04-04-2007, 09:44 PM
[cool][#0000ff]I had planned to make a speed run to the west side (UL) this morning. But, the changed weather forecast showed the northerly flow changing to southerly. Combine that with the murky water conditions and poor visibility for lure tossing, I headed for Lincoln Beach.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Launched the tube about 7 AM. Air temp 41 with a light southerly breeze...as forecast. Water temp 53 and still murky from the recent winds.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Concentrated on lures for the first hour. Had a few hits on plastics and a couple on spinners, but nothing to show for it. Finally kicked out to deeper water and started dragging bait on one rod while I continued to prospect with plastics.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Still no walleyes or white bass. The first channel cat came about 8:30. It was a nice 22"er that weighed 4.8#. Kept her to add to the two I got yesterday for my smoker. The second was bigger and really kicked my behind. 23" and 5.8#. Those two fish were just about identical in size to the two I got yesterday at Lindon. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When the north breeze (what else) came up at 10...right on cue...I figured I was done. I started kicking slowly back toward my launch spot. Zing...cat number three. Bigger still. 24" and 6.5#. What a way to finish. So much for the north wind jinx.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A few minutes later, I had a snag. The rod just bent slowly over as I kicked and the line pulled free from the clip. I put up my jig rod and tightened up on the bait line to pull it free. It pulled back. Game on. About 15 minutes to land that 26" fish that went 8.5#. Made the drag sing several times. Fun, fun.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Just after 11, as I started kicking a bit faster to hit the beach at my self-imposed noon takeout time, my line popped free once more. This fish was serious. Like the energizer bunny it kept going...and going...and going. I flipped the bail and set the hook against the stiff rod. The tip of the rod just stayed there and the drag on the reel screamed. Oh my![/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I fought that fish for over a half hour. I had already decided it would be bigger than I like to keep so I would just take a couple of pics and release it. I also guessed that it was probably a big male daddy cat. They are not as good eating anyway. Still, I was disappointed when after getting the fish close enough to see it a couple of times it just came unbuttoned. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I use small size 4 hooks. They are very sharp and strong and work well with the minnows and small strips of carp meat I use. When fished and hookset properly, they act just like circle hooks. A large percentage of our fish are hooked in the corner of the mouth. But, on some big cats with tough mouths, those small hooks are overmatched. They just never get a good bite or the bone is too hard.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The big grey head on that cat looked to be as wide as my large net. I never got a look at the full length but I am guessing well over 36 inches and a weight of 20 pounds or more.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I quit fishing then. First, it was past noon and I had things to do. Second, I was shaking too hard to make another cast. Third, the fish had been getting bigger with each one. I didn't want to even think about how big the next one might be. As I stood up to beach my tube I thought I could hear the faint sounds of the music from Jaws. Da Dum. Da Dum. Da Dum.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Launched the tube about 7 AM. Air temp 41 with a light southerly breeze...as forecast. Water temp 53 and still murky from the recent winds.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Concentrated on lures for the first hour. Had a few hits on plastics and a couple on spinners, but nothing to show for it. Finally kicked out to deeper water and started dragging bait on one rod while I continued to prospect with plastics.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Still no walleyes or white bass. The first channel cat came about 8:30. It was a nice 22"er that weighed 4.8#. Kept her to add to the two I got yesterday for my smoker. The second was bigger and really kicked my behind. 23" and 5.8#. Those two fish were just about identical in size to the two I got yesterday at Lindon. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When the north breeze (what else) came up at 10...right on cue...I figured I was done. I started kicking slowly back toward my launch spot. Zing...cat number three. Bigger still. 24" and 6.5#. What a way to finish. So much for the north wind jinx.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]A few minutes later, I had a snag. The rod just bent slowly over as I kicked and the line pulled free from the clip. I put up my jig rod and tightened up on the bait line to pull it free. It pulled back. Game on. About 15 minutes to land that 26" fish that went 8.5#. Made the drag sing several times. Fun, fun.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Just after 11, as I started kicking a bit faster to hit the beach at my self-imposed noon takeout time, my line popped free once more. This fish was serious. Like the energizer bunny it kept going...and going...and going. I flipped the bail and set the hook against the stiff rod. The tip of the rod just stayed there and the drag on the reel screamed. Oh my![/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I fought that fish for over a half hour. I had already decided it would be bigger than I like to keep so I would just take a couple of pics and release it. I also guessed that it was probably a big male daddy cat. They are not as good eating anyway. Still, I was disappointed when after getting the fish close enough to see it a couple of times it just came unbuttoned. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I use small size 4 hooks. They are very sharp and strong and work well with the minnows and small strips of carp meat I use. When fished and hookset properly, they act just like circle hooks. A large percentage of our fish are hooked in the corner of the mouth. But, on some big cats with tough mouths, those small hooks are overmatched. They just never get a good bite or the bone is too hard.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The big grey head on that cat looked to be as wide as my large net. I never got a look at the full length but I am guessing well over 36 inches and a weight of 20 pounds or more.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I quit fishing then. First, it was past noon and I had things to do. Second, I was shaking too hard to make another cast. Third, the fish had been getting bigger with each one. I didn't want to even think about how big the next one might be. As I stood up to beach my tube I thought I could hear the faint sounds of the music from Jaws. Da Dum. Da Dum. Da Dum.[/#0000ff]
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] To bad you didnt get a pic of him.I know your pain about losing a big one like that. Hey at least you got some kitties in your basket. I need to get my toon out there one of these days and get into some kitties too.