Most impressive. I am glad scrolled back up to get the whole story. At first glance I thought the scale in the photo was just a thermometer reading 47 degrees . . . great fish!

Wow, what a jackpot. That sounds like a blast. That fish looks like it has some pretty strong bluegill hybridization going on but that doesn’t detract any from it being an incredible fish – awesome catch!

That lake is reported to have a large population of rainbow smelt.(?)

I think the most likely impact that 2 lines could produce would be increased mortality in small bass and panfish with live bait use – Otherwise it may really be a non-factor. I fished in Texas a couple of years ago where you could fish as many lines as you want. Much like the last post I about broke my ankle running back and forth and ultimately and happily went down to one line and simply enjoyed my fishing.

Apparently that art was quite prevelant in earlier days, as most of the sturgeon in the Midwest were consumed out of existence. I remember the stories of an old timer who recently passed – growing up he had a job of fishing for the table of the town doctor and his family. The rate was a dime for a big walleye or pike (of course it was a “walleye pike” back then) and 50 cents for a sturgeon.

However, I’m still on board for saying that sturgeon fillets will cause extreme gastric distress if eaten!

Hey Brian
A local stock lake ? . . . Are you sure that isn’t a left-over shot from the DNR pond at the state fair? Just kidding – but you should have dangled a worm in front of that monster. Looks like she’s a might over 10 inches but have you ever noticed how the flatheads prefer the brown and yellow bullheads over the black. That’s some “brown gold” there alright.
Nice shot!

Well you have finally done it – you’ve blown my mind!
Nice catch!!

Yup, smallmouth buffalo – what a fantastic fish!

I’m thinking of the the same thing for my wife -so thanks for the great thread and info. I know that the bite normally dies down quick here after sundown, but has anyone experienced an eelpout bite or anything else that would warrant the lines being down in the evening?

You guys are out of my league, my framed redhorse, sturgeon, and gar photos are as far as I am going to push it. Nice work on those latest fish, any rivers in the mix?

Way to go Aaron, what a speciman (referring to the fish). Wear it proud! I can’t wait for those shortheads to start running.

I’ve had rivermen with much more experience than I say that a flathead will occasionally bite in the winter so I will not heat up this thread by arguing that point. However, what should be quite evident to everyone is that these fish are lethargic, very concentrated, and very vulnerable – particularly to those who would consider putting one in a cooler in the first place! Targeting flats in the winter is not for me and I am for any measure that will protect these creatures so they can make their sweet bait-clicker music on a beautiful June night. Just think, that sound can be heard in less than five short months! If more people could get out with someone like Brain to experience that, I would hope they would think twice before dropping a daredevil, or anything else with hooks on it into a group of wintering flatheads.

Sorry to hear that Aaron – hope the damage wasn’t too serious and your mending is quick. I definitely still owe you, so let me know if you need someone to drag you out onto the ice!

just got back from LOW yesterday,and I think you will find a minimum amount of leaves still on this on this weekend, particularly on the undergrowth. Did not really chase grouse,too much bouncing around on the waves, and as usual, the fields around Baudette sure had the deer coming out about 5:00 each evening.

just got back from LOW yesterday,and I think you will find a minimum amount of leaves still on this on this weekend, particularly on the undergrowth. Did not really chase grouse,too much bouncing around on the waves, and as usual, the fields around Baudette sure had the deer coming out about 5:00 each evening.

I think Pike Bay Lodge may fit the bill for you. As far as other things to do – you could drive into Ely and have lunch and go through some of the shops – if you like the canoe/natural theme. Otherwise there is the 4-wheeler playground near Gilbert if you have those machines and would rather ride than fish. There are grouse around to chase, if you that’s more up your alley, and if you prefer something bigger there are plenty of bears too. You may be too early for fall colors, but I think they run the lift to the top of Giants Ridge ski area near Biwabik for a great overlook. There is the golfing at Giants Ridge too and great mountain biking and actually a paved bike trail running out of Biwabik for some secluded road biking. Mostly though there are trees and rocks and more trees and rocks. Vermillion is definitely the big gem up there in my mind. If I was staying on the lake, I would take advantage of every hour I could possibly be out there. Hope that helps.

