| Author | Message | ||
     dusty endsley (Bluecatnut) BOC INITIATE Username: Bluecatnut Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2005 Rating: N/A |
hello to all i am new to river fishing and looking for any tips that i can get i want to target blues. for my terminal gear i have abu garica baitcasters and heavy saltwater poles with 45-100 lbs braid and i use 2 ounce sinkers i will also be fising the cumberland river and tva steam plant thanks for ur help dusty home of the free because of the brave U.S.M.C. ALUMNI  | ||
| Harley David Myrick (Cat_fisher_harley) BOC INITIATE Username: Cat_fisher_harley Post Number: 52 Registered: 6-2005 Rating: N/A |
hey dusty welcome to the BOC great equipment start....so ur wanting to target blues.....well i usually find them around midnight in about 5-15 ft of water feeding off flat bottoms and points.....i use large shiners on a 2/0 kahle hooke....with a 2oz sinker....maybe this will help a lil welcome to the BOC | ||
| Danny Bruce Estep Jr (Arkansaswhiteskin)  BOC KNIGHTUsername: Arkansaswhiteskin Post Number: 258 Registered: 6-2005  Rating: N/A |
Hey Dusty, welcome to the Brotherhood! I fished the Cumberland, and the steam plant for 2 years while I was stationed at Ft Campbell. I can tell you that you dont have enough weight. Your line is fine, I used 20-40lb Berkley Big Game. I could not keep a sinker in place at the steam plant that was smaller than 4oz. I liked 5oz flat sinkers in that rough water. On the river, anything less than 3oz, and either flat, or teardrop shaped would roll down stream. I usually used 4oz sinkers on the main river. Smaller weights are fine at Bumpus Mills, Cross Creeks, Bards Landing, and even out in the lakes.(Kentucky and Barkley) If you fish the TN River you will need 4oz and up also. All of this is subject to change, if you find an eddie, or slack water behind a logjam. But out on the main channel, you will need the extra weight. Hope this helps man. You are fishing some of my favorite haunts. Good luck. If you aint covered in slime, you aint fishin hard enough! | ||
| Danny Bruce Estep Jr (Arkansaswhiteskin) BOC KNIGHTUsername: Arkansaswhiteskin Post Number: 259 Registered: 6-2005 Rating: N/A |
Hey Marine, you wised up and converted huh? Just kidding! Who are you with at Campbell? I was in 2-187 Rakkasans. Glad to have another Serviceman on the BOC. Hooah! If you aint covered in slime, you aint fishin hard enough! | ||
| Gordan Malott (Catfish4) BOC KNIGHTUsername: Catfish4 Post Number: 243 Registered: 6-2004  Rating: N/A |
Wecome Dusty to the BOC.This blue was caught on a 8in creek chub bout 19ft deep under a slip float rig.I was fishen for shovels but knew from the time i set the hook if it was a shovel it had to weight at least 60lb.This blue comes in @ 44 1/2.Good luck.Keep your line wet. KEEP YOUR KNOT TIGHT!!! | ||
| Gary Shirley (Gary_s) BOC INITIATE Username: Gary_s Post Number: 57 Registered: 6-2004 Rating: N/A |
My uncle fishes the Cumberland alot. Here's his trick: he drift-fishes exclusively, on the rock shelves in 30-40ft of water. Let me tell ya--he finds fish! The Cumberland has more blues than I've seen in any other river by far. I fish the Missouri and Mississippi both and the Cumberland holds way more fish. I have never caught much on chicken gizzards, but he uses 'em with good results. He also uses night crawlers. But it's my belief that if he would take the time to catch some of the millions of skipjack that are there, he'd find bigger fish. However, it's hard to convince him of that when he's holding a 46lb blue he just caught on a chicken gizzard!---lol | ||
| Danny Bruce Estep Jr (Arkansaswhiteskin)  BOC PROTECTORUsername: Arkansaswhiteskin Post Number: 350 Registered: 6-2005 Rating: N/A |
Yeah gary, I agree with that. Its hard to get a man to change something if it works for him. I caught alot of blues, channels to, on shad gizzards. But, you are right about the skipjack. They will work when a shad wont. I've done it! The Cumberland is full of blues, but it dont compare to the Mighty Mississippi. The blue population in there is unreal! I to have fished both, and I love the Cumberland, mainly cause it is so much easier to fish. I have caught larger fish out of the MS though. If you aint covered in slime, you aint fishin hard enough! | ||
| Gary Shirley (Gary_s) BOC INITIATE Username: Gary_s Post Number: 61 Registered: 6-2004 Rating: N/A |
