P3 & 4 Big Cat’s 6/10/06

It’s been a very busy and interesting week catten on Pool 3 and 4!

Friday, June 10th 2006

I could tell Don (FarmDAD1) was getting discouraged by missing a couple of hookups, but as I explained…that’s part of fishing…sometimes the hook just doesn’t connect. Those misses were soon forgotten about when he made a solid connection with this beautiful 40 pounder! A personal best!

Don had one more GOOD run and connection just prior heading in for the evening. He was leaning back on what he described as a “real good” fish when the beautiful sound of the Garcia 7000’s drag slipping out could be heard. Normally when a large amount of line slips through a cinched down drag on a 7000, it’s a high 30’s at least, but more likely a fish into it’s 40’s. The bad part was that as fast as the bite and run came…the 10/0 Gamakatsu popped out!

Brent (Farmboy1) had the “whiff” odds with him last night. If I recall correctly, he buried those 10/0 hooks on every hook set…

Here’s Farmboy1 with his largest of the evening. A healthy 33 pounder.

Last nights weather didn’t look so ideal, but it turned out very comfortable with the exception of a slight chill on the way home. Temps in the mid 50’s. The water temp took a major drop from Thursday when it was 77 degrees. Last night the surface temp was 69, dropping from the cooler temps and the rain. The cooler temps and slight rain sure kept the bugs away…I only ate two or three on the way home!

Good Fishing with you and your Dad Farmboy!

Thursday, June 9th 2006

With a last minute cancellation and some other miss communications, I found myself fishing alone on P4 at 4:30 pm. Launching out of Evert’s Resort, I headed down stream for some scouting and ended up marking some very good holes and snags.

I spent about an hour at the dam and boated a couple 10 lbs daytime flats. I called it quits early in the evening but managed a 17 and a 39 pounder prior to packing up for home. Since this was the largest cat I’ve personally boated this year, it made me realize (again) what kind of fight these top of the food chain fish have. Between fighting and netting her myself, I was pooped after releasing her!

The 39 was the first flathead I’ve landed with my “bank” fishing rod that I had custom made for me by Mike Fisher at Hooked on Fishing in Rochester. Mike, It’s a keeper!!!

Fellow IDAer Brian Lyons met me at the dock and I was greatful for his assistance in loading the boat. Thanks Brian!

This is kind of a goofy photo. The timer clicked the picture just as I was hearing another run from the rod off to the right.

Wednesday, June 8th 2006

Last winter, FM owner Rick Paquin and I talked about flatten together and last week, we made it happen. I told him we’ll do a little walleye fishing first…then catten after dark.

When I met Rick at the landing, he had three rods…one catten rod and two walleye whips. One had a rapala one and I think the other had a jig. This would be normal for a walleye trip…but I had something else in mind…. I said “might as well leave your eye stuff in the truck…we’ll be fishing a little different tonight.” I got a puzzled “ok” and off we went to finesse fish for walleyes and tangle with a cat or two.

To make a long story short, I was getting worried that our 6 inch bullheads and size 10/0 Gamakatsu hooks weren’t going to trick a walleye that night. I kinda feel foolish when we don’t catch at least one…because most walleye guys say to themselves “this idiot is trying to fish walleyes like catfish…that’s not going to work!” I was planning on giving her 10 more minutes, then go off looking for flats.

Just then the rod tip on the inside (6 fow) bends and the clicker goes off. Rick’s thinking small flathead, until the just shy of 26 inch eye splashes by the side of the boat. Most people don’t believe it when the see it…much less hear about it.

I felt better now that there was proof in the boat!

As a side note, the flatsheads are now moving into these areas. I haven’t caught a walleye since last Wendnesday and I’m sure they’ve move into the main river channels. Start fishing the wing dams guys!

Rick pulled in a good number of flats that night, I believe 13 pounds was the largest. We just couldn’t locate Mr. Big…but that’s fishing!

Practice Catch, Photo and Release for you’re kids!

See ya on the water!