A Slightly Late UL Report from 06/13 and a question (Probably for BLK)

[leakypontoon]

I finally had a morning free Saturday so loaded the pontoon and headed for The Knolls. Arrived at about 8:00 A.M. skies were blue and just a slight breeze rippled the warmish water (sorry, no electronics so no water temp).
I usually use night crawlers with a piece of shrimp for cat fishing but after reading BLK's posts and seeing his results on the contest board, I decided to rig a bigger pole to use carp or white bass in hopes of catching a contest worthy fish.
I motored from the parking area south to the rocky point and while doing so picked up a white bass on a 1/16 oz. jig head with a 2.5" gulp minnow. When I reached my destination, I was a little disappointed to find three bank tanglers already fishing there so I stayed back far enough to be polite. They were pulling white bass out pretty steady with a few catfish thrown in as well.
The plan was to throw a worm and shrimp pole out while fishing my jig on the light rod to catch some white bass for bait but as my awesome plans usually do, this one fell on it's face when no more white bass would come visit me (I had let the first one go because I didn't want to stop the boat to cut him up). The carp where going crazy in the shallows so it was on to Plan B.
It took all of two minutes to cruise over to the bank and net a carp and another couple messy minutes to have him filleted and chunked up for bait. Back out on the boat I went.
I still wasn't sure about my spot but put a 2" X 2" chunk of carp on the big pole and tossed it out. For comparison, I tossed out a worm and shrimp to the same general area. What followed was a lesson in humility. The carp pole was bent for most of the rest of the morning. The worm pole did OK but got bit less often and usually by 20" fish and the cut bait pole was averaging 23"-24" fish and I could barely keep it in the water. I can think of three times when I had a double hookup (which must have looked hilarious to the guys on the bank (I'm still working on some "fishing from a boat skills")). I left at about 1:00 P.M. and lost count of fish landed but would guess somewhere between 15 and 20.
Here's my question....How do you rig a large piece of cut bait? I had a good size hook (I thought) with another smaller bait hook tied two inches back as a trailer. The problem I kept having was, several good fish would fight like they were hooked but when they breached the surface, the hooks, bait and all would come out and scream by my head at a high speed. All I can figure is that my hooks were too small and got lost in the bait but I'd sure like to hear from the cat gurus about hook types, size and setup. Thanks in advance.
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[albinotrout]

I have been using a single hook on the line. When you put the bait on be sure that the hook point is exposed. I was using size 1 bait holders but found my hook ups were not there. I switched to a 5/0 hook and ended up with more hook ups. I also use them weightless. Keep the bail of your reel open until the line starts screaming off then close bail and set the hook.
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[Johnr]

I have had great success using a 2/0 kahle hook or they sell them at sportsmans as Whisker Sticker hooks they have a large gap and work great at keeping the point exposed
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[SkunkedAgain]

I've been having the same problem lately, I'll have ten hits per hook up lately, so I'm interested in the solution as well... I tried the trailer hook set up and it didn't cure the problem either... Funny a month ago I used the same rig with zero problem, but lately the cats have either gotten smaller, smarter or they aren't getting the whole bait in their mouths so my hook tip isn't getting where it needs to be... Maybe the tip is buried to deep in bait so I'm not hooking up... However, I have found the fish I'm catching are the bigger fish, 24 -26" so once they get the bait in their mouths I seem to hook up... It just seems like the fish are so fat and full that they carry the bait in their mouths and don't swallow to where you can set a hook... Good luck with your quest and I hope you figure them out... Later J
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[Boatloadakids]

Leaky-- Sounds like a good trip and I sure know what you mean about being busy trying to fish with two poles. I have three kids in my boat sometimes with each of them trying to use two poles... anywhere from comical to dangerous. Seems like it is the time of the year when the cats are active and hungry... probably has something to do with their love life. I have mostly stopped posting about catches lately because some of them are simply obscene in numbers... ain't braggin', just sayin'. Almost all of the them are released immediately.

I use a single 5/0 Gamatsu Octopus red hook (the red probably appeals more to me than it does the cats). Like you and Albino I fish with no weight other than the slab of carp meat or white bass. I still fish in 4-6 ft of water and have no trouble catching cats faster than I can keep hooks baited. I just work the 5/0 hook into the carp meat and try to leave the point exposed. Works for me and I usually don't miss 'em.

First couple of weeks in June we were catchin' almost exclusively battle-scarred male cats. The last week or so the catch is about equal between ugly males and sleek white-bellied greenish females. I look for them to start to disperse as their love life winds down and the catchin' probably won't be as fast and furious.

Hook size for most guys seems to be whatever works. I have tried the circle hooks but I miss the "trigger pull" that goes with the regular ol' J hooks. I use my hook-behind-a-hook setup when I drag baits. Dragging baits works well for me early in the year and later into Sept. and Oct. This year??? dunno what's going to happen with the low water in UL. The water has dropped noticeably over the past week. The areas in Goshen Bay where I was shooting carp a week ago are now mud flats. I can't let TubeDude have all the cattin' with his anywhere-access tube so I picked up a toon a couple of weeks ago so I won't be left out of the action.

Anyhow, glad you got into some good cats at the Knolls. Probably best to keep after 'em while we still have water to fish in.

Best of luck to ya.

