Trying to land my fist big one!

[CheeseBalls]

I am new to this site and live in Omaha. I started to really get into catfishing last year and spent alot of time tring to catch my fist big one. Started late in the summer and didn't really have any luck untill the cold weather hit. Biggest so far is 13.5 lb Blue and caught several 10 lbers all on a local Zorinsky lake. I tried the Platte River and didn't have any luck, and I would love to try the Missouri. I am doing all my fishing from the bank because i do not have a boat, so finding good river access has been tuff. I fish with a 7 ft uglystick w/ Shimanno B4500(40lb grn Suffix line) & 8 ft bigwater heavy uglystick w/ Shimanno B6500(65lb grn Suffix line). I read alot about catfishing but its hard to find local tips. Any info on Missouri or Platte river fishing spots I could look into would great. Any help at all lol bait, riggs, locations. I am really excited about getting a good start on fishing in 09 and would really appriciate any help!
Thank Everyone! Happy Fishing - Bill:wink:

[catmanjeff]

If you're willing to fish the river then try Boyer Chute near Ft Calhoun. At the north end of the chute there used to be a 50 foot deep hole that you would be sucked to the bottom of if you stepped off the shore. I caught my biggest cat at Pawnee lake. The Lincoln area / Salt valley lakes are also state parks which means there is no park curfew.

[Big Vic]

If you're willing to fish the river then try Boyer Chute near Ft Calhoun. At the north end of the chute there used to be a 50 foot deep hole that you would be sucked to the bottom of if you stepped off the shore. I caught my biggest cat at Pawnee lake. The Lincoln area / Salt valley lakes are also state parks which means there is no park curfew.

Welcome to the boc cheeseball you find all kinds of info here along with some great advise ,and people. I agree with the salt valley lake they are a good place with lots of fishing access.:cool2: And thanks to catmanjeff also

[brother hilljack]

welcome to the BOC, this site is full of good info and great people.

[dinger66]

welcome to the boc

[bluejay]

Welcome to the BOC Bill.

[CheeseBalls]

Thank you Catmanjeff for the tips, i will defineltly look into those areas for possible places to fish in 09. Is my equipment up to the big MO's standards? And any rigs that seem to work best on river? Last year i mainly bottom fished using a 2 or 3 oz egg weight-/-bead-/-swivel hook-- attached to a leader that was fed thru my cut bait with a treble hook on end. Not sure if it is the best way to go but it really the best way I know. I was kind of trial and error last year. I've been sifting through the local message boards for any helpful advise, and it seems like there are a lot of great people and amazing fisherman i could learn a thing or two from, thank you all for any and all advise.

Thanks again, Bill(CheeseBalls):smile2:

[centexcop]

Welcome to the BOC from Texas. This is a great site full of great people and good information. It's like a fishing hole off the water.

[flathead_hunter]

use circle hooks 8/0 a good size to go with instead of the treble hook:wink:

[CheeseBalls]

Thanks Jr., Im going to get up my 09 fishing license and park pass this weakend so I'll make sure to pick some of those up.

[Big Vic]

Don't forget to grab an 18 pack !! I mean, well as long as your out ! :smile2::smile2:

[Brian D]

hey cheeseballs,welcome my brotha! the best advise i can give to you is BE PATIENT!! I have been fishin cats most of my life,caught a couple 20's then new years day this year i got a 45!!!!! I read that most people wont catch a trophy cat because they dont have the patience.sounds like you have made wise choices in tackle that is up to the task.do they have skippjack up there?If so ,my advice would be to git you some and go wet some lines.keep us posted on you trips.

[CheeseBalls]

Nice cat Brian, lol I bet that was fun to land that lunker! Last year was pretty much my first year in the hunt for a trophy cats and i had a late start, probly didn't get started until summer and set in so i missed iceout and spring fishing. And I spent probly 90% of the year just sitting and waiting watching my lines and rebaitng, only getting a couple of nibbles. I probly fished 3-4 days a week... untill finally in september I had a string of 10lb plus catfish lol. And I had my best luck both times sitting in the cold rain. I think i got some good practice on patients lol, but no regrets have a blast just being out their. Any tips on catching skippjack? I've never caught one before, but have heard they are good bait... right up there with shad and bluegill.

thanks again, Bill :wink: "already have a case in the fridge Big Vic, lol"

[Brian D]

down here we catch skippies below our dams,they really prefer fast water.white crappie jigs or sabiki rigs work the best.Cut a chunk off ,and bait up.you have to experiment with what peice they (catfish),prefer that day.sometimes the belly,some days the fillet and alot of people claim the head is the best part,though i have never had any luck with heads,i am gonna keep trying em.

[camochris2]

welcome to the boc anything you need help with let me know might even be able to get oyu out there on a boat and show you some things i catch a lot of fish bettwen 20lb and 90 lb you ask i will tell you and help you out hte best i can

[CheeseBalls]

Thanks Camochris, that would be great! Last year bank fishing on the river was puzzling and i finally gave it up because i was sick of catching turtles and sturgeon. Just not sure if I had the right approach as far as my line rigging, and getting near wing dykes or log jams seemed impossible. Last year was my first attempt, at big river cats... I could use all the help possible. I would definitely take you up on any opportunities to get out in a boat, so if its every avaiable let me know or I'll drop you a thread to see were your at this year.

