King of the Cats free fishing contest

I would like to invite all you cat guys and gals to participate in what has become a big part of my cat fishing season. It’s called the King of the Cats fishing contest. The past few years have been a lot of fun and I look forward in continuing with that tradition!

I know a lot of you here already are a big part of it.

If it sounds like something you might be interested in, please take a couple of minutes to check out the site and read the rules and see all the pictures of the past winners.

http://www.kingofthecats.org

We have a few nice prizes this year which includes a package of various items from Driftmaster rod holders, Custom engraved rulers donated by Brad Durick Outdoors, a custom handcrafted fishing rod donated by AW.Wolfram custom rods, and hopefully a few more to be added at a later date.

Best of all is that it’s free to enter.

Thanks and good luck to all the catters this season and hope to see your participation.

Your on buddy.

I’ve fished it every year since it started and it is a gas. Last year I missed the top 5 by mere inches in each category and I can’t wait for 1 April to start this year’s contest. Each year it has gotten better and better and the competition is pretty tough. Kevin – you need to make a run at the top 5 with those big Wisconsin channel cats you catch. Those Red River guys are tough to beat.

I’ll give this one Thumbs up as well…. Great way to spice up the summer. I’ve been lucky enough to do pretty well the last couple years!
Give it a shot.

Thank for the support guys.

Just to give you an idea of the competition:

Last year in order to qualify for the Flathead King (top 5) you needed at least (3) 45lb fish and for the channels (3) 15lb fish. Top in each category were basically 3 50lbers and 3 25lber.

In the past few years the biggest channel has been (60”) 37×23 and the biggest flat a tie at (80”) 48×32 and 49×31

There are some nice fish up that way. Steve, You should try and come down and pad your stats. Hmmm, I can put the first spring fish into my rig at oh April 2nd by say 8:00am I’ve seen a couple fish over 40 inches here over the last few years, no girths on them but they were fat as all get out. I get a dozen or so each year over 30.

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Thank for the support guys.

Just to give you an idea of the competition:

Last year in order to qualify for the Flathead King (top 5) you needed at least (3) 45lb fish and for the channels (3) 15lb fish. Top in each category were basically 3 50lbers and 3 25lber.

In the past few years the biggest channel has been (60”) 37×23 and the biggest flat a tie at (80”) 48×32 and 49×31

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Those are some darn nice fish. Think I’ll sign up this year.

Here comes the high water. All the prediction services for the Mississippi, Minnesota and St Croix are showing high water by next Thursday. Looks like high water for the 1 April start of the KOTC.

To sign up do you just start posting fish as you catch them?

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Here comes the high water. All the prediction services for the Mississippi, Minnesota and St Croix are showing high water by next Thursday. Looks like high water for the 1 April start of the KOTC.

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where could I find that information?

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To sign up do you just start posting fish as you catch them?

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Yep, just submit the fish via the form on the site, and you are in!

I was checking out the predictions sites today too. Big surge on the way.

Looking forward to submitting some fish this year

The St Croix is open upstream from the Boomsite DNR launch in Stillwater. The ice is all jammed up from about Wolf Marina downstream. There are still a few ice floes moving downstream and piling up just north of Stillwater. Boomsite Bay is open but there is about a 2 acre ice floe floating around in the bay. You may be able to launch your boat but getting back to the launch could be a challenge if that ice floe blows into the north end of the bay and covers up the launch.

Water is a cool 32 degrees and she is still coming up. St Croix pool elevation was 682′ today (normal pool elevation is 675′). The warm weather and the rising water may open up the whole river by 1 April. I am hoping to get the Battleship in the water this week which would give me a couple of weeks to find some fish for the 1 April KOTC Opener.

I’m ready to go – I got a buck for the “First Flathead on the Board Pot”. Anybody else in?

when will the rules and entry form be posted on the website? all that is on there is pics and videos.

What the “house” boat isn’t in yet!?! Nothing like listening to the Twins and fishing on that thing!

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The St Croix is open upstream from the Boomsite DNR launch in Stillwater. The ice is all jammed up from about Wolf Marina downstream. There are still a few ice floes moving downstream and piling up just north of Stillwater. Boomsite Bay is open but there is about a 2 acre ice floe floating around in the bay. You may be able to launch your boat but getting back to the launch could be a challenge if that ice floe blows into the north end of the bay and covers up the launch.

