I caught a cowboy boot once. I also lost a rod in one of my favorite spots and caught it a year later to the day. My buddy Clark lost two of my rods and coined the spot the Bay of Lost Rods. Cats are known for yanking rods out of the boat on Mendota. Couple weeks later he caught one but the other is a goner
I Don’t use anything but floats.. I like splashbrights.
I will never understand fishing for sturgeon on purpose.
Wow Nice fish Steve
You are welcome anytime grass hopper.
I think I’ve caught a couple twenty plus in the last few years err every trip I go on. My buddy got a 30 plus last summer but that was pure luck. other than I took him to the spot and told him where to put his bait and netted it for him. I am just about to start this summer’s quest for that 45lber I know is here somewhere.
A dozen splash brights.
A new mh 6 ft ugly stick and 2500 series okuma spinning reel.
A less lucky net man.
5000 yards of 20# hivis power pro
Snowsuit fxe. Best money I have ever spent. I use mine November-march
Sounds like I need to add this to my bucket list. How do you approach the river up there? Anchor up and fish the breaks? Where do you lay on a bunch of frogs? This is without a doubt the best year of catfishing around here I’ve ever seen. Last year my average was 28 inches. This year has been off the hook with a 31 inch average. I might be up for a trip swap if someone knows what they are doing.
Sorry to hear of this Shark. Take it easy and get better soon.
And now I’ve seen everything
Bass rocket for catfishing? No thanks. They do fish for cats out there in the winter. The spot I would look at usually has some sketchy ice unless we get another vortex, I wouldn’t go there. You have to hand it to the rod loser, he has only fished for cats maybe 5 times this year and he sits alone atop the leader board. Now I understand why Schultz feels the big fish prize is his as long as someone in his boat catches it.
Sorry for the stiff neck at least I can whoop his tail at walleyes.
Well there Mr. Special, I probably have an open seat. They say the sun even shines on a dogs ass some of the time. Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while. Not only can Clark reel in a couple fish when given explicit instructions, gear (that he loses), and a grid coordinate, I end up having to post his pictures for him because he didn’t pay attention in school all that much. Then he goes and lucks into an upgrade which took him all night to find. I’d be embarrassed if he wasn’t a bass guy at heart. So now the lucky bstrd is in first place when I thought my toughest competition would come from the Red River now I have to beat my own camera man/net guy. Oh well tomorrow is another day.
Clark-35.5-x-19.5.jpg
I’m not worried about them so much because Clark just passed me like I was standing still. I think he is now in first place. I do have rod holders but I’ve learned that I miss fish when I use them. I’ve never lost a rod in over 10 years but I obviously pay closer attention than he does.
The Badgers coming from ahead to lose also sucked. The blood on the fish I am holding was only from the mouth not the gills. I release all cats caught on Mendota because they taste like an old shoe might taste. The meat is all yellow and consumption is not recommended.
Thanks James,
I haven’t talked to you in a while. I’ve only tried one little spot in this Bay and I’ve seen 21 fish over 10 lbs in two trips. The two bigger ones and the one that stole my rod came from deeper so Friday I am heading out again and I’m going to fish deeper to test my hypothesis. There is something drawing them to this spot. I think it is a combination of current and wind direction and young of the year gills and perch. Every once in a while I get on a pattern and it can be really fun. Kind of like fishing floats for gills when we were kids only these gills break your gear and steel your stuff.
Nice to see the bite is picking up.
I don’t know what it is about this spot but the fish seem to run bigger here than anywhere I’ve tried on the lake. I’ve seen two fish bigger than I’ve caught anywhere all last year in 2 trips.
Good luck Pug,
I’d invest in a gigantic air conditioner. My mom just moved down there to Punta Gorda. She likes it other than the heat, hurricanes, sink holes, tomatoes won’t grow there, gators, snakes, and Iowa Hawkeye fans…
I know but you have to factor in the Clark is only 4 feet tall and wears a horse shoe in his third point of contact.
wow that must have been an awesome trip. Good pictures too.
We were 40 miles west of Hayward where the Croix crosses 35 is really close to our stomping grounds. Hard to smile when a big beast is trying to smack you around.
A couple more shots
Jake-4.jpg
Jake-2.jpg
Can’t go wrong with an ugly stick in medium or medium heavy.
There were four pups. I think one was from a different litter and it was adopted right before we waded in. We went back to Hayward the next day and the booth was gone so I think the all adopted. A hundred bucks was the fee and some shots already done. Apparently, they raided a farm with many starving animals. Sophie’s mom had killed and consumed several of her siblings. She has a canine tooth wound/scar on the top of her head that bears witness to the ordeal she must have known. She is playful and is unbelievably well trained for 6 weeks. I couldn’t believe it when she yips at the back door to go outside to drop one off. Only one accident so far and it was our fault for not hearing her message. Doesn’t even whine in the crate. Little booger did bite my nose this morning and now I have a cut on my shnoz.
I just returned from the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and they have many legendary guides on the wall there and I noticed several of them had eye patches on.
My answer to this age old question is a matter of weight. If you are not pulling by hand, I’d go otter. I have a Scout and a 2 man otter. I fish out of the scout much more because the otter will give you a double hernia if you have to pull it anywhere by hand in any snow.
No the fish gods didn’t smile upon me. I was 1 for 4. It wasn’t a tournament fish 28. I tried to send you a pm but don’t know if it worked. I just might go back tonight.
Cut Jake some slack, he is a federal worker after all.
