Float Fishing Channel Cats!

[Aaron Shirley]

Italo and I joined Jason and Tyler for a film shoot on an Erie tributary for channel cats on Friday. This would not be a typical shoot with 4 of us in the boat all float fishing. I worked all night on midnights and got out at 8am. I headed home, made coffee, took a quick shower, grabbed my gear and left to meet the guys. We got a late start at about 11am, but we were hopeful we would tag some midday cats.

I rigged up a 10.6" medium heavy steelhead rod with a baitcaster and 20lb braid and 16 gram slip float. Inline weight, bead, swivel to about 16" 20lb fluoro lead to a 5/0 octopus hook. Pretty simple and really cool way to fish cats! I started off fishing shrimp, while Italo tried shad and the local boys had a cooler of vacuum sealed sucker chunks.

I fished shrimp for hours without a fish, while the guys got some on sucker. I switched up and finally got a couple. We moved around from spot to spot trying the deeper areas with undercut banks and timber. It seemed the cats were not grouped up and spread out over the river.

It was pretty cool to see a float drop and tag a feisty channel cat. The guys told us that many central Erie tribs have channel cats that are available from boat and shore. Typical rigs on bottom can work, but float fishing is the preferred way to target them.

Unlike the Grand River, the channel cats come in much later and the fishing is good in May and June, and sometimes into July. This year, June and July has been good. Channel cats are common 4- to 8-pounds with several over 10lbs and up to 20lbs!

It was a bit slower than when the guys fished a week earlier. They believe the cats are starting to migrate back out to the lake now after spawning. We got cats up to about 13lbs. Italo had the hot hand getting 4 cats, while the rest of us got a couple each and missed a couple bites.

Here are some photos of cats that we got into. I'll definitely be floatin' cats again!

Good fishing!

Aaron

[Old Ironmaker]

Glad to see you are in production now Aaron. Take a close look at your confidentiality agreement with the production company if there is one. I wouldn't want you too get into "hot water" for letting the "cat" out of the bag before the shows air. Sorry pun totally intentionally made.

[aplumma]

Nothing beats a warm evening fishing for cats. We usually line fish for them when sport fishing but when we are going for a good old fashion fish fry we (legally) break out the float rigs. They are chucks of "noodles" that have 3-7 ft of line depending on depth with a circle hook and a little weight. A chunk of chicken liver on each and a field of 5-7 floating slightly down river of the boat. Once a fish finds it the noodle bobs and then the chase is on. A good size fish will pull it like a drowned waterskier. We chase it down and into the cooler it goes. Sometimes you will get 2 or 3 going off at the same time and then it becomes a free for all. A good time and a great way to fish if it is legal up North.

 

 

Art

[davey buoy]

Good show Aaron,waiting patiently for the new series.Lookin good!!!

[Rich]

What an usually late run this year. Awesome stuff.

[wildeye rainbow]

Nice pics Aaron.

 

Looking forward to the show.

 

WR

[Moosebunk]

How the hiznell did I miss this???

 

A little outta the box this "float fishing cats in July" is. Gotta say though, who wouldn't be all over catching fish like that, that way.

 

Cool report Aaron. Thanks for posting.

[Freshtrax]

Neat idea... Gotta give it a try... Might even bust out the center pin

[Aaron Shirley]

Thanks guys. It is really fun floatin' cats!

 

Freshtrax, I thought hard about breaking out the pin, but with 4 in the boat it may have been cumbersome. I used a bait caster and 10'6" rod, and that seemed to push the envelope a bit lol

Edited July 24, 2013 by Aaron Shirley