Riverrat12

[roadrunner]

Riverrat12:
I have entered a cat fish tournament on a small river (Wabash) I do not fish for cats nor do I fish river systems. I know you are thinking how stupid are you. Well I let a buddy talk me into this (him being a buddy is also questionable), I like new experiences and he used to trot line the river so we have some knowledge of the river. Also this is just a bunch of locals having fun I don’t care if we win I will use this as a learning experience. There is a winner for big fish and winner for most pounds big fish can not be added to total weight. We ran the river yesterday and the deepest water we found was 18 feet. Can you tell me what you look for in a river system and what you like for bait and how you rig it? Do you like long stretches of deep water or deep holes that are isolated? Do you fish at anchor or do you slip down current or both, do you fish brush in deep fast water? I think it would be interesting if you could give us a primer on cat fishing rivers. As you can tell by all the questions I don’t know anything. Although this thread is directed to River rat 12 any one can chime in.

If you don’t want to share this much info I understand.

Steve

[LJP]

Get you some Sonny's cheese and the bait keepers that is used with it. The best cat fishing bait there is.

[coombro]

Use to be an avid catfisherman my self and rivers were my preference. Always caught bait bait from the river for my bait. What lives in the river is the best bait. IMO

[riverrat12]

Riverrat12:
I have entered a cat fish tournament on a small river (Wabash) I do not fish for cats nor do I fish river systems. I know you are thinking how stupid are you. Well I let a buddy talk me into this (him being a buddy is also questionable), I like new experiences and he used to trot line the river so we have some knowledge of the river. Also this is just a bunch of locals having fun I don’t care if we win I will use this as a learning experience. There is a winner for big fish and winner for most pounds big fish can not be added to total weight. We ran the river yesterday and the deepest water we found was 18 feet. Can you tell me what you look for in a river system and what you like for bait and how you rig it? Do you like long stretches of deep water or deep holes that are isolated? Do you fish at anchor or do you slip down current or both, do you fish brush in deep fast water? I think it would be interesting if you could give us a primer on cat fishing rivers. As you can tell by all the questions I don’t know anything. Although this thread is directed to River rat 12 any one can chime in.

If you don’t want to share this much info I understand.

Steve

Hey Steve just got in, let me ask you a few questions, is the river rising or fallin,and what color is it,I've never fished it but deepest being 18ft I can compare it to the Salt river I spent alot of time on.Are there area's where ripples go into deep water?Has your buddy ever used the riverworms or greenworms from the bank?Lots a root systems and lay downs? Hit me back it's late....be glad to help.Chuck

[roadrunner]

River is low and on a slow fall the water is dirty looks like it is a rust color.
No on the bank worms. I have to tell you this story; he was running trot lines years ago and their was only one guy catching fish and John ran onto him at the tavern and bought him several beers at closing time he asked him what he was catching fish on well the guy took him out side and told him white grapes. John decided to give it a try went to local grocery store and asked where the white grapes were well they said they did not know why but they could not keep them in stock. He bought every white grape in the county and put them on his trot lines, of course that is not what they were catching fish on and why I am asking you for help. I WILL HAVE WHITE GRAPES IN THE BOAT

I did not see any ripples going into deep holes there are a lot of roots and lay downs also a lot of log jams.

[riverrat12]

Steve it sounds like a big flathead is going to get big fish.With all the structure your talking about I would definetly have some live bluegill or shad thrown around the root systems or log jams.Make sure you cut there tail to get a blood trail.More than likely the other dominent speices of cat is going to be channels.The reason I ask about river or green worms is I used to take a night crawler and thread a couple of the green worms on with it and catch everything in the river.With channels ussally a strong scent will get there attention quick and those riverworms you'll smell on your fingers a week later.Cut shad,skip, or mooneye is a good go to bait.As far as area to fish go I like were a shallow area meets a drop, that's why I ask about the ripples.What I would probably do is anchor and give each spot 30-40 minutes if nothing move on.Drifting would be a problem with all the structure.I don't like fishing when the water is falling but everybody is going to have to deal with it.If you have steep banks make sure you throw a pole right next to the bank, I remember fishing from the bank throwing out to the middle only to find I caught most of my fish right in front of me.I haven't dedicated a lot of time to the smaller rivers in twenty somethin years but I'm sure not a lot has changed.Hope this helps and the white grapes well they could resemble some type of fish egg,of course Ive told many a friend after a good day on the river if I told all the people that ask what I caught them on I told them raw potatoes how many would show up next week with a sack a taters .LOL Good luck and let us know how you do.. Chuck

[roadrunner]

I agree with the flat head and we have some blue gill for bait there are also some nice blue cats in the river.

Thanks for all the help I will give a report Monday but I plan on having a good time no matter what we catch I can always eat the grapes.

[roadrunner]

Chuck one other question do you have any tricks to fishing log jams to cut down on hang ups I am planning on using circle hooks and hope this will not get hung as bad. I assume you need to get into the wood as much as possible.

Do you hook the bluegills thru the lips or the back?

Again thanks

[riverrat12]

Chuck one other question do you have any tricks to fishing log jams to cut down on hang ups I am planning on using circle hooks and hope this will not get hung as bad. I assume you need to get into the wood as much as possible.

Do you hook the bluegills thru the lips or the back?

Again thanks

Steve what I used to do is put a big ole round bobber on with just a hook and adjust the depth a couple times. When that bobber would start freakin out I new the bluegill was seeing something he didn't like.As soon as it went down set the hook and try to get him away from the tree root cause he'll try to get back in his hole.As far as circle hooks,I don't use them.I can't find them big enough to fit the size bait I use now. I hook my bluegill threw the back and don't forget to cut him around the tail for a blood trail. Good luck. Chuck

[roadrunner]

Thanks for all the help I did find some gamagatsu 8/0 circle hooks I hope that is big enough. We will find out tomorrow.

Steve

[roadrunner]

Chuck I want to thank you for all your help as you probably figured we did not do very well with just one real small channel. I have to pay my dues but had a great time and found the river very interesting. I will have to get back out there and learn We were able to determine white grapes were not the go to bait so we ate them. About 1/3 of the teams caught fish with first place being 10 fish weighting 20 + pounds Second was a blue cat weighting 8 lbs. big fish was a blue weighting 41 1/2 lbs. The gentleman who caught this has fished the river every weekend from March until now he has only missed two weekends and he traveled about 15 miles to a 30 ft hole.

Again thanks for all the info

Steve

[riverrat12]

You can't beat time on the water! Glad you had a good time,that's what it's all about.If your ever over my way give me a holler.I'll show you my slice of heaven.Chuck