Rock River Channel Cats

[Schoe]

Being gone for two weeks lately my little buddy and neighbor, Jordan, asked when we were going fishing. This was last Sun so I said , lets go in the morning.

I was up by 4:00 A.M. as usual and got our equipment lined up in the boat and went to the all night Grocery store to get some Chicken Livers and some canned Root Beer for my buddy Jordan.

Long about 8:15 A.M. here he comes and we made the 10 minute ride down to the boat launch on the Rock River just down the hill from the house.

The river was like glass as we motored towards one of my favorite spots about a mile upstream from the launch and got set up. We no more than got the first bait in the watter when there was the tell tale peck peck of a small Fiddler. The 6 to 8 inch cats had invaded this area and after Jordan caught a doz. or so without any keepers we moved about 5 miles downstream in front of Blackhawk State Park where there is some deeper water that rises up to a nice gravel bar that the Cats like to come and feed on.

The action was much better there as I was kept busy just baiting and taking fish off for Jordan while he had a ball catching. Out of 26 fish he caught over the next two hours we kept 12 for tonight's dinner when his parents are coming over to help eat those fine Rock River Channel fillets.

This was one trip I wish I would have had my camera not only to take pictures of the fish but that beaming smile of a kid having a circus catching them. but due to a Canoe mishap in Spain it had to be sent to the Cannon Co. in Chicago for repairs. That is another story. Schoe

[Kermit]

Schoe, glad to hear that you had such a good time. More importantly Jordan had a good time. This will be something that he will always remember, pictures or not.

[Catfishing Matt]

Wow, that sounds like a great time Schoe! I wish I could've went with ya.:icon_razz:

[ho_shi]

man yall caught more cats then i can seem to find in a year!! lol

[Schoe]

Matt, . I am getting busy lining things up for the Mighty Muddy Gathering and tournament coming up Sept. 8th weekend but can get out possibly this thurs. or Fri. AM for a while. Schoe

[Catfishing Matt]

Oh, cool! I can't wait for that then. Where are you going Thursday or Friday?

[Fishaholic]

sounds like a great time there schoe, looking forward to sept.

[cattracker16]

I'll bet you and he both had a great time and the eats were prolly very tasty. to say the least.

[wewamohawk]

yes schoe that was verry nice of you to take jordan and he wont forget that trip and fish is a real good food good luck next time ;;;maurice

[Schoe]

Jordan, my little neighbor buddy,has been asking when we were going fishing again so last night I agreed to take him early this morning so he slept on my couch to make sure he would be woke up.

We arrived at the boat ramp at 6:30 AM and to my surprise the Rock River was up at least three foot over what it was last week when me and Mickey and Jim went. The current was also really ripping.

Armed with Chicken Livers and Shrimp we headed down stream toward Black Hawk State park where me and Jordan did so well a while back.

Being spoiled fishing this place I expected to see the poles jumping within a few minutes. Well, two hours later fishing that general area we never had so much as one bite.

There was a lot of junk floating down the river and also a lot of leaves and weeds flowing with the current typical of rising water. There's been a lot of rain north of us clear into Wisconsin and the river came up in a hurry.

I knew there had to be some hungry Cats somewhere so up the river we went about 5 or 6 miles to a place I normally can't get into under normal water conditions but slid right through the 3 1/2 foot water level at the entrance and then deepened to 4 to 5 ft. This chute has a creek feeding it so it had very little current and the water was back into the trees. There were fish working the shallows around the bases of the trees so we found a nice shady spot to anchor and fish the bases of the trees.

We weren't there very long when Wham, one of the poles that had Chicken Livers did a nice bend toward the water and Jordan caught his first Channel Cat of the day. By 11:00 AM he had caught at least 15 Cats and we kept 7 from Nice Fiddler to a 3 1/2 lbr. so we had a few fish to show for the day.

Again Chicken Livers was the bait of choice for the Cats as we kept two poles baited with Shrimp that never did get a bite. So you never know. Stink bait prolly would have worked but as long as the Livers were producing I didn't want to fool with it, maybe next time. Schoe

[gofish]

better part of valor leavin that stinkbait alone schoe,dont wash off very easy lol. keep teachin jordan an in a few years he can take you fishin lol..yall are lucky gittin rain ..aint seen a drop round here fer a good while...hope the water level stabilizes fer sept.

