Introduction and Advice

[Mr. Roboto]

Stik:
Welcome! The guys here will share their experience with you. You should read all of the posts from prior years. Then you wont ask questions that they have answered previously.

Last year it seemed that anyone with a boat that could get out from 20-50 feet of water (fow) off the windmills was catching fish. I saw all methods being successful. Drifting, jigging, trolling, boards, downrigs, lead core, wire, etc....Get out as often as you can, weather permitting, and see what others are doing, and what works for you. A lot depends on how much you want to spend. Deep wide boats, Kicker motors, line counter reels, graphite rods, braided and lead line, etc....all can get VERY expensive. Some of these guys have crankbaits in any size, color and manufacture that you can imagine. Same goes for worm harnesses. Just tons of colors, blade sizes and styles, hook count etc....

My personal strategy is to get a few eaters each time I go out. I do not get hung up on limit catches. I do not spend every last dime on gear. I have fun and enjoy every time out.

I look at each fish I catch closely and carefully. Even a Sheapshead makes me think, "HA, I out-smarted you". I caught a big Catfish last year that took me for a hell of a ride. I threw it back, but it was one of best catches of the season.

ALWAYS keep safety as your #1 priority. Make sure that your boat has all the required gear. Law enforcement was out with a vengeance last year.

Last but not least, fish hard and fish smart! You wont catch fish if you are at home on the couch watching fishing shows!

[Stiksave]

Mr Roboto,

Great reply, except for throwing the cat back, Poor Man's Lobster.
I've enjoyed many a channel cat, cubed, poached and dipped in butter.I've been working my way through the posts, taking it all in.I need to make a few equipment decisions, then just get out there. Thanks for the input.

[Mr. Roboto]

Mr Roboto,

Great reply, except for throwing the cat back, Poor Man's Lobster.
I've enjoyed many a channel cat, cubed, poached and dipped in butter.I've been working my way through the posts, taking it all in.I need to make a few equipment decisions, then just get out there. Thanks for the input.

Stick, Would you really eat a 17 pound cat from Lake Erie? How old do you think this fish is? I guess i believe the old adage that the younger smaller fish are the best tasting. When you say "poached" do you mean par-boiled? Would you use a lot of wine and garlic etc to do this? I seem to be a magnet for cats. We love catching them. When i lived in Ohio i was told they were called "mud cats" because they taste like mud. Here is a big flathead that we threw back also.


Also another nice channel that went back in:

[Stiksave]

I skin thefish, then fillet, cube the fillets about an inch to inch and a half. Have your water boiling, I use a wok spoon strainer to drop the cubes in and fish them out. You can add some old bay to the water. The wife melts butter for dipping and cocktail sauce(red). I can't cook the whole thing fast enough, as they come out they get eaten. Those were channel cats in May. Also still reading "how's fishing in Buffalo" back to front.

[Stiksave]

Does any one use Cabella's snap weight trolling system?

[captainjoe]

I use big boards with torpedo divers, jet divers, dipsys, lead core. Ha Ha everything that Fishkiller sells. Oh yeah sometimes down riggers.

[Stiksave]

These http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABEL...CE/1801758.uts

Poor man,s what you said.