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Channel Cat
Blog by: Lloyd Tackitt 4/8/2018 (Return to blogs)
Friday was going to be the last warm day for a while, what with that wicked cold front moving in. It was warm too, in the mid 80's with a warm South Wind blowing up the river channel.
I put on shorts and a dark colored t-shirt (water is still very clear) and sandals. Grabbed my fishing vest that always seems to weigh a ton with all the junk I have in it, a box of nightcrawlers and my rod.
I waded down to a hole I like to fish, a small hole but always seems to be productive, and cast a worm out there. Almost immediately I had a hit, and brought in one of the prettiest of all the Bass family, a Spotted Bass. I only find them rarely and they are always a treat. This one was around one and a half pounds maybe. Sent him back home.
Next bite took a while but it was a nice big Bluegill that fought a great fight. Sent him back.
Next bite took even longer but then I hung something large, muscular, and mad. It was a hell of a fight that lasted a long time before I could even see it, but I already knew from that twisting fight that it was a Channel Cat. A very nice one too. Sent him back.
Next bite took a while again, another gorgeous Spotted Bass of the same size as before. Sent him back.
Next bite was pretty quick and it was another superior fight with a match to the first Channel Cat. Sent him back.
I watched carp come up to me several times, or about six feet from me before they saw me and tore off. Looks like they are about to spawn, the way they were acting distracted and always moving in pairs.
Then the biggest fish of the day hit. This was another Channel Cat but about half again as big as the first two. But it was more than twice the fight of the first two. Way more. This was the battle of the day and it took a long time to bring this one to hand. I photoed it and then sent it back.
The next bite took a long time and it was a large Bluegill, nearly eleven inches. Sent him back and then I went home.
Sure enough that Norther blew in later that night. Fishing was good before the front hit - might be good now for all I know, but those fish can wait until the weather is right. They'll be there. The only question is will they be biting.
Blog content © Lloyd Tackitt
Comments
phidoux
04.08.18 9:22 AM
Congrats on the cat on a fly rod. I can only imagine the fight that must have been because I know the fight they can put up on a 10' MH cat rod.
anglerwannabe
04.08.18 8:51 PM
Dang Lloyd awesome. Gonna be great to actually meet you!
bron
04.08.18 10:14 PM
Biggun for sure, way to go!
Kev-o
04.08.18 10:23 PM
Fly rod catfish, that’s really cool Lloyd. Congrats.
Lloyd Tackitt (author, aka Lloyd Tackitt)
04.11.18 10:48 AM
This Friday looks to be a weather repeat - the day before a cold front hits. I wonder if I can get these fish to repeat? Hoping so - gonna try anyway.
About the Author
I live on the edge of the Brazos River. I walk out my front door and into the river and - boom - I am fishing just like that. For me the river is fascinating. The mile long stretch I fish is a microcosm of the river, I have it all in that one mile. Trying to figure out where the fish are, what they are doing, why they are doing it, what they are biting, if they are biting - this is what keeps me in the river casting flys. I fly fish almost exclusively. It isn’t that I am a fly fishing snob, it’s that fly fishing works – it’s effective - and it has added benefits. I carry all my tackle in a vest, no tackle box needs to be dragged along. The casting itself is fun, even when I don’t catch fish I’ve enjoyed the experience of casting. Fly rods enhance the experience of bringing fish in. I like the hands on the line feel instead of the feel of line spooling up on a reel and muted down through a gear and crank system. Fish fight better and feel better on a fly rod. Fly fishing just feels better to me than other methods.