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Open water catting


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Made a pit stop at the Rogers Cabelas's today and checked in on my old buddy Big Blue. Seeing him again got the open water juices flowing.

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I cant let myself get antsy after having to go cold turkey in the fall after a month or two it gets tolerable but once the river temp gets to be about 45f, I start getting real antsy. Still got a few months before that happens though.

Flaco you gonna go see POS at 1st ave at the end of the month?

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Anyone else getting antsy? Boy thats all I have been thinking of lately.

After seeing those perch in your avatar, I don't think cattin is the ONLY thing you've been thinking of. wink

Holy smokes, those are big. Wonder if they'd make good flathead bait?

Yeah, it's getting a bit antsy here. Got some hooks the other day, thinking about what type of rods to get this year. Prolly need to stock up on sinkers, etc. Buy a little here and a little there and it doesn't seem like I'm spending any money at all! smile

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I built one new channel rod and also puchased a new 7000 reel. Also purchased some glow syicks and hooks. I just need to get the boat home to get the batteries charged up and fill er up with gas.

I'll be hitting the Sippi for eyes and the early crappie bite and then, it will be time.

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Quote:
Flaco you gonna go see POS at 1st ave at the end of the month?

Possibly. I used to go to all sorts of shows over at First Ave, but haven't been to any for quite a while. You thinkin' about headin' up?

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Cattin, nah, not yet. I need to get through 2 more ice fishing trips. Then when open water comes some carp spawning, sheepheads, and whities, try to sneak out for some spawning crappies, this year will be my first sturgeon run. While the carp are spawning I will usually hit a few kitties, then the fever really kicks in then. So I do think of cats now and then, but there is to much other good fishing to jump ahead that far!

Although sitting in a boat in 80 degrees sure does sound fun right now.

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I still got a bunch of ice fishing left in me too. A long with other species after ice out. Driving by the rivers around here lately (MN & Sippi) gets me thinkin' about all the nights spent out there waiting to here clickers or seeing rods doubled over in there holders again though. I'll try to remain patient. grin

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Quote:
Possibly. I used to go to all sorts of shows over at First Ave, but haven't been to any for quite a while. You thinkin' about headin' up?

I haven't been to First ave in ages but yeah..got tickets already so I should be there.

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I now see it falls on the same day as Cool Cats. We were kinda thinking about stayin up there and fishing sat/sun, but we'll see what happens.

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I hear you guys... June 6th can't get here soon enough. wink

June 6th? Is this when the magical switch turns on?

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A good buddy of mine has been open water river cat'in the last couple weeks. Got a very nice 12-13lb or bigger (30” plus) channel this last weekend. I seen the picture this morning. Very nice fish. He got a very nice musky a week or so back on cut also! I will see if I can get the image forwarded to me and post it wink.

I think a trip with him is in the future grin

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I think I know where he is fishing! I used to head there several times a winter to fish, but I havent made it there at all this year.

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  • 1 month later...

Well I'm stuck up at college... took my ice fishing stuff home for spring break, and since I'm in Bemidji there's no way I'm gonna be fishing much open water (if any) before school's out. So I'm goin CRAZY up here lol!

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Being new to MN catfish fishing, would someone advise some good rivers to fish for catfish?

Also could someone advise if the Minnesota River flows into or away from the twin Cities?

Thanks...

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The main rivers are the Mississippi, St Croix, and Minnesota. Most of the tributaries of them also have cats. Channels are plentiful with the Flathead range being south of the Coon Rapids dam.

The Minnesota flows out of Big Stone near Ortonville, flows South to Mankato and then turns NorthEast from Mankato and meets up with the Mississippi near the MSP Airport.

You can get a good idea of the river layout if you bring up a satellite image in Google Maps.

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I'm new to fishing cats in MN, but got out whenever I could in SD to fish for cats when I lived there. Moved to the Twin Cities a little more than 2 years ago, and would definitely like to get back into fishing for cats. So I'm writing this to see when anybody has an open seat, that you would be kind enough to give me a call and let me join you. I'd be willing to pay for gas/snacks/bait. You can contact me at [email protected]

Look forward from hearing from you in the future.

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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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