Water is a cool 32 degrees and she is still coming up. St Croix pool elevation was 682′ today (normal pool elevation is 675′). The warm weather and the rising water may open up the whole river by 1 April. I am hoping to get the Battleship in the water this week which would give me a couple of weeks to find some fish for the 1 April KOTC Opener.

I’m ready to go – I got a buck for the “First Flathead on the Board Pot”. Anybody else in?

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Steve and his boat sure make catting easy and enjoyable. He rambles on about fishing the whole night almost as much as me.

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What the “house” boat isn’t in yet!?! Nothing like listening to the Twins and fishing on that thing!

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I have a few small maintenance things to do before she is ready for the water. I’ve got to replace the transducer which is a bit of a pain but I’m almost done. St Croix is really out of its banks right now but she should come down fairly quickly. I’m hoping to have the Battleship in the water and ready to go for the 1 April KOTC start. I’m putting up the Day Enclosure and fishing in early spring comfort – gotta get ready for the Twins opener.

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when will the rules and entry form be posted on the website? all that is on there is pics and videos.

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Sorry about that. It was all there, but we are doing some updating and everything will be there before the contest starts April 1st

All the information is back up there now.

I got a box full of goodies from Plano Molding Company today. More prizes to add to the list.

Just a few days before the contest starts!

Here’s a few pics of the prizes.

This is what Andy says about the custom rod with a sneak peak:

“From the butt, up 3/5th is graphite over E glass and then E glass out to the tip. These blanks have the softest (slowest) tips with the most lifting power of any blank I have seen. The last ½ is tough. The weight is a lot lighter then an all E glass blank.

This is the 7’ C-cat model. It will come in a C-cat and Flat model 7’ and 8’. The handle is my new X-Grip and the last 12” of the tip is white glow. H ring guides for the super lines and it is casting built in a spiral wrap.

Some lucky KOTCer will have a nice rig”

And the grip:

“The best way a can describe it is textures rubber. Its cat proof, you have a great grip on it even if it is wet or slimy. It is a new product that was designed with salt water anglers in mind. I love cork but it gets beat up and it is getting expensive and hard to find quality. EVA foam is alright but it is porous and can absorb slime and start to smell like old bait. Cord wrapped handles soak up more then EVA foam. I can add this to existing rods if anyone has grips that have seen better days.”

You will be required to enter at least 3 fish of either species to qualify for any of the prizes.

I look forward to seeing your entries.

Good Luck!

Not to get off topic but can we just order one of those rods from him Dtro?

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Not to get off topic but can we just order one of those rods from him Dtro?

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Yes, I think Andy will be selling these rods, but I don’t have any details sorry. If you want to PM me your email, I can try to find out more for you.

Thats a nice looking rod

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Thats a nice looking rod

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Yeah Yeah…. you keep telling yourself that, if it makes you feel better… Will the real rod creator step up to the plate please?

Kidding aside… you’ve crafted a nice piece of work, a tip of the hat is in order. To all you cat guys… you got nothing to loose.
Jump in the contest and start catching Kitties… you have all summer to win this baby.

Team canoe is in – better watch out

The contest is now open for submissions.

Game on!

Good luck to everyone.

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The contest is now open for submissions.

Game on!

Good luck to everyone.

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Goll, I could have have taken an early lead this morning. White-out me in for ~45 points.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I actually found a black rod that I would actually use for cats. Too bad I have to give it away to some lucky contestant.

I got to hold it in my hands today, and is now sitting in my prize room. Someone is going to be a happy camper winning that rod.

To qualify for the April giveaway, you will have to at least registered one fish of either specie.

In May, you will have to have 3.

In other words, at the end of April, all those with at least 1 fish behind their name will go into a hat. At the end of May those with 3 fish go in and so on each month until the prizes are gone.

So, yes big fish are the name of the game here, but if you want to qualify for the prizes go ahead and submit some smaller fish.

The Custom Rod and Custom Measuring Rules will be randomly drawn for with those in the top 10 in each specie category at the end of the year.

I’m going to try and utilize Ustream to do a live webcast of the drawings.

It should be fun!

So even a chump like me could win something. Awesome.