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I am going all in on blue cats!
#11954658
11/28/16 02:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,227
Dan90210 ☮
OP
Jr Deputy Dan
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OP
Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,227 |
This winter I plan to hang up the bass gear and go after blues.
I will be fishing Lewisville from my Bass Buster. Its a 10 foot plastic boat with a 55lb trolling motor. I have a Lowrance Elite 5 on it and mounted rod holders on all four corners of the boat.
I have two light saltwater spinning rigs and two flipping sticks all spooled with 60lb braid.
Here are my questions.
What gear do I need that I am not thinking about?
I dont have a cast net and dont know how to get shad, so what is a good alternate bait?
Any places I should be looking on Lewisville? Not spots per se but what should I be looking for? Keep in mind range is very limited with my boat ha ha.
This is going to be a great adventure! Cant wait to get after some of those monster fish. I have been out with Guides Tom Gravley and Bobby Catfishing and got some knowledge from them...but trying it on my own from the Bass Hunter boat is gonna be a hoot!
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#11955059
11/28/16 06:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181
Big Sam
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181 |
Gotta establish that fresh shad connection tell ole Bobby Big Sam says howdy
If it ain't broke don't fix it...but go ahead and work on it anyway.....
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#11955082
11/28/16 06:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 355
Chiprat
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 355 |
find a used Cast net and Practice, early morn or late night at most all Boat ramps.... fish for Perch if you can, and use them. Big Net to pull in your Monsters, especially for that boat. find Points and Humps, but with that boat, watch the Wind!!!! Life Jacket, when you start pulling Big ones, you need safety, in smaller boats.. Good luck
Lowe 17V Tournament 1990 Evinrude 120 V4 MinnKotta Ulterra 24V 60" Garmin LIVE SCOPE...Yes you can hate me
1973 14ft Jon Boat V hull 5hp 1996 Mariah Talari 23.5 Fun Boat, and Striper boat at Texoma
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#11955102
11/28/16 07:04 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,935
Spud--Cattin Around Adventures
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,935 |
Well, fishing from that boat I would get a good drift sock to slow you down if you hook into a large blue. I know a few kayak guys who has had some nice tows from bigguns.
Last edited by Spud--Cattin Around Adventures; 11/28/16 07:05 PM.
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#11955152
11/28/16 07:40 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,056
MilesHunter
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,056 |
Get a cast net and learn to use it. Even if it's just a cheapie from Academy, I used those for a long time and caught plenty of shad from the shore through the winter. If you absolutely cannot catch shad then catch and use cut perch. Whatever you do, be careful in that small boat. With four rods out, all your tackle, net, etc... It will get really interesting real quick when a big cat hits. If I were you I would think about fishing from the bank. It will be a lot safer and a lot less stressful.
Miles
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: MilesHunter]
#11955202
11/28/16 08:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,481
snowyriver6
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,481 |
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#11955299
11/28/16 09:10 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,227
Dan90210 ☮
OP
Jr Deputy Dan
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OP
Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,227 |
Good stuff guys! So I will get a throwing net and learn how to throw it. This will be good for some laughs if anyone wants to watch.
Bank fishing is an idea. But I like being able to get out to the deeper spots so I am going to challenge the blues from my tiny boat. Thats part of the adventure in this. The USS "CapSize" as I named her vs. the big bad blue cat.
I thought about doing this in my yak but a few friends told me that was too crazy. I would be flipped for sure trying to get a beast on aboard. The Hunter is VERY stable. I can stand on the edge of it and it wont flip even with me being 6'4 and 240lbs.
Always wear my life jacket if I am in the Kayak or the Bass Hunter. Big net is a good tip too. As far as wind I know some places I can get out of it. Just not so sure they are good for big blues. The spots I visited with guides were on the main lake, deep creek channels on the main lake. If its not calm I aint going out there.
Not sure I will put 4 rods out. Maybe just two. Want to keep it all in front of me as they say.
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#11955403
11/28/16 10:10 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,712
Txmedic033
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,712 |
Tie you boat to Tom's and wait for him to hand you a rod w/ a fish prehooked.
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#11955615
11/29/16 12:14 AM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,690
BigPoppa007
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,690 |
I'd rather bank fish than that lil boat in Winter time......
Last edited by BigPoppa007; 11/29/16 12:17 AM.
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: Chiprat]
#11955717
11/29/16 12:58 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,418
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,418 |
find a used Cast net and Practice, early morn or late night at most all Boat ramps.... fish for Perch if you can, and use them. Big Net to pull in your Monsters, especially for that boat. find Points and Humps, but with that boat, watch the Wind!!!! Life Jacket, when you start pulling Big ones, you need safety, in smaller boats.. Good luck Nice fish.
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: snowyriver6]
#11955762
11/29/16 01:24 AM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 355
Chiprat
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 355 |
Agree.... Also make sure you know the size limits.
Lowe 17V Tournament 1990 Evinrude 120 V4 MinnKotta Ulterra 24V 60" Garmin LIVE SCOPE...Yes you can hate me
1973 14ft Jon Boat V hull 5hp 1996 Mariah Talari 23.5 Fun Boat, and Striper boat at Texoma
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: BigPoppa007]
#11955776
11/29/16 01:29 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,227
Dan90210 ☮
OP
Jr Deputy Dan
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OP
Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,227 |
I'd rather bank fish than that lil boat in Winter time...... Capsize vs. Catfish is the mission.
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: Chiprat]
#11955782
11/29/16 01:34 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,227
Dan90210 ☮
OP
Jr Deputy Dan
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OP
Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,227 |
Agree.... Also make sure you know the size limits. Slot 30 inches to 45. 25 aggregate only one over slot. I'm on this. Don't plan to keep anything over 10lbs. Bobby Catfishing and Tom Gravley went by that makes sense to me. I'll be lucky to hook up anything near that haha.
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Re: I am going all in on blue cats!
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#11955960
11/29/16 02:59 AM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,046
UrsusVeritas
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,046 |
Good stuff guys! So I will get a throwing net and learn how to throw it. This will be good for some laughs if anyone wants to watch.
Bank fishing is an idea. But I like being able to get out to the deeper spots so I am going to challenge the blues from my tiny boat. Thats part of the adventure in this. The USS "CapSize" as I named her vs. the big bad blue cat.
I thought about doing this in my yak but a few friends told me that was too crazy. I would be flipped for sure trying to get a beast on aboard. The Hunter is VERY stable. I can stand on the edge of it and it wont flip even with me being 6'4 and 240lbs.
Always wear my life jacket if I am in the Kayak or the Bass Hunter. Big net is a good tip too. As far as wind I know some places I can get out of it. Just not so sure they are good for big blues. The spots I visited with guides were on the main lake, deep creek channels on the main lake. If its not calm I aint going out there.
Not sure I will put 4 rods out. Maybe just two. Want to keep it all in front of me as they say. Like others have said, cast net is a must. The creeks are a great place to load up on shad in the winter. I usually rig up santee-cooper rigs with 2 oz weights and hooks that match your bait size. Usually 5/0 or so. I fish for blues almost exclusively on my kayak (im 6'2" 250). Caught a 40lb this summer at 2am with no problem. During the winter I wear my waders, and I stay pretty warm and cozy. Get some fish grips to help with landing, controlling, unhooking a big one. Keep and eye out for kayak groups that go out in the winter. DFWkayakfishing on facebook is a great group. Definitely best to fish with buddies over the winter, and people usually can hook it up with bait as well.
Last edited by UrsusVeritas; 11/29/16 03:01 AM.
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