Yeah, ya make a good point Danny. The Miss. may indeed have bigger blues. I've only fished the Cumberland a few times, but MAN! there seems to be a ton of blues in it. Maybe we just lucked onto a couple of good spots too---I dunno?! Almost seemed like it was "bank-full" of blues when ya got into them though. Oh... these WERE smaller, eating-size fish. So maybe the little ones travel in herds--lol. All I know is that I can't wait to get back on them. | ||
| Danny Bruce Estep Jr (Arkansaswhiteskin)  BOC PALADINUsername: Arkansaswhiteskin Post Number: 455 Registered: 6-2005 Rating: N/A |
Me to Gary. I'm going to be heading back to Campbell after my time on the trail. i hope to retire there. We caught alot of eating size blues on the Cumberland to. I love that whole area. If you aint covered in slime, you aint fishin hard enough! | ||
| dusty endsley (Bluecatnut) BOC INITIATE Username: Bluecatnut Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2005 Rating: N/A |
danny where would be a good spot to fish after the amount of rain we have had in clarksville dusty U.S.M.C. ALUMNI | ||
| Danny Bruce Estep Jr (Arkansaswhiteskin) BOC PALADINUsername: Arkansaswhiteskin Post Number: 467 Registered: 6-2005 Rating: N/A |
Has it rained alot? If so, I would go to Bards Landing, or Cross Creeks. Use shad gizzards, and or nightcrawlers. Dont forget to use the rest of the shad either. If the blues are in the shallows that are now full of water you might find them looking closer in for schools of shad. I went on the TWRA website and looked at the fishing reports, I would try Percy Priest if I were you. They say the cats are biting on nightcrawlers. Just eating size ones. I had to go on there to remember the other spots that I fished, I guess I'm getting old. Either that or the Anthrax and Smallpox is really getting to me. LOL! I would also try Rivers Bend off of Hwy. 46. And Guices Creek, keep going down 46, take a left on 149 and you'll see it on the left. They usually produce eaters anyway. Have you tried Cheatham at all? There are some nice blues, and flats down there by the spillway in the 10-20 lb range. Take lots of sinkers, and swivels and hooks though, because you will get snagged alot. it's worth it if you hook into one of the bigger fish though. Also, I'm sure you have already been there, but, try both Units I, and II of the Barkley WMA. Unit I has several good spots to fish the river, including a little creek that runs into the river where I have caught channel, and blues all night. None over 5 lbs. I already mentioned Rivers Bend, and Guices Creek, they are both part of Unit II. Also, try Lick Creek in Dover, on Hwy 49. I have fished all day, and not caught anything, anywhere else, and went out there, and caught 3-5lb blues on shad gizzards. Just like 2-3 in an hour. Its a good little spot. If you go fish, any of these places, I would also recommend taking one pole rigged with a bobber, and carry some minnows(tuffies). They might not catch a thing, but, they just might be what the cats are looking for. It worked for me and the Wife one Spring out at Cross Creeks when we were after white perch(crappie). We caught channel cat after channel cat, and I lost a really big fish right at dusk that I'm sure was a flathead. It never stopped. One of the channels was 6lbs. Hope this helps, good luck man. Let me know if you catch any. If you aint covered in slime, you aint fishin hard enough! | ||
| dusty endsley (Bluecatnut) BOC INITIATE Username: Bluecatnut Post Number: 11 Registered: 7-2005 Rating: N/A |
danny i roped'em last night at cheatham dam i caught 15 in 3 hrs biggest was about 35-40 lbs i let him go to get bigger the rest were between 4-15 lbs the bigger ones went back but the eatin size got cut up i went home with 10 blues last night caought them on skip and cut shad had a really big fish snap my 65lb pp line i was upset when u coming back this way bud DUSTY U.S.M.C ALUMNI | ||
| Danny Bruce Estep Jr (Arkansaswhiteskin) BOC PALADINUsername: Arkansaswhiteskin Post Number: 491 Registered: 6-2005 Rating: N/A |
Good Lord Dusty! You tore em up man! Dangit I wish I'd a been with you. Man, I will be there towards the end of January. It will still be hunting season then. Although I have caught blues and channels in February while white perch(crappie) fishing. If you hunt, I can tell you some good spots to try. If you want. We'll have to keep in touch on here so we can get together and go fishing when I get back. Glad to hear you got into some fish man. Thanks for letting me know. If you aint covered in slime, you aint fishin hard enough! | ||
| dusty endsley (Bluecatnut) BOC INITIATE Username: Bluecatnut Post Number: 12 Registered: 7-2005 Rating: N/A |
danny i leave in the middle of sept bud but when i get back we will have to rope em i am going to andaconda | ||
