I’ve never fished it but I’ve heard the rub with the Horseshoe Chain is the Cats dominate the system and while the Walleye are still there, it’s hard to fish for them without the cats getting to your bait first? Is that true?
Fishthumper targets that system for bass and hooks into those catfish on accident. He usually posts an annual photo of an oversized catfish he caught while bass fishing.
Fishthumper targets that system for bass and hooks into those catfish on accident. He usually posts an annual photo of an oversized catfish he caught while bass fishing.
Ya, I did not get my Annual BIG Cat this year. The fishing has really fallen off in the lake where I always seemed to get 1 or 2 big ones each year, So we just have not fished it much this year.
stick muskies and catfish in the system……….they did that with the horseshoe chain by Richmond……….dont hear much about carp nowadays…….same with bullheads!!!
I hope they never put Catfish into any other lake or river in Minnesota. Those things soon become a BIGGER problem than the things you tried to correct by using them.
I’ve never fished it but I’ve heard the rub with the Horseshoe Chain is the Cats dominate the system and while the Walleye are still there, it’s hard to fish for them without the cats getting to your bait first? Is that true? Was thinking of taking the yak to the chain in a few weeks just to target cats for a day.
I often wonder what a bunch of flathead would do in a lake with stunted panfish like so many in the metro. But I’m thinking the Flats need current.
You are correct that Cats have really hurt the fishing on the Horseshoe chain. Not only for Walleyes but for every species of other fish as well. There are still decent #’s of walleyes in the chain, but not near as many as there use to be. Those Catfish are eating machines and they eat lots of baitfish as well as a lot of young year class of other sportfish. They also do a lot of damage to the panfish population. I think that is the species that have been hit the hardest by catfish on the horseshoe chain. It use to be a great Panfish lake and these days its not even a average panfish lake.
Red Eye wrote:
My opinion it should be illegal to release a rough fish.almost certain it is!!!!!
Illegal in Mn unless you plan to utilize the fish. Can’t just kill rough fish for no reason.
-J.
Thumper, I sent you a PM regarding the horseshoe chain, as to not completely throw this thread off the rails… 
The only hope is the muskies will start thriving and thinning out some of those tasty catfish.
Thumper, I sent you a PM regarding the horseshoe chain, as to not completely throw this thread off the rails…
Yep. Check your PM
The only hope is the <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>muskies will start thriving and thinning out some of those tasty catfish.
That would be nice. I’m not sure how high even younger small cats are on a Muskie’s meal choice. I would think the Barbs would make them rather hard to digest.
That would be nice. I’m not sure how high even younger small cats are on a Muskie’s meal choice. I would think the Barbs would make them rather hard to digest.
My guess is that they would eat one given a chance, but there aren’t enough muskies to make a significant dent. Population density is just too low.
I think FT is right, once they are established in there, there’s no going back.
Muskies are super low in proportion but they will eat those cats for sure. They just eat them head on so the barbs dont affect them when swallowing. That was one of the main reasons the DNR wanted to stock them in there was to slow the booming cat population. I dont think they will ever really put a dent in them though which is unfortunate. They just dont stock them in high enough numbers. We will see.
Muskies are super low in proportion but they will eat those cats for sure. They just eat them head on so the barbs dont affect them when swallowing. That was one of the main reasons the DNR wanted to stock them in there was to slow the booming cat population. I dont think they will ever really put a dent in them though which is unfortunate. They just dont stock them in high enough numbers. We will see.
We see and catch a few of them out there each year. But like you said the population does not seem to be all that high out there.
That is cool that you are catching some! Any size to them yet?
That is cool that you are catching some! Any size to them yet?
Most we have caught are in the mid 30’s. I have seen a few that would be close to or over 40
Nice!
I’ve never caught a walleye that big! 
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gimruis wrote:</div>
Fishthumper targets that system for <em class=”ido-tag-em”>bass and hooks into those <em class=”ido-tag-em”>catfish on accident. He usually posts an annual photo of an oversized catfish he caught while bass fishing.Ya, I did not get my Annual BIG Cat this year. The fishing has really fallen off in the lake where I always seemed to get 1 or 2 big ones each year, So we just have not fished it much this year.
Just after I post that I / We did not catch our annual big catfish this season, we go out this morning and you guessed it, we catch one. This one was not as big as the ones in past years but still a large one. For those that think these catfish are slow lazy fish. This one was caught burning a chatterbait in about 4 ft. Of water. It hit like a freight train. Let’s call this one Beauty #2
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Lol beauty #2. Nice ring to it. The question is, what’s beauty #3? A big old dogfish? Bark bark
Lol beauty #2. Nice ring to it. The question is, what’s beauty #3? A big old dogfish? Bark bark
Funny you should mention a big Dogfish. Also had one of those take a swipe at my chatterbait this morning as well. Saw it coming at the bait from a fair distance away. Not sure how it missed hooking up. It slammed the bait hard.
A few of the past whisker beauties
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Funny you should mention a big Dogfish. Also had one of those take a swipe at my chatterbait this morning as well. Saw it coming at the bait from a fair distance away. Not sure how it missed hooking up. It slammed the bait hard.
I don’t know but I’d be glad it did! 
I love the “Wenches Want me” t-shirt!
I love the “Wenches Want me” t-shirt!
For some reason that shirt seems to show up in a fair # of pictures. I think because a I have a few of them.
I’d say those kitties are eating pretty well.
I’d say those kitties are eating pretty well.
Every Cat we catch on the horseshoe chain, or anyplace else for that matter, look like they have swallowed a football. They are pure eating machines. That is why I believe they are so harmful in lakes.
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