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Post by katfish on Mar 10, 2011 1:25:58 GMT -5
You can break up the winter with a trip to the James river. You may have to skip some luxuries to afford it. Like food and gas or electricity ;D
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Post by katfish on Mar 10, 2011 1:18:06 GMT -5
Reel color doesn't matter much to me. After the first trip most of my reels are mud brown no matter what color they started.
I guess if I could wish I would have glow in the dark reels. ;D
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Post by katfish on Mar 8, 2011 1:06:00 GMT -5
They were sold earlier than that. Originally used by European longliners in the oceans. Most companies called them English hooks and marketted them to trotline and limbline fishermen.
Sean I read less and less each year. I'm getting old and even with glasses my eyes get tired of reading quickly. I've spent countless hours reading masters thesis from fisheries students or other scientific papers. All these had to be published for Masters degrees or to qualify for government funds. For a short period these documents were public items accessable on the internet but now have become a subscription service. I have connections with a few fisheries managers who will fwd catfish related subjects but more often just email information they think is relevent before the papers are published. The point about the scientific studies is you can evaluate lots of documented data and during winter theorize how you can use that knowledge to apply to fishing. This means I get to evaluate lots of the same data that IF sorts through and begin deciding before they publish what they feel is important.
BTW I have a basic understanding of flathead and often consult with ODNR concerning theories I have to find if they can substantiate or find problems with my theories.
Just keep reading this website and I bet you learn more about Ohio catfish than doug Stange does.
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Post by katfish on Mar 8, 2011 0:51:09 GMT -5
I'm showin up and since Chad is short I'll try to pass him off as a chubby 12 year old.
I'm bringing a load of flathead gear and I hope I bring a different load home.
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Post by katfish on Mar 8, 2011 0:45:32 GMT -5
nice.. ive never done that but it looks like it hurt [/img] I'm surprised the FBI don't check me out. I never have fingerprints during flathead season. Just chewed up fingers from lifting cats by the jaw. If you see pix of me with gloves I will guarantee my hands are already raw and the gloves are meant to prevent infection from further damage. The gloves make handling the cats much easier but I rarely dig them out unless my hands are already hurting.
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Post by katfish on Mar 8, 2011 0:28:23 GMT -5
Early last year I got a flathead. It seemed to be cooperating and when I was removing the hook he changed his mind and decided some payback was due. Chad started lecturing me that with my experience I should not allow a catfish to bite me. He further told me he would be glad to hold the fishes mouth as I removed the hook. Then he got a bite. I took this pic 20 minutes later. I advise anyone against getting cat rash. Not because I'm a sissy but because I know that you will probably be getting into baitwells for baitfish and that water will be teeming with all kinds of nasty germs and infection causing stuff. Cat rash takes a long time to heal because of the nature of the scrapes and catmen often being wet. If you ever get it infected you will be truly sorry. Been there--don't care to do it again.
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Post by katfish on Mar 8, 2011 0:00:26 GMT -5
Howdy! I've been trying to explain to my wife (for years) that I am not obsessed with flathead fishing. I can go for months without flathead fishing (Jan and Feb for instance). She is unable to understand the fine line between dedication and obsession with flathead. She has moments of comprehension, but it doesn't last long. If she knew you called me a catfish freak it would reinforce her obsession theory!
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Post by katfish on Mar 7, 2011 23:39:19 GMT -5
I was speaking of wiring for lights/starters/trolling motors/ fishfinders or other electrical items. I normally leave the main battery cables where I can see them and fix them quickly and easily. Like you said they are short and near the motor.
Just a couple of years of trailer lights will frustrate you ;D
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Post by katfish on Mar 7, 2011 23:33:58 GMT -5
Rollo Ya got more coming. Still flooded at Cambridge and I'm betting they filled Wills Creek Lake holding water back Re arrange all your log jams so ya got to locate them again this year.
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Post by katfish on Mar 7, 2011 18:43:12 GMT -5
Sean
I use braided dacron but I only recommend it for people fishing in lakes like I do. If you are fishing current areas a superbraid would be superior.Dacron is a high maintenance line that can rot and it is very hard to detect nicks in dacron braid.
For most fishing mono is superior but I fish at long range and dacron braid helps reduce stretch on long range hooksets. Short stiff rods also aid in solid hooksets.
My 6500s have 25 0r 30 lb Big Game and I once landed a 52# flat on 20 lb Big Game line.
Flathead fishing gives folks lots of time to think and discuss their tackle options. As you gain experience with areas you fish you will have disappointments that often lead to experiments with tackle and baits. You have to analyze your needs and find the best equipment to fulfil those needs. After that it is just a choice of which equipment you are most confident using.
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Post by katfish on Mar 6, 2011 20:57:55 GMT -5
Anything not a flathead is flathead bait. I hate to guess how many small flathead get eaten by other flathead.
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Post by katfish on Mar 6, 2011 15:14:45 GMT -5
Guys are reporting breaking big cats? I've had several of them and asked Berkley what was going on. They once changed blanks and didn't offer the stiff rods I wanted to set hooks on distant flathead. Then they changed eyes and my braid cut through the eyes till it caused sharp edges cutting lines. Then they put on eyes with ceramic inserts and the inserts would pop out. Now when I want an e-glass rod I always look carefully at all those things before buying. Ugly stik tigers fit the bill but are a little soft action for me. I am looking for one that is stiff on hookset but forgiving during a fight ;D I haven't found one like that yet so I compensate by adjusting my drags light enough to keep fish from tearing their own faces loose during the fight. Maybe an e-glass blank with double footed salt water guides would be the best option for me. I'm almost as happy with old glass rods with lots of good guides.
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Post by katfish on Mar 6, 2011 14:58:45 GMT -5
Wade
Mike Magis has a big jon like that and I am jealous of all the room and stability.
How often do you have to pull the rig over shallows to get to flathead spots?
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Post by katfish on Mar 6, 2011 14:52:17 GMT -5
Don Wise worked in a lab and used tensiometers on knots to test strength. He had hours of lab tests and charts on strengths. He was quite proud of all the data he had on knots.
I would tie two different knots on one piece of line and suspend a bucket. I kept adding water till one knot failed. I would use the stronger knot against another one and repeat until I found the strongest knot.
The strongest knot was a double hangmans (double loop trilene knot)knot but the strongest connection was any snell tied with over 5 wraps in the snell.
After I learned to have fresh line and set drags correctly I never had any issues with knot strength anyway.
There should be no doubt which is stronger. The test is easily repeated ;D
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Post by katfish on Mar 6, 2011 14:41:48 GMT -5
Do your homework on the boat wiring before setting up the battery compartment. I helped a guy restore an old Lund once and the old wiring was in the foam floatation in the sides.
Run new wiring in plasric conduit in easily accessable areas under decks or rails. Water and condensation cause many electric problems on boats and the conduit will help cushion shock on wire insulation.
You will get more enjoyment out of an old boat with a new motor than you will from a new boat with an old motor.
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