Thanks again, Bill

[LiquidSteel]

First and foremost, Welcome the BOC!

I love to fish at Two Rivers and Walnut Creek. I use the cheapest hotdogs I can buy. Then, I cut them in chunks, place them in a mason jar with a chopped up garlic clove and 2 packs of strawberry kool-aid with 2 cups of water. Then I place that concoction in the sun for 2-3 days. I use circle hooks with no weights, and a very good rod holder.

I havent caught any record size fish, or any master angler sizes either. But I have caught quite a few eaters!!!:smile2:

Hope to see you fishing!

Kenny

[flathead_hunter]

yeah two rivers is pretty good seen some nice channels out of there...
if i'm not mistaking i think you have to use barbless hooks right?

[LiquidSteel]

Lake 3 is barbless hooks and catch and release. There is a spot next to the river you can fish. The Elkhorn river can produce some good catfish too!

[subcook]

welcome to the boc chessy I might be able to help with a few things but I've only been catfishing for a few years now and am learning alot from the great group of people on here and big vic has alot of great info on fishing spots and tackle choices hope it helps alil

[Big Vic]

I try to do the best I can, with what I have to do it with !!!:smile2: Lots of info here from everyone just be a sponge !!:cool2:

[CheeseBalls]

I plan on spending a little more time down by the MO river this year. I've learned of a couple public access spots near omaha I can't wait to try out! So how do the catfish on the river start to bite? Would i have any luck trying to catch baitfish on line & hook this early in the year?

[LiquidSteel]

I know that in Plattsmouth, where the Platte river and the Missouri come together, you can catch your bait and catfish too. Public access, sandbars, and mosquitos...:confused2:
Ive caught quite a few drum and sturgeon there. I personally havent had much luck catching cats myself there, but have witnessed many other anglers pulling out flatties and large channels.

[CheeseBalls]

How early in the year do catfish start to bite on the river? When can i start fishing!!! lol got a bit of the spring fever...:confused2:

[Big Vic]

ANY TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME !!!! As long as your fishin its all good !! :smile2::smile2:

[Frankie B]

I would start fishing asap...you could wait till the fishing reports come in or you could be the one writting them...

[SkiMax]

Welcome to the BOC! Lots of great ppl here that will help you out. I am not familiar, at all, with your waters but I will give you some tips that have helped me on the Ohio River.

1. Always have fresh bait! If you are using shad or skipjack don't keep them in water if they aren't alive. It will make them mushy and not as bloody. If you can't keep them alive (it's really hard without a big livewell) simply put them on top of some ice with salt in it.
2. Circle hooks are a great choice, much better than a treble for big cats, but can be kinda hard to master. I would definately suggest trying them, but make sure you know how to use them first! But also try a kahle, they give you most the advantages of a circle but you can still cross the eyes of a cat. Catfish Connection has them, I use the the Eagle Claw King Kahle's almost exclusively. They come in 8/0, 9/0, and 10/0 so they aren't for small fish! just go to catfish connection and search for King Kahle and they will come up.
3. For your bait, if you are fishing for blues, try all the different options. Try a head, try a gut section, try fillets, try whole shad, try a whole shad with the tail cut off to bleed. Give it all a try!
4. Go fishing NOW! The best time to catch big blues is in the winter. Vern Parrish (vlparrish) is a good friend of mine that catches boat loads full of big blues, and probably 90 percent come from November-Febuary. So get out there and wet a line.
5. I dont know how the flow in your rivers are, but on the Ohio, sometimes 2-3 ounces is definately not enough. I usually use a 5 ounce sinker, but have used up to 16 ounces of weight to keep my bait down.


Here are a few things I thought of off the top of my head, let me know if you need/want any more help!

[MO RIVER MAN]

I would say as early as mid march for me but I think u can catch channels on the missouri all year. Had some success with flatheads in may.

[SkiMax]

Another thing I thought of, if you are fishing rivers always try and get out when the water is raising. The cats go crazy is a raising river, especially a nice steady rise. High water can be good too but a falling river can make fishing tough.

[CheeseBalls]

Thanks the the good info guys! I will be bank fishing on the missouri river just out side of Blair NE, haven't fished the spot before but i am sure the current will be heavy. Would it be possible to catch fresh biat with line and hook, or should I consider using prepared bait?

Thanks, Bill :wink:

[CheeseBalls]

One more thing, the Hwy 30 bridge near Blair NE that passes over the Missouri River, the Iowa side looked really promising with all the rock jetties(wing dykes?). Since I am bank fishing i was wondering if an area like this woud be a good place to try out? If so do whats the best way to fish it? Do I fish the backside of the rock jetties and bridge pillars or do I cast out into the channel and hope for the best?

Thanks Fellas, Bill

[SkiMax]

I dont know about that on your waters, but you might want to look into getting a cast net. Once you learn how to throw one you will be amazed by how much bait you can get!

[katkiller77]

welcome to the boc

[Big Vic]

If nothing else you will know how to untangle a net !!:smile2::smile2:

[Rockin_Joker]

welcome, ill be up along the river this year as well, good luck