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So i recently discovered CATFISHING... I grew up and fished trout most of my life. I wanted a change so I started catfishing I have only caught a few. I have been making trips to brownlee.. I heard that below the dam at swan falls can be a good place to try...anyone sucessful here and any tips would be great. I just dont want to have to drive two hours to catfish. i have been using cut baits and other things just havnt found what they are wanting
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Not many cats around here, but I know there are people on your side of the state that can help. Welcome to the forum.
Windriver
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I drive 4 hours to fish brownlee. From swan falls to weiser is all good, but some placews are better than others. I have never fished any of it my self but plan to. Trout cut bait is what I will be using to go after cats. Ron
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Ya I have been up there twice. first time was just north of steck park and today w went up to woodhead park and bleow the dam. We didnt catch a thing today the water is starting to get alot of algae on top of it. At steck park we did ok ....we saw alot of cat remains from people catching them.... what kind of set up are you using...I am using 1oz flat round weights and snell hooks typically.
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I've been fishing Swan Falls dam quite a bit for cat. It's been pretty slow (for me at least). Went down Friday night from 7 PM till 7 AM caught 1 keeper and one smaller one only. Missed two other good hits. We tried two spots. One down from the dam about three miles and the other about two hundred yards from the dam. We used liver, stink bait and cut bait. Going to most likely go to CJ Strike this Friday night and try there, but have never banked fished there. I got to go to Mountian Home AFB to get my boat out of storage and try to fix the engine. So I might as well head to CJ and try it. Hopen to find a decent bank area to try.
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howdy ! you may try jacks creek area for the cats.inbetween cottonwoons and the brunow river. and lovelace bridge area. as well if you have your boat find little pockets " coves " if you will in the brounow arm with perch or crappie cut bait..........
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I was told Jack's creek area would be a good spot. Unfortunitly my boat motor is messed up. I have to work on it.
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there are bank oppertunities at jack's as well. have a good one !
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Thanks for the info i will have to try CJ out..I wish I had a boat that would make things so much easier
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I will be down by Jack's Creek Friday night and will most likely fish through Saturday afteernoon.
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They say the last spot at the end of the road is best for cats. Or I guess there is a hole out in front of the boat ramp. Good luck!
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I use a pontoon or a tube. I use a 2/0 or a 4/0 gamagatsu octopus hook. I use braided line so I use a swivel at the end of the braided line. I tie a 2 to 3 foot mono 10 pound leader on. Then I put another swivel on the end of the mono. I hook the swivel strait to the hook. Then I put a piece of split shot on the mono at the first swivel by the main line. I let the bait settle slow. I don't want it tied hard and fast to the bottom. I s l o w l y troll with this set up in calm water. I watch the fish finder and try to find bait fish. I fish the bottom at the same depth the bait fish are at. If I am floating a river for cats and the bottom is rocky I do the sinker different. In current instead of a split shot on the line. I tie a 4" long piece of mono to the top swivel. Then I clamp split shot to the mono. If the weight hooks up the split shot slips off.
In very cold water the bite will be very soft and hard to feel. I use a ultra light to feel the bite. I keep the rod tip high so when I feel the cat pick it up I will lower the rod to the water as it takes the bait. When the rod tip is lowered I give a quick flick of the wrist and set the hook. My son calls it catfish snatchin. If the water is very warm 75 to 80 degrees they will take drifted bait that is moving at up to 5 MPH at times. Most of those bites crash the bait and strip line like a tarpon. When you are drifting or trolling for cats you are targeting the most aggressive fish. Ron
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