Turkey Creek Channel Cats

[Stump Bumper]

Got a call yesterday from Capt Kirk, he and his wife drove over from New Port Richey and we got to spend a few hours over at Turkey Creek, fishing off the bridge. Kirk out-fished us by catching three nice channel cats with his secret bait. Once again I learned something new! Thanks Kirk and Sue for visiting and sharing some of your secret's. I'm looking forward to getting an earlier start and going out in the boat next time....Ray

[Big Country01]

hey ray ,did you catch any and how big were the ones capt.kirk caught? i went out this morning for a couple of hours just to get out of the house.it wasn't the best of time to be out there (real windy) and wrong time of day....oh well at least i got out...didn't even get a bite,guess thats why it's called fishing and not catching...lol...john

[capt.kirk]

HEY RAY
We really enjoyed meeting you and our outing to turkey creek saturday,im
looking foward to next monday early a.m. I will be starting a new batch of
bait tommorow,I hope it works again,and RAY you are a true fishing friend,
you did not tell what the top secret bait is.I call it ROD WRECKER,and i am
not responsable for BROKEN TACKLE, when we talk about it we can just call
it PURPLE STUFF that should keep some of our brothers :confused: for a while,being good guys like we are, should we share the formula at a latter
date,or keep it to our self so it dont come back to haunt us? :eek:
see you next monday,have a good week.
KIRK

[Stump Bumper]

John, the three channel cats Kirk caught were one and two pounders, would have fried up real nice but he decided to release them to fight another day. Sue and I both caught a couple of small sunshine bass (seemed they liked Kirk's secret bait also). Did you go to Dover this morning? I took Tyler and his cousin A.J. over to Dover for a while also. We fished over by the stand set-up for model boat racing but didn't stay long. A.J.'s rod got yanked out of the rod holder and into the water, I had to wade out and get it, but the fish was long gone....Ray

[Big Country01]

hey ray, i didn't go dover this morning i ended up going to medard park but got skunked....that's crazy on having the rod pulled out of the holder how deep did get there? now you know there is no swimming signs all over that place...lol..at least you got the rod back....john

[capt.kirk]

RAY
i did forget to mention 2 more benifits in using thePURPLE STUFF,every time
you bait up and wipe off your hands it will get on the back of your hands
preventing chapped hands.the other nice thing it cleans off easy and you
wont get throwed out of the house for smelling like some of the NASTY
STUFF. :D
KIRK

[Stump Bumper]

Kirk, I went to Walmart yesterday and got some more dip bait and I looked around for the other stuff but didn't see it this time? Guess I'll try Southeast Liquidators next and see if they carry it....Ray

[capt.kirk]

HEY RAY
went shopping my self :eek: all suppliers were out,i did order a case due
to them telling me they only sell about 4 units a year,it wont be here for
our fishing day,but it wont be a problem as i have a compareable back up,
brewing as we speak,in fact i am also brewing and older proven back up
bait,i got the ingredients from and indian just before he died.
KIRK :D

[capt.kirk]

HEY RAY
i for got to tell you we are going north for thanks giving,and will be bringing
my boat back home :D also do you think there are enough people around
us to have a 8 hour tournament?it might be fun and meet some more folks.
just like indiana, the law here is probably not legal to take in or pay out
on state ground,it could be done like we used to do up there,take entrys on
the out side weigh in at the ramp area,pay off outside the state ground.
just a thought that ran thru whats left of my old memory bank.
KIRK

[Stump Bumper]

Kirk, I'm not sure if we could generate enough interest. Alot of guys that I work with talk about how they love to catfish but when it comes time to fish they usually find something else going on. I only know of one other guy that would enter for sure from around here. We could always try a bank fishing tournament at some place like Dover Park, then draw from a hat for 2 assigned fishing spots per team? Make it a $10.00 entry fee per person with a 100% payback for big fish. Just a thought....Ray

[capt.kirk]

