Southwest Area Park

I've never fished this area before but heard that it might yield some stripers. Is this what folks call the Belle Grove ponds? Would anyone who knows this spot be interested in meeting up on Sunday morning? Thanks, Mark

[freshstripes]

The ponds are up river once you pass the bridge. The area directly below and above the bridge seem to be swarming with bait right now. I would just bring some corn and small hooks with you though. There are huge carp in there, tangling with a 20+# carp from a yak would be quite intense

[freshstripes]

In the last two weeks I've landed. 3 cats over 31" and some small rock. My buddy has got two five pound rock(never should have showed him the way )

[Excalibur]

Were the rock in the main water between the ramp and ponds or up in the ponds themselves?

[DonV]

In the last two weeks I've landed. 3 cats over 31" and some small rock. My buddy has got two five pound rock(never should have showed him the way )

How did you catch the cats? Bottom fishing. I caught two about 20" in the last couple weeks that hit my trolling Gulp swimming mullet on a jig head. They both hit while I was fumbling around setting up my gear and drifting slowly with the gulp.

Last weekend coming out of the ponds right past the bridge I hit what I thought was a snag that ended up being a snagged through the dorsal fin cat. Took about twenty minutes to get up to were I could see him. Lost him at the side of the kayak when the jig pulled out of his fin as I was fumbling to grab him. He had to be a good 40".

Really tempted to go back to just target the cats and am wondering what to use. Chicken breast seems to be favorite bait at some other places.

I did get a 17 1/2" rock in the ponds coming over the edge of the island back into the main river channel. He also hit the Gulp.

[freshstripes]

A couple things.......

Chicken breast for fishing is so ridiculous, it's cleaned of all the blood and good stuff they want. Chicken livers or hearts are in blood and way cheaper.
But I haven't used chicken liver as bait in a long time because fish works 1000x better. Fresh cut fish from rivers and streams or something oily from the asian supermarkets.

And also. There's no way that fish was 40". Sorry but that would have probably been a state record and 30#
The largest of thr rock caught have been bottom fishing with cut bait but the gulp catches more quantity

[Excalibur]

Although it's messy, cats love chicken livers. I wind them on hooks with elastic thread from Walmart. Otherwise, they're a pita

[freshstripes]

32" 13# the other night from shore. Biggest one I've seen from there. Maybe not weight wise but in length. I've been fishing this place hard for like 4 years all year round

[freshstripes]

I wasn't trying to be a d*** here's a shot of it from the top. Head was huge. I guess I could have estimated It to be like 34-36" when it was in the water. They do always seem bigger in the heat of the moment

[Excalibur]

Would either of you be game for tomorrow

[freshstripes]

I'll probably be up there tomorrow night

[freshstripes]

Really only fish at night mostly

[Excalibur]

Looking to get out during the day.

[DonV]

A couple things.......

Chicken breast for fishing is so ridiculous, it's cleaned of all the blood and good stuff they want. Chicken livers or hearts are in blood and way cheaper.
But I haven't used chicken liver as bait in a long time because fish works 1000x better. Fresh cut fish from rivers and streams or something oily from the asian supermarkets.

And also. There's no way that fish was 40". Sorry but that would have probably been a state record and 30#
The largest of thr rock caught have been bottom fishing with cut bait but the gulp catches more quantity

No offence taken and I do know I can tend to exaggerate and appreciate the advice on the bait. I ran home and started to look for some pictures that were comparable.

Looking at your picture I may have been off by a few but still think he was in the 36- 40 range and a lot fatter. The thing was massive and I was really disgusted that I couldn't land him. Haven't really had that much experience with big cats but have seen a few and I was shocked by the size of him. I was having a hell of a time trying to reach the mouth as I was holding the jig hooked in his dorsal fin. I know I know it's a fish story and I may have been just way to excited but I could kick myself in the @ss for not trying to measure him while in the water as I new the jig had to be getting loose after the long fight. Either way it was a blast and has my interest level in catching some big cats peaked and I appreciate the advice.

[DonV]

I'll probably be up there tomorrow night

You go shore fishing or in the kayak?