6-16-2006 Catfish report from Racoon

[MrWiskers]

Went down to Racoon to scout some new water today with my wife and one of the lady engineers that works with me. The weather was great and other than the occasional battle ship going by the water was great. I did manage to find a few good looking holes with no fish. I think these will be good places once the spawn is over and especially next spring. We did manage to catch 5 cats from some of my reliable spots. The three I caught were triplets as they were all around 7-8 lbs. My co-worker caugth 2 around 3 lbs each. One good use for circle hooks is for people who don't do much fishing and are not used to setting the hook. She boated both hits she got by just reeling them in. I lost my only fish on circle hooks. I fought the fish from 35 feet only to loose him half way up. And I did NOT set the hook. The three I caught came on my new 8/0 and 10/0 octopus hooks. I was 100% using these hooks.

Three of our fish came from the Racoon Mtn pump station fishing the boils at the wall. To fish the wall all you need to do is find a dead space between the boils. Troll the boat into this dead space against the wall, drop your baits, and troll along the wall until you drift out with one of the boils. We caught 3 fish in about 20 minutes doing this. I think the cats roam around the shoot into the boils to feed on whatever floats by. The schools are moving so a little patience is needed and repetition is the key. If you wait long enougth one of the schools will come by and crush your bait.

All cats caught were in about 30-40 feet of water off the bottom.

 

[rsimms]

Good report.... although I'm disappointed that I don't see a picture of the ladies and their catfish. Got lazy with the camera again din't you? I'm going to have to spend some more quality time at the Pump Station. Just wish I knew a realiable way to know when they're running water.

 

[MrWiskers]

My wife does not fish as she does not want to hurt them. She just goes for the ride. I did ask the young lady to take her picture and being like most young ladies she declined. She was afraid I would do something crazy and post it on the internet or show everyone at work her fish with her hair messed up.

(I will sneak one next time.)

I have not yet found a water release schedule. They don't usually run on Sunday but it was wide open tonight when we left and it usually is wide open during the summer during the weekdays and on Saturday.

Again when it gets close the dark the cats turn off. I have yet to find where they go. This happened tonight and we would have caught more fish had we gotten there earlier.

 

[DHaun]

Thanks for the great report MrWiskers!

 

[coondog]

sounds like a decent day, i hate to here that about that big one that got away on the circle hook.
what size was the circle hook?
I am a big fan of the 6/0 circle hook but after the last few post i've seen im not taking any chances were did you get those big octopus hooks, i have looked every were?

 

[MrWiskers]

4/0 Diachi. I did catch a 16 lber on the same hook tonight. I will post report later.