WHAT IS THE BEST LAKE FOR CATS?

[Ibfishen2]

I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN OREGON FOR 10 YEARS AND AS A KID DAD ALWAYS TOOK US CATFISHING AND CAUGHT ALOT. USING THE OLD REMIDIES. NOW MY NIEGHBOR AND I NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THE WIFES SOMETIMES AND WANT TO GET SOME BIG CATS!! USING CRAWLERS AND THE OCCASIONAL LIVER. NO LUCK. ANYONE CAN TELL THEIR SECRETS TO ME ON THOSE BIG CATS!!!!!!!! :shrug:
WANT TO GO NIGHT FISHING :sleep:

[Talljeeper]

You can never go wrong with big ole fat nightcrawlers....
Having caught several 30+ pound blues, channels and flatheads, I used to have great success with goldfish. The bigger the goldfish the bigger the cat. I used to like to use a size about the size of a small bluegill, i.e. about 2.5 to 3 inches long. Use a slip sinker on 20# mono.

Structure and depth are your friends. Night bite seemed to be better than morning, but if they are in there, it really didn't matter.

Seems my biggest cats were caught at night, when they would move from the deep into more shallow "bank" areas.

Hope this helps....since they are bottom feeders I would not recommend eating them. If you want good catfish get farm raised.
Paul

[Ibfishen2]

we go down there and catch 12-18 inck small and lg mouth and put them in my neighbors pond and we feed them gold fish too. guess that would work for cats too. do you hook them through the back so that they stay alive longer? well hey thanks for the tip.

[Ibfishen2]

COME ON SOMEONE HAS TO KNOW. :smash:

[Ibfishen2]

TTT
:hoboy:

[Striper Club]

I have never heard of using goldfish for cats, but I do no that the wardens would slap a nasty fine on ya if they saw that! :shocked: I will have to try that next time I go to MS (they allow live minnows, etc there).

As far as what a catfish likes....the list is long, but here are some old standbys...basically, anything stinky!:

Chicken Livers (I see you tried that already, but they were always my favorites.)

Doughballs (biscuit dough works, but falls apart...new manufactured doughs from Berkely or whoever should work.)

Raw Bacon (cheap and holds pretty well)

Uncooked hotdog works like a champ.

Nightcrawlers...

As far as location, dams/levys in lakes - drift on the bottom, or if is rather shallow, use a snap-on bobber set so you are 6-12 inches from the bottom.

I have not tried the Willie for cats but will make a point to try at somepoint and let ya know.

[Dipsnort]

I think most any lake would be appropriate for cats as long as it's deep. Be sure to outfit them with cement boots first. :yay:

Oh wait, you're talking about catfish, aren't you!?! :laugh:

[Ibfishen2]

:applause: GOOD THING THAT MY WIFE ISN'T THE ONE READING THIS!!!! WE GO TO THE WILLIE TO GET AWAY. WE ARE NOT EATING OUT OF IT, I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THIS. ITS CLOSE TO THE HOUSE (8 MIN). WE'VE MASTERED THE BASS IN THERE AND JUST TRYING SOMETHING DIFF. HEARD OF ANY BIG CATS (CATFISH) PULLED FROM THE WILLIE IN THE SALEM AREA? BACK HOME WE USED MINNOWS (ILLEGAL HERE), LIVER W/ BROWN SUGAR. BUT ITS HARD ENOUGH TELLING THE WIFE THAT THE MONEY GOES TO STURGEON, SALMON, BASS, AND NOW CAT. LET ME KNOW IF YOU KNOW THE SECRETS. :wave:

[bait dunker]

are there any local ponds to salem to catch some catfish? i dont want to fish the willamette, but i would like to take the neighbor boys out to catch some catfish and have a catfish fry.

[Ibfishen2]

THATS WHAT I'VE BEEN WANTING KNOW. I KNOW THAT THERE IS ST. LOUIS POND ANROUND BROOKS-WOODBURN BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS SAVE AT NIGHT. I GUESS THATS A GOOD REASON TO PACK THE
.45CAL. MAYBE WE CAN PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER A GO FIND OUT SOMETIME IF THERE ARE ANY "SAFE" FISHING PONDS HERE IN SALEM-KEIZER. GOOD TO HAVE A BOAT. AWAY FROM THE BANK AND CAST TOWARD IT.??????????????? :shrug:

[Tanner]

Woodburn pond has some nice channel cats in it. I caught two of them in there one day that were both 18". I caught them on my flyrod while fishing for bass and bluegill.

The pond is located right behind the south bound weigh station just south of the woodburn exit off of I-5.

If you get the book "Fishing In Oregon" by Madeline Dinnesse (SP?) You can find all kinds of places to go catch Catfish, Bass, Trout, Salmon, Steelhead and everything else that swims in our waters here.

[dragon67]

There is also the Wilsonville pond that the state has stocked with cat fish, I don't know if they are channel or muds.

[Ibfishen2]

i recieved a pm about all my caps lock. sorry im not yelling!!!!!!! im just posting, replying etc.
thanks everyone. :bowdown:

[TEXAS RIG]

Brownlee without a dout has got to be one of the hottest places right now with lots of big channel cats. I just got back from there today.

[Striper Club]

0

[dragon67]

Just got back from the powered flats sunday and caught a nice mess of cats. Mighty tasty.

[Ibfishen2]

dragon67,
Powered flats??? where is that? would like to go if you can tell me. thanks

[SailCat]

I believe dragon67 would be referring to the flats on the Powder river above Hewitt Park. that area offers the best fishing for channel cats I've experienced anywhere. Even in August it can be hot 'n' heavy in the wee morning hours 'til the sunlight's on the water. It's worth the trip.

~MT
The Guide's Forecast (http://www.theguidesforecast.com)

[Ibfishen2]

Thanks for the tip I'll try that. Better in boat, or bank? If so is there any inlets of water? (never been) And how do I get there from Salem?
Thanks
:bowdown:

[shalom]

It is better in a boat but you can catch them from the campground at HEWETT PARK . The Powder Rirer does run into the flat . There are lot of people that will tell you where they are catching them when you get there and have a better understanding of the the lay of the land .When you get ready to go drop me an e-mail and i will give you my phone number. It is a lot easier for me to talk on the phone than hunt and pick on this keyboard .
Good Luck you will have a good time . If you would like information on the OREGON BASS AND PANFISH CLUB drop me a line . We have members all over the state , and most will help you anytime . :jester: :dance: :yay: :dance: :angel1:

[shalom]

Ibfishen2 ,
I have tried to answer your e-mail 3-times with my name and phone number .Drop me an e-mail with your name and phone numer and i will call you ,Thanks :jester: :dance: :yay: :dance: :angel1: