Exciting 2010 Catfishing Season
4-21 we put the boat in the river from the Cincinnati Public landing at 08:00. First stop was the Ky. piers of the Central Bridge. Marked fish got lines in the water at 08:10. We stayed till 08:50, no bites so we headed up river. We dropped our anchor by Joe’s Crab Shack, stayed from 08:55 till 09:45.
Hit our favorite spot Hooter’s next. 10:25 Joe finally got a hard tap and hooked the fish. He thought it was a small one at first. When he got it near the boat we realize it was a decent fish. Good thing we used the net for the hook was just hanging by a thread on the skin by the fish’s whisker. The Channel cat was 5 pounds 11 ounces and 24 inches long. This cat hit a piece of cut skipjack after picture taking it was returned to the river to fight another day. Joe got another tap at 10:45 but the fish did not come back to the bait.
We fished over by the breakers at the Serpentine Wall, but no bites so we called it a day. I headed home from the ramp at 12:15. At least we did get 1 fish in the boat, still can not figure why so few bites.
4-16-10 UPDATE I met Dan at the Cincinnati Public landing at 08:00. We checked out the area by the Serpentine Wall, the Brakers and a couple of the piers of the L&N Bridge with the fish finder. No fish showed up but we started fishing by the Ky. pier. Put our lines in the water at 08:25.
NO bites so headed up to Hooters at 09:00. My outside rod got hammered at 09:25. When I pulled back knew at once this was a nice size fish. I took my time wearing it down to get it into the boat. This was a Blue cat measured out at 29 inches and 12 pounds. It hit a piece of cut skip jack. That was our only bite there so went up to above the Chart House at 10:30. 10:55 notice a hard tap on the outside rod with wind bouncing the boat had to wait to get a good feel of the fish. He was on there when I pulled back. This was a smaller fish, a channel cat of 2 pounds 2 ounces and 18inches. The wind kept on getting stronger and no more bites so we called it a day.
Boat was on the trailer and heading home by 12:15. I must THANK the guys at the Public Landing that gave me the bag of Skipjack and Shad for bait. Finally got the first fish of this SEASON!!
4-13-10 I threw my casting net at the Public Landing’s ramp to get some Shad, but no luck. Got the boat in the river at 08:05, and the motor kicked over just fine! Put our fishing lines in the water by Hooters 08:20. We tried 4 different spots for 4 hours without one bite! Used the different baits that caught cats last season and had 4 poles in the boat just no action. There is still a lot of current but river is clearing up. The weather was cool at the start but great by around 11 o’clock. Well at least we did not have any problem with the motor today.
4-7-10 On April 5th I launched out of Fredrick’s Landing on the Licking River for a shakedown trip. I was tested out the 9.9 outboard I got over the winter. I also was checking the jury rig set up for my fish finder transducer. I was impressed by how the motor started right off every time I fired it up. And my transducer did not come off even at the faster speed from last year.
I checked the river forecast and it said the Ohio would be below 28 ft. on the 7th; Icalled my fishing buddy for our first trip of this season. Got to the Public Landing and the Ohio was about 29 ft feet! Tthe current was very strong and the wind was blowing white caps. We did put the boat in the river anyway but my motor was not working right! It would start but die whenever I gave it more than a little gas. Fought that for about 20 minutes then got the boat back up on the trailer.
I went back home to get my old 6 hp motor and try it again. Once again got the boat in the water and the motor finally kicked in, Ran up to Hooters tried but the current and wind was just too much. We decided to head back and call it a day. That is when this motor started acting up start the run then whenever I slowed down it die! Got near the ramp the folks running the Ducks were sitting in the ramp training thier new people. I had dropped off my buddy and he was trying to get my trailer to the ramp so we could load up. When the Duck cleared the ramp my motor quit and this time would not start up. Had to row it into the ramp and with the rope was able to get it on the trailer.
We were both beat by this time and relieved this trip was OVER! I now have to try to figure out what is wrong the 9.9 motor!
3-22-10 Repair shop put a whole new transom on the back of my boat. I now have to put anew bracket for mounting the outboard motor. Getting my boat repair done, welding support bracket to handle the 9.9 motor. The rive rwill still be up for some time so have time to get this done.before I should get my launching permit for Fredrick’s Landing on the Licking River so I can fish whenever the Ohio is above 28 ft.
Be sure to support you local bait shops during these rought times as best you can. Once those folks close down there will NOT be anyone to provide thatservice to us.
Kentucky and Ohio considers Skipjacks rough fish!! This means
they can be caught in seines or casting nets for bait. Here is a page of PLACES for Skipjack and Shad that I have learned about.
SKIPJACKS & SHAD
For more information on OTHER BAITS I have used check out
Catfish Bait
For tips I have USED to save a buck or two check out.
Home Made Bobber
Here is my way for hooking up a cheap power set for your portable fishfinder. Here is the CHEAP POWER FOR FISHFINDER link to the information and pictures.
ATTENTION UPDATE ! For information on how I am doing so far this fishing season UPDATE FOR JUNE 13 check out page 2 for JUNE 26 check out page 3 of
Red River Catfishing
If you
want to catch huge channel cats in the 20 to 25 lb range go to Canada. The Red
River at Lockport, Manitoba is the place to go! For more info check out
Lockport Experience
Another Red River Monster!
UPDATED 07-26-10
Catfishing Basic Equipment.
- Decent reel with clicker.
- 10 to 20lb test line for channel cats.
- Bag to hold hooks, sinkers, knife etc.
- Cooler for food and drinks.
- Camera and weighing scale for evidence of the BIG 1!
Easy FAMILY VACATION shopping for YOU at !
SHOP WITHOUT DROPPING LINKS
My Favorite Catfishing Information And Supplies Web Sites
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