounds, and the thing clamped onto my thumb like it was a delicious bratwurst! OUCH!!! Peeled the skin off of it like a banana.

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9362
    May 15, 2009 at 3:26 pm #777010

    That is one fat cat, good job Steve

    steve-demars
    Stillwater, Minnesota
    Posts: 1906
    May 15, 2009 at 3:50 pm #777018

    Quote:

    Another grip user…. Do those come with heels?

    Make fun all you want that Gripper is well worth the money when it saves you a finger. That Channel had a nasty bite. Every once in a while somebody comes up with a great gimmick and the Gripper is a million dollar idea. It floats, it has a hole to hang a scale on, it has a lanyard and it controls a fiesty channel cat pretty well. I like it.

    chris-tuckner
    Hastings/Isle MN
    Posts: 12318
    May 15, 2009 at 4:14 pm #777028

    Very nice fish Steve! Heading up to Pine City Memorial weekend to chase channels with the boys for 3 days! Can’t wait!!!

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    May 15, 2009 at 4:15 pm #777029

    Quote:

    Make fun all you want that Gripper is well worth the money when it saves you a finger. That Channel had a nasty bite. Every once in a while somebody comes up with a great gimmick and the Gripper is a million dollar idea. It floats, it has a hole to hang a scale on, it has a lanyard and it controls a fiesty channel cat pretty well. I like it.

    Great testimonial Steve…but the wrong color gripper!

    stcroixer
    Croix Valley
    Posts: 689
    May 15, 2009 at 4:31 pm #777033

    Nice cats Steve

    flatheadwi
    La Crosse, WI
    Posts: 578
    May 15, 2009 at 4:37 pm #777036

    Heckuva channel there.

    That gripper is perfect for channels, just don’t let me see it in any flathead pictures.

    burnswas
    lake city mn
    Posts: 36
    May 15, 2009 at 6:47 pm #777091

    thats one nice cat

    mplspug
    Palmetto, Florida
    Posts: 25026
    May 15, 2009 at 6:56 pm #777096

    Not looking to hijack the thread, but what freshwater fish in Minnesota, if not the US, do you think has the strongest bite force? It has to be channel cats. They crush their food. Pike tear their food. Bass inhale their food. Walleye, well who cares.

    Ralph Wiggum
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts: 11764
    May 15, 2009 at 7:00 pm #777098

    What about the bowfin? Those things have some serious bite force!

    dan-thiem
    Zumbro Falls Mn.
    Posts: 387
    May 15, 2009 at 7:12 pm #777101

    Sheeze that is a dandy!!! I wish I could get on over 30″ this year. One like that would make my year for sure. Way to go Steve.

    life1978
    Eau Claire , WI
    Posts: 2790
    May 15, 2009 at 7:19 pm #777104

    Nice fish Steve. Great to see the hand is all better too

    Big Lund 20
    Cedar Rapids, IA
    Posts: 270
    May 15, 2009 at 9:52 pm #777153

    Nice fish Steve! Boy do I need to get after them?

    Since the gripper came up, can you tell me what brand that is? I need to get one this year.

    Thanks,
    Dave

    steve-demars
    Stillwater, Minnesota
    Posts: 1906
    May 15, 2009 at 11:44 pm #777184

    It is called The Fish Grip Fish Holder – cost $13 at Cabela’s.

    hanson
    Posts: 728
    May 16, 2009 at 3:35 am #777218

    Thats a heck of a Channel Cat Steve!! Beauty!!

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