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The Bear has been really good to me this year and today I got to fish for a little over an hour. I tried a location that I thought should hold some big fish, but had not tried since last year. There is a deep hole that pushes up against the far bank, but the water is running so high and fast that it is hard to get a bait to hold so far across the river. It would be perfect if I had a boat. But bank fishing was the only option today. I set up a ways above the hole hoping to maybe draw some fish out of the deep to my sucker chunks. Had 3 bites. 1st was a huge surprise, a 24" walleye. Kept that "eye" for a future dinner. Then a respectable 24" cat. Then a heavy pull of a bite, set the hook, great pull on the other end. Then it got hung on something on the bottom. I played the waiting game, let some line out, reeled back in, gave some small jerks and reeled some more. Waited some more, keeping tension on the line. It took out drag a couple of times then suddenly swam out of the jam. I couldn't believe my luck that it swam out. It took drag a couple more times before coming to the net. I was hoping for a bump fish for the contest, but just not there. It went over 30" though and was a tough battle. Very fun, especially in the heavy current.
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Got another walleye yesterday along with a couple of cats. Was looking to have a fish fry so I kept a couple of smaller cats (less than 24"). Was interesting what I found in the stomach of 2 of the cats. One had a mass of fur and small bones, probably a mouse or vole. Another had a crayfish along with a bunch of cockle burrs. The crayfish didn't surprise, but the burrs did. I wonder if the crayfish was in with some submerged burrs and the fish just ate them along with the craw.
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"Was interesting what I found in the stomach of 2 of the cats. One had a mass of fur and small bones, probably a mouse or vole."
[#0000FF]Over the years I have kept quite a few cats that had furry stomach contents...especially this time of year when the small rodents are "lookin' for love", get crazy and fall into the water.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Here are pics of a freshly munched vole and a less freshly ingested muskrat. Aggressive kitties will eat just about anything that does not eat them first.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Waytago on the walleye. Seems to be more and bigger ones showing up since the shad escaped from Willard and got into the Bear and marshes. Always a nice table bonus when one comes calling.[/#0000FF]
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Thanks Pisco,
Lots of big fish are starting to come out of the lake down south. Got to have some 30+ coming soon. Go get 'em!
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Nice looking eyes, you're doing pretty well there this year... Trophy cats and eyes to eat... Not a bad year at all... Congrats.. J
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I met a fellow BFT member yesterday to give the river a try. The cats basically gave us the big middle fin and nearly gave us a skunk. Frustrating day on the river. I know fishing is just that, attempting to catch fish, not actually catching. But after having some really good action the last few times on the river, it was downright bad. We all have our days...
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Those cats are probably feeling the low pressure forecast to come in tonite. Temps cooling down to the 60's for tomorrow. That's good for me as long as it stays fairly dry. Wife works tomorrow, so think I will just do some bank tangling where I can retreat into my truck if the biting flys get too bad or the rain comes.
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"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
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I know what you’re talking about. Seems like I’m pretty good at going on the bad days. Hope it’s better for you next time. Later Jeff
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Thanks for taking me with you yesterday. You caught a couple at least and I felt a few throbs before a fish spit the bait out. As I mentioned to you, I notched some firsts and we accomplished some things we set out to do: my first time to fish The Bear; we got to know each other and fish together; I learned what you meant by BIG bait; I fished with bait I had never used before; I fished a river for cats for the first time. Maybe we can get that one little thing about catching fish done next time [
].
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The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.
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It was good to get to know you as well. At least lunch was good afterwards. Fun talking about life, family, hunting and fishing. I really enjoyed that part.
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