HEY RAY
i know of 4 from up this way,we could do it the way you are thinking or
have boat or bank at 1 of the parks.100% back is the only way to go
pay back places according to how many entrys,and have a big cat pot
on the side.we can talk more about this when i come fishing monday,i had in mind some time in feburary,after all the holidays are behind us.
KIRK :cool:

[Stump Bumper]

February will give John, you and me a chance to kick around a few idea's....Ray

[Big Country01]

anyone give the by pass canal a thought,back when i worked for sims crane we had a private b@$$ tournament on it and it does have some good sized channells and bullheads in italso it a boat now and plenty of access around the whole thing for bank fishing the boats can't have more than a 10 horse motor...just a thought...john

[Big Country01]

oh yeah i more than likely can get a few guys to get in on the event or is this gonna be boc members only??? either way i'm in.....

[capt.kirk]

JOHN
that sounds like a place to consider holding it at,as far as im concerned
it should be open to all,might gain some new members. :D
KIRK
CAPT.HARBORVIEW NAVY

[capt.kirk]

HEY RAY
HARBOR VIEW FISHING REPORT TODAY
sue and i went to the fresh water pond behind our club house today
took 3 peices of what i have brewing.2 nice channel cats 1 crappie on it
suprised me about the crappie,also changed to crawlers and got 1 nice bass
and 11 nice red ear 9 to 11 inch.i call that a pretty fair day. :)
KIRK
CAPT.HARBOR VIEW NAVY

[Big Country01]

hey capt. i'm starting to get a little jealous from reading all this stuff about a secret bait that you got brewing,, and it catches channells and specks also?????lol...john

[wewasr]

John
We will have to keep thinking about it until!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :confused:

Don

[Stump Bumper]

Donnie, it's not my place to give away another fisherman's secret's, however I can say that it's a simple formula that you may have already used or have heard of. If you haven't heard of it before you'll do like I did and say "WOW" I could have had a V-8! Maybe Kirk will PM you and John with the detail's?....Ray

[wewasr]

Ray
I think everyone should have a bait of their own. You know my better half come up with some strange things, some work and some don't. ;) And some of the things that work I don't want to share because most fishermen would not believe me. I think they think I am BSing them And I just cannot understand why they would think I might do something like that. :rolleyes:

Don

[capt.kirk]

RAY&AND BOC
I will realese the info on the bait,after fishing with STUMP BUMPER
coming MONDAY ingredients are pretty simple.if it works again i will post
results,and ingredients TUESDAY would not want to mislead any one.
KIRK
CAPT.HARBOR VIEW NAVY :p

[Big Country01]

just givin' ya a hard time kirk...lol....john

[capt.kirk]

YES JOHN
i know you cant sleep at night till i let it out of the bag,take a sleeping pill
to help you out till tuesday. :eek:

HEY RAY
i talked to zachs fishing teacher today,seemed to be very well schooled
catfisherman,and a very nice man,he has, if possible more BS than i do, talked to him at least an hour. :D
KIRK

[capt.kirk]

HEY RAY
i made an error in my last post,it was tylers teacher that i talked to today
KIRK :o

[Big Country01]

just got back from turkey creek wasn't there 15 min. and the ranger run me off said they was closing in 20 min...just my luck...

[Stump Bumper]

I gotta get over there tomorrow and get me a night pass. Did they start closing the park earlier since the time change?....Ray

[capt.kirk]

HEY DON
i really enjoyed talking to you today,exchanging toughts,and different things
about catfishing,hope you get a chance to use that bait secert i gave you
before it gets realesed to the public. :D
KIRK

[Stump Bumper]

