Big Channel Cat on a fly rod
If you haven’t caught a big catfish on a fly rod you’re missing some great fun. This one weighed 7 lbs even (according to my fish de-liar anyway) and believe me not many fish fight as determined as they do. I managed to hook up with this channel cat using a Yum alive black and silver shad. It looks much like the swimmin minnow that I do so well with and it will remain a part of my fishing arsenal. The difference between the two is that the swimmin minnow has a ribbon tail and the yum shad has a forked tail. The yum also is sold wet in packages containing fish attractant. I sometimes use a spray on attractant on my swimmin minnow when fishing with it is slow. The scent spray will usually improve my catch rate but now always. As I mentioned in a previous entry, Larry, my newest fishing buddy, gave me some bead head muddler flies. They worked well when my swimmin minow did not.
I did miss another big fish that went straight into a sunken trees branches. I never did see the fish but it was BIG! And, by the way, the fly rod I was using, was my new St Croix, 6 weight. So, you don’t really need an 8 weight to land bigger fish if you have the patience to work the fish in. I got him to the net three times and each time, except for the last, he made a long dash to get away. Of course, I release the fish right after taking the picture.
I managed to catch another 25 crappie, including a 13 inch crappie, but most were in the 7-9 inch range. I also landed 3 nice size bluegill with the swimmin minnow.
Some people ask me, "why don’t you use the swimmin minnow on a jig with a spinning rod"? Well, if you watch the swimmin minnow or the Yum minnow hooked throughthe lip as you would a live minnow, you will see that it really resembles a wounded minnow. When fish see it, including channel cat, bass, bluegill and crappie, the see an easy meal, and often as not, go for it. On a jig the minnow doesn’t have that realistic wounded look. It really works best when using it on a fly rod and without the weight of the jig. Fish it slowly with several pauses in your retrieve. If you try spin casting a swimmin minnow or yum without weight is goes nearly nowhere. It does work on a jig, but in my opinion, not nearly as well.
I’ve also used them (swimmin minnow, yum shad) on a beetle spin type spinner and have had some luck that way too. Changing tactics is often the key to a successful fishing day.
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Hi Dad, WOW, that’s a big catfish! He looks like a fighter! Glad your blog connected you with Larry, it’s terrific to have a buddy to fish with. Looking forward to having you visit us at Little Wolf sometime! Love you much, Theresa
Jim; from the looks of things you’ll have a great year of fishing, big bass, 18 ½” crappie and now a 7 lbs channel cat, all said that just puts me to shame, but I still enjoy fishing even when I come home empty handed. I have only been one time this year and didn’t even get a bite. I hope your luck continues and you have a grate year.
But I have a few questions. Now don’t laugh at this but how do you rig a bead head muddler fly? If you were fishing for bass what hook size would you use and would it be different for crappie? Do you mean beads that come in packs, red, blue, black, etc? Also would you match a color to how clear the water might be? Is the muddler minnow a fly or a type of rubber minnow? Would this also be useful in river and small streams? In small streams where you do not have room to use a fly rod, what is the best all-round spinner bait for trout, or would you use a fly and a float?
I like the part when you were talking about how good Patty can cook and your right she is a great cook, but you put me in mind of Grandpa Jones on Hee Haw, Yum Yum.
Thinking of you and family, Bill