Hi Ya'll in Minnesota

[hanson]

Just wanted to post a warm mid-winter HELLO! to all my fellow Minnesota catfisherman.

Hittin' the ice tomorrow for some channels. Not too much longer until we are open water fishing again. Take care guys!

Chris Hanson

[Katmaster Jr.]

Well I'm in NC, but welcome to the BOC!

Tight Lines! Zakk:)

[Chris]

Welcome to the BOC
We would like to know a little bit more about you, could you please fill out your profile. Take the time and go through the post and respond often, this place is great.

chris

[nosnag]

Welcome in.It may have taken you awhile to start posting,but keep it up.Do'nt be a stranger.
BILL
P.S.----Please fill in your profile as soon as possible.We would like to know you and see who we are posting to.Not nagging,just requesting.

[RamRod]

Welcome aboard, we're glad to have ya!

[SilverCross]

Welcome to the BOC

[jeffjbeard]

Hello and glad to see you onboard

[cook]

Welcome from a ex-Duluth resident.Hows the weather been?I saw a report about the ice just not gettig thick enough to be safe,but to thick to break for open water.Putting the hurt on some areas in Wisconsin

[edward361]

:0a22: welcome aboard the BOC

[hanson]

Back again...

-Profile is updated
-Avatar is updated (20lb Red River of the North Channel Cat)

...and ice fishing channels was very slow this weekend. Usually we pound them but ice fishing in general has been very weird this winter. Yes its warm and the ice is half as thick as it should be right now.

[Larry]

Nice to meet another MN Catfisherman. They seem to be a little scarce in this neck of the woods.

[little_fiddler]

Welcome to the Boc from Dubuque Iowa

[Phil Washburn]

welcome, chris - nice looking fish you have there

[the_nis]

Welcome to the BOC Chris! Don't be a stranger!

[The J-Man!]

It is great to hear from another Minnesotan, we are fairly rare here. I have never catfished through the ice, but I would love to give it a shot if I had a chance of success!

[hanson]

There are other Minnesota based fishing forums that I frequent regularly but I thought it would be fun to get more catfish perspective from across the US.

I've got this idea in the back of my mind that I need to take a trip to Santee-Cooper or the James River to get a taste of what we don't have here.

Anyway, I've never been skunked ice fishing channel cats but I came close last Sunday, only 3. My best day on the ice, my partner and I landed 40 in under 3 hours with the biggest a tad over 10 pounds.

Do you MN guys fish channels or flatties primarily?

[TOPS]

Hanson, welcome to the B. O. C. enjoy your stay here.

[The J-Man!]

Hanson,

I primarily go after flatheads, the bigger the better. I do catch the occasional channel though. I am going to have to try some channel ice fishing soon, as it sounds like a good time.

I do most of my catfishing in the Minnesota and St. Croix rivers in and around the Twin Cities, and also make a few trips a year just outside the Mankato area, that's where I have caught my biggest over the last couple years.

[nuthinlikeacat]

I always fish for flatties, although I catch a few channels here and there. I do most of my fishing near the St Peter area, but am starting to fish up near the cities more.

[Larry]

I'm a flathead fan myself, I don't mind the channels though.
Only been fishing the Minnesota river, curious to try the Mississippi and St. Croix, this spring and summer.
When or whats the earliest time in the season that you guys start going after Flatheads???

[nuthinlikeacat]

Larry,
I have always started my fishing season in early April. IMO April and early Mayare the best time to fish'em.

[Larry]

Hey Ryan,
thanks for the tip. We still have to get out on the MN sometime. Maybe if the weather keeps warming the way it has been yesterday and today. We might be able to get a little earlier jump. ONe of my buddies has been ice fishing calhoun and harriet in the cities. He's been getting some small walleyes and lots of perch. I drive by and see the river with open water and I hear the fish callin.

[nuthinlikeacat]

Yeah, we will have to hit the MN river sometime. With the river open and somewhat low, I am itching to get the poles in the water. About our luck, March will be full of snow, and make the river hard to fish for a while.

I am planning on going out to fish panfish today out by Savage. I hear they are biting pretty good. Gonna be a great day to take the kids fishing being it is soooo nice out!

[The J-Man!]

It would be a great day to get out. I also have the itch to get on the river BIG TIME! Spring can't get here soon enough!

[Larry]

HOOOO BOOYYYS!
Stopped down at the MN River, 35w boat launch.. The water is pretty low and no Ice. I think that we could do some damage if we fished out by the spillways dumping in from Blackdog lake into the river. I'm kicking myself for not having a portable water thermometer. The water felt like it might be in the upper 30s to mid 40s. (It felt cold but not super cold). Ryan as long as we dont get anymore freezing spells. I will continue to proceed with boat preparations. I'm thinking some walleys till it warms up enought for the Flatheads.
Hope you had a chance to catch some panfish. where are you fishing in Savage by the way. Thats right next door to my neck of the woods.
later

[retired stump jumper]

Just wanted to post a warm mid-winter HELLO! to all my fellow Minnesota catfisherman.

