It's Bigcat season ya'll!

Beve


Greg's buddy


YakNYota


Slipcork


Unknown


Mainly fish lakes for cats, I've been looking at
different types of rigging. Been using a Santee Cooper Rig with some decent results.


Anyone target whiskers this time of year?

Dang, those are awesome!! I tried last year, but didn't to hot. Ive heard they've been catching them out at arrowhead pretty good. Might have to give it a shot.

Certainly target cats this time of year! That unknown is mine.
I stick mainly to the river though.

Do you drift that rig? Or anchor up? Pm me if you'd like, Id like to get on some big cats like that this winter, and could use some pointers. I don't want locations, I already know where I can catch'em just don't know how when it gets cold.

And please don't say having a fish finder is the key. Working on electronics is one of the reasons I sold my bass boat.

Man if they are hitting at arrowhead I need to join up with you some time Brian, I haven't been out in 3 weeks and I so would love to learn how to target cats effectively.

Edit: Oh 666 got to never post ever again so I can be all evil and junk

Man,fishingRythe,you really need to hurry up and make one more post!

I never have targeted them outside pond fishing, caught em Bass fishing many times. I want to catch a Flathead(Yellow) cat, I do not recall ever catching one. I want to do it in the YAK too!

Yeah one of my buddies has been going out there and catching a few. I haven't been fishing in a few weeks so maybe I'm due. Thinking if I can get out there when it's not too windy, I'll try drifting stink bait. He said there were some guys took off and came back at the same time he did and wore'em out with stink bait.

The Fishing Nut is in for the fight of his life.

Looks awesome! Let me know when you go.

When we going Zomboni? I've been itching lately to wet some hooks and catching a big ole flatty would scratch that itch.

I only use the santee cooper rig, you need good live perch for flatties or fresh dead gizzard shad for blues. From about now to February/March is big cat season, deep drops and humps off the river channel in main lakes for blues and if there is current in the river go there for flatties.

I've eaten alot of catfish but have never caught one. That would be fun. Specially the size of the ones in the pics.

I see a catfish seeking trip developing here!! I hope it's not till after December 17th though. I'm taking my Outback down to Dallas to sell tomorrow. I'll be getting my new ride on the 17th. I would love to tag along and learn how to catch these huge kitty's!!!!!

I had 4 over 40 pounds on tawok saturday.

I have told you before Shaun, give me a shout and I will come up to Ray Bob and help you figure it out so you can catch them whenever you want.

I haven't ever really thought about Ray Bob for big 40lb cats. I guess they are there. What's the latest you've taken from RR?

Nice fish and yes great time of year for drifting

1+ on santee cooper rig with 1 - 2 oz flat weight or shoe string if rocky

you know i don't post fish pictures any more.

I haven't even downloaded them from the camera yet.

Let me know when you guys head out....My pb from the yak is 13lbs.....
would def like to up that pb close to my bank pb of 38

When you rig that set-up do you use pre made leaders or do you make your own leaders by chance? I have never made my own but I can not imagine it is hard to do, cut the length and crimp what you need on to it unless I am way off mark.

I never pre-make santee cooper rigs, some do but I can re-rig one in less than 2 minutes so I don't feel the need.

there is no crimping.

You need your weight, a bead or a bumper to protect the knot, a big barrel swivel, 18" of leader or so, a cigar float, and one big circle hook. I use 8/0.

Put your weight and the bead/bumper on the mainline. Attach the barrel swivel with a palomer knot. Then attach snell knot the circle hook to the leader. Peg the float on the leader about 2" from the hook. Tie the leader onto the barrel swivel using either a improved clinch knot or a knot I call the reverse palomer knot which is basically a palomer knot but instead of passing swivel thru the knot before cinching it down you pass the hook, cigar float and leader thru the knot then cinch it down.
any questions?

I haven't fished Ray Bob for cats in years, my biggest was around 25 out of there but I know there are bigger. I was using smaller baits to target eaters which makes some difference, also I was targeting smaller fish waters. We can chat some about it tomorrow at Mariner if you make it.

Premake mine on My poles with long 25-40# leaders. That way they r ready to go. If I need to shorten my leaders I can do it in about 1 min. I'll have one in the boat before MR gets his in the water

To everyone,
Was thinking we might invade Tawok next Saturday.
Thoughts?

MR, declassify those images

Would like to tag along if you go, would be nice to catch a couple

I have a party to be at that afternoon so I might have to bug out early but Tawakoni sounds fun.

