Zumbro Kitties

[Crickschop04]

I've read a number of posts here with people catching catfish in the Zumbro River near Hammond. I've spent about 15 hours in the last two weeks attempting to catch one and I've had no luck. I've been trying the rocky outcropping with the down trees about a mile upstream of Hammond (second wingdam?), with either a crawler or liver sitting on the bottom where the current meets the pool. So far we've only land 1 sucker, 2 sheepies, and a 28" carp. Anyhelp would be great as we plan to head out again Fri.

[Dan Thiem]

The cats are usually on the move. One time they will be there and the next time they wont. Murph has had his luck in a few different spots. Not very consistant.

The one spot where I could almost catch them every time has not produced anything to speak of this year.

It seems like they move from hole to hole. What do you think Scott?

If it's not raining tomorrow night you can tag along with us. We should be down there around 5:00 or 5:30.

[Crickschop04]

Current? no Current?

[Dan Thiem]

Deep holes with slow current. Only need a 1/4 oz. weight or so.

[MURPHFISHER]

Yea, like Dan said. It really is hit or miss. I would stick with chicken livers. Fish the deepest slow pools you can find this time of year. They are really going to be on the move. If you do not get any hits in an hour or so move to a new spot. I usually use quite a big chunk of liver as well. I think it is more pure luck that I fell into some nice schools of cats. The right place at the right time you know. We will be down there tomorrow night if you want to join. Look for a blue Honda CRV along the river road and that is us.

[Crickschop04]

Thanks for the invite. I've talked my buddy (who's not a fisherman) into going down there with me the last two times and he hasn't had a bite, and he is convinced there is no fish so he wants to try up at Sandy Pt. I don't care where I go, but the wife's having a scrapbooking party so I gotta get the rock out of the house.

Murph- I was the guy who talked to you at the Star last Sat.

[MURPHFISHER]

Yea, I figured that was you. Nice to meet you the other night. I have not tried by Sandy Point, but have heard people have success there below that bridge. This weather might create quite a challenge if the water is high. If you do not get any action there, move to the fishing pier at Fishermans Inn. I caught some cats straight out from the parking lot last year. Or pack it up and hit the river by Hammond. The biggest key in the fall is to find the deepest pools. The kitties will be heading for their wintering holes soon if not already. They will be moving downstream stopping in the deep holes to feed and some will stay in these deep holes all winter...

[Tyler Holm]

Murph and Dan,

For past week, I've been excited to see what this Thursday night fishing on the Zumbro River was all about. Well... It will have to wait another week. I've got matters that I need to tend to and I have a basketball game Thursday night that I cannot miss. Good Luck guys. Give us the weekly report. Let me know when your plan to go out again and I will do my best to be there.

[Dan Thiem]

Just got home from the Falls and the river is high and dirty.

[hanson]

Do those Zumbro Kitties like cutbait sucker???

How 'bout those Mooneyes you guys caught the other weekend???

I would be fishing those 2 baits well before chicken livers.

[MURPHFISHER]

I have tried cut mooneye and sucker before with no luck. I know that cut bait should work better, but for me I have never caught a cat on anything besides chicken liver or night crawlers. Go figure

[hanson]

Can't argue with that Murph. You got to go with what's working. Maybe those Zumbro kitties are the kind that don't mind a little doughbait or stinkbait either.

[Dan Thiem]

If anybody else wants to join us on the river tonight, look for Murph's blue Honda CRV. We will be between Wall Rock and Hammond. We should be down there by 5:30.

We could cook up a batch of "river dogs".

[Ralph Wiggum]

We fished for channels last night on the Miss in Minneapolis9OK, so it's a little different) and tehy seemed to prefer a lot smaller bait. Had been catching them on chunks of cut sucker about 6 inch long, but about a 1 inch steak worked last night. We still got bit on the larger stuff, but they were just chewing on it and we couldn't hook them.

[Dan Thiem]

Whoa, Ralph! Welcome to our little part of this site. Nice to get a new name here once and a while.

Tonights Thursday nite adventure was rather a dull and mundane experience. Other than the "river dogs" I would say it was a flop.

My first three casts in the chocolate milk were three nice snags. Break and re-tie. Man that sucked!

Finall tally was Murph one sucker, me one sheepie,( go ahead Tom give me some sheep crap), and Young Gun caught two of these.

What would you call these, Rock Bass?

[MURPHFISHER]

Yea, tonight was a bust. The great company and river dogs make up for that though. I would rather be out on the river catching no fish than doing chores at home.

Tune in for next Thursday's adventure. This is the time of year that I wait for. The BIG fish put on the feed bag.

[Crickschop04]

I drove along the river early afternoon and figured that it was entirely too high. How do you guys think the high water levels affect the fish...besides allowing them to head further up stream.

[Tyler Holm]

I would call that a Rock Bass. Normally their eyes are a dead givaway. They normally have a red iris. These red eyes are ususally easy to spot. Maybe the camera flash had something to do with that.

Rock bass also kinda have a double dorsal (top) fin. Another indicator is that almost every scale has a black spot on it.

[Crickschop04]

Any thoughts on water levels?

[Dan Thiem]

I don't know too much about fish biology so I can only speculate.

With strong and high current I think they will try to hold out in an area that's a little calmer. I have seen areas that when the water did go back down, the fish were trapped in land-locked pools.