I took my first boat trip of the year yesterday to the Rock River. We fished from 12:30 to 4:30 and caught 51 fish primarily fishing the flats above the winter holes in 9 to 13 feet of water. Water temp was 40 degrees. G & S cheese and some homemade blood bait got the job done.
Catfish Fishing
Late winter cats
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I went back out on Saturday and found 46-degree water again. Water was up a foot and a bit dirtier. The deeper water still has lots of smaller cats and a couple decent fish. The best action was by the adjacent shallow (6' or less), sunny and slow current areas. The big guys were aggressive and thrashing once hooked. Big fish checked in at 8-10 and had two snap my line. Time to put away the light duty winter gear. Ended up with 34 fish.
Interesting. Well, we went back out on the 12th and found 46-degree water. The deeper flats and holes only had a few smaller fish left and the biggest fish were caught in 3.1' for a 17 fish afternoon. My theory now is that the biggest cats leave the holes first and will venture about an eight of a mile from the deeper holes once the water hits 45. They stay in that pattern until the water should be 48(early April for me) and then they start moving longer distances. They will take advantage of the above normal water temps but won't abandon the deeper stretches.
The other thing is it's a very fine and dynamic line with the dip baits in cold water. It took me a lot of trial and error and plenty of failure. The only thing that kept me going was i knew of some old timers that were successful fishing the same spots with the same baits. Two years ago, I figured it out and the yearly catch has gone from 300 to 400 fish to 1400 to 1500 the last 2 years.
Tony
The other thing is it's a very fine and dynamic line with the dip baits in cold water. It took me a lot of trial and error and plenty of failure. The only thing that kept me going was i knew of some old timers that were successful fishing the same spots with the same baits. Two years ago, I figured it out and the yearly catch has gone from 300 to 400 fish to 1400 to 1500 the last 2 years.
Tony
Nice haul!! I was on the Rock today in Fort Atkinson. Water temp 35.5. Even the walleye were slow. Hoping to get out on the Fox near the house soon. Seems like the cats up here don't get interested until the water temp hits 50. It was 42 on the Fox Sunday. Probably hit 45-46 with the warm day we had today. Gonna have to get out and try it.
Edit: Hit the Fox on Friday from 11-2. No bites. Water was 47 at 11 and 49 when we pulled the pin. I'm guessing that maybe it's mostly due to cats being lower density on the Fox up here due to being so much smaller and the pressure it receives all Summer. In the late Spring/early Summer I can scratch out 6-8 in a 2 mile stretch over 4 hours. It's such a catfishy looking river but doesn't seem to have the sheer numbers. Guess I'll just wait out this cold snap coming through and maybe try the Rock in mid-April. If the water temp hits 55 then it's game on!! In the mean time I'll just be jealous of the obviously good cattin down your way. Sigh.
Jimmy
Edit: Hit the Fox on Friday from 11-2. No bites. Water was 47 at 11 and 49 when we pulled the pin. I'm guessing that maybe it's mostly due to cats being lower density on the Fox up here due to being so much smaller and the pressure it receives all Summer. In the late Spring/early Summer I can scratch out 6-8 in a 2 mile stretch over 4 hours. It's such a catfishy looking river but doesn't seem to have the sheer numbers. Guess I'll just wait out this cold snap coming through and maybe try the Rock in mid-April. If the water temp hits 55 then it's game on!! In the mean time I'll just be jealous of the obviously good cattin down your way. Sigh.
Jimmy
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