Hi Brian,
Nice to see you last night for our “annual rendezvous.” It got a little later this year- hope I never miss it completely though! Speaking of annual trditions, I also found myself bleeding like a stuck pig last night by not being smart enough to keep my fingers out of a fish’s mouth. This time it is wan’t my fault though. I had just landed my personal best Shortnose gar of 29″ ( you must have stirred them up last night), and had got him into the “boat” (I guess that was mistake #1) when he unexpectedly jumped up into the air, bounced off the top of my tacle box, and as quick as lightning came from almost two feet away to clamp squarley onto my left index finger. In a miracoulus turn of events he released almost immediatly but then bounced around for the next minute and a half, twisting and spinning with fantastic speed and ferocity.
I didn’t think I was even hurt at first, although I knew my finger was in his beak. Then I heard the sound of some big drops hitting the alumiinum floor and I then realized a had a minor gusher flowing from my finger. There were indeed two neat rows of small punctures across my finger… not really that much damage though. I could only think of what kind of lacerations would have occurred had he clamped on and then done furious routine. There literally would have not been much left of my finger then. I would have had to cut the stump off with the pliers and kept on fishing I guess.
Other than the gar, we managed two channels, a bowfin, a nice carp, a river carp sucker, of course several sheepies and an 8 pound flat that should have weighed 5, but it looked like it swallowed a beach ball. Other than the blood letting and swallowing several dozen bugs (you warned me!), it was another great night on the river.

eyehunter, you’re making my mouth water! I still don’t know if I could actually toss a flathead into my meat bucket though. My only hope now is that an eagle will be flying over with a two pound flathead in it’s talons- and like the commercial, release it to drop into my boat (well,canoe). I think it will be long wait for that. I don’t have a problem with people utilizing a renewable resource, and certainly wouldn’t have a problem chomping into some heavenly fish flesh…It just would be hard for me to do the deed personally. Perhaps If I lived in the south where these fish were more plentiful and available for more months out of the year I would feel differently. To me, there is quite a mystique and respect surrounding the flathead.

Andy Anderson- you are the man! Great attempt on the record with that purple-lipped beauty. All those hog suckers seem to come out of the same mold- about 8 ounces short of the record. Every ounce is big with those guys, but two ounces is getting pretty darn close. I am glad to see you and your fish getting some respect here, it is a very cool creature and a very good catch on your part. Keep after them and get you’ll find those extra ounces one of these days!

Interesting discussion! I also have had problems now and again with PP breaking real soon after loading up on what I presumed was a nice flathead. (this seems to go in streaks) That is why I always bring at least one rod with mono. However, I recently watched the video from LOW last year and it still brings howls of disbelieving laughter over why those rods weren’t snapping under the pressure we were putting on the tackle. We never had a second thought that line might break and definitely had our backs into it. The 80# PP worked like a champ.
I still have have those memories of losing cats though and whatever the reason, it doesn’t sit well with me. The UPS man delivered my goodies from Cabela’s yesterday and there is a spool of 150# PP ready to go on the big sticks tonight. looking at it I don’t know why I stopped there.. kinda wishing I went for 200. Overkill, you bet – but there’s something called peace of mind.

Greetings one and all!! With the first temps above freezing I am crawling out of my hole and am begining to think of that vast fleet of gray submarines that are already probably starting to turn their pointy noses towards the mouth of the Rainy River. I can’t wait! I hope to join you for a great time and I have a question for those of you in the know…Last year I was pretty paranoid about not straying over the “imaginary line” into Canadian water. Of course by looking at the map it always seemed that Minnesota owned about 15 feet of the main channel and the rest was in Canada. To avoid confusion, would it be advisable to buy a nonresident Canada license so as to take the worry out, or are there also customs concerns in crossing the line? Your advice would be most appreciated. Thanks.

Phil

It was very nice of you guys to stop by. Unfortunatley, it may be next spring before we get out there again, altough next year the plan may be to avoid the major holidays. Although I am looking forward to next year’s Sturgeon Excursion, and if that doesn’t qualify as the next new “major holiday”, I don’t know what would!

Dan,
You are totally holding a trophy there!! I don’t by what roll of the dice or by what twist of fate some fish were labled as top drawer and others as “trash”. I’m not here to argue with anyone ( I am glad to see some opinion based on facts and actual experience expressed here though). I am just here to voice my opinion that the fish Dan is holding has just about every attribute that is valued in any “game” fish and probably a few more to boot. And as far as having a negative impact on the fishery for other species, I guess I have never understood that one either… How many more walleyes per acre could you possibly squeeze into the Miss.? In spite of some extemely substantial year ’round fishing pressure, I don’t know of a fishery that compares- except maybe now Upper Red Lake-and guess what, there’s Sheepies in there too. I don’t wan’t to digress into a tirade. My hat’s off to anyone who pulls in a fish of that size of any species, particularly one that pulls like a sheep. I hope you enjoyed the experience.

