Channel Cats in the I-5 corridor

[ChannelCats]

Would like to start a thread for confirmed channel cat locations in Western Washington and Oregon. Rumored locations also welcomed just make sure it's distinguished as such. I know Eastern Oregon is the best place for Channel Cats but they can and do populate some west side rivers, lakes and ponds.

Here's some places I've caught Channel Cats...

Woodburn Pond- Haven't been there in about 12 years but caught several 2-3 pounders and saw someone catch a 6+ pound Cat. Would be nice to here from someone that's catfished there more recently. Best bait that worked back then was night crawlers and liver.

St. Louis Ponds- Used to be my favorite catfishing hole. About 8 years ago my buddy and me would go there almost every weekend and fish all night. Typical 5-6 hour trip would yield 5-8 17"-21" Channel Cats using large treble hooks with a ball 'o worms on a slide weight setup. Biggest fish we pulled out of there was 6.5 pounds and had bigger ones get away. After not fishing there for 6 years we gave it a try again last summer and a few times this year, so far we've got nothin but bullheads. It appears the ponds have been overrun by illegally introduced bullheads.:hoboy: We're hoping things will pick back up this summer but those bullheads seem to over-populate any small pond or lake and just take over. This was the best catfishin' you'd EVER hope to find near Portland and it appears to be ruined. :noway:


I'll edit this list as people add new info, assuming there's others out there like me that LOVE the taste of Channel Cats and the chance to land a lunker. If you've seen or caught a channel cat I'll add it to the confirmed location list.

<font color="red">Confirmed Channel Cats...</font>

Woodburn Pond- Night Crawlers and liver.

St. Louis Ponds- Night Crawlers. May have been overrun by Bullheads and no longer worth while.

Bethany Lake- Confirmed stocking.

Commonwealth Lake- Confirmed stocking.

Tualatin River- Confirmed Cats including a 15 pound White Catfish in 1989. At the time it was second only to the worlds record of 16 lbs 15 oz.

Pudding River

Multnomah Channel- Near Coon Island and Gilbert River.

Columbia River- Goble boat ramp near Torjan, Felida moorage near Vancouver on 122nd St, Ponds by the Columbia along I-84 in the Gorge.

Kress Lake- In Kalama.



<font color="blue">Rumored Channel Cat locations...</font>

Horseshoe Lake- West of St. Paul




Thanks to anyone that add's to this discussion. There's so few of us Cat Fish lovers in this part of the country and not many places to fish for them. We need to pool our info together and find the best places to catch the tastiest fish on earth. :food:

[fishnfun]

The tulatin does have some catfish in it, and so does the pudding river, a close by tributary to the mollala.
St. Luis ponds can be killer, but yes it is mostly smaller bullheads, but last year I pulled out about a 3 pound cat while bass fishing with a senco.
I have also caught cats out of Oswego Lake, and a lot of the small ponds by mulnomah (spelling?) falls.

[QH's Paw]

Well, I can confirm for you it is not a rumor that there are channel cats in the Multnomah channel. Specifically in the Coon island area and also Gilbert River. I have seen the fish during fish-ins or contest for OBPC. Also, In the Columbia as some sturgeon fisherman can attest to. My son and his friend caught a channel catfish just below Goble boat ramp last year. That's just above the old Trojan plant. There is a big grass flat submerged there and I believe they are probably feeding on assorted fish spawns.
Hope this helps in your quest...and keep us all posted on your findings :cheers:

[Mr. Sturgeon14]

as for horseshoe lake i am not sure if it has cats but i knw it has trout it is easy to find you can see it ass you are going up I-5. I have caught alot of catfish in the mouth of the tualatin on crawlers. I have also caught a 7 pounder in the columbia fishing for gators using herring. Another good place is up in the rock island ponds

[FelonFinder]

You need to find the Felida moorage...

It's just north of Vancouver and down some hill and by golly I can't remember the exit or the road names but I think it's a branch of the Columbia that flows into or near the big lake just west of Vancouver. In that moorage (which is a few residential house boats) are some pictures of people sporting nice sized channels, some crappie, bass, gillies, etc. A few years ago night fishing with a buddy, something came along and snapped off my buddy right quick.

I think EBG knows this location's street name. YO Roger?

[boblag]

I think Horseshoe Lake was closed last year, and I'm not sure if it's open this year. It's on the way to the boat ramp at St. Paul, but I think it's behind a gate (with a sign identifying it) and some trees so you can't see it too well, from that road at least.

Map of Horseshoe Lake (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&amp;S=13&amp;Z=10&amp;X=311&amp;Y=3128&amp;W=1&amp;qs=%7csa int+paul%7cor) (it's in the middle)

[ChannelCats]

Hey everyone, thanks of the info and replies! I'll update my post when I get the chance.


I did talk to a game warden at St. Louis Ponds yesterday. He said someone pulled out a 27 inch Channel Cat last week and that he knew of someone landing a 15 pounder a couple years ago! Guess the cats are still in there. I plan on hitting as many spots as I can this summer and landing a grand pappy cat. :smile: I'll keep this thread updated!

[FelonFinder]

Don't forget Kress Lake in Kalama. I have caught many fromthere and seen a nice 9# caught there. THey are planters and so you checking the stock record will be valuable...

[ouzel]

Horseshoe lake is in St paul, turn at the john deer dealer and follow the road to the last house on the left.

[MattPark]

There are channel cats in the Columbia and Multnomah Channel. A 5lb Channel cat swallowed a whole smelt a few weeks ago in the MC :wink:

[lundprov]

Felida moorage... is on Nw 122nd St.. I grew up fishing there I think my dads picture is up there with one of the
largest channel cats pulled out of there.. There is a lot
of good spots there . You can catch alot of Sturgeon there
though
Pm me if you want to go down there i would be more than happy to show people around

[ChannelCats]

Ok the list has been updated. I need more info on Rock Island ponds, never heard of them before.

Pale Rider- How can I check the stocking records? That's be very helpful info if it's on the net somewhere.

lundprov- I'd love to try that spot. I'll send ya a PM sometime and you can show me the ropes.

I fished the Tualatin last night and got a 15" Chub along with some bullheads. I did have a REALLY big fish on but it swam right under the docks. After about 10 minutes of trying to pull that sucker out to at least get a look it broke my 10 pound test.:mad: So whatever it was, it was big!

Think I might go back tonight and use that Chub as cutbait.

[FelonFinder]

Just look up the Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife online and see if they have a stock record, if not contact them and just ask. I don't have any contact info for ya, sorry.

PR