Spring Training

I was out collecting some worms the other morning...that got me to thinking about the annual ritual of getting ready for that first time out. It's not terribly involved, but there's a handful of basic things that comprise my process of getting ready for the upcoming season.

Inventory
Simply put, this is making sure there's enough hooks, sinkers, line, etc. This spring I'm re-spooling a few reels with 80 pound Power Pro and some more heavy mono, which I already have on hand. I haven't gone through my terminal tackle yet, but I'll be doing that very soon. I should be in pretty good shape, maybe some more 2-3 oz sinkers for this season.Maybe a little oil or grease for some reels and I usually get the tackle boxes and bags organized along the way too.

Maintenance
I tend to do the minimum in this area. With a small boat and trailer and mostly local trips, I haven't had to repack bearings in a while. I'll put some more varnish on the wood decking in the boat this spring, might try to clean up the wiring a bit more. And I'm always looking to maximize space a little better. Other than that, I'll check my trailer lights and tire pressure, squirt a little grease in the hubs, and I'm about ready to go with the boat and trailer. I store my outboard in the garage during the winter, so it doesn't take too much to have it ready to go. I'll drop the motor in the water for a tank test before heading out the first time, just to make sure it's running good.   

Worms
When the nightcrawlers come out the first few times, I'll try to collect a couple dozen to keep in the refrigerator. It takes bait to catch live baits, plus you can also use nightcrawlers for channel cats or just fishing with the kids. I try to keep them on hand throughout the season so I don't have to run out to the bait store at the last minute when I'm about to head for the river.











Warming up
As the days start getting longer in the springtime, the temperatures are also (hopefully) climbing. Once you get into mid-May, the water temps are generally pretty steady above the 60 degree mark. Typically, they say flathead can be caught when the water is above 50 degrees. That may be true, but one thing I've noticed is when the water reaches 60 degrees a more reliable active bait occurs. I like a more active bite, so I start to get really enthusiastic when the water temps get into the 60s and above.

The wind-up
Basically, all these activities lead up to getting out on the water for that first trip. Once everything is checked out, it doesn't take much to get out on the water. Batteries and lights need to get charged and tested, gear needs to get packed and loaded, and you're off to the launch.  Or the bank.
(I did a previous blog post about catching baits, but I'll I try to have at least a dozen baits for a few hours of fishing. If I'm fishing 5-6 hours, I probably take along 16-18. When I'm going out with another angler, around two dozen). 

The pitch
Everything finally culminates in that most optimistic moment of the season - anchoring on the first spot and tossing out the first bait!
(the waiting begins...)

A game of tag...

Haven't posted anything in a while. Not intentional. Just got to be a busy time with family stuff. And work at the end of the year. Also, flathead catfishing is really my main thing and the off-season is fairly long from November through April.

In October, my last trip to the river involved a little early morning fishing. Got one small flathead. The rest of the day was spent tagging flathead catfish with the ILDNR. Basically this involved following them around as they did low voltage shocking to bring up catfish. The fish were then tagged and released. An angler catfishing a tagged fish calls in the number and the DNR will record the size and location. They can also provide the angler with data regarding when the fish was last captured. Pretty cool stuff, especially if you're a catch and release enthusiast like me. 

I took pictures of all this. Lots of pictures. And I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. It started out as a beautiful fall morning. The pictures don't really do justice to how nice the fall foliage was.

When Lights Are Low

 When asked about my favorite month for catfishing, I'm not sure I could really offer a concrete answer. As quickly as flathead season goes by, I've caught fish from May to October. That's nearly half the year! Looking at peak fishing times, there's just so many variables to consider - weather, water temperatures, river flow, etc. But, when it comes to the time of day, for me the choice is easy. I love those twilight hours that occur around sunrise and sunset! More often than not, I try to get launched so that I can anchor up on that first spot as close to sunrise or sunset as possible.  

