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Couldn't pass up the good weather today so decided to launch at Lincoln. Temp was 29 degrees at 8:00 launch with calm water, water temp was 42 and warmed to 47 by noon. No trouble launching. Water in the channel was about 2 ft. deep. The buoys left in the middle of the channel by Ut. County Parks to impede boaters are still in place and must use caution getting past them.
I wanted to give the walleyes a shot so was using a small jig with a small piece of minnow attached. Got my first walleye early but it turned into a channel cat at the net. Never did ketch a walleye so I started dragging minnows for cats. Caught 5 cats but nothing contest worthy... still fun. I had lots of wimpy bites that were either sluggish cats or maybe walleye but no hook ups.
Half dozen boats out. Mostly by the orchard and a couple headed for Bird Island. A few waders out from the orchards and several bank tanglers.
I will try again tomorrow.
BLK
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[#0000FF]And so it begins. At least you got some whiskers in the boat. The walleye will find you, even if you ain't lookin'...and usually even better when you ain't. They is diabololical.
I suspect that some of the hit and run (pop and drop) bites might have been bullheads. That's they way they are...even during warmer water. But they get active before the channels and the water temps are still pretty chilly. Good for walleyes...not good for channel cats. Need about 10 degrees warmer...and then some.
Sorry. Can't volunteer to move those buoys out of the channel for ya. Just gotta hope for more water in the lake and for the parks dept. to move the buoys out where they belong.
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Lynn he's got to be 23-24" at least isn't it? Just as well enter except you'd have to give yourself a prize. Sure is grey compared to the Cutler cats. Well fun to get a kitty tug anyway. Nice job. J
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Fished Lincoln again today. Lots of boats out today and most of them headed for the island. I fished for kitties again and only caught four in about four hours. Lost a couple that were 36 inchers but never got a good look at them. Chub minnows worked best today. Two of the four I caught were 24 to 25 inchers but I left my BFT contest page at home so no entry. Duh!
Nice to get back on the water but as TD said, we need it to get about 10 -15 degrees warmer for the action to pick up.
The best is yet to come.
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[#0000FF]It's okay if you wanna practice on a few smaller ones before posting some "measure fish". That's how I did it last year...except I forgot to quit practicing and get serious.
I used to have scruples...and then I got vaccinated.
The folks headed for the island are probably eye chasers. Heard tell some are moving in out there. A good place to donate lots of tackle...in those rocks.
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FMF -- Glad to hear you can get after the cats by boat and/or tube now. When the water temps finally get up in to the mid-60s we can start moving some big southern cats onto the contest page.
Good luck on your tubin' trip. Will watch for some contest entrees.
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Way to go Lynn, getting them all in shape for the upcoming season of cat battles. I tried to get out, but between scouting for food and company I didn't make it. I did get a few more boat repairs done. Who knows I might get past the parks and rec guys without a warning now. Better look up my insurance card and I think I'm set. Those new lights should be nice, now I can stay out after dark. Trying to decide where to mount some LED lights inside the boat so I can see what I'm doing without being blinded by the lights. Later J
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[#0000FF]Hey, ol' buddy, I 'preciate ya wakin' those kitties up and tunin' up their tastebuds. They really came out to play with me today. Got about dozen...all on the chubs. But I caught most of them in 6' out in front of the rocks.
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The cats were more awake and ready for you than they were for me... not surprising.
That area out from the rocks is always good for cats but hard to drag a bait through there without a snag. I'll hit that area with my crew first time they have a day free from hittin' the books. Good place to anchor up, chuck a chub, and fish with a bobber. We just need another day with the lake as calm as it has been the past 3-4 days. Soon, I hope.
BTW, if you ever want to forget about those scruples of yours and fish from a boat and if you ain't fussy about who you fish with, I'd be glad to give you a few pointers on how to catch walleyes and/or catfish. (yeah, right)[:p]
Sometime soon.
BLK
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BTW, if you ever want to forget about those scruples of yours and fish from a boat and if you ain't fussy about who you fish with, I'd be glad to give you a few pointers on how to catch walleyes and/or catfish. (yeah, right)[:p]
[#0000FF]You know I ain't got no pride. I fish for catfish. So sure I would crawl in the boat with you. But no smelly jelly on the first date.
I've always believed that we can all serve as examples to others...both for what to do and for what NOT to do. No matter how the fishing turned out I'm sure we could tolerate each other for at least a half day of fishing.
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![[Image: happy.gif]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/happy.gif)
] You guys found a lot more cats than we did!