Catfish Tournament in Huntington

[Skjei-D-Boys71]

My family and I just got back from Huntington lastnight. We did well. We caught 32 catfish and countless crappie (not to shabby for bank fishing). The highlight was my youngest son won the junior division of the tournament with an 11.2 lb Channel cat. He won a trophy and 30$ but this was nothing compared to the smile on his face. My wife caught a 12 lb flathead, and my middle son became what I would like to call a "Crappie Slayer"... Seemed like he caught a crappie with every cast. I'm so proud of them.
I would also like to mention to anyone who is headed that way the "Oasis RV park" just East of Farewell Bend is an outstanding place to camp/stay. My family and I have never been treated better by camp host's or used cleaner facilitys. These folks will nearly bend over backwards to make your stay comfortable and injoyable.

I tried to attach some pictures. Im new here and to this so I dont know if it will work or not?? I guess we will se

Catfish Jacob's 11.2 lbr.jpg
Catfish Jakes got his trouphy.jpg

[FelonFinder]

Awesome

[Twothirteen]

Hey I'd be pretty dang happy to catch a cat like that any day...

[1bigfish]

Congrats to your boy on catching the fish and winning.

Big congrats to you for getting the whole family out fishing.

[fishonjon]

Nice job. Thats one big kitty.

[The Fish Box]

sweet

[Skjei-D-Boys71]

Here are a couple more pic's... My wifes 12 lb flathead and Saturday nights catch.

Catfish catch.jpg
Catfish Shell's big fish.jpg

[calculator]

Originally Posted by The Fish Box

sweet

Nice fish, I'm looking forward to going over in a couple weeks to do some catch and release. Always extra fun when you have a big one tugging on the line.

[FelonFinder]

I don't know for sure, but it almost looks like the adults are more excited than the kids in those pictures!

[Skjei-D-Boys71]

Well one of the best rewards in my life is watching my boys grow-up. When I see them having a good time I cant help but have a good time also. Thanks.

Calculator.... Good luck when you go up that way. We did our best on the Weizer hwy.

[FelonFinder]

The first time I put my son on cats at Huntington, he screamed out, "Dad!!! He's pulling me in!" And he was right! That was five years ago, but a 4 year old vs. a 5 pound catfish is pretty darn good humor.

[dampainter]

nice going on the cats.....bait? weight? technique?

[dragon67]

Way to go on getting the family out there and enjoying fishing.

[Skjei-D-Boys71]

We caught them on Crappie fillets late at night. No real tecnique just cast out there as far as you can with enough weight to make it hold (I used 3-4 oz) and wait for a bite. My brother-n-law and I drank a cold beer to help pass the time in between bites.

[Medics-R-US]

Where is this at??? I would like to take my daughter catfishing but have no idea of where to go or what gear or tackle to use????

[1bigfish]

Originally Posted by Medics-R-US

Where is this at??? I would like to take my daughter catfishing but have no idea of where to go or what gear or tackle to use????

Snake River.

As for what to use you will get all kinds of answers. Personally I like to save up my dead ********* from the Willy and use them as cutbait. I usually will fish a flat out of the current from a boat and toss it out with no weight with the bail open.

[dampainter]

how big a hook is needed for a crappie fillet? am temted to go this weekend think it would be any good?.....anyone use a tube for cats ??thinking of just using my float tube somewhere and flatlining some shrimp and see what happens also a shrimp/crawler combo this works at the john day but not sure at huntington??? good tackle shop in the area? yep think I am headed east for a couple days.

[Skjei-D-Boys71]

Ok.... Just East of Farewell Bend is the Weizer Hwy. Take that exit, about a mile past the exit you will see a long turn off on the right, park there and fish off the gaurd rail, there are nails in the guard rail that make nice pole holders. If you deside that is not working out for you... Then head to Huntington and take the Snake river road, when you hit gravel there are plenty of places to fish there. My favorite hole up that way I call "The TLP Hole" there is a rock that someone has painted "TLP" on about a mile past the gravel on the right. I have only caught one cat on crawlers up there. I've mostly caught them on crappie or minows or chicken liver. There is a nice bait shop / store in Huntington were you can buy everything you need from bait to cold drinks.

Have fun,
-Skjei-D-Boy

[dampainter]

did a weather check,looks like I may wait for another day. talked to the gal at oasis a little said that she knew boaters were doing ok but slow for those on the bank?. whats the difference? how are they fishing? at anchor and dropping to the bottom? bobber fishing? how deep are the waters around there? are the fish everywhere or deep pools or what? no one uses a float tube there?

[Skjei-D-Boys71]

I've never seen anyone use a float tube there. The water is real swift. Yea boaters tend to do a little better than bankers. I think its because the way your gear settles in. From the bank it might roll 20 to 50 yards before it settle's. I can tell you I think we did much better than the other bankers. The water where I fish on the Weizer hwy is around 15' maybe 20'. At the "TLP Hole" its quit-a-bit deeper. All in all if the weather is nice I dont think you will have a bad time. If nothing else you can head up the canyon and catch crappie and smallies all day long. That place is fun no matter what. If you decide to go tell the folks at the Oasis we said hello.(There is a picture of my boys holding the trophy on the wall in the office there).

Skjei-D-Boy

[boomguy]

Originally Posted by Skjei-D-Boys71

Here are a couple more pic's... My wifes 12 lb flathead and Saturday nights catch.

Attachment 17275
Attachment 17273

what do you do with all of those fish?

[Skjei-D-Boys71]

I bring them home, have one big fish fry, save e few packages and give the rest away. Catfish are hard to come by around here where I live. My friends are very thankfull when I bring some home for them.