Trying something new

I got a short trip in with a guy who fishes some tournaments a few weeks ago. His name is Mike and He’s from South of Des Moines and I don’t mean to be vague but that’s all I remember. So I got out of work early one day and met up with him to drift the reservoir.

It became apparent right away you need rod holders and drift socks to make this work. When the wind dies, I’ve tried the troller a bit but it’s hard to keep the lines from getting tangled and the fish just don’t bite very fast.

Yesterday I found the shad stacked up pretty tight. I toss the net, catch 20 or so and go to work.

Maybe you can see that one lone fish at the bottom of this one. The cats don’t show up as a big mark. I’ve actually been marking then catching some so that’s a milestone for me because I haven’t been using a fish finder that long and there’s a ton to learn. Even a cheap finder supplies a ton of information and I don’t know what it all means.

It was pretty breezy yesterday and the powerboats were joyriding which seems to turn the bite on. I’m using a bobber before the bait type rig that Mike was using because it seemed to work well. Anyways, I fished until dusk and then snapped a pic and turned these fish loose and then went exploring because I don’t know where the fish go at sunset.

I’ve been out 6-8 times and I’m still learning how this works. The fish are super scattered as far as I can tell and you can drift across places where there is nothing on the finder but catch a fish. Often times the cats are not underneath the shad at all. Sometimes they are but not 24/7. I found that confusing at first but I guess fish aren’t literally eating 24/7. I think some of them are cruising looking for wounded shad from boat props and such. Anyway, it’s nice to catch something. It gets a little hard to convince yourself to be out at midnight this time of year and it’s nice to see the sun and enjoy this last little tidbit of summer. Take care guys, I gotta go pack up now. Josh

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I’m using a bobber before the bait type rig that Mike was using because it seemed to work well.

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What was Mike using?

Thanks for sharing Josh. You shouldn’t be packing up…you should be having cajun catfish!

I realized I don’t like to eat that much fish. I know that may sound weird but once a month or something usually seems like plenty for me. I’d rather have shrimp.

I asked mike if I could put up exactly what he’s using. He was very open with me but I thought I’d ask. It’s a basic drifting rig with a tiny variation that might draw some fish in. We drug some plain carolina rigs along with it and sometimes they worked just as good but sometimes more on the drifting rig.

Try the same kind of fishing and use a Slinky weight and add a 1″ up to 2.5″ crappie weight on the hook leader in front of the hook. This rig running off a 3-way swivel allows you to fish stumps and logs without hanging up. I buy my Slinky weights from a Company in West Tn.

Also you can drop each rod down with the same rig your talking about then when it hits bottom just feel up about 4 or 5 ft I run up to 6 to 8 rods this way 19ft boat and spaced along the lenght of the boat using a 6 to 8 oz sinker it keeps the rigs from tangling up as bad. This works with current or wind. But also can take your trolling motor and move the boat along also.

I like to control drift fish any time we have current, My bait is for the most part 40+ yds behind the boat and I use the trolling motor to slow the boat speed down. Say the boat is moving at 2.4 MPH I use the trolling motor to slow my drift down to .07 to 1.2 MPh when I feel the bait and lead hit bottom I pick it up and allow it to drift with the current. This is spoon feeding the fish. We have days were by my self I can catch 30+ fish in 2 or 3 hours. From 1 lb to 40+bs best day was 300+ lbs of Blue catfish in 4 hours by my self. Now that was fun.

Good thread!

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I use the trolling motor to slow the boat speed down.

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The walleye guys call that “slipping”. I plan on doing some channel cat fishing this winter on the river and this is just the ticket!

Welcome Pete!

This is a good post. My guess is your cats head in shallow at darkness. I’ve been trying to perfect a drift technique here too. I find the wind is always wrong when I have time to do this which isn’t often. It is either blowing to hard or not enough or out of the wrong direction. My lines seem to not behave all that well even with with 3ozs on them. There is 85 feet of water in the main basin. I kind of try to work the area that is 15-35 feet off the weeds. I’ve run bouncers and three ways. Almost always more trouble than it is worth for me.

Ok, the mystery man is Mike Salazar. That makes me feel better!

The top rig is one Mike gave me. I totally added extra pretty beads. The thing that drew my attention is now much noise this thing makes. The bobbers have metal eyelets and the bead bouncing against them makes a lot of noise. It’s the catfish version of a rattle trap. I think the noise matters because just towing them along doesn’t seem to work that well but when there’s wind, the bite picks way up.

If there’s any breeze, I put a sock out to keep the boat straighter. I’ve just had one for a month or so and it’s an eye opener. Boat control is hard for the inexperienced and it’s totally nice to throw a sock out and slow everything down. The waves just push you along instead of whacking at the boat like when you anchor.

It’s something different. Fishing in the daytime is something I haven’t done a lot of in the last few years and it’s a good way to get comfortable with the boat. I also haven’t spent much time lake fishing even though I live right by two of them.

I guess they made steel eyes for using with braided line.

Make sure you tell Mike thanks for sharing and thanks for posting this Josh.

I like the extra pretty beads.

Did you say you’re using the float on a lake or a river?

On a reservior. The rivers here are too small.

I’ve been out maybe 10 times and I’ve lost a couple hooks so far. The bobber knot keeps the bobber on, you just tie on a hook and keep rollin.

Kev, I haven’t had problems tangling up while drifting. When I am down to the trolling motor, then I get tangled often. I don’t have a good troller. Or a good pilot.

Got a double



Actually the first of the day was a big male about 8#. This is my sometimes fishin bud Graham.



A few more this size. We easily broke 10 fish for the afternoon today.

These boys apparrently have a contract to gill net carp. I watched them pull in nets for a while. Lots of 10# carp.

Nice photo’s Josh!

Looks like your having a hoot corking!

Keep the photo’s coming!