 

In my Making the Day Successful entry, I quoted Tim Scott talking about how catfish go through different periods of activity throughout the day. There's absolutely something to this, how many times have you been fishing and you're out maybe 4-5 hours...but most of the activity occurred within a 60-90 minute window? It's precisely because of experiences like this that old axiom that luck is "being in the right place, with the right bait at the right time" holds true. It's certainly been well documented that catfish activity increases during the low light hours. In the next sections, we'll look at some of the possible reasons for this.


How many times have you been for a drive at sunset or around dusk and seen deer out wandering around along the road or in a cornfield? There's something about those twilight hours, a lot of different animal and fish species seem to be more active. For sight-feeding fish, there's a flurry of activity where they are feeding while they can still see their prey. I also think it's entirely possible that the activity of other species during those twilight hours presents an opportunity that catfish are taking advantage of. Catfish species are very adept at feeding in low light conditions giving them the upper hand in low light situations. For an ambush predator like the flathead catfish, the lower light is an opportunity to roam for food undetected. In low light hours, the flathead has a distinct advantage because it locates prey using other senses like detecting vibration using their lateral line. Channel catfish are going to locate prey using scent as well, which also works day or night.  

Is the night time the right time? Whether you're Ray Charles, or a catfisherman, absolutely!
So, there's a spot that I like to fish fish and a couple times I'm sitting there and at some house along the river the guy is out in his backyard with Ray Charles and other soul music classics just blasting away on the stereo. I don't know who this guy is, but his taste in music is impeccable! Back to the topic, I went with a different focus here because there's been so much written about catfishing at night. And catfishing at night absolutely works, don't get me wrong. For me, if I'm going night fishing which is what I do most of the time, I just try to get out for some of of that twilight action. That way you cover both periods of activity.



Fishing in the morning, I like to get out as early as possible. If you can get the boat launched before sunrise, you'll often have the entire river to yourself. Just to enjoy the calm and peaceful experience of watching rods in the early morning light with some hot coffee is a reward in itself. And when things are going right, hooking up with a few catfish along the way. 

 

Undoubtedly, I've had some great times fishing during daylight hours. Even mid-day, when the water is deep enough to mitigate light penetration, you can get flathead action. And channel cats, well they feed anytime of day. Fishing with more daylight actually offers a number of advantages - navigation is easier, knot tying for sure, you can see where you are casting better, trying to find things in the boat is easier...early or late in the catfish season, there may be some advantages as well. 














Considering all the factors, maybe the best measure of all this is success. Overall, I've just been more successful fishing in lower light situations and have taken bigger fish at night than during the daytime, at least the places I'm fishing. It's also nice when you can get away from that daytime traffic and enjoy the river "after-hours" when it's quieter out there. Which also happens to be a great time to catfish. And for taking pictures. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?!?

Paying it forward

It seems like most catfish anglers I know had a friend, relative, or other fishing mentor that fueled their interest in catfish to the point where catfish became their primary sport fish. It's only natural when you consider how many anglers get their start fishing for bass, panfish, etc. Indeed, targeting. bass and panfish can be very fun and rewarding. Plus, it's important to keep those bait collection skills sharp! Anyways, I feel indebted to all of my fishing buddies over the years. Because they're the ones who showed me the ropes. Where to fish. Where not to fish. When to fish. And why.


 
In the last several years, I've spent a lot of time fishing alone in the boat. With a small vessel to fish from, flying solo does have advantages. It's a little easier moving from spot-to-spot. You get dibs on ALL the pick-ups. In fact, many of my most successful trips were jaunts where I headed out by myself with a bucket of baits.

Reflecting on my experiences, I'm trying to make more of an effort now to drag a friend along for the ride. Or, at least meet up on the river. To pay it forward. It's always a good time with friends. Because, even if the fish aren't biting, it's never a bad day out on the river...

...And, it's fun to share a boat with a friend!

A Six Pack of Flatheads

Anyone who has spent a good deal of time catfishing or targeting big fish in general knows that it's all about peaks and valleys. You have good nights and then there are not so good nights. Let's face it - not so good nights happen a lot more than we would like. That's just the way it goes sometimes, targeting big fish.

