Anyone fishing Cats?

[fish4cats]

I have only fished the Miss about 10 times this year for cats and have only caught 1 over 10#, anyone else having any luck with any big fish? have caught alot in that 3-8# range which is normal I guess. I am still looking for that one that will top my 23#. Anyone else caught one over 20 on the stretch from St. Cloud to Monti?

[badfish]

I've been fishing that stretch every once in awhile for cats, My personal best this year is just under 9lbs, a buddy of mine got a 14lber up in monti.

I didnt think there was a whole lot of cats over 20lbs in this area but maybe I'm wrong....I would like to hear someone elses opinion.

[Tippman]

I caught a fat 28 incher by Sartell the other day. Took me for a little ride in the kayak.

[Grant]

I pulled a strong 24x14 out around monti earlier this year... last year was far better, however I'm guessing the fish kill due to the power plant shutting down last winter had something to do with it.

[ASMOLEY]

As you go farther south the bigger the cats get but there are few big ones to be had about the Sartell/St.Cloud area. Earlier this year i hooked into a 18pounder North of Blanchard Dam in Royalton. If you wann hook into that 23+ you'll have higher odds Monti.

[EBass]

Or the MN river for flats - there's the place for 20lb + cats. Same with Pool 2 on south.

Crow has nice cats, but not many 20lbers. Some are close though.

My biggest channel went 32" from the Crow in the spring of last year.

Biggest flat was 38" came from MN river in Chanhassen.

Biggest outa da sippi went 29" on a crankbait.

As you can tell I don't have a scale I just put them on the stick to see how long they are and toss em back.

[smallie_hawgin]

Well based on electrofishing only... we have seen fish up to 31 inches and a little over 10 lbs. But here in a couple of weeks we will be running trot lines to assess the larger cats. Might be interesting. There will be a report available shortly after. So I guess I will let y'all know.

[river rat316]

Make sure ya throw the ones your catching up on shore.... Im sick of em trying to steal my crank baits j/k..... well sorta

[JBMasterAngler]

How far upstream do cats live on the 'sippi? I've seen numerous big cats caught right below the blanchard dam. Are they up in brainerd? Farther up? How long until I pull one through the ice on winnie while I'm fishing for perch?

[big musk411]

My nieghor guy has caught numerous 20lbers and several 30s in Monti, but he lies alot. Seriously, I think you will be hard pressed to catch anything much over 10lbs or 30in. There has probably been 100 or so cats in my boat this year with maybe 2-3 coming close to 30 inches. They have been getting bigger, on average, the last couple times out. The guy who runs one of the catfish tournies told me that the biggest he has seen weighed in at about 14lbs on a certified scale.

Fishing has been very good this year for numbers of fish using cut suckers.

[AlvinMack]

Quote:

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My nieghor guy has caught numerous 20lbers and several 30s in Monti

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I hate to break this too you, but your neighbor is full of shit!

[RiverRatzShadow]

Quote:

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Quote:

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My nieghor guy has caught numerous 20lbers and several 30s in Monti

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I hate to break this too you, but your neighbor is full of shit!

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[polarsusd81]

Smallie

You need help with the trot lines? A good percentage of people in MN don't even know what they are. Coming from the south I have a bit of experience with them. My grandpa and I tended them everyday on a bayou in Arkansas. He was a catfish king. He had a commercial licence for a while and was able to sell some to fish-fry houses down there. I remember quite a few cats, mainly blues, over 80 lbs out there. Get a few of them in the 12' jon boat and try to keep afloat. Fun stuff.

[Grant]

a bit of advise- check the regs on allowed methods- I don't believe unattended lines- trotlines, juglines, and the like are legal in MN.

[Mark Christianson]

Its the DNR running trot lines for assessments of the river.

Polarus comes from the land where trot lines are legal. I have heard some great stories from Hawgtide about trot lines from his younger years in Bama.

[Shack]

I am sorry guys, I forget to post some of my ER up St cloud cats pics on this part of forum. I will go back and post some images of catch's this year.

[Shack]

I know, I know I have got more, but here is some of the Mississippi North. I would say their is a 20-30 lber is out their, but to get it you would have to be lucky as He11! This is what keeps me going. I am due for a 18lber, we get one every year.

Smallie hoggin,

I would also love to help if needed. I am sure you have enough help, but it would be fun.

Personly, I have seen 1 full fledge 20lber caught. A couple between 15-19 and most big ones are around 10-13 lbs. Have not hit that big one this year, but we are coming into the time of year I seen them caught "fall"..

[MSRiverdog]

You want a 20 plus cat you're gonna have to be close to Anoka down to the dam, your odds are a lot better. I have seen a 26#er, huge, a kid had at the dam, daytime off the boat launch about 7 years ago. Theres bunches of big cats down here, I've gotten up to a 14#er off my dock and over 10#s a couple other spots, and I don't fish for em, they're every where.

[Shack]

I have been down at Anoka dam 4 times this year. I have been skunked every time. I just have not had luck down their.

I did hear of a kid catching a rather large cat down thier and I think it was about 7 years ago. I think it was in the Northland news.

I am done down their, low water and all the day dreamer casters, casting over my line. I like ER up to St. Cloud better.

[badfish]

I was out last night between 11pm and 4am just south of clearwater. Between me and my brother we caught probably 40 cats biggest was 7.5 lbs, but a lot of 2-4 lbers. We still had a blast it was non-stop action all night. We just had to fend off the bats....I guess its better than the mosquitoes.

[sparcebag]

Shack you live in Prinston,and dont fish the Kettle,Snake,St.Croix,I lived south of Duluth and those were my favs.Not hugh cats but lots and the occasional 15-20 lber.