This post is for all of you brothers out there, who have put in all of that hard time out on the water perfecting your catfishing skills. Today Capt Kirk and I spoke with Cathy, a Park Ranger at Edward Menard Park, about our up-coming catfish tournament in February. She said "to bad you didn't hold your tournament last week!" When we asked her why, she said that as she was making her rounds last week she noticed an elderly black lady slumped over by one of the cabana's in the Burnt Stump section of the park. Fearing the lady was having a heart attack, she jumped out of her vehicle, rushed over and asked if she was alright? The lady looked up at her, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, smiled and said "no child I'm alright, I'm just a little tired from catching that catfish over there". Cathy, who HAD NOT noticed the catfish, turned towards where the lady was pointing, and immediately jumped back startled at the monster channel cat that was thrashing around under the running water! As she described it, "IT WAS THE BIGGEST CHANNEL CATFISH I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE!" Naturally we asked "how big was it?" Expecting her to answer "10 or 15 pounds", she told us she believes it was in the mid 40 pound range. The lady told her the next day that she had taken her catch home, at the end of her fishing day, weighed it on the bathroom scales, then cleaned and ate it. She said her bathroom scales read 40 something pounds! Here's one more twist to the story. She was bank fishing with a cane pole using worms for bait! The large cat snapped her cane pole like a twig and tried to pull her in but this fiesty old gal stood her ground, fought the catfish and was finally able to drag it onto dry land. Now, I know that alot of you believe in "catch and release" and so do I, but I also believe in only keeping what you are going to eat. Having said that, I say good for her! She used the fish the way God intended it to be used and now she has a great story to tell her grandchildren. I'm sure some of them young'uns will grow up to be catfishermen. Was it a new Florida State Record? I don't know, maybe. What I do know is that Turkey Creek Reservoir has always been rated as one of the TOP TEN locations in Florida for the numbers and large size of the Channel Cats that swim in it's 770 acres of water. So the next time you're out there putting in that hard time on the water remember that "today may be your lucky day!"....Ray

[Big Country01]

hey ray, i was having a hard time believing your story not that i wasn't believing you but just your story...lol..anyway i looked up the record and sure enuff the state record is 44.50#s that is one very large channel....also remember when i ask you if you knew of any place near by that held any flatheads well come to find out the hillsborough river holds the state record with a 57.50#s now this record i believe to be unconfirmed cause it has an asterik next to and had the confirmed weight of the 49#er now you know this means one we are gonna have to go try fish it fer some flatties...hahaha..lol...john

[Stump Bumper]

John, my long time fishing buddy, John McDaniel, has spent countless hours fishing off the pier at Burnt Stump. About a year ago, he hooked fought, then lost a large fish that he couldn't get turned. Every time he would gain a little ground, the big cat would peel drag and get back to the bottom. It finally snapped his 30 pound test leader after a 5 minute fight. Now we both know for sure what did it! When I told him the news, I know he was disappointed cause he has been out there at least twice a week since then trying to catch that fish. Oh, and by the way he was using cut-bait (threadfin shad) that he had cast netted up off the dock at the boat launch....Ray

[Stump Bumper]

John, you just never know when or where those flatheads will show up..LOL....Ray

[capt.kirk]

As i promised earlyer,after fishing with STUMP BUMPER,i would release the
bait info,WELL here goes,and it is very simple,some may have aready used
it,take nice sized frozen bait shrimp and peel them,add some l3pt shad flavor
to them soak them for 2 days,keepingthem cold,just above freezing,then,
head out with it,it will catch,channels,and big blues,TRY IT,IT MAY SUPRISE
YOU with the results.the only other thing iwill add is i was out of it the day
RAY and I went to TURKEY CREEK and RAY will back up that statement.I
feel that if i had some it to bring our CATCH would have been BETTER :D
WELL here it is give it a try,BUT i am not responsible for broken tackle.almost
forgot to mention this made by YUM comes in a bottle you can spray on
or use as i do by soaking your shrimp. :p
KIRK

[fourwglenn]

Capt. Kirk, I'm havein trouble findin Turkey Creek on the map. I live north of Ocala and would like to come down there and scout the area. I've searched on Google maps and can't find Turkey creek. Can you give me some directions. :confused:
Glenn

[Big Country01]

hey glen take 75 south to s.r 60 in brandon (tampa area) take a left on 60 go about 10 miles give or take 1 or 2 to a road called turkey creek there a bait shop the north corner and a circle k on the south corner take a right there and go about 1 to 2 miles the park entrance is on the left side(edward medard park).....

[fourwglenn]

Thanks JFinch. Got it on the Google map now.

