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Post by Smoothkip on Dec 14, 2011 22:45:15 GMT -5
I've never fished the big river for Bluecats, I'd like to hear your guys tips, techniques in locating and catching these big river blues. I'd like to hear things like if it's the first time on a stretch what your looking for? Holes, cover, eddies, etc.?
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Seanstone
Catfish Freak
Multi-Specie Catch and Release Angler
Posts: 1,166
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Post by Seanstone on Dec 15, 2011 1:25:01 GMT -5
We don't catch them consistently enough to consider ourselves too knowledgeable on blues, but we have found patterns. If you can find the bait, the fish should be near. And once you find one blue, chances are that you'll catch a half dozen or more. Deep water and current are key. When the waters high, they tend to bite better. Deep structure helps as well. The high water this spring drug a huge tree in one of our holes at the mouth of a tributary on the Ohio, and they held tight to it. Since then the tree has drifted off and the blues disappeared with it. Still searching for them, fished yesterday and didn't do any good, I'm hoping we find them soon. I'm looking forward to hearing what the guys from Virginia have to say. Great post
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Post by skinfish on Dec 15, 2011 8:08:53 GMT -5
I have found that 30' of water seems to always hold some nice blues. Dams, wing dams, also hold blues. As of late we have been drifting and doing well, but the Mississippi is a fast flowing river and its hard to keep a controled drift with out using up your T/M batterys.
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Post by Smoothkip on Dec 15, 2011 10:49:07 GMT -5
Do you drift the channel? Or just anywhere?
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Post by bobbybobber on Dec 15, 2011 20:10:22 GMT -5
we fish ledges ALOT,blues use the main channel like we do the highways.also if you find little humps in deep water blues draw to them for some reason.do rate out shallow water either,ive caught alot of nice fish in less then 10'
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Post by skinfish on Dec 15, 2011 23:34:54 GMT -5
Do you drift the channel? Or just anywhere? Bout the same as Bobby . Lots of bends, ledges. And structure such as around barges, grain mills ,end of wing dams, ect. |
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Post by Blackhorse on Dec 16, 2011 9:07:43 GMT -5
Anchor when the water is cold, below 50 degrees, drift if water temp. is over 50. Alway look for current and structure, even if you don't mark fish they are usually close by.
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Seanstone
Catfish Freak
Multi-Specie Catch and Release Angler
Posts: 1,166
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Post by Seanstone on Dec 17, 2011 1:26:17 GMT -5
Anchor when the water is cold, below 50 degrees, drift if water temp. is over 50. That's not the first time I have heard that. Definitely a good guideline to follow. |
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chuckd67
Member
Trophy Catfish Sportsman
Posts: 266
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Post by chuckd67 on Dec 17, 2011 8:50:57 GMT -5
I have found that 30' of water seems to always hold some nice blues. Dams, wing dams, also hold blues. As of late we have been drifting and doing well, but the Mississippi is a fast flowing river and its hard to keep a controled drift with out using up your T/M batterys. Same on the Tennessee after big rains. when the wind and current are @$$ backwards you can find good structure in a slight current break with a good ledge and anchor. You want fight the boat all day. You may not mark fish but they will be around. I have fished 30ft off one side of the boat and 10ft off the other and have caught fish at both depths. You might even get a surprise like I did catching a hawg Flattie on fluttering butterfly cut gizzard shad.  |
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Post by jingles1952 on Dec 17, 2011 14:50:58 GMT -5
Don't forgrt to try those barges tied up to the shore either....in warmer weather on the Ohio we have found them enjoying the shade.....
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Post by Blackhorse on Dec 17, 2011 21:03:01 GMT -5
Don't forgrt to try those barges tied up to the shore either....in warmer weather on the Ohio we have found them enjoying the shade..... The longer those barges have sit there the better the chance of getting a big fish from under it. If it has only been there a day or two, they might not have found it yet. This is also a good place to find shad and mooneye. |
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Post by bassmassey on Dec 19, 2011 20:55:15 GMT -5
The longer those barges have sit there the better the chance of getting a big fish from under it. If it has only been there a day or two, they might not have found it yet. This is also a good place to find shad and mooneye.[/quote]
i agree with that alot.....from my experience fishing barges.....works real good if the sun is bright and high too......and the wider the tie up of barges the better, especially if you can throw down past the barge and let the current sweep the bait up under there real good!
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