Kyle
Well-known member
fishing for smallmouths and caught this guy. thought i had a jumbo smallmouth on the other end. first time for me catching channel cat on a fly.
so this happen today
- Thread starter Kyle
- Start date
wildtrout2
Well-known member
It's what's for dinner. Channel cats are delicious!
Frederick V. C.
Active member
Was fishing out of my kayak recently and hooked what felt like a 5 lb bass. After a tremendous fight I was surprised to see about a 3 lb. Bullhead. Most guys fish for channel cats; first Bullhead I've caught there.
TimMurphy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 3,280
Dear Kyle,
Nice bycatch!
Years ago, when I lived in upstate NY I used to stop and fish the Susquehanna River behind the Owego NY rest stop on Route 17/I-86. While working I often stopped to flip a few casts. There used to be a hole in the fence where you could scramble down the bank to the river. It's been over 20 years, so I don't even know if the rest stop is still there. If it is still there, I'm sure some other fisherman has cut a hole in the fence! 😉
Anyway, it was early May just after walleye season had opened. The river was low for that time of year, so I figured why not give it a try? Working from the bank I tossed a Chartreuse and Yellow Clouser out as far as I could and stripped it about two strips when it stopped dead. I set the hook and the fish dove for the bottom and bulldogged. I was sure I had a 12 pound plus walleye on, but when I got the fish in, I was surprised. It was a channel cat that was easily 27 inches long and probably 7 or 8 pounds.
The funny thing is, I often targeted channel cats in the Susquehanna up there, but probably 95% of the ones I caught were accidental catches on Clousers, or Murray's Strymphs, or even Rapalas. I'd get a few soaking chicken livers or frozen shrimp, but all the better ones struck artificial baits!
Regards,
Tim Murphy 🙂
Nice bycatch!
Years ago, when I lived in upstate NY I used to stop and fish the Susquehanna River behind the Owego NY rest stop on Route 17/I-86. While working I often stopped to flip a few casts. There used to be a hole in the fence where you could scramble down the bank to the river. It's been over 20 years, so I don't even know if the rest stop is still there. If it is still there, I'm sure some other fisherman has cut a hole in the fence! 😉
Anyway, it was early May just after walleye season had opened. The river was low for that time of year, so I figured why not give it a try? Working from the bank I tossed a Chartreuse and Yellow Clouser out as far as I could and stripped it about two strips when it stopped dead. I set the hook and the fish dove for the bottom and bulldogged. I was sure I had a 12 pound plus walleye on, but when I got the fish in, I was surprised. It was a channel cat that was easily 27 inches long and probably 7 or 8 pounds.
The funny thing is, I often targeted channel cats in the Susquehanna up there, but probably 95% of the ones I caught were accidental catches on Clousers, or Murray's Strymphs, or even Rapalas. I'd get a few soaking chicken livers or frozen shrimp, but all the better ones struck artificial baits!
Regards,
Tim Murphy 🙂
Kyle
Well-known member
this one put up such a good fight on a 6 weight, thought for sure it was gonna be a new personal best smallmouth for me. i may have to bust out my ultra light rod and toss some chicken livers at dusk! i do love catfish but i let this one swim free
Striperbobby
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2020
- Messages
- 115
when the big may flies are hatching in mid July you can catch them at night on poppers when they are sucking all the dead flies off the surface. A big susky channel cat will pull you around in a kayak just like stripers in the salt!