Hittin' the ice tomorrow for some channels. Not too much longer until we are open water fishing again. Take care guys!

Chris Hanson A big hello to all you Minnesota cat men Do any of you fish the ole mississippi north of Little Falls where it runs through old camp ripley there used to be some great fishing for channel cats there I havent been there to fish it sence the 1970`s just wondering if it was still great fishing for channel`s plan to come to fish it again before much longer

[retired stump jumper]

I asked about fishing to ole miss northof Little Falls Min. where it runs through the old camp Ripley if it is still great catfishing I plan to come up there this summer & fish it & also fish Millaks lake ( I guess I spelled it close enough ) I` caught some great fish in that lake Walley, Northen pike, crappie & you name it I think I`ve caught about every kind of fish there is in that lake or was at that time. I live in southeast Kansas now But want to come back to Little Falls & fish these places again.


Just want to set in GOD`S cathedrill & listen to the world go by & catch some of his creations. just an ole retired stump jumper from Kansas

[Larry]

Hey Stump Jumper,
I cant say that I have had a chance to fish the area that your wondering about. I'd be willing to bet that if its a sizable river the fishing probably is good.
We fish around the twin cities. Primarily the Minnesota river. Catch mostly flats but have had cought some decent channels. 12lb and 10lb.
We cant wait for spring to get here and start warming things up.
If your gonna fish for big channels or Flatheads. Live bait, suckers. Medium or bigger. Fish them on the bottom, and wait for the fun.
good luck
keep us posted on how you come out.
Larry

[nuthinlikeacat]

I asked about fishing to ole miss northof Little Falls Min. where it runs through the old camp Ripley if it is still great catfishing I plan to come up there this summer & fish it & also fish Millaks lake ( I guess I spelled it close enough ) I` caught some great fish in that lake Walley, Northen pike, crappie & you name it I think I`ve caught about every kind of fish there is in that lake or was at that time. I live in southeast Kansas now But want to come back to Little Falls & fish these places again.


Just want to set in GOD`S cathedrill & listen to the world go by & catch some of his creations. just an ole retired stump jumper from Kansas
Nice to hear that some people like to come on up here and take advantage of all that is offered here in MN. It's interesting that you made that post, because just last year I was up fishing that area of the ol Miss near Ripley. I had not been there in quite a few years (at least 10). The fishing was pretty good considering it was mid summer. It did however change in the fact it has grown up...the town and area itself.
As for Mille Lacs, It's always producing a variety of fish. With the slot limits in recent years, it has been producing some very nice walleyes.

[Ryan]

Just found this board and thought I'd check it out. Hanson, I see you've found it, too!

[nuthinlikeacat]

Welcome aboard, nice to see another MN fisherman on here!

[Ryan]

Are you guys mainly shorefishermen of boat? I fish mainly from shore, but that is because I am boatless right now.

[nuthinlikeacat]

I primarliy fish from shore. I do like to occasionally go out in a boat.

I know I'll probably get some crap for saying this....but No offense to the guys out fishing in a boat, but anyone can catch a 40+lb pound cat from a boat....doing that from shore in a place that is probably heavily fished, now to me THATS a challenge! Oh yeah, and the fact that shore fishing I can build a huge a$$ fire to keep me occupied if the fish arent biting!

But on the flip side, if your out for a record of some sort, you probably arent going to get it from fishing off shore. And the whole fact of being able to move from spot to spot in a boat is also nice.

[catfishhunter23]

hello all, just wanted to say hello, and express how excited i am to get back out there for some cats, since i dont ice fish. i fish the minnesota river by redwood falls, and granite falls.

[nuthinlikeacat]

Welcome aboard Catfish, nice to see another member from MN on here.

Ya don't ice fish??? Whats up with that?? I thought that was a way of life for us Minnesotans!:rolleyes:

[ePug]

and the fact that shore fishing I can build a huge a$$ fire to keep me occupied if the fish arent biting!

What? You have never built a fire in a aluminum boat?:frk-big: You haven't lived then.

[nuthinlikeacat]

Welcome aboard Epug;

Can't say that I have tried that before, but I guess theres a first for everything!
When I'm out shore fishin, people know cuz they can see my fire miles away :)

[cody14]

Hey to all the mn fisherman. I am new to catfishing and this will be my first year. I am from Clara City and am looking for some good spots to do some shore fishing from. Any tips?

[rushing]

Hey Cody! Welcome to the board. Just head a bit south to the Minnesota River. I do not fish that far upstream so I don't know the area very well but I do know there are plenty of cats around and shore spots aren't to hard to find.

[plainsman]

In South part the state I heard the lakes are opening up. Kinda late to be running around on the ice. Last summer I fished the MN river near where the Blue Earth river joins it. I didn't catch nothin but my nephew was catchin some good cats and walleyes. Hope to be fishing soon.