I evened the score at Mattawoman

[J.A. Veil]

Two weeks ago I fished at Mattawoman with Moc and Rockchaser. It was my first time targetting catfish. Both of my fishing partners caught plenty of catfish, but I did not get a single bite.

That failure has been gnawing away at me. I took advantage of today's beautiful weather to return to Mattawoman for Round 2. The outcome today was in my favor -- 5 blue catfish with the last one being a real whopper at 29". That fish pulled and pulled on my bottom rig. It had a huge head and mouth.

I read the reports of some of the more successful catfish catchers and tried to modify my technique to use their methods. Today I anchored up in 10 ft of water. I used a standard wire bottom rig and circle hooks. I baited with raw table shrimp on one hook and nightcrawlers on the other hook. Both baits caught cats today.

I also caught one young largemouth earlier in the morning. Although I had my baits in the water for 3-4 hours, all the bites came in one 90-minute period.

[tufnik]

Don't you just love it when you go back and get'um? Congrats!

[ictalurus]

Well done, John. A 30" fish is a good way to even the score, too. I'm surprised the top and bottom rig held up to the big cat. I've had them break unexpectedly after getting bent.

[ronaultmtd]

Good deal, John! I have never had any luck with catfish on standard bottom rigs- only way I have ever had any luck is by using fish finder rigs baited with big river minnows, chicken livers, chunks of bunker or cut bait with circle hooks- you did it the hard way and made it look easy-

Your "stick-to-itness" has inspired me- I'll keep trying to catch Mattawoman snakeheads until I get my big ugly fish-

[kevinfry]

CIRCLE HOOKS...AAARRRGGGHHHHH! Lost 4 fish on them at Bushwood and swore to never use them again. Did not miss one fish with 5/0 baitholder.

[Rockchaser]

Nicely done John.

So what's next on the catch list?

[camelbird]

nice fish john!!! well done

[ronaultmtd]

CIRCLE HOOKS...AAARRRGGGHHHHH! Lost 4 fish on them at Bushwood and swore to never use them again. Did not miss one fish with 5/0 baitholder.

folks having problems with circle hooks are used to using standard fish hooks and have a fine tuned system of striking to set hooks- you NEVER set the hook with a circle hook- just take up the slack and hang on-if you try to set the hook, the hook just slips out without sticking to anything- it is the gradual pressure that causes the hook to dig into the corner of the mouth- pull hard on the rod when you feel the fish and it just bounces off- and you leave the point of a circle hook exposed- don't bury it in the bait- I use circle hooks to prevent gut hooking fish

[J.A. Veil]

I have never had any luck with catfish on standard bottom rigs- only way I have ever had any luck is by using fish finder rigs baited with big river minnows, chicken livers, chunks of bunker or cut bait with circle hooks- you did it the hard way and made it look easy-
-

The last time I tried, I used a fish finder rig and fresh menhaden chunks. I did not have any luck. Today I decided to go with two hooks on a bottom rig. The rigs I used today are slightly heavier than the inexpensive silver ones. I also fished two poles with bottom rigs at the same time, plus a third rod with a jighead and a Gulp minnow (no bites on the Gulp).

While those 5 baits were in the water, I cast a light rod and lure toward some structure. I had a few quick taps on the lure, but nothing hooked up.

[J.A. Veil]

folks having problems with circle hooks are used to using standard fish hooks and have a fine tuned system of striking to set hooks- you NEVER set the hook with a circle hook- just take up the slack and hang on-if you try to set the hook, the hook just slips out without sticking to anything- it is the gradual pressure that causes the hook to dig into the corner of the mouth- pull hard on the rod when you feel the fish and it just bounces off- and you leave the point of a circle hook exposed- don't bury it in the bait- I use circle hooks to prevent gut hooking fish

Both of the rods with bait were placed in the rod holders and were not picked up until I saw the line tighten and the tip shake. All five cats hooked themselves very firmly. Of course the 29" fish put a serious bend in the rod and took out line before I had a chance to pick up the rod.

For nearly 20 years, I have used only thin-wire small circle hooks for my early summer bottom fishing (spot, croaker, perch). I typically leave the rods in the holders and the fish hook themselves.

[J.A. Veil]

Nicely done John.

So what's next on the catch list?

I don't have a new target species in mind yet. I am leaving Thurs morning to spend a few days in Ft Myers, FL. I have half-day kayak fishing trips set up for Fri morning and Sat morning. Maybe I can catch a new-to-me species there.

I started fishing late in life and focused almost exclusively on saltwater fishing. As a result, there are plenty of relatively common freshwater species that I have never or rarely caught. I imagine that my next target species will be a freshwater species.

I really appreciate the enthusiasm and comeraderie that MKF members display. I think that I will find plenty of fishing partners and opportunities to keep adding species to my list.

[chex]

WTG!! Congrats on the MD catfish! Good pullage....