Post By: nicrfisher Posted: 9/1/2013 2:22:00 PMPoints: 94
Despite negative reports for john martin, I decided to take the long haul to john martin friday afternoon to go fish the spillway. The fishing started of slow with only a few fish here and there. Then about 1am it was game on. Started slaying the cats all the way untill morning. I probably caught atleast 30 fish with the biggest being 9 pounds. Most were channel catfish but I also managed 2 blue catfish and 3 flathead. On Saturday I was very temtpted to leave due to the extreme heat but I decided to stay and fish one more night. Right about dark on Saturday night a wicked storm came through with 80+ mph wind and lighting. A giant cloud of dust came through and dam near knocked me off my feet. There was two other guys fishing by me that took a sprint for the truck so I figured I better do the same. About the time I got to my truck all the lights on the buildings and on the dam went out. The dust was so thick and it got so dark I was sure I was in the middle of a dam tornado. I had small rocks start hitting the side of my truck and things started to get a bit eary out there. I have never seen the sky so black and the wind blowing so hard. If it wasnt for my fishing gear still being down at the lake I would have booked it out of there. After about 30 minutes the storm finally passed and it calmed down. I was told there was an unconfirmed report of a tornado but I never saw it myself. Either bway it was the most wicked storm ive ever been in. After things calmed down I decided to go fish for a few before I left. It didn't take 5 minutes and I caught my personal best flathead at 8 pounds. About 15 minutes later I hooked into something bigger. After a 10 minute fight I reeled in my second biggest channel cat ever. At 17 pounds, this was my biggest from john martin yet. I was very stoked! Despite all the slow reports from other people down there, I managed to get dialed in very well down there. This was my 4th trip down there this summer and I have did better every time. The fishing appears to be tough at first glance but once you get dialed in to what the catfish are feading on, there are more than plenty of nice cats to be caught at jm. Awesome way to end my catfish season for sure.
That sounds like an awesome day. we used to make a plan on going down to that area in the spring every ear and figured from reports that everything was dead after this summer. Good to know things are still happening there. Did you any other fish being caught?
There is definitely no shortage of fish down there. I have got a healthy limit of catfish every trip this year. I always see people catching small fish but very few people have the now how to get the bigger ones although there are some. A guy had a very nice 12 pound blue cat Saturday morning. I have also caught a few wiper and drumb down there as well. I also caught alot of white bass and a 19" saugeye in the lake back in may. Ive yet to be disappointed with john martin, but i know many people feel otherwise. The only downfall is the hellish daytime heat down there. Even the a/c in my truck felt defeated. Lol
Nice cats for sure! How hard is it to get to the spillway area? I still have to walk with a cane but want to get into some cats and have been thinking about a trip down there but don't want to go if i cant get to where they are. Thanks for any info. phidoux aka Ray
Nice cats man!! Good to hear you are dialed in. I had a similar weather run in at Adobe Creek Reservoir a few years back, scared the hell outta me. Whatever you do, you should keep at 'em. Fall day time catting is around the corner, and less hot!!
Edited the pics for yeah. You can't post fish porn like that, we will get neck strain :)
Reply by: Catman1979 Posted: 9/5/2013 12:34:24 AM Points: 570
No worries, just helpin' a fellow cat angler out. Nice fish!!! Bigger then any flathead I have ever gotten. The ones at Pueblo have a tougher time growing, and are usually stunted :(
I do like John Martin, plus it's Beautiful country out there. I have no idea where you are driving from. If its HWY 50, from Pueblo, stop by Phat Willies in Fowler. AMAZING diner, with a lot of "Murika", and great cheese burgers. The burger alone held me over for about eight hours. The staff are also super nice.
