Mississippi River Flatheads

With rain threatening all weekend, we never did get wet.

Friday night found my boat on Pool 4 soaking bullheads with Jeff aka DTWH and his friend Neil the winners of the St Judes Childrens Benefit auction held this early spring.

We didn’t get any tankers in the boat Friday although we may have had at least one chance. Just after hook set the 80 pound braid was cut off on a rock. That’s fishing I guess.

We had good action pretty much the whole time out.

Thanks again Jeff for giving to the Kids of St Judes!

Saturday night found us in nearly the same location.

Aboard was Tony and his Father Paul. Last time I had Tony out all we caught was 5 walleyes ranging from 6 to 8 pounds. As a trophy cat guide, it was pretty demoralizing to say the least. We got over it and that’s enough about last year!

This year Tony hogged all the big ones from his Dad. Boating a 31 pounder around 10 pm and a 35 pounder about 12:30 am. We had 10 runs with 8 fish in the boat. Pretty good action with a few of my "legendary" stories to fill in the down time! LOL!

We called it a night when at 12:30 the sirens sounded. Nothing showed up on the Lowrance display. Nothing on the NOAA weather channel and the lock operator said "got me!" I found out the next day it was a false alarm. Something about getting a new council and a bump of a switch pad.

Sunday evening was more of the same. Nine runs and 7 fish in the boat if I remember correctly. I think Chris had a pretty good time. It’s relaxing fishing, yacking about the past and future of cat fishing in Minnesota and talking about his main passion, the scaly Minnesota State rough fish.

On a side note. When I take out someone that hasn’t flathead fished before my instruction are to set the hook like you want to break the rod. I also add caution because if it’s a small fish or it’s a missed hook set, I don’t want my guest to fall over backwards. On the other hand there has been times where a big cat will actually pull a person forward. My caution here is that the goal is to get the fish in the boat and keep the angler from going into the water either backward OR forward.

I had one fella set the hook standing up and the fish brought him down to his knees on the back lockers of the boat. It doesn’t happen a lot, but it’s something a person should be aware of.

I assume Chris like most folks I tell that to shrugged it off like another fish story.

Next hook set and Chris came off his heals!

Unfortunately we lost that fish half way in. She would have been a whopper!

With the weather and night temps looking up for this weekend, now is the time to get out and wet your bullhead or sucker!

Not sure what to use? Check in with Dean at Everts. He has everything needed for flathead fishing and channel cat fishing all in his bait shop. I’m willing to bet he’ll even give you some pointers as to locations to try.

Remember, just like any fish let the big ones go so they can grow!

Have a safe and enjoyable summer of 2010!