Ohio River Catfishing 7-25-04

 

Hello again everyone!  I wanted to write about a trip I went on with long-time friend, John B.  He has known me my whole life, I worked with him for about six years, I’ve fished with him for a long time, and we’ve fitted out a few aluminum boats together.

 

The Drum John caught on a nightcrawler

 

A while back, I had the opportunity to go back east for an overnight stay, and of course I could not pass up the chance to stop at John’s and ask if he wanted to hit the river for some catfishing!

 

It was a last minute trip, so we did not have time to get any bluegill.  He called all the local bait stores for some big shiners, anything…but it did not work out, nobody had anything.  So, armed with just two-dozen minnows and two-year-old frozen cutbait, we set out to hit the water!  Loaded with my Okuma reels and John’s Basstracker, we put in and hit the throttle…

 

We got to the old spot around 10:30 at night, dropped anchor, set up the rods, and started fishing.  John got the first two, and then we shared the third catfish of the night.

 

John’s first fish of the night

 

 

John got a hit and short run, and then the fish broke the water on my side of the boat about 20 yards out.  My two poles started bending right along with John’s, because the cat got all tangled up in both my lines.  I let the line freespool so John could bring the fish up...but when he got it to the boat, it flipped a little, and John was sitting there with an empty hook!

 

I noticed one of my lines had started moving all around again, so I grabbed it, set the hook, and started fighting John’s catfish.  It was a strange fight, it just did not feel right, but once I got it to my side of the boat I saw why.  The hook was through the top of the fish, right in the meat under the fin.  So I brought it in, unhooked it, and let it go.

 

Then a few minutes later, my pole moved a bit again, then the line started going out about every five seconds...a little more, then more...so after about three minutes of letting it run I set the hook.  About a five minute fight, and I had the fish in my hands!

 

It was a 15-pound flathead that was 31 inches long.  John snapped the photo, and away it went back to the river bottom.  Not bad for frozen two-year-old cutbait!  I lost one at the boat that was bigger, it was my fault...I got careless and it got away.

 

15 pounds on cutbait

 

All in all, we caught six fish from about 11:30 that night to 2:30 in the morning.  John got all channels and one drum.  We had a great time, did some catching up, and recalled old memories.  Once it was time to go, we turned the key...and the Mercury did not start.  We gave it a touch of starter fluid and then it fired up.  It was barely running, so we could only go just a little above a high idle.  That meant the drive back (against the flow of the river) was a long one for about half the way.  But then, out of the blue, the motor took off and we were at top speed again.

 

Funny thing is, no matter how prepared you are, at a little after 3am in the morning with the barges going by and nobody else but you on the water, bad thoughts run through your mind and you get that sick feeling when you try to start your motor and nothing happens.

 

We made it back and talked about getting to go again before the summer is over.  Next time, it will be a planned trip, and we will have everything ready and the best baits we can get earlier that day.

 

Statistics:

 

Time:  10:30pm thru 3:45am

Air temperature:  57°F– no wind

Water temperature:  76°

Conditions:  Clear with bright half-moon

Water Conditions:  23 feet to 35 feet/stained/calm to low current

Bait Used:  Frozen Cutbait, Minnows

 

 

Hope to see you out there….

gunner

 

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