[Big Country01]

no problem glen

[Stump Bumper]

Hey John, on Tuesday me and my fishing buddy John (McDaniel aka Spoons) and my other fishing buddy John (Barnes aka Hushpuppy) are going to meet our other fishing buddie Kirk (aka Capt. Kirk) over at Turkey Creek with one or two of his fishing buddies to do a little fishing. Because of my work schedule, I figure I had better get in as much fishing as I can while I can. I know you have to work that day otherwise you have a standing invitation to join us....Ray

[Big Country01]

which john are you talking ray.......lol.........i know you got alarge selection..

[Stump Bumper]

Hey John, every time I fish with my fishing buddy John and my other fishing buddies John and John it can get a little confusing....LOL....Ray

[Hootowlc3]

fourwglenn, Have you ever fished Moss Bluff lock and dam? I was there fishing today and some guy at the bait shop told me the blues should be stacking up there soon as the water cools off a little more.

[Big Country01]

hey hoot where is that located????

[Schoe]

How far is it from Wewa to Turkey Creek. And where is turkey creek located?

I need another new BOC member, Mac Sullivan added to the attendence list as he will be my partner. Schoe

[Big Country01]

hey schoe, i dont know exactly how far wewa is from here ray would be better to tell you that but i can tell you where turkey creek is.....

take i75 south to tampa area
get off at state road 60
take a left on 60 heading east
go about 10 or 12 miles give or take 1 or 2
you'll come to a stop light at turkey creek road(on one corner there is a turkey creek bait and tackle on the other corner is a cicle k)
take a right (south) go down about 1 1/2 to miles park entrance on the left..


look forward to meeting there on the 18th.........

[Stump Bumper]

Hey Schoe, it's roughly 340 miles from Wewa to here and takes about 6 hours pulling a boat. I'll try to get this right:
From Wewa take Hwy 71 north to Blountstown
Right on Hwy 20 East
Right on Hwy 267 (?) South
Left on Hwy 98, follow towards Perry
Right on Hwy 19 South, follow thru Chrystal River to New Port Richy
Left on Hwy 52 East, towards Dade City
Right on Interstate 75 South
Then pick-up on John's directions
Of coarse you could take the Hwy Route by going I-10 East to I-75 South but it's kind of boring. Do you plan on coming down a few days or weeks early to pre-fish?
Hope this helps....Ray

[Stump Bumper]

Good Luck to everybody going fishing this weekend. I've got to work and won't be able to make it out on the water til Tuesday. See ya'll then....Ray

[Hootowlc3]

jfinch, moss bluff is locted on lake Weir. It is close to Ocala.

[Big Country01]

hey hoot, can ya give me directions i would like to check that place out...i'm coming from tampa...

[Hootowlc3]

J, I can tel you how to get there from where I live. It would be about 110 miles for you.
Take 301 n to 42 e go to 25 w to 464 c ,cross the bridge and turn right at bait shop. Your best bet would be to take I 75 almost to Ocala.

[Big Country01]

Thanx Hoot......

[fourwglenn]

Thanks for the info Hootowl. I'm proly gonna be tied up till after turkey day. If I ain't home to eat dead turkey on thursday I'll be a dead or damaged turkey. I haven't been fishin Moss Bluff since I lost my leg. Its tuff gettin down that hill with one leg. :eek: : LOL. I've got a small rowboat now so I'll be able to get get to the cats now. :thumbsup:
Glenn

[capt.kirk]

HEY HOOT
Can you pass along some info on that lake? how big,depth,boating
restrictions,motors, RAMP? if it is a nice lake we would like to give it a try,
as soon as i have this tournament under control,which is good,we are on our
way to having 100 entrys. :cool:
THANKS
KIRK

[capt.kirk]

HEY RAY
remember what i told you about johns,i think we have many johns
in the OUTHOUSE. :eek:
KIRK

[Big Country01]

hey lets watch it with those john jokes..... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[hushpuppy]

i'm with you finch....ha.

