| Matt Johnson Outdoors Thorne Bros Custom Rod and Tackle |
| Matt Johnson Outdoors |
By: Dennis Steele
When the temperature outside is below the
freezing mark, few anglers think of cat
fishing. Cat fishing is typically done on the
hot days of summer. Winter cats however,
can produce fast action with up to 40-50
per day, some times even more. It is a
rewarding and exciting way to spend a
winter day. They fight hard and challenge your fishing skills while not
being all that elusive with these tips.
Good anglers know to do their homework before setting out on their
adventures on the ice. First choose a lake with a respectable
population of catfish. You can find information on populations on DNR
websites. Once you have chosen a lake, get a good map. If you have a
GPS there is mapping software such as Lakemaster where you can
download spots right from your computer into your GPS. Look on the
map for areas with deep holes or basins with sharp breaks.
A flat adjacent to the breaks will be a plus. Sharp inside turns or points
along the break will concentrate the cats. Mark these locations on
your GPS to locate your spots more easily once on the ice.
Staying mobile will put more fish on the ice. I travel by snowmobile and
pull an Otter portable ice shack. With this rig I can move from one area
to another if the fish are not biting, and even cut across land if
needed. Otter portables set up fast, and break down fast to keep you
on the move finding the most active fish. They are also one of the
most durable portable ice shelters on the market and can withstand
the rigors of being bounced along on the ice at a good clip behind
your snowmobile or ATV.
Once you have found your spot, a good quality sonar like the Marcum
LX3 is a must if you want to be successful. Before drilling any holes
use the Marcum to shoot through the ice looking for fish. Cats will be
seen on the display as larger red marks. You may see them belly down
to the bottom and a flickering red mark at the bottom will indicate they
are present. You may also see, and what I look for is large schools of
suspended cats, anywhere from five feet off the bottom to just below
the surface of the ice. The cats will at times school up as thick as
bullheads.
It is not uncommon to see your entire Marcum lit up like a Christmas
Tree. Once you find a good school of cats, drill holes over the entire
area, and beyond the school. Spread out your holes in a line up and
down the break at about 10 yard intervals. Circular hole patterns work
well also, when on a large break or point. The school is likely to move
around the area and its best to have a hole ready. Its is important to
move with the school, staying on top of them the best you can. If the
bite slows move to the next hole and use your Marcum to see if they
are there.
Use a sturdy but sensitive rod. Cats fight hard even in the cold
months and have a unique headshake that helps them free
themselves. Rod lengths of 30 inches will help absorb that shake and
keep your line tight. For line I like to go with 8-pound test. Its light
enough for subtle presentations, yet strong enough to do battle with a
good sized cat. Jigging spoons like Scenic Tackles Go Devil or JR's
Flasher or Crusher are my favorites.
Depending on the activity of the fish I use 1/4 to 1/8-ounce jigging
spoons. Choose colors that are highly visible. Cats not only feed by
smell but especially in colder months will also feed by sight.
Experiment with color until you find what they are responding to. If you
are fishing areas where cats are not schooled up tight a little more
attraction may be needed. JR's Flasher Spoon along with Scenic
Tackles Angel Eye will pull fish in.
Once you have the fish attracted; you will need to get them to bite. Tip
one of the hooks on the treble with a minnow head or tail. Shiners or
fatheads work well along with pieces of sucker minnow. Pinching the
minnow in half or slightly crushing the minnow will let more of the
scent waft through the water. Other baits that I have had success with
are shrimp, chicken livers and even crawlers if you can find them this
time of the year.
Various presentations work for these guys. Sometimes jigging with
large up-down sweep to attract the fish is sometimes enough to get
them to slam the bait. Other times you may need to finesse the cats
into biting. Watch your sonar while you jig. You will see what
presentation turns the targets on the Marcum towards your bait.
The active or hungry ones will move a little faster than the rest in the
school and towards your bait. If they seem to stall, give the rod tip a
little jiggle or just move the bait slowly away from the fish. This often
triggers a bite. Sometimes the cats will hammer your bait and
sometimes it will be barely noticeable. You may feel only a slight
decrease in the weight of your rod tip, much like a crappie "lift bite".
When the cats are biting this light I often will balance the rod on my
finger and wait until I see the rod move slightly then set the hook with
a sharp snap. A spring bobber or Rock and Reel will also help detect
these very light bites. Once you have a cat hooked, hang on! Cats are
noted as one of the most powerful fighting freshwater fish. Fight them
with patience and make sure your drag is set just right. You are in for
a battle!
With a little homework and some good gear, catfish can be a unique
and challenging fish to angle for in the cold winter months. Get out
and give it a try. I am sure you will have a blast!
Dennis Steele
*** Dennis is the Pro Staff Director for FishingMN.com and is also a
catfish/walleye guide on the Minnesota River. Dennis is also a
contributor to the In-Fisherman Catfish Guide.
