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Carry a Big Stick for Them "Dam" High Water Cat's.
Many catmen become discouraged when they find there favorite river rolling high and fast. This is usually the death of a well planned float trip, but it need not be! With a few adjustments and a bit of river savvy your on the fish fast. Over time I have learned that high water and rapidly rising rivers really shut down the bite for cats, at least that was what I was told. I never take advise well so I sought a method to reach cats I suspected were in tight well defined feeding areas near dams under these conditions. During this deluge of current food of many types gets dislodged and flows down the channels and rushing over dams. This glut of food is a hay day for cats, but the current is a hassle for them as well. Their answer, and mine, was look for current tunnels that accumulates food and offers a place to coast in the fast waters of this bountiful feeding machine, the low yield dam. These tunnels are easy to see once you know what to look for. Low yield dams have no gaits to manage river flows so waters rolls on over at a even pace except for areas that rock or debris have altered the flow just a bit. These areas will produce flushing pools that will reverse the current and form pockets, or current tunnels. Some low yield dams have man made runs that produce several predictable tunnels year after year and scrub holes form in conjunction with these areas. These are sweet spots for sure! Cats know them well, and so should you! Now what? We have fast water rolling along at warp "9" with all kinds of rock, tree stumps, and who knows what else laying in there to eat up any tackle you offer up to the river God's. This is terminal tackle country for sure. Then what if you do hook a fish right, be like pulling a 80 LB feeder pig through a window of a Toyota Celica by it's hind leg! Don't ask how I know that is tough, but it is! For excessive conditions you need excessive type tactics and a few special tools is all. Equipment is key to this presentation because you need to beat the river at it's own game, resistance! The main thing is to keep as much line as possible out of the current. By presenting the rig at a high angle with the rod positioned as close and parallel to the dam as possible you reduce line drag and keep the bait were you wish it to be, in the hog trough. With the line and your bait offering well positioned and "in line" with the current your way ahead of the game. Once the rig settles into the tunnel it rides with little resistance and strike detection is no problem, "THUD" fish on. Rigging was a another trial and error thing. The conventional 3-way rig is a good option but the drop line and leader should be kept to less then a 16", and as short as a 3" span. The basic slip rig will work in more tackle friendly environments like sand, gravel or mud. The most common conditions though is nasty mean rock and old concrete dumped to limit erosion. A one way trip for most rigs! I came up with a rig I call a roller rig that handles this situation very well. The rig consists of your basic 3-way rigging, with a twist. The drop weight system is a El-cheapo steal leader with the clips that never stay shut when they are supposed too, and a chunk of heavy wall 5/16 hollow rod stock. I pick this stock scrap up from local machine shops and cut them into 1",2" 3"etc chunks then ream the edges a bit to prevent cut off. You connect the El-cheapo steal leader via split ring to the drop weight portion of the 3-way rig and thread the leader through the heavy wall tubing and reconnect to the leader swivel. Now the rig can roll along like a coaster under your refrigerator. So if the rig hangs up a seriously steady and hard pull will open El-cheapo clip and open and home it comes. It works great, don't laugh! So what kind of cannon do you shoot this rig from you ask? I use a few different long rods for the matching conditions required. But the rule of thumb is long and stiff is best. Surf casting or snagging rigs in the 13' to 10' range work best rigged with a big spinning real loaded with 30 to 40 LB. big game line or 80lb fire line. Serious stuff---ARR--ARRR---ARRR, more power, ARRR-ARRR-ARRR!! My favorite serious spinning real is the Shimano 6500 Baitrunner closely followed by the Pinnacle 60 BAITFEEDER. These reels have the potential to alow a running drag for the strike and run, but with a quick turn of the handle you have engaged the main fighting drag to wench the piggy in to Moma. Baits do vary with seasonal preferences but I find frogs or cut bait works best for me. I have also pulled some huge walleye on frogs this way as well! Big pike will surf these current tunnels as well as carp, sturgeon, and flathead's. This pattern will work with many species during high water levels. So next time your down due to high water levels and fast flows, don't be! Grab a big stick and "Rock and Roll"! Lets keep this Forum buzzing this summer guys and gals, I will do my part, please do yours to keep all us Cat hunters well informed! And yes, when the walleye are on I will still be generous with that info as well, we all will RIGHT?
Good Hunting
Red River Forum
Photos Courtesy of Backwater Guiding (Backwater Eddy)
(Ed on the Red) "Backwater Eddy's" Catfishing trips. Spring season booking available. Some April Walleye also Ice-out conditions may change walleye run timing. He will book only a few clients to ensure a better trophy experience, special conservation practices apply. Walleye of 32" and better caught every year, I strongly encourage catch and release!
Call for detatils. Note From the Editor:He's good enough for the In-Fisherman crew. Give him a call before he books all of his limited guide trips. Walleyes and Catfish-Piggies are his specialty. Catch and Release ethic prevails.
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