[Stump Bumper]

That old outlaw get's a big kick out of stirring up the pot....LOL....Ray

[Hootowlc3]

Kirk, the lake is good size and you can lock through and fish the river. There is a boat ramp at moss bluff lock and dam. Lock through and fish the lake if you want.



This 5,685-acre lake near Belleview and Weirsdale has public access available through a GFC ramp off C.R. 25 and county ramp off Sunset Harbor Road. Another deep lake for central Florida, Lake Weir is over 20 feet deep at normal water level.

[fourwglenn]

Hi Kirk, That Moss Bluff is on the Oklawaha river east of the town of Oklawaha. Ya'll will proly come north on I-75 to the Belleview exit ( hwy 484 ) go east till you get on 441 in the town of Belleview. Turn left. About a block north you'll see cr-464.Take a right and go till you see the bridge across the river. Turn right at the first road past the bridge. That will take you to the ramp.
If you have a boat go down the river about a half mile and you will see an old RR bridge thats been converted into a pedestrian crossing. Tie off to the tree's up current from it and drift bait down to the junk pile under the bridge. you'll get hung up alot but theres some big-uns there. Every time a boat locks thru the current picks up and the cats turn on. ( KEEP THIS SPOT A SECRET.) :0a26:
Glenn

[Hootowlc3]

fourwglenn, Have you ever fished lake Panasoffkee? Or anyone else ever fished there? I don't live far from there and would like to try it for specks and cats.

Any tips would be appreciated

[fourwglenn]

Hoot, I haven't fished it yet but I'd sure like to. I've been past it several times and it realy looks fishy. Might take my grandson down there over his christmas break.
Glenn

[Big Country01]

i use to work with an ol'timer that lived on the lake and he would tear the specks up,i don't know exactly what spots he was fishing. he did invite over a few times but i could never make it...

[Stump Bumper]

Hey John, me and Hushpuppy made it over to Turkey Creek today, also saw Kirk and Mrs. Capt Kirk there. Man that wind was howling, white caps and waves, pretty chilly on the water but the channel cats were biting good. I caught one and John (Hushpuppy) caught four. I think Kirk and Sue caught three or four also. We had two small ones about a pound or so and three really nice ones, between three and four pounds each. We got on the water by about 9am and were home by 2:30pm. Not a bad day....Ray

[Stump Bumper]

Hey Hoot, I got to go for a boat ride on the lake one time, didn't get to fish it. From what I seen, it has alot of tall grass beds on the bottom (6 foot depth= 4 feet of grass then 2 feet of water to the surface). There's alot of area's like that on the lake with it opening up a little more towards the middle. There's an awful lot of people who fish it and say it's an outstanding speck (crappie) lake, but I haven't heard too much about channel cats....Ray

[Big Country01]

hey ray it's not necessarly what you catch it about having a good time,,,,lol....well gotta go i'm off to a concrete pour at work.....

[Stump Bumper]

Hope everybody has a great turkey day! Be safe and if you do like me and tend to overeat a little, then enjoy my brothers!!!!....Ray

[Big Country01]

have a good bird day everyone...

[capt.kirk]

THANK YOU
for giving me the information on that lake,we are going to give a try and
stay about 2 days.AND i will keep the SECRECT FISHING HOLE,for my own
private use :p once again questions were awnsered by 2 of the brothers
i will try to let it be kown when we are coming,and might hook up with you
folks when get there.
THANK YOU
KIRK MATTHEWS
NEW PORT RICHEY FL. :D
HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON!!!!! :D

[capt.kirk]

TO ALL JOHNS
i will not have any part of any more JOHN jokes,as i seem to get myself
in enough hot water with out trying.NOW as far as any one else having
a JOHN joke,that is completly out of my control. :p
KIRK MATTHEWS AKA
MUD BUG :eek:
NEW PORT RICHEY FL.

[Big Country01]

your ok kirk i'm sure it wasn't our first john joke and i'm sure it won't be our last...lol...besides john crapper did not invent the toilet he only improved it...have a good thanxgivin''''there capt. kirk and beam me up scotty...lol..just kiddin'.....

