Kayak Cat Club

[Mark]

Tidal channel cats have been prevalent this year for many kayak anglers who post here but they have eluded my lures until today.

I launched into the Bodkin this morning from Downs Park. I caught this guy close to shore where the Bodkin meets the Patapsco:

P1040122.jpg

It hit one of my homemade 1/8 oz. jig spinners that I'm happy to say survived the ordeal:

Jig Spinner Cat.jpg

It took me almost the entire season, but I'm finally a member of the 2018 kayak cat club.

[mchottie]

I've caught many a cat with traditional live bait, the trick is to land it on a spinner or soft plastic. At Carr's Wharf earlier this year, I was throwing a beetlespin 1/4 & 1/2 oz with cast & constant retrieve, and landed a 24" & 26" channel cats! Amazing that they will pound a spinner!!!

Glad to see you got some Bodkin pullage!

[Yak67]

Welcome to the club Mark Your reeling in what you think is a citation perch and BAM, Ole Brownie shows up, it hilarious. Hey, pullage is pullage these days! Congrats

Yak67
2017 Hobie PA-12 Camo
2016 Hobie Outback LE#217

[Yakmac]

I agree with Yak67, any type of pullage these days is welcome. I’ve caught several catfish on beetle spins this year and have consistently caught them on fire tiger crank baits in the Potomac.


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[Mark]

Thanks guys. Their fight belies their initial contact with the lure which is subtle. My first thought was that I was snagged. White perch and stripers hit lures much harder.

[XXXMedium]

Congrats Mark. Do you have any of those homemade jigs for sale?

[sprirobass]

Great fish, Mark!
I mostly caught most of my catfish on cut baits, but I got some of them on shad darts and rat-l-trap.

[DanMarino]

Love the report and photos Mark! Catching blue cats and channel cats when fishing lures is fun in my book. Something about those cats make me giggle like a little kid. That's a healthy looking fish.

[Mark]

Thanks guys.

I've actually caught two other catfish from powerboats this year on lures. The above cat was first this year from my kayak. I've never targeted them. They're always surprise catches for me. In fact my biggest surprise was a blue catfish in Mattawoman last month that hit a popper while I was bass fishing with Indian Head Charters. I knew from experience that catfish liked Rat-L-Traps, spinners and even a simple paddletail on a jig. But I didn't know they would hit surface lures too.

XXXMedium -- If I sold my lures and flies, making them would become work as opposed to a hobby. However, I'll be glad to give you a few. PM me and we'll make arrangements to get them to you.

[ronaultmtd]

I have caught blue cats on just about every kind of lure at Mattawoman Creek...Rapala original minnow...XRaps, squarebills, jigs, spinners, soft plastics...you name it...they are a top predator and there is not much they won’t eat...

[Oldbayrunner]

Yep, last week I was fishing for rock and perch but kept hitting more cats on my beetlespins then perch.
https://youtu.be/JvJkOBt6bdI

[belairfishing]

Thanks guys.

I've actually caught two other catfish from powerboats this year on lures. The above cat was first this year from my kayak. I've never targeted them. They're always surprise catches for me. In fact my biggest surprise was a blue catfish in Mattawoman last month that hit a popper while I was bass fishing with Indian Head Charters. I knew from experience that catfish liked Rat-L-Traps, spinners and even a simple paddletail on a jig. But I didn't know they would hit surface lures too.

XXXMedium -- If I sold my lures and flies, making them would become work as opposed to a hobby. However, I'll be glad to give you a few. PM me and we'll make arrangements to get them to you.

Mark,

A couple of summers ago, while wet wading below the Conowingo dam chasing smallmouth, I was watching an Osprey work a fish and while I was taking a break I left my craft fur Clouser dangle in the top of a current seam. When the Osprey show was over, I lifted my fly rod to make a cast and there was a 16" channel cat attached to the end of it! Love those surprise fish.

[moc]

Hi Mark,

Welcome to the CAT club. I too have been surprised at the amount of catfish that I have been catching in the Bay this year. Here are two of my outings where I landed a catfish on a spinner bait...lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsbBuZyUSTg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRSrB_l7_qs

[DanMarino]

Lower salinity from all the rain = more catfish?

[mchottie]

I feel like this achievement deserves a S|L badge of honor...