What a change from just a few nights ago! The ride home at night (or in the early morning for all of you daylight fisher people) has been what we live for! Mid 60 temps for lows are a fantastic relief from the mid 40’s we’ve been having. Of course with the rising temps comes the “chance of a thunderstorm” and it’s wise to check the weather before going out…and maybe keeping an eyeball towards the sky.
After talking the weather over with Tom and his son Ben from Owatonna, MN, we decided to wait for a Mpls/St Paul line of rain go through. We left Everts launch about 8 pm knowing of a very slight chance of a shower.
We had one tiny cloud come over us about dark and just DUMPED on us. Tom said, “I looks like it’s lightening up a little” and it started to rain harder. I asked Tom not to say that anymore!!
The water temp is back up to 72 the flow is just right at 9600 fps. This is the very best time of year to hook into “Whisker Big”!
Ben had the numbers last night with at least three fish in the boat and a few lost. We couldn’t get past that 11 pound mark for Ben. Tom had the lucky stick and his fish darn near had him on his knees while the fight took the rod tip under the boat an motor.
Fighting a fish this size with heavy gear is not like other types of fishing. Garcia 7000 reels, St Croix Muskie rods, 80 pound PowerPro and the drag tightened down as much as it will go. If the fish takes an inch, you’re going to lose an inch!! The trick is to keep them out of the wooden tangles under water and make the whiskered wonder lose the inches!
Both Tom and Ben have enough knowledge now to head out to their favorite river, locate prime fishing areas and what to expect when they do hook into a big guy.
I have this feeling these two will be upgrading their fishing equipment including their landing net real soon!!
It was a pleasure to share the evening with the two of you!
Many of the cat guys talk about fishing snags and deep holes. I thought it was time to talk about shallow water for big cats.
Take last night for example. Our right hand bait was positioned close to the boat in about 7 feet of water.
The back right bait was in 15 feet of water right in front of an underwater tree.
Both of the baits on the left side were placed ON THE TOP of a closing dam in 3 to 4 feet of water.
With the exception of one fish, all of our fish came from the rods with the bullheads swimming on the top of the closing dam.
What’s a closing dam? In our area of the Mississippi, it’s a rock pile that stretches from shore to shore in an area that feeds a backwater. These closing dams are designed to divert the flow of the water from going into a back water, thus holding the water in the main river channel to ensure a 9 foot depth for the commercial traffic on the river.
In the photo, the water level has dropped low enough for the closing dam to be exposed. The water on the left side is staying in the main river. The water on the right side is going to a back water, but now since it’s closed off from the main flow it’s lost it’s flow or current.
Most closing dams in our neck of the river are seldom if ever exposed, like the popular closing dam in Pool 4 just up stream of the DNR ramp in the WI back channel. It’s popular with prop repair services!
I’m going to say there will be skeptics out there feeling that a 30, 40 or 50 pound fish won’t be caught in two to four feet of water.
Never say never!
My favorite Wifes 45 pounder came from less than three feet of water and made me a believer!!
My theory is that the cats move upstream when feeding. It’s easier in this shallow water to pick up anything that moves and they can get they’re mouth around. The minnows are in this shallow water and can easily be seen by shining a spotlight towards them. Where there’s food…there’s flatheads.
Next time out, drop one bait in the shallows and see what happens!
Great report, Brian!
It always rains harder when jinxed from someone saying its almost over
Works the same way when someone says looks like the wind is going to lay down 
Very good point about fishing closing dams/rock in shallow.
Thanks to this fathers day and a couple daughters that want to get me out of the house, my boat should be back in action……thanks for getting me pumped up Mr. K
Good report Brian.Looks like your having a good year for some bigger fish,keep it up.
Nice report Brian. I’ve never heard of closing damns.
Nice post Brian. I would say that 75% of my fish come from 4′ of water or less and most of them come within a couple of feet of a shoreline. I tend to worry more about getting close to the bank then worrying about how deep I am fishing. Most nights I do not even turn on a graph. I just fish current seams with wood and undercut banks.
Brian, great report and very informative. I like the pics of the tree and the dam, along with the descriptions of where you are placing baits, etc. Very good info!
Our prop wouldn’t know anything about that dam…
Great report Brian! I really like the underwater shot, Safe to assume that the picture was taken with the Marcum over the winter?
Pete
Good assumption Pete!
Don from WILcraft (Water Ice Land Craft)gave me a ride out to these dangerously thin ice spots last winter when the water was clear. It was the only way I could think of to safely get out there without a helicopter!
Although they’ve changed some from this springs high water, it really gives a person a new perspective of where and how to fish these log pile snags.
No doubt! It really gives a whole new perspective on what’s really below the surface. Was that taken using the Marcum 820 or the 825c?
All of my good fish have come shallow. I only look deeper when the sun is up. Good report Brian.
That would be the 825c color camera.
Some people think it’s only for ice fishing.
Kev, it that where you catch the channel cats too?
Nice report BK.
The only thing it was missing was one of those cool BIG walleye pics.
From Saturday evening…
Thank You.
Whats the ratio on bullheads this year?
3 to 1 Walleye to cat.
Great job Brian. With temps down here near the 100 mark this week I have been thinking about getting out for a night of fishing with bullheads.
For walleye of course. 
You telling me a person can use bullheads instead of willow cats????
Stuart my friend, that will cost a guided night trip to find out.
Those are some beauties, BK!!
Stuart my friend, that will cost a guided night trip to find out.
Your on.I’ve had the itch but can’t get anyone to go with and I’m afraid of the dark, as you well know.
In about 36hrs, I’ll be out with BK trying to repeat last yrs trip. Hopefully I don’t break another rod.
BK you’ll get your fresh baked goods before I get in the boat.
Just remember, give anything home made to Dean is bad luck.
Your trip last year must have been better than mine…
It was! Mark didn’t bring his
spouse along carrying a walleye rod! 
Nice Mud cats!