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Mankato Beginer cat fishing


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I moved to mankato a couple years ago. I want to fish for catfish the big ones and i have never fished for the big ones before. So I am looking for some advice on where to try and tactics. Help would be greatly appriciated.

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Now that the river is dropping give it a go. I like where the blue earth and MN river pour together. Get a fairly heavy rod and reel and a 2-4 oz sinker and a 7-10" bullhead and see what happens. I suggest maybe a campfire and a sixer incase nothing bites. smile If you don't have heavier gear maybe try some cutbait and see if some channels will bite.

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Is that right at the park where they sled down the hill in the winter?

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Yes, works in a pinch (I say pinch because most guys use them for live bait and won't cut them up unless they are small).

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can you only catch big cats after dark? would they bite on stink bait or dead bait?

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If your could sled down that hill and right into the river you'd land in good fish territory. I don't fish there(I try to find less pressured areas), but i always launch the boat and cruise downstream to the confluence. I see a lot of people fishing in the blue earth just before it enters the MN river, but they really should move down stream 100 yds. My side imaging lights up with fish in that stretch of river. There are 3 wing dams which start where the trees end and are spread out about 50yds or so.

Live bait or cut bait...SOmething will tug.

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thanks truth any advice is welcomed. use to fishing for eyes and panfish so river fishing is new to me. i want to catch and release a big one and have fun.

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If you can't find bullheads try using suckers. I have had good luck on dead suckers this year. Most are caught just right on the bottom but caught a 25 pounder on sunday using a dead sucker suspended about 3-4 ft. Was actually fishing for pike but managed to land one heck of a fighting fish. I have caught some nice gar on suspended dead suckers as well. For some reason i can't catch anything on live bait but after that sucker is dead they love it. Hint: Try finding whirlpools or where two currents meet thats been landing some nice 10-15 lbers continuously for me.

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Rather than re-post tons of information, I'll just link to a couple threads in the catfish forum on this site that you can read through. There is a TON of information there.

There's a catfish for beginners thread that Chris Hanson put together a few years back with a TON of general information on how to start.

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1348927/Catfishing_For_Beginners

There's a tip and tricks section too that can be very useful too:

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1846430/Catfishing_Tricks_Tips_Pics_Se

Good luck.

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There are no cats in the Mn...you have to go to pool 2 of the miss.

That is just the meaniest looking flat! (avatar) Rushing.

Looks awesome!

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  • 2 weeks later...

So far the past two outings I've caught a couple 20 inch flat heads and one 30 inch channel cat. I've used large bull heads and had so many short runs then they drop it didn't know if the bait was too big for the fish there, or if just to big period. Had better luck the second outing using chubs and shinners the smaller ones. any advice?

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Sounds like your doing it right now its justa matter of time. I personally like creekchubs after the spawn over bullies but I will use them.

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Not every bite/run is a flathead and never worry about having too big of bait within legal limits of course.

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Sounds like you're doing things right. During spawn, small flatheads are the norm. Later this month and into August, more bigger fish will come out to play. Creek chubs and suckers (live) and even cutbait all work well later in the year.

Short runs that don't end up with a hookset could easily be gar or turtles messing with your bait.

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Not every bite/run is a flathead and never worry about having too big of bait within legal limits of course.

+1

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I keep trying to find better places to fish from shore. Fished a down tree last weekend and next i think will be a bridge if i can find easy access. Is rapid dam any good? fond some nice fishing spots but their in parks that are closed sunset to sunrise bummer.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

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