I do the same thing Zombo, tip: use a mono loop at the swivel it will let the leader move with current more naturally. I used to use 40, but not in the kayak after a fish got me in a tree and I damn near turned the kayak over trying to break it off. 25lb leaders with 40lb braid main line is my maximum for the kayak if you are fishing water with standing timber, laydowns or stumps for safety sake mostly.

So it looks like there at least 4 interested.

We should make sure that there are no Cat touneys that weekend.

From a yak? Sounds awesome!

All of my poles are already rigged to go. Some people keep rigs premade with the hook and float already to go for re-rigging in case one breaks off. Zombie doesn't have to worry about rigs breaking off. He doesn't catch big enough fish for that.

I got a s-load of ice carvings going out next Saturday. Tis the season...
I'm looking at trying to spend a couple of days on Tawok the week after Christmas. Gotta get the kitchen pass lined out for that one.


LoneStarHusker- no not from a kayak, from the bank. Last weekend was way too windy for anything but a large deep V hull boat on Tawok.

how long did you search for a picture of a little dood beating up a big guy?

lol. your invited anytime. u could at least show us your ice sculptures.

:-p wow!

Winter is our prime time for big river cats.

Here is our largest blue from a guide trip this past Saturday. We were drifting live shad from the Scramblers...

how do you hook a shad that it stays on the hook and still stays alive, Shane? I've never been able to keep a shad alive on the hook (or in a bait tank for very long for that matter) so I stopped trying.

Drifting I usually hook them through the nostrils or eye sockets depending on the size of the bait, any other time I cut off most of the tail and hook them in the meat just in front of the tail and run the hook around the spine.

To keep them alive in a bait tank, you need a round or oval tank, it needs to have a filter to clean out the scales and you need to put additive to reduce/remove the amonia from them pooping all ove rthe tank. It is best to have a pump that will circulate the water going most of the time and have an oxygen diffuser of some sort to improve levels in the tank.

Keep Alive is where I learned a lot about bait tanks and I use thier pump in my tanks.

ok man. now I def need to book with ya. sent u a email.lol

My hook location for a shad depends on how, where and what species we are fishing for. Nostril, back, anal fin, forward of the pectoral fins and tail hooking. All have their applications under various conditions and presentations.

I build and design my own lightweight, 3-18 gallon bait tanks for kayak use. Saying 3-18 because I utilize a fixed pump/filter carriage unit for full capacity usage and a drop in pump/filter for low capacity use, for bait species like killifish, shiners, drum, sunfish and tailapia. The overall design is basically a pump and filter used in conjunction with a witches brew of various additives. In certain situations, a oxygen system gets the nod. Some species also require the use of bait tubes. Specifically, Blue Back Herring. Bait quality means everything.

Thanks for the e-mail. I will respond to it shortly. That date works for me, too. Looking forward to it, Sam!

U da Maaaaan!!!
Did that thing roar when you released it?

Was just telling friends this weekend you R the 4 reel Shizzle.
If they didn't believe me then, they aught 2 believe me now.
Congrats bro & Super Catch NATURE BOY! BEAST MASTER!

Thanks, Nate!

All God's creatures have a place in the world. This one is going to find itself between a tortilla and some pico.

You are a NUT!

man Shane thats a dang nice hog. let me know when dinner is ready. ill bring the cold beer.

dang
are those all from The Brazos
or
different locations
Greggs Buddy is about to sink

Drifting for cats I use fresh caught shad that are at least 8". I don’t bother trying to keep them alive. I let them lay on the deck where i emptied the cast net until I’m ready to use them, unless it is beastly hot then I will stick them on top of a paper towel on top of ice in an icechest. I cut off the tail, scale them, hit each side with a small mallet twice, then cut into three pieces. Two from the body and one from the head. The body pieces get hooked thru the side into the spine and out the top. The head gets hooked thru the hard cartilage on the top of the head.
I never drift whole shad unless threadfins are the only thing present, then I will drift 3 or 4 of them on the same hook. Two with tails cut off and one whole. All of them scaled to release the oils.

And I always make sure my hook tip is free of shad scales before I cast.

I'm not as sophisticated as Shane. One of these days I'm going to have to book a trip with him. Maybe I can learn something new.
I've been targeting flatheads in his river for a few years now. Everytime I think I got them dialed in something changes. I'm sure he could show me some stuff there.

I'm overwhelmed! I have so much to learn about catching big fat catfish.

Learn... you will.

On a more serious note.

Regarding successful angling... the key is flexibility. Humans are creatures of habit and fish are not. I like to let my day on the river come to me, modifying rigs and presentation accordingly.