[Big Country01]

went out to burnt stump roap last had a couple of good hits but didn't land anything oh well,,,but did have a couple of coons playing in the garbage cans they looked like they was having a blast.....

[capt.kirk]

TO ALL
Plans are begining to take shape to become a sponser on the BOC
advertising list for 2006.i have almost all the material needed to get this
in place,for next year,probably will start around the 1st part of march.
i do not want to release any more information at this time,so please do not
ask any questions at this time,iwill tell about it at the proper time.i can say
that it will benifit a lot of PEOPLE less forunate than we are. :cool:
KIRK MATTHEWS

[Big Country01]

Hey Kirk, Wouldn't This Post Be Better In The General Tournament Thread?????but Any Ways That Sounds Great!!!!!!!!!!!!

[capt.kirk]

Just returned from LAKE LOU went to do a little night, bank fishing with
2 new BOC members,caught 1 nice channel,lost 2 more, had a good time
with the new brothers,going to do it again soon,looks real fishey to me.also
john finch call me when you get back from fishing,i did not receive the pm.
THANKS
KIRK ;)

[Big Country01]

i'll send it again kirk.....

[Stump Bumper]

John, you know there are still some big ones over in the Burnt Stump Area....Ray

[Big Country01]

well i been there a couple of times and ain't found em' yet...by the way where have you been ain't heard from ya in a while??? we went (sean and myself) out to lake pasadena in z-hills last nite till about 11:00 and only caught 3 specks just enuff for breakfast..lol....

[Stump Bumper]

Hey John, we will have to hit Turkey Creek in January and catch some of those big ole specks there....Ray

[Big Country01]

sounds good ray........

[Stump Bumper]

Got an OT today and "honey-do" list tomorrow, so it don't look like I'll be doing any fishing before Monday or Tuesday. If ya'll get to go, then good luck, let me know how ya'll do....Ray

[Big Country01]

hey ray, it don't look like i'll be fishing either for i got to finish making my tree stand and i'll be in the woods this this weekend....hope the 8th goes well for ya and not to painful afterwards we're all pulling for ya....

[Stump Bumper]

Hey John, save me a back strap or two, you lucky son-of-a-gun....Ray

[Big Country01]

o.k........................

[shadow]

Hey Kirk---What happened to the tournament someof you guys were getting together at Turkey Creek? I was looking forward to maybe coming down to fish the tournament and winning at least a steak dinner(side bet) from you? Is the thing still on or has it been cancelled?

This is what I get when I try to get into that subject:

shadow, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

Have I been a bad boy or something? Why cant I find out about the tournament?

[Big Country01]

hey shadow that fl. thing hasn't been cancled but kirk had it removed from the boc's files for what reason you would have to talk to him,send him a pm and i'm sure he would get back with you....

[Stump Bumper]

Please send me a PM and I can give you some up-dated info....Ray

[capt.kirk]

SORRY
about the confusion SHADOW,i belive every thing is cleared up now.
you may have noticed that i some times i close with a quote by
MUD BUG,Well mudbug passed away last week,he had been thru a lot in
his life as a comedion,but his body had all it could take.so out of respect
for mud bug,he will not be mentioned any more
may he rest in peace.MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS :D
KIRK

[Stump Bumper]

Stump checking in. Not to much going on right now. Due to the Christmas Season, dosen't look like I'll get to fish any before the New Year. Nancy has relatives coming in and this is alway's the best time for us to get to see everyone. We hope ya'll have a Merry Christmas....Ray

[Big Country01]

hope ya'll enjoy the holiday ray....btw i'm still waiting for that phone call...

[Big Country01]

hey ray, i'm thinking about about going out to the park in the mornin' and catching a couple of cats and a few specks..i'll give a report on how i do tommorrow

[Stump Bumper]

John, where are you gonna be fishing at? Maybe if I'm able to get out and about, I'll try to stop by just to say hello....Ray

[Big Country01]

hey ray i didn't make had a little to good time last nite and woke up with a headache...lol...talk about christmas spirits...hehehe

[Stump Bumper]

Nothing wrong with a little Christmas cheer!....Ray