Great info! I think it is a obvious sign of the experience of Brian and the rest of the fishermen on this board that it is a pretty rare occurence (I don’t think I’ve ever seen it) to see a large deceased flathead floating near a known catfish hole. I am sure it must happen on occaision, but it obviously a case of knowledge as well as respect for the fish that keeps it from happening more often. I did see 3 walleyes floating over last weekend, 2 of them in the 28″ range. Judging by the feathered tail fin on at least one, she had been in a hard twine net and then at some point “released”. Sometimes mortality is an unfortunate reality of fishing but I’m going to take all precautions with the big girls. Thanks again for the education/reminders.

We were out for two nights, travelling light and exploring for new spots…know many of the skeeters down there on a first name basis now. I didn’t really mind them that much and being out there for a while let us get in on all times of the day, and as I’m sure you know, it can get wild in those hours just before sun up. The thumb, on the other hand is still a little tender. That was one of the first flatheads and I decided it was worth a picture, so I scrambled up the bank with it. It was only about 9 pounds and was doing a good job of clamping onto my hand so I just kind of let it dangle there as I climbed up. When I got to level ground I was pretty disturbed to see blood flowing out from under the gill plate and streaming down the side of the fish, since I knew it was only hooked in the corner of the mouth. I guess I was no less disgruntled when I realized that it was my blood and that the top of my thumb knuckle had been pretty much peeled back and chomped off. Pretty stupid. I may have to change my handle to “cat rookie”. If it leaves a scar I will have to come up with a much better story than what actually happened.

A channel from earlier on Saturday.

That’s what I’d call a Mississippi mud slide. I’m glad we didn’t take that ride-hope no cats were underneath!! There were apparently some survivors as we had a few little kitties come out to play

I got that cat very near the aerator which I am pretty sure would be within easy casting range from the highway shoreline. If I recall correctly there is about 20 FOW right there. I actually thought I had a carp at first because of the very determined fight- I don’t think I have had anything approaching that from a channel cat since, even in warmer water. If that guy is still in there he would be a real handful by now. I did hear an interesting thing from a guy a work with who grew up across the street from that lake- he said about 30 years ago they put a “plastic liner” underneath the entire east lake. He wasn’t sure why – neither am I, but I guess he would know.

Two years ago I caught my biggest channel ever on the aforementioned body of water. I took the canoe down there because it was the first lake to open up in the spring and I was itching for soft water. Saw some GIANT snapping turtles on the bottom near the cattails and even caught a few tiny bluegills. Finally drifted over the deep hole and a channel cat of some 11 pounds grabbed my beat up angle worms and the fight was on. She towed me around the lake for several laps in front of the afternoon rush hour traffic, finally got her beached, photoed and back in she went. Funny, but I haven’t fished there since. Just figured that was my quota of luck for that lake!

I have often pondered the blue cat enigma, wondering as I guess the DNR did too back in the 70’s, what does the Miss. in southern Iowa have that Pepin and the St. Croix doesn’t? Other than the vast number of uninterrupted miles and increased volume, I guess the obvious answer is first and foremost- Blue Catfish. While I will never give up hope, I am frustrated by the fact that most of the “Blue Cat encounters” today are all but certainly misidentifications. I just don’t know why we don’t at least encounter a few verifiable “strays”! Barriers certainly have played a part in recent years (but how did an “Asian” carp get itself up to pool 3?).
Perhaps in the past, the number of days with cold weather conditions/water temps this far north have been a limiting factor to the way of life of a Blue Catfish and to the forage species it relies on, and maybe that is why a permanent population was never established here. I guess only a catfish would really know. However, it does seem that the recent winters here have not been up to the standards to the ones of the 1700-1800’s. That is why I keep looking to the south with hope.
Maybe another round of stocking should be tried, it could be billed as a biological solution /alternative to the fish barriers talked about to foil the bighead and silver carp. Until such a time as another stocking actually occurs, when I fish the river and it gets down to the end of the night and there is only one big sucker left in the cooler, about half of that thing is going on a big circle hook and it’s going to get tossed out towards the middle of the river- ’cause you just never know.