Did a little exploring on a new stretch of the Fox river this weekend and found a nice pod of flatheads. These fish moved up on shallow rock flats with moderate current to feed on the cut bait and live bait we had rigged up. All our fish were released to fight again.
The fox river is probably (in my opinion) the best trophey catfish fishery in our state that gets very little recognition or attention. Mainly due to the fact that most people do not eat these fish due to the high levels of PCB’s and contaminents in the Fox. They also recieve very little fishing pressure.
Typically were using both live bait (suckers, gills, rock bass, chubs, whatever we can catch or buy locally for bait.
Good fishing and be safe! Cpr those big girls!
Very nice lookin’ cats
That’s gonna create a wet spot or two in the Cat Forum!
Nice fish!!
Way to go Capt.!!!!
Mark
Ok now we know that RB is just a poor fisherman.
Nice!
Nice fish Eric!
It’s good to see some bigger Fox Flatties. I’ve heard that they do actually get some pressure over there.
That reverse hold is a new one
Fish ON!
Tell us more about the Fox River! Is the fishing good from Appleton North or are flats only good in the Green Bay area?
Don’t they have a closed season in the winter over there?
It’s great to see some fish coming from other areas besides the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers.
How about your tackle, rods and reels?
More, more…more info!
some great looking cats! I grew up in DePere but never considered the Fox a place I would like to fish (it was quite polluted back in the 60’s and 70’s). I still have family living there so one of these days, I’m going to have to tow the boat across the state and give it a try!
Hey, I’m just “large fish challenged”.
I only get over to De Pere/Green Bay about once per year but I have heard post spawn is the best time over there. That is something I’ll have to take more seriously. That is where I caught a smallmouth bass on a bluegill a couple months ago.
I was actually on the upper Fox last weekend with my wife and landed 3 channels on bluegills. One was 17 pounds.
I even got hit in the head by a bat which was a first. His radar must have been jammed.
Sorry dude, I couldn’t resist the jab. I think we caught 7 last Friday. Nothing huge, but we did catch a couple eaters from 4-6 for my buddy.
Using 6500 EXT’s (Abu’s) with 80-100 lb Streen braid. 1-3 ounce prymaid, or flat sinkers with 80 lb floro leaders and 7/0 Gamakatsu circle hooks. This whole system is full of fish, each year I pick a different stretch and try to fish it. I fish from the Mouth all the way to Appleton trying to learn as much as I can each season. Fishing obvious structures like bridges with rock, railroad bridges, flats, tail outs, and heads of hole. I also look for area’s with channels where fish might bunch up. Is the season closed in winter? No as far as I know it’s open all year here. Although I ‘m about done for the season on the cats. Soon it’s kings, Browns steelies etc…
Good Fishing!
Capt. Eric Haataja
I guess it was just proposed this spring. I haven’t heard how it turned out.
I’m all in favor of the new proposel it makes sense.
In regards to fishing pressure I have not seen a single catfisherman out any weekend I have fished up on the Fox on the stretches we have fished, and in more popular area’s I just see occasional/slight fishing pressure for these fish. It’s a good thing most anglers do not harvest these fish to eat out of this river due to the high levels of contaminents.
Good fishing!
Eric Haataja