Every once in a while, you have one of those magical nights. If you've fished long enough, you've probably experienced one of these trips when things just fall into place. You make an errant cast, it results in the best fish of the night. Every bite is aggressive and results in a hook-up. You try a new spot and it pays off on the first cast. It's trips like this that make it all worth it...unforgettable nights that keep you coming back for more!

There is no substitute for time on the water. You devoted time to finding the best spots, catching the best baits, locating the biggest fish...you're waiting for an eventual payoff (hopefully). That payoff is fighting and landing a new "personal best". Catching your first flathead of the year (FFOTY) before everyone else. Multiple fish nights. Bragging rights. I was lucky enough to experience just such a night recently.

Before I sold my other boat, I was feeling pretty confident having made several trips in a row with a flathead in the boat. It was a good streak. I even caught a personal best flathead within about a week of boating a 36" sand shark in the Florida keys. I was thinking "I got this fishing thing almost figured out!" Not so much, as demonstrated by a few fishless outings last summer. Much more than channel catfishing, successfully targeting flathead catfish requires attention to detail. Catching the best baits. Scouting the river in the spring to find the best spots to fish come summertime. As others have said many times, you  really have to be willing to catch no fish when you're targeting big fish. 

The week leading up to that Friday night, I wasn't even planning to fish. I had just gotten back from vacation and we had a busy weekend planned. Then I started thinking about just catching a few baits to visit an old bank fishing spot. That day I decided to go "all in" and catch enough baits for a few hours of fishing some favorite spots by boat instead. Spots that had proven themselves over time. Confidence is such a key commodity when it comes to catfishing. You may have located flatheads at many places along the river, but there's always those special spots you have an extra degree of confidence in. Producing fish year after year, that's how a spot proves its worth over time. My game plan was to fish a few of these places and hopefully get multiple flatheads in the boat for the first time this season.

It was such a beautiful night when I launched the boat around 8:20 p.m. There was just enough breeze to keep the mosquitoes away, at least early on. My strategy was to fish a couple spots early then finish up late where I caught my personal best flathead a few years back. On the way up the river, I noticed it was almost dusk already. And no one was anchored in a favorite spot. I made a snap decision to just anchor up and see what happens. I could always come back later on.

I cast a few baits out. A couple
bluegills and one large creek chub. The creek chub was the third bait out. I get everything situated in the boat and start drinking some water and tying up another rig. Then I get a big THUNK on the creek chub rod. It starts to load up slowly and deliberately. Before I know it, I'm reeling down to set the hook on a flathead catfish. And the fight is on. Several times, I'm making progress and the fish surges nearly ripping the rod out of my hands. Serious stuff. Flathead, for sure. Eventually, I tire the fish enough to reach down and get a solid grip to hoist it in the boat. Holy cow. WOOT!!!

I get out some measuring tape and the fish is nearly 38" long, about 37x22. Definitely a new personal best. I got a few pictures and cracked open a celebratory brew to toast my achievement...with the knowledge that any pressure I was feeling was gone. By any measure, the evening will be a success.

My line was a little tore up, so I retied my hook and re-baited. The I cast out in the same general area. Then I rigged up a fourth rod. And cast another bait out to the side. And waited. It didn't take too long and I had another rod loading up under the weight of a flathead catfish making off with his prize. And another. And another. At some point along the way, a nice fish broke me off in a snag. It happens. That's catfiishing for you.

I'm boating a nice small flathead, don't remember which one. As I'm taking a few pictures, another
road starts to load up. I put the fish down and get ready and set the hook into a meaty 32" flathead catfish. The fight is on and I eventually bring it into the boat and start taking some more pictures. Another first - flathead double! My best night ever was four fish and I still have more baits left...and I'm still on my first anchor. So I cast another bait. Surely, I can make it to five.