| Josh Allison (Gone_fishin_4_kittys)  BOC ROYALTYUsername: Gone_fishin_4_kittys Post Number: 2896 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Welcome to the BOC Dustsy!  ~*~Josh~*~    support our troops I ain't as good as i once was | ||
| dusty endsley (Bluecatnut) BOC INITIATE Username: Bluecatnut Post Number: 14 Registered: 7-2005 Rating: N/A |
thanks little buddy DUSTY U.S.M.C. ALUMNI YOUR EITHER WITH THE MILLITARY OR AGANIST THE U.S.A. TOO ALL MY BROTHERS OVER IN THE WAR I'LL BE THEIR REALLY SOON SEMPER FI. OOOHH RAH CARRY ON. | ||
| Danny Bruce Estep Jr (Arkansaswhiteskin) BOC PALADINUsername: Arkansaswhiteskin Post Number: 522 Registered: 6-2005 Rating: N/A |
Dusty, you keep your eyes open, and your head down while your over there. When you get back, we will definitely go after em. Drop me a line after you get settled, and give me your address, so I can send you pictures of fish, and successful hunts. I'll even get the Mrs. to put a care package together, so you can have a little taste of home. Take care Marine! If you aint covered in slime, you aint fishin hard enough! | ||
| Matthew Aaron Wagner (Hiphopchef) BOC INITIATE Username: Hiphopchef Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2006 Rating: N/A |
hey dusty my friend catches alot of blues on the ohio river and he swears by using cut shad without the tail | ||
| CJ Dunlap (South_va_fisherman) BOC INITIATE Username: South_va_fisherman Post Number: 4 Registered: 8-2006 Rating: N/A |
how would I go about rigging a large minnow for fishing in a slow moving dirty river? the river flows by the pig slaughter house, and a year ago tons and tons of pig parts were dumped in there. so would it make sense to use a type of liver, probably chicken(only kind available), for bait? Oh, by the way this is a brackish creek named the Pagan river. it flows into the james river in south va. thanks (Message edited by south_va_fisherman on August 7, 2006) | ||
| Doyle Shoot (Doyle) BOC PALADINUsername: Doyle Post Number: 741 Registered: 2-2005  Rating: N/A |
From the way you describe this river, I wouldn't even fish near there. I would start a campaign to clean it up.  
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| CJ Dunlap (South_va_fisherman) BOC INITIATE Username: South_va_fisherman Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2006 Rating: N/A |
LOL..its beyond that point  . The county advises you dont even eat fish from there. however there is a very large catfish population. The river is a popular location for cat anglers. There is a huge bank area to fish from, Hey...my boat's not going in there. | ||
| Greg Cummings (Nightfisher) BOC ROYALTYUsername: Nightfisher Post Number: 1751 Registered: 12-2003  Rating: N/A |
Shoot man, haul that boat up to this area of the James. Get you some cats that will try and pull you out of it! | ||
| Daniel Stinnette (Boone) BOC INITIATE Username: Boone Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
Greetings everyone.. New member to the BOC here. My dad is helping me redefine my roots by getting me back into the freshwater fishing scene. We've been fishing the hillsborough river in Tampa, Fl and haven't been able to do anything with any type of consistantly to catch catfish. I've tried the blood baits, soap, worms, etc.. However, after reading a few posts the last few days.. It looks like I may be picking up some cut bait and give it a shot. One last thing.. I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who posts on this site. I've learned soo much over the past few days reading through them. I'm sure most of you have forgetten more about catfishing then I'll ever know.. But it won't be from a lack of effort by me. If by chance I come across something thats works I'll post it and contribute what I can to the site's success.. Once Again.. Thanks.. | ||
| Dale Finney (Dafin) BOC PALADINUsername: Dafin Post Number: 1064 Registered: 5-2002  Rating: N/A |
Welcome Daniel it is good to see a new member. Ask any thing someone will try to help Dale Finney, Wamego Ks. | ||
| Daniel Stinnette (Boone) BOC INITIATE Username: Boone Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
Dale... Thanks for the open invatation to ask.. Hopefully I don't wear you guys out with questions. So what do you think about me using frozen shad or something along those lines for cats? I'm trying to catch a few eater fish as well as a nice rod bender. | ||
| Dale Finney (Dafin) BOC PALADINUsername: Dafin Post Number: 1066 Registered: 5-2002 Rating: N/A |