BLK
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[albinotrout]

Any change in the water level at LB?
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[Therapist]

I use a # 2 or 4 circle hook for cats. When using Carp, I will first scale the critter, then fillet it, leave the skin on !! I then shave the meat down to about 1/4 inch and cut triangular shaped pieces that are about 2 1/2 inches to 3 inches long, about an 1 1/2 inches across the top, and tapered to a point at the bottom. I then run the hook through the top part of the bait, hooking through the edge and again about 1/2 inch down. That leaves the bait with a tail that flaps and puts out some vibration along with the scent. No weight, and let it trail. Takes a bit of time to prepare, but seems to work for me.

I will carry a ziplock bag and fillet a whole carp this way, putting the pieces in the bag for easy access. I used to put some Fish Formula Catfish in there, but haven't seen that for years. Seems to work great without any way !! I will also do this with a perch or WB when tipping jigs with meat .

[leakypontoon]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Nice to get questions answered by such a knowledgeable group. I'll take your suggestions, fool around with set ups and let you know how it goes. By the way when the fisherman on this board give you pointers, you should at least try them out. My cut bait experiments last weekend proved that to me (again).
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[Tin-Can]

OK, OK, that does it ! Been wanting to get back down to UL for quite some time. Now reading all these posts, has made my mind up. I have 3 days off coming starting Friday. And after a small chore with my son and daughter in law, I will head south. Have been to UL many times, but always from the State Park ramps. I think this time since I have the time, and no one else with me to disagree, I think I'll find my way around to the LB ramp. I believe it is a shorter ride from LB to Bird Island.
But Once I get there Friday, I will be open to whatever presents itself.
So BLK, TubeDude, Albinotrout, any other BFT'er that happens to be there, if you see the TinCan give me a holler.
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[albinotrout]

Sorry Friday's are out for me, I head to Colorado every Friday. I am there usually on Mondays. Good luck![cool]
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[Boatloadakids]

Tin-Can.... Good chance that I will be there Friday. Was there today and the cats are still active and hungry. I have not been out to Bird Island (about 2 miles) for a month or so but did see 4 or 5 boats out there today. I'm sure they are catchin' 'em out there too.

I'll have a load of kids with me but would be happy to fish next to ya or point you in a direction where you could surely get some action. The south west side of Bird Island has always been good in the past. We usually get to LB at about 6:30ish so we can get off by 10 or so to avoid the brutal heat.

If we get there before you we will probably be in front of the first spring which is a couple hundred yards NW of the end of the launch channel. Water depth in the channel was about 2.5 ft. today. I saw some pretty hefty ski boats launch today seemingly with no trouble. Watch for us... old Tracker, kind of smelly with a lots of cat slime in it and 2 or 3 happy kids.

Let me know what you are runnin' and I'll watch for you. Seems like your boat was the big fancy one up at the Willard rain party if memory serves.

Anyway, hope to see you out there. You need to be aware that you will be in the South so come with heavier gear than you usually use for those smaller northern cats.[]

BLK
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[ice_sled]

Hi BLK. Thought maybe that was you with the crew. I was in the brown duck boat when you entered the channel to head back to the launch. Will probably see you at another time. Ice-sled
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[leakypontoon]

The South's strategy for winning the Cat Contest:

Step 1: Go catch a bunch of catfish and write a report.

Step 2: Offer plenty of helpful advice to Team North and invite them down.

Step 3: Watch them catch their biggest catfish of the year.

Step 4: Remind them said big catfish don't count for their scores.

Muaaaahahahah
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[Boatloadakids]

Ice sled-- Yep, I remember that little brown boat. I'll watch for you too. Be glad to meet ya.

Fish on,
BLK
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[Stickleback]

I have been reading the posts in between stages of fixing my boat. I put the last layer of fiberglass on and have chosen to cover it with carpet. I should be done tonight. Unfortunately I work agian tomorrow and won't be able to test it until Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Thursday, and Friday. I have 3 weeks of catch up and am slowly getting further down the catfish contest chart. I hope BLK and his crew hasn't got their lips sore they won't bite anymore and I missed all the fun. I may drag it down to LB one of those days, I have never been there before. Maybe I can squeeze a few tips out of BLK. If you see me on the water waving hands above my head and screaming it means my my fiberglass job was flawed and my boat is sinking and I may need some help. After all the work I put into it I hope it does not become fish habitat.
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[Tin-Can]

BLK, I wish that big fancy rig at the Willard Flotilla was mine..........naa, Coyotespinner and I were in my little 14' Lund, and we gave up early. I think I missed you that day. I heard later that you were there, but I believe it was after I had left.

[inline "(0221) 0620 23 May 2014 WB South Launch.jpg"]

You will most likely get there before I do. I have to do some errands early tomorrow morning, then head south. And it's about 2 hour drive to the State Park at Provo. I've never launched out of LB before. I've pulled in there from the lake side a couple times in my first boat (years ago) to let the kids make a pit stop. But never driven in from there. But I'll be there hopefully Friday to Sunday. Taking a short get away vacation.

And I have my heavier rods set up, and in the boat already..........[]

See ya there maybe............[fishin]
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[Boatloadakids]

TC-- I might make it out to Bird Island on Sat. so I'll keep an eye open for the little red Lund. BI must be pretty good now, 8-10 boats launched from LB today and almost all of the went right to the island. I think you will find willing cats anywhere near the rocky areas. Good luck.

Stickle-- Hey no problem if your boat repair fails. If we see you waving and screaming we will rush to your rescue just as soon as the bite tappers off a bit. Try to hang on until we can get there.

The cats are still hungry and there are plenty of them so anytime you're out LB way let me know and we will see if we can find that old 30 pounder that lives out there somewhere.

Fish on.

BLK
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[MSM1970]

Sounds like there going to be a lot of BFTers down to LB, I'm planning to be there in the morning, hope to see you there.[fishin]
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