Eventually, another rod goes down and I boat my fifth flathead. I've only been fishing maybe two hours at this point. And I STILL have a few baits left. I throw another fresh bait out and at this point I'm fishing baits spread around this spot just waiting for one more to go down. And one bait seems extra nervous bouncing the rod repeatedly every minute or so. I'm sure it's going to go. I check my other baits and might have reeled one in that was snagged up. And I'm waiting...

And then it happens. Not the rod I predicted, but 
another one off to the side takes a hit. And starts going down. And I reel down on a small flathead and hooked up with number six. And it's hung up. I holster the rod, as I did with another fish earlier in the night that came free and was eventually boated, waiting for the fish to come free. After a few minutes with no luck, I check. I can feel the fish is still on there, so I let out all the anchor rope. I use the rod to pull myself over to where the fish is hung up and I find it wrapped up in some other angler's line. Like a roast wrapped by the butcher. Someone's braided line that had gotten tied up in the snag I was casting to. Of course. (I'm not the only one fishing here). I get the fish in the boat for a few last pictures and another short video. SIX.

At that point, I decided it was a good time to head home, having sufficiently raised the bar for myself in the future. In terms of numbers, my "six pack of flatheads" with two over thirty inches seems like a hard night to beat. There is still room to improve on that personal best though, as I'm still looking for my first thirty-pounder. Maybe even twenty-five. Who am I kidding? I might NEVER have another six flathead trip. But this one night, out on the Fox river...

(note: the blood all over my shirt isn't from the fish...it's from my chewed up fingers. As always, I catch and release all flathead catfish.)

The Launch Sequence

I lead a busy life, sometimes it's just crazy. Especially during the summertime, because that's when work tends to be very hectic. And trying to fit in family vacation before the fall marching season begins...in August. Guess that's just what it's like having a big family and a lot of interests. In midst of all that, you wouldn't think there's any time left for fishing. Well, not a lot.

Somehow, I make time. Summer is my favorite time of the year. Especially those long days in late June and early July. And those long Memorial and Labor Day weekends. So I'll earmark a few "fishing
dates" on the calendar, maybe schedule a Friday or two off. Of course advance planning is no guarantee, then there's summer weather which is always less than predictable.

It all starts with the forecast. When I'm looking ahead to a fishing trip, I'll start watching the 5 or 10 day  forecast on weather.com. If things are looking good, great! The last couple days I'll switch to the hourly, especially if there's a chance of rain. The hourly forecast is surprisingly accurate once you're within a 24 hours or so. I don't worry too much about scattered, isolated, or less than 50% chance. I have rain gear and I've gotten wet before. Lightning, that's another story. Safety first, always.

Once I'm past the point of no return, the final countdown begins. Time to charge batteries, make sure the boat's ready, take care of any last minute trailer repairs, etc. If I'm checking out someplace new, I might look at a few maps or satellite images. It's a little different each time, but charging the battery is key. My 12v battery powers my aerator, trolling motor, and sonar unit. All important devices. Almost ready!

Before I head out there are a bunch of things I round up at the last minute. Some of the items in my catfish bag and/or boat include bug spray, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, cameras, phone, terminal tackle, rods, gas, fire extinguisher
...you know stuff. Essential stuff. This is a good time to make sure the navigation and trailer lights are working. Nothing more frustrating that getting ready to hit the road and something needs to be fixed with the trailer lights.









I'll get some water in the cooler, maybe a beer or two, sometimes coffee, and I'm off. What's left?
Right. Bait. A quick stop at the bait shop for some suckers, or maybe a tributary creek or even right off shore at the launch, and I've got baits. There's always the cast net too, at least during daylight hours.








All that's left at the launch is loading gear in the boat. And making sure the drain plug is in before dropping the boat in the water. The car gets parked. The motor's fired up...and you're off!!! In search of summer catfish.

I'll run a ways up or down the river, scope out a promising spot, and then anchor up. A hook is baited, then cast...and splashdown.
The first bait is out and anything is possible...
I love catfishing!!!