Post by redcat on May 20, 2013 10:20:47 GMT -5
I am new to the site. I have been fishing channel cats for about 10 years or so. Never really had access to them before but when I was finally introduced to them I was hooked.
99% of my catfishing is done on the Red river in southern MB. The Red flows up from ND until it hits Winnipeg where it is joined by the Assiniboine river. There it continues north to Lockport and then on to Lake Winnipeg where it dumps its nutrient rich water. Catfishing is big here, not as big as it is to our friends to the south but it is big.
The biggest draw of fish of course is the lockport dam but anywhere north of the dam you can catch good cats averaging in the high teens into the low 20. Eater fish are uncommon, MB regulations are that all catfish over 24" must be released.
Targeting catfish is pretty simple here, upsize your bait. Early spring I am using shrimp or cutbait sucker(rainbow), attached to a 4/0- 6/0 octopus hook with as much weight as it takes to stick to the bottom. I use up to 5oz no roll sinkers. Summer is a really fun time to be fishing for cats in MB. Goldeye, which is the food of choice for big cats, are very abundant. A light action rod with a slip bobber and a piece of worm will have you with the best and freshest bait around. 6/0 -8/0 octopus or circle hooks in the 8/0 range is about righ for cutbaits. Fall time is a bit slower especially for shore anglers, similar methods as summer and spring are employed, catfish become more picky and will turn down specific baits on certain days. If it is a frog day you had better have frogs.
I can't wait to share some pics and stories with you guys. Learning about fishing for channels in different areas and other catfish in general. Texoma lake for big blues is on my bucket list, heck catching blues or flats in the 80lbs plus range is on the top of my list.
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99% of my catfishing is done on the Red river in southern MB. The Red flows up from ND until it hits Winnipeg where it is joined by the Assiniboine river. There it continues north to Lockport and then on to Lake Winnipeg where it dumps its nutrient rich water. Catfishing is big here, not as big as it is to our friends to the south but it is big.
The biggest draw of fish of course is the lockport dam but anywhere north of the dam you can catch good cats averaging in the high teens into the low 20. Eater fish are uncommon, MB regulations are that all catfish over 24" must be released.
Targeting catfish is pretty simple here, upsize your bait. Early spring I am using shrimp or cutbait sucker(rainbow), attached to a 4/0- 6/0 octopus hook with as much weight as it takes to stick to the bottom. I use up to 5oz no roll sinkers. Summer is a really fun time to be fishing for cats in MB. Goldeye, which is the food of choice for big cats, are very abundant. A light action rod with a slip bobber and a piece of worm will have you with the best and freshest bait around. 6/0 -8/0 octopus or circle hooks in the 8/0 range is about righ for cutbaits. Fall time is a bit slower especially for shore anglers, similar methods as summer and spring are employed, catfish become more picky and will turn down specific baits on certain days. If it is a frog day you had better have frogs.
I can't wait to share some pics and stories with you guys. Learning about fishing for channels in different areas and other catfish in general. Texoma lake for big blues is on my bucket list, heck catching blues or flats in the 80lbs plus range is on the top of my list.
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