CC Newsletter 1

Recommendations

Info

Kids Korner So you wanna tournament fish with your kid? Here's a little realism on what it entails. I have never liked music while I am tournament fishing. Well, I do now! Especially the top 40. Why? Cause it keeps my boy happy. Staring off into space and day dreaming of the next lego build that is so important, is WAY more importanter then watching the rod tip wiggle. There are never enough snacks or drinks on the boat. I like to eat. Especially heavy filled carbed junk. Give it to me. Yet when I am on the boat, I seem to be on an 8 hour diet. Not the kid. There is no such thing as to many snacks as by the end of the day, they are gone. Ever seen a snail move? Did it excite you? Me neither. Until I pour salt on a snail, they were rather boring. So, I pour some salt on the kid every now and then to get him to bubble. Nap, I must nap now. Let um. I will let him nap anytime with no argument, because I know if I say fish on, he already has the net. Here are a few of the givins. I have a 12 year old whom does not complain that he is tired, hungry, bored, or the likes of. He is content and eager to win the day(s). A little give makes it more memorable for both of us. In our boat when tournament fishing, there is no my rod, your rod. There is, a rod bends, you reel it in. Only one way to win and that's for everybody to be involved and have fun. If this sounds like a complaint, then you must not know what memories are made of. Though I would much rather have him as focused as I. I would not change anything about what he does. From dangling his feet in the water to slapping sticks. Make it memorable, have fun, laugh, remember that they will be living your legacy. To my boy, Change nothing. With the Polar Vortex behind us now, it’s time to jump back on the ice! What? Ice fishing? In the cold? if you haven’t done it yet, I strongly urge you to give it a try! Yes, open water catfishing can be awesome in the winter, but for those whose rivers and lakes freeze, we have to learn to adapt. Instead of traveling south C a t fi s h C o n f e r e n c e Seasonal Tactics every weekend or taking the winter off (which is just plain ridiculous) we have learned over the years how to catch catfish through the ice. Ice Cat’n is really very basic. Just a few pieces of equipment, warm gear, bait and you’re set! Since rivers tend to fluctuate too much to have safe ice, many prefer to go on lakes and ponds. Before going out, make sure to do your homework. Looking for underwater points or mid depth flats with deeper water close by is key. Once you have picked your destination, you can begin packing your gear. Depending on the size of fish you will be targeting, you will want a 6-10” auger. A depth finder is also a helpful tool to take along with you. When deciding on rods, a medium to medium-heavy rod is great! We personally use the Whisker Seeker 38” ice rod, which is designed for hard water catfishing. Any rod you choose can be lined with 6-20lb line, again depending on the size of your fish. From there you need to decide if you will be jigging with a spoon tipped with bait or setting your rod in an automatic fisherman or tip-up. To rig up for the auto fisherman, you can do a scaled down version of a carolina rig, using a 1/0-4/0 hook, a short leader line with a ¼ ounce bullet sinker. Top it off with some bait: frozen shad guts, minnows, and nightcrawlers work great. Then drop it down to the desired depth. However, always keep in mind the regulations of the state you are fishing in and the winter habits of the fish you are targeting. While blue cats are most active in cooler water they are not often found where the water freezes. Channels can be very active through the ice, however Flatheads go dormant and will not be active. Another thing to be mindful of is the temperature. If it is below freezing, your holes will freeze shut. But don’t fret, you can easily avoid this by fishing inside a heated shelter. When it comes to outdoor clothing, always make sure you are over prepared. Better safe than sorry is huge when ice fishing. No matter the temps, I always have my floating bibs on! A tip for the ladies, when I know it’s going to be down right cold (single to negative digits), I will wear insulated snow pants under my bibs, along with boot warmers, hand warmers, and my insulated boots that are 2 sizes too big. To help aid in safety, I wear my cleats, picks around my neck, and use a spud bar to safely check the ice. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their hardwater season and finds these tips useful for landing their next Ice Cat! Amy Smith
Looking for something specific? Just want to browse? Catfish Conference will have a little something for everyone. Whether it’s a new boat or a pack of hooks, if it has to do with catfishing, it will be available for sale. Vendor List by Category: Baits: Catfish Pro Baits Hamilton Wholesale Baits Big Kat Bait Company Big Vic’s Bait Netting Boats: Canoe/Kayak Kentucky Unlimited Marine—Crestline Erie Marine—Hewescraft Jeff Jones Marine—SeaArk Boats Excel Boats Knot Marine—PolarKraft Miracle Marine—Monster Cat Boats WavePro Shocks Clothing: Katfish Clothing MudBum Electronics: Navionics Garmin Lowrance Humminbird Fishing Line: Gamma Line Slime Line Misc: Lynnhurst Family Resorts KDFW HOT Catfish Conservation Ducks Unlimited Family Activities Catfish Now Catfish Weekly Tackle: Mustad Hooks Big River Kats Dale’s Tackle Chubby Fish Outdoors Whisker Seeker Tackle Tackle Bandit—Demon Dragons Team Catfish Hookers Terminal Tackle Hooksetter USA Muddy River Catfishing Whisker Stix Bluff City Outdoors Schrock Catfish Rigs Warrior Cat Tackle Off Shore Tackle Rod Holders: Monster Rod Holders River Rodder Rods: Tangling with Catfish Shattered Cat Rods Catch the Fever Rods Kast King Rippin Lips Team Catfish Muddy River Catfishing Warrior Cat Rods MudBum Whisker Seeker Rods Tournaments: Chick Fight King of the James Possum Kingdom CatMasters Twisted Cat Outdoors All American Catfish Trail King Kat USA Tennessee River Catfish Club Bait Tanks: Catfish Addiction Chiller Tanks Xtreme Bait Tanks Planer Boards: The Original Clear Board Parks Planers Off Shore Tackle Conference Hours: Friday, February 22, 2019 3-8 pm Saturday, February 23, 2019 10am—5 pm Sunday, February 4, 2019 10 am—2 pm Conference Cost: $7 for a 3 day pass Parking is $10 per day Want to avoid parking? Most local hotels offer free shuttle service to the Expo Center.
Page 1: I n s i d e t h i s I s s u e • K

CC Newsletter 1

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?