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Colorful Catfish Report – 11/9/07 (5 pics)


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Crazyice and I slipped out to the local watering hole, north of town for a little catting action last night. It was well after dark when we got there and I really wasn’t sure what to expect since I haven’t been on the Zumbro in search of cats for well over a month.

To top it off we tried an entirely new spot with a little deeper water than we were use to. I did some zig zagging and figure eights over the area looking for breaks and fish on the graph. We found a spot that showed some potential and dropped anchor and never had to move.

5 minutes into the night and my rod bounces with this 25” (6lb 13oz)

ty_cat7.jpg

At this point I hadn’t even had time to take my coat off yet.

A couple fish later I landed what is possibly my brightest catfish ever. This thing shimmered in gold.

ty_cat5.jpg

I jumped out to a quick 4-0 fish lead over crazy, but it didn’t take him long to take it up, then take the lead with this 26.25”er

andy_cat3.jpg

I managed the hog of the evening with this respectable 27.25”er (8lbs 6oz).

ty_cat3.jpg

On this fish I measured the diameter of this fish from the tip of its left spine to the tip of its right spine. It was 7.75” across. I’ve been thinking ICE a lot and how big a hole it’s going to take to pull fish like this (and possibly bigger) through the ice. This measurement told me quite a bit.

It was an awesome night on the water. No wind, comfortable temps, and the fish were really going. We ended the night with 8 cats each and probably missed 5+ fish each. 7 of our fish were two foot or better. For about an hour one of us would get a bite every 5 minutes.

The color on these fish continues to amaze me. The fish ranged from several shades of grays, browns, and yellows. Pale and Gold are other colors that come to mind.

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hit 9 more last night with 2 right near the 24" mark. Larger fish have been tough to find as of late. We moved around a bit, but couldn't find any active fish except in the same spot as as we caught fish earlier in the week. The bite has also gone very soft compared to the summer bite.

Hanson, I'm still looking for the early ice spot. To answer your question...No

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These last two outings have been interesting, found fish, but no monsters. It sure would be nice to be able to figure out where the sumos hunker down for the winter!! I am eagerly anticipating pulling some of them through the ice!

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
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