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Cataract Lake Report

9K views 77 replies 9 participants last post by  eastforker 
#1 ·
Just got back from a decent night of fishing at Cataract. The lake is 13 feet above summer pool but I believe the cats are coming off the spawn cause last weekend they were hardly biting. Caught a seven pound channel and several five pounders. Not huge but I was just happy to catch something. I didn't have much luck catching decent sized shad so I used shad minnows which are everywhere. Funny thing is I also caught three decent carp on shad minnows too. I've never caught a carp on a 4/0 hook before so tonight was a first.

With the lake level what it is, the ramps are underwater but I did see some people launching from the road.

Good luck if you head out and watch out for lots of debris.
 
#2 ·
Thanks for the report Thad. I have been watching the lake level reports and so knew the ramps were back under. Hope to fish it soon but will wait till I can use the ramps. The ramp at the State Park is usable first since it is on slightly higher ground. I always get the old farts Park pass because the cost isn't bad.

I have had the small shad minnow problem there quite often. There sure are plenty to them. But they do work. Never did catch a carp on them so that would be a surprise.

The bite has been slight for a while. I fished the Ohio for 11 hours a week ago without a nibble so I figure they should be coming off the bed soon also.

Thanks for the report

tight lines.
 
#4 ·
Nice fish Thad. I thought with the tons of shad in the lake now that they would be as fat as they could be. Yours must have been on a diet. Should have been a good night to be on the water.
 
#5 ·
This fish was definitely skinnier than the others I caught. The 8 pounder had a belly as big and round as a softball and the five pounders weren't far behind. I was happy with these fish though. I just started targeting cats late last year. This is actually my PB. Hopefully that with go up in the near future.
 
#10 ·
I can't guarantee we will catch anything but the river bite should be getting better. I'll try to give you plenty of notice to make plans when I have a trip in mind.. The trip depends a lot on the temperature. The days are way too hot to set in the sun in a dark colored boat. So, a night trip may be called for. I generally drive down which takes about 2 hours or a little more, fish 8 hours or so then drive back.

If a night trip is in the works, we might make it on a Saturday since boat traffic would not be a problem like during the day.

I have plenty of good river rods and reels along with rigging plus skipjack. May try to get some large fresh shad and some live bluegill to take also.
 
#11 ·
That sounds great Tom. I would only need a day or two notice. My work is very accommodating.

I will say that my Saturdays are pretty busy. I'm an assistant Scout Master and also VP of the Clay City band boosters. I have twins (boy and girl) that are both in marching band. Starting September 9, we have fund raisers and/or competitions until the first week in November. We also have a scout camp out next weekend. It gets tiring sometimes but I wouldn't trade the family time for anything.

I wouldn't have any problem leaving after work (I get off at three) going to the river for a night then taking the next day off to catch up on sleep or just going for a full day depending on the temperature.

I also have a 3/4 ton diesel so I could pull your boat if you'd like.

Anyway, thanks for the invite. I look forward to hearing from you. I check my email several times a day so if you would like to shoot me an email, here's my address.
thad.starkey@yahoo.com
 
#14 ·
Hit Cataract last night. Only boated five fish in about as many hours. Not much size either, 2-4 pounders. The flats near the Cunot ramp only produced one fish. The others were caught farther north on the lake closer to the narrows. Cut shad was the bait of choice. The didn't like the crappie heads I had out but did catch one on shrimp.
 
#15 ·
Hi Thad, lad to hear you found a few,,,,,,or they found you.

I would think the channels would be spawning so fewer bites would be expected.

Do you think they will get the Cunot floating dock in before the snow flies? I don't think I can remember when it was June and the dock was still afloat 25 feet out from the shore.

tight lines.
 
#17 ·
That may be because I noticed that one of the two long 4 inch pipes that server as legs at the outer end of the dock is missing. Now, I do think the dock stayed close to where it is at now so figure it is just laying flat on the bottom underneath the dock. Anyway, it sure is nice when it is usable but has always needed a little updating with rubber bumpers. It just amazes me that every year it seems to be the same thing. If they are not going to fix it they should just pour sone sand in the area between the ramps so boats could be beached there when parking or getting the truck.

Anyway, tight lines
 
#18 ·
Well Tom, I happen to have some inside info on the Cunot dock. My sister in law is the property manager for Leiber State Park. The park is in charge of that dock. As of last Monday, the dock is in place. It has a broken winch cable. She is working on a replacement but the dock is useable.
 
#31 ·
Thad, I am almost always on a laptop computer but also have an iPhone 5 that I use on occasion. I can see all the pictures on it but do not use the app. I just go into the same Catfish1 program that is on my computer. It works very well.
 
#32 ·
Don't know what the problem could be Thad. I use my iPhone 5 on occasion and can see the jpg pics. But, I use the reg program and nit the app. You might find a thread with jpg pics, then with your browser, open catfish1 and go to that same thread and see if you can see the pics then. Either way, I would mention to forum support.


good luck.
 
#34 ·
The pics of the two flatheads are really nice and I was wondering when they were caught but, two does not a flathead lake make. I go more by the fact that I fave fished Cataract for 3 or 4 years and caught a good number of cats but not a single flathead. Thad and Eric, how many have you caught in the past? Being fed by Mills Creek it is bound to have a few but I don't think I would consider it a flathead lake.

Your thoughts
 
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