If you would like to get a hold of Dennis, you can e-mail him at...
dennis@fishingminnesota.com
When the temperature outside is below the
freezing mark, few anglers think of cat
fishing. Cat fishing is typically done on the
hot days of summer. Winter cats however,
can produce fast action with up to 40-50
per day, some times even more. It is a
rewarding and exciting way to spend a
winter day. They fight hard and challenge your fishing skills while not
being all that elusive with these tips.
Good anglers know to do their homework before setting out on their
adventures on the ice. First choose a lake with a respectable
population of catfish. You can find information on populations on DNR
websites. Once you have chosen a lake, get a good map. If you have a
GPS there is mapping software such as Lakemaster where you can
download spots right from your computer into your GPS. Look on the
map for areas with deep holes or basins with sharp breaks.
A flat adjacent to the breaks will be a plus. Sharp inside turns or points
along the break will concentrate the cats. Mark these locations on
your GPS to locate your spots more easily once on the ice.
Staying mobile will put more fish on the ice. I travel by snowmobile and
pull an Otter portable ice shack. With this rig I can move from one area
to another if the fish are not biting, and even cut across land if
needed. Otter portables set up fast, and break down fast to keep you
on the move finding the most active fish. They are also one of the
most durable portable ice shelters on the market and can withstand
the rigors of being bounced along on the ice at a good clip behind
your snowmobile or ATV.
Once you have found your spot, a good quality sonar like the Marcum
LX3 is a must if you want to be successful. Before drilling any holes
use the Marcum to shoot through the ice looking for fish. Cats will be
seen on the display as larger red marks. You may see them belly down
to the bottom and a flickering red mark at the bottom will indicate they
are present. You may also see, and what I look for is large schools of
suspended cats, anywhere from five feet off the bottom to just below
the surface of the ice. The cats will at times school up as thick as
bullheads.
It is not uncommon to see your entire Marcum lit up like a Christmas
Tree. Once you find a good school of cats, drill holes over the entire
area, and beyond the school. Spread out your holes in a line up and
down the break at about 10 yard intervals. Circular hole patterns work
well also, when on a large break or point. The school is likely to move
around the area and its best to have a hole ready. Its is important to
move with the school, staying on top of them the best you can. If the
bite slows move to the next hole and use your Marcum to see if they
are there.
Use a sturdy but sensitive rod. Cats fight hard even in the cold
months and have a unique headshake that helps them free
themselves. Rod lengths of 30 inches will help absorb that shake and
keep your line tight. For line I like to go with 8-pound test. Its light
enough for subtle presentations, yet strong enough to do battle with a
good sized cat. Jigging spoons like Scenic Tackles Go Devil or JR's
Flasher or Crusher are my favorites.
Depending on the activity of the fish I use 1/4 to 1/8-ounce jigging
spoons. Choose colors that are highly visible. Cats not only feed by
smell but especially in colder months will also feed by sight.
Experiment with color until you find what they are responding to. If you
are fishing areas where cats are not schooled up tight a little more
attraction may be needed. JR's Flasher Spoon along with Scenic
Tackles Angel Eye will pull fish in.
Once you have the fish attracted; you will need to get them to bite. Tip
one of the hooks on the treble with a minnow head or tail. Shiners or
fatheads work well along with pieces of sucker minnow. Pinching the
minnow in half or slightly crushing the minnow will let more of the
scent waft through the water. Other baits that I have had success with
are shrimp, chicken livers and even crawlers if you can find them this
time of the year.
Various presentations work for these guys. Sometimes jigging with
large up-down sweep to attract the fish is sometimes enough to get
them to slam the bait. Other times you may need to finesse the cats
into biting. Watch your sonar while you jig. You will see what
presentation turns the targets on the Marcum towards your bait.
The active or hungry ones will move a little faster than the rest in the
school and towards your bait. If they seem to stall, give the rod tip a
little jiggle or just move the bait slowly away from the fish. This often
triggers a bite. Sometimes the cats will hammer your bait and
sometimes it will be barely noticeable. You may feel only a slight
decrease in the weight of your rod tip, much like a crappie "lift bite".
When the cats are biting this light I often will balance the rod on my
finger and wait until I see the rod move slightly then set the hook with
a sharp snap. A spring bobber or Rock and Reel will also help detect
these very light bites. Once you have a cat hooked, hang on! Cats are
noted as one of the most powerful fighting freshwater fish. Fight them
with patience and make sure your drag is set just right. You are in for
a battle!
With a little homework and some good gear, catfish can be a unique
and challenging fish to angle for in the cold winter months. Get out
and give it a try. I am sure you will have a blast!
Dennis Steele
*** Dennis is the Pro Staff Director for FishingMN.com and is also a
catfish/walleye guide on the Minnesota River. Dennis is also a
contributor to the In-Fisherman Catfish Guide.
If you would like to get a hold of Dennis, you can e-mail him at...
dennis@fishingminnesota.com
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