I don't have much luck with frozen shad. It gets soft for me , although some seem to do well with it.Best is to try and see how it works for you.If you are fishing for flatheads I would use live bait. Dale Finney, Wamego Ks. | ||
| Jesse R. Todd (Gotbait) BOC INITIATE Username: Gotbait Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2004 Rating: N/A |
I've been told I work too hard for bait using a cast net.I'm looking to get a gill net but don't know how or where to position it for Shad in the James River. Any help? | ||
| Derick Shane Kincaid (Derickk) BOC INITIATE Username: Derickk Post Number: 2 Registered: 6-2010 Rating: N/A |
Anybody ever fished the Potomac with eel? Everyone was telling me about it. I tried it on Sunday and the only thing I got was a sweet sunburn. | ||
| Dale Finney (Dafin)  BOC STAFFUsername: Dafin Post Number: 1348 Registered: 5-2002 Rating: N/A |
There is a member that fishes the Delaware river with cut eel , he does vary good on channels. I also have read about cut eel for blues on the Potomac.You may have hit a off day. Dale Finney, Wamego Ks. | ||
| Derick Shane Kincaid (Derickk) BOC INITIATE Username: Derickk Post Number: 3 Registered: 6-2010 Rating: N/A |
Who knows Dale. I have a bunch of family that lives in Kansas. Whereabouts is Wamego? | ||
| Dale Finney (Dafin) BOC STAFFUsername: Dafin Post Number: 1349 Registered: 5-2002 Rating: N/A |
Wamego is 13 miles east of Manhattan. Dale Finney, Wamego Ks. | ||
| James Michael Ramey (Diehardbucfan2010) BOC INITIATE Username: Diehardbucfan2010 Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2010 Rating: N/A |
New member here. Been catfishing the ohio river quite a while. Despite popular belief there are a lot of big blues in the Ohio. There was a 96Iber caught up around Cincinnati just last year. An I caught several over 30Ibs myself last year. An I didn't really get to fish the river much last year cause of all the rain we got. From my experience in the Ohio, shad is about the best bait to use period. You can keep it alive or use it as cut bait. Works well for both flattys an blues. If your flatty fishin it the shad has to be fresh, caught the same day. Blues don't tend to care as much but I like to use fresh bait for them as well. I haven't had much luck on frozen bait for blues or flattys. Now channels will eat that nasty frozen stuff all day. When fishin for big blues I like to have a mix of live an dead shad. Skipjack work well too but takes more effort to catch them. When I cut my shad I usually cut their head off an their fillets an use them. Doesn't matter the size as I've caught big an little blues on small an large bait. One good trick to use is to add a lively nightcrawler or my favorite thing to do is add a lively leach on a piece of cutbait. It works great. You can also use a leach on a piece of livebait as well. Sometimes it works better that way. But remember, you will catch a lot of flattys fishin with cutbait. A lot of people say otherwise but I've caught just as many on cutbait as I have live bait. | ||
| James Michael Ramey (Diehardbucfan2010) BOC INITIATE Username: Diehardbucfan2010 Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2010 Rating: N/A |
New member here. Been catfishing the ohio river quite a while. Despite popular belief there are a lot of big blues in the Ohio. There was a 96Iber caught up around Cincinnati just last year. An I caught several over 30Ibs myself last year. An I didn't really get to fish the river much last year cause of all the rain we got. From my experience in the Ohio, shad is about the best bait to use period. You can keep it alive or use it as cut bait. Works well for both flattys an blues. If your flatty fishin it the shad has to be fresh, caught the same day. Blues don't tend to care as much but I like to use fresh bait for them as well. I haven't had much luck on frozen bait for blues or flattys. Now channels will eat that nasty frozen stuff all day. When fishin for big blues I like to have a mix of live an dead shad. Skipjack work well too but takes more effort to catch them. When I cut my shad I usually cut their head off an their fillets an use them. Doesn't matter the size as I've caught big an little blues on small an large bait. One good trick to use is to add a lively nightcrawler or my favorite thing to do is add a lively leach on a piece of cutbait. It works great. You can also use a leach on a piece of livebait as well. Sometimes it works better that way. But remember, you will catch a lot of flattys fishin with cutbait. A lot of people say otherwise but I've caught just as many on cutbait as I have live bait. |