[Schoe]

Well, the Mississippi is still a little below normal pool up there where the Mighty Muddy is being held. I was up there for a bit delivering some Tourney Posters and the River didn't look too bad. Schoe

[Soupy_1us]

Well, I reckon I got a few questions.........Where's this place at? How do I get there ? Is it big enuff for me to bring my boat? I've looked on my maps and I still ain't figured it out yet... What would be the easiest way for me to come without going thru them big cities with that boat....When do I need to get there.....Keep in mind, I'm just thinkin' about it right now.... Hell, I can't even walk yet.

[gofish]

aint much walkin involved sittin in the boat fishin soupy.

[Schoe]

Soupy there is plenty of water for the Yacht. I sent you directions via E-mail. If you were referring to when the tournament is it takes place on Sept 8th with the Camp in beginning on the 7th, but several of us will be there on Wed. the 5th if you so desire to come up.

You can stay at my place if you come up early as I won't take the Camper up till Wed. afternoon along with both boats and other equipment needed for the weekend. Schoe

[Soupy_1us]

Was thinking about Friday night thru Sunday morning....

[Soupy_1us]

aint much walkin involved sittin in the boat fishin soupy.
You gonna carry my (270lb) fat butt to the boat?

[Schoe]

Well Soups, whats another 270 on top of my 300+, bring it on, I think I can carry that.

I am e-mailing you some info about accommodations for Fri. and Sat. Schoe

[gofish]

soupy...ya might fun with me bout bein a lil bitty guy but ill pick ya up an put ya in ifn it means yall come visit

[Soupy_1us]

Ifin' it gets that bad... I won't be drivin' up there....!!! Much less, lettin' you pick me up.

[gofish]

chicken,wouldnt drop ya.....more than once:icon_biggrin:

[Jordan]

I went fishing with Schoe last evening for Channel cats. We didn't get out until about 7:00 PM. Chicken livers and smelly shrimp was what we used for bait.

The spot we went to was an entrance to a slough area where we have fished before during the day.

Before the third line was thrown out I caught a nice Channel close to 2 Lbs. In the next 1 1/2 hours I caught at least 20 Channels and we kept 12 nice ones for tonight's dinner at Schoe's house with Joyce, my Mom, and Dad and brother Cody.

The reason we didn't fish real late is because of the Mosquito's and we didn't have any spray. Oh yeah, the stinky Shrimp never got a bite. Caught everything on Chicken Livers.

[Schoe]

I tell you what, I have never ran across a young lad of 10 years old that is more mannerly and helpful than my neighbor boy Jordan. I don't recall ever asking him to help or do anything for me or my wife that this boy didn't break his neck trying to get it done.

I had plans for yesterday evening but when he came over and said he only had a few days left before school started and really wanted to go fishing I couldn't resist.

As he stated I was just setting the third pole down when he caught his first one and the action continued for the next hour and a half. I even cut us down to two poles as I couldn't hardly keep up with four.

I think this boy is a Jr. Catbird in the making for his love and intensity for fishing. Schoe

[cattracker16]

Looks like your learning him something he'll never forget. I heard on the radio this morn that you can give a guy a fish he'll eat for a day or two, but if you teach him how to fish he'll sit on the boat all day and drink "BEER".. I'm just glad someone's out catching fish

Kenny

[Timotha7]

Jordan is a great young man, an the lessons you are teaching him an the time you are spending with him are great for the both of you

I think it is great!
Tim

[gofish]

is he comin to the miss gatherin schoe?.....seems like were gonna have a few boys there his age,git nuff might start a "junior" category....i could find sumptin fer a prize ill bet.........jordan ya keep on catchin an learnin,take it easy on schoe once in a while an let him catch one too.lol:icon_razz:

[Schoe]

I asked awhile back if him and his dad would be able to come to the Gathering and the answer was no as his family was going to go to his older brother's basic training graduation out at Camp Pendleton at San Diego Cal. that week. However, his dad was here for the fish fry the other night and said their flight back here was coming in late on the 7th so they could possibly make it. We shall see what happens.

I don't think they would probably fish but just enjoy the day and the people. Schoe

[Schoe]

Joe , this is my first shot at doing a tournament of any size and I am learning a lot. I never realized what it takes to put on something like this. But, what suggestions I get from others can be considered for next years Mighty Muddy.

I think a Jr. division would go over very well and possibly a lady's division. Schoe