Water temperature in Rock river has finally reached that magic 78 degree mark, pushing channel cat into the spawning mode on Rock river and other southern Wisconsin waters
Channel cats like to build nests in structure like wood, old tires, discarded barrels, etc. with the males viciously guarding these nests and exhibiting very un-catlike behavior
Think bassin’, jig-and-pig, spinnerbait, cranks…For the next week or so those big blue male channel cats on Rock river–and elsewhere–will show you bass guys who the big Mack Daddy of the dark water is !!!
They are indeed hitting the cranks on the lower Wisconsin this past week. I’m not a catfisher really but it’s always a blast hooking into a nice one. The wife had a good time battling one she hooked on a shadrap her first time out trolling for eyes with me a week ago down by the railroad trestle. Since, there’s been a good 4 or 5 more netted the same way, same place. Water temp is a little cooler here yet.
Ray! Good to hear from ya! Gotta hook up sometime.
hey ted my name is tim and i was wondering like where exactly on the rock. i was wondering because i live in beloit, wis.
Hello, I’m Dustin and could somebody give some tips on where to fish, and what to fish with on theRock River???
Well Dusters and suckredasalways, welcome to IDA !! You’ve come to the right place to get up to date fishing info. I’m sure Ted or one of the other Rock guys will pipe in here and help you out…here is a link to our Rock River Forum too..try clicking on this Rock River Forum
Tim…sorry, haven’t checked this lately and they may be done…but you might want to check the rocky shoreline, tight against shore on the west side of the River from Jerry’s clear down to the dam—especially in front of the old high school. have you ever fished a long cast above the Portland Ave bridge ? Rip rap a long cast above it from when they tore the bridge down holds cats, sometimes bass and walleyes! Right now you might want to try from Happy Hollow up to Afton for cats. They are probably gonna go nocturnal pretty quick, until then fish right in the channel with Sonnys dipbait.
Dustin–we are coming out of the full moon period which means both channels and flatheads will be biting primarily at nite. For the flatheads you might want to try a big minnow or frog along the shoreline of Blackhawk island in the deeper holes, for channels look for a moderate current, snad or rocky rubble bottom and snags/deadfalls. Sonnys super sticky dipbait is the all time killer for Rock channels.Just fish it above the snags , at the channel edge of the snag toward mid-day and toward shore at night. river is on the rise now after rain last nite. Should be good this weekend!
River levels are still above normal from Afton to Monterey dam, good news is its a lot easier to navigate now. The channel cats and smallmouth have both been vicious since water levels went below flood stage. I like to fish lazy style here since I live on the river, 3/8oz slip sinker and a crawler harness spinning in the current. Dont forget lawn chair and a cold beverage too!
Okey, thx, Well Tomorrow (thursday) im goin fishin on the rock by the bowlin alley in Janesville. Probably going to try a few different things. Hopefully I do well.