Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

[leesumm]

Hey guys , here in Arkansas the temps are going down to 30 at night but warming up to sometimes near 65 and 70 in the afternoon. I was reading and began wondering if I am the only nut case left that is taking the boat out and fishing all day? Water temp on the lake is about 51 degree surface, I fish catfish using ?????? When I pull the bait up to check the hook its ice cold even at 20 to 25 feet. Once in a while I catch a few for a meal but sometimes its like the lottery, O, not even the power ball. Guess I am lucky that even with the temps as they are I still get to be on the lake 365 + days if wanted.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

Yep! You're the only one!:laugh:

... not really, I'm just waiting to get over this bout of sickness and I'll be back out on the water chasing the Crappie and whatever else bites my little jig.

Took my last antibiotic this morning so maybe I'll get out there next week. It's supposed to be nice weather with highs in the mid to upper 60's here too.

 

[beardeddone]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

Hey guys , here in Arkansas the temps are going down to 30 at night but warming up to sometimes near 65 and 70 in the afternoon. I was reading and began wondering if I am the only nut case left that is taking the boat out and fishing all day? Water temp on the lake is about 51 degree surface, I fish catfish using ?????? When I pull the bait up to check the hook its ice cold even at 20 to 25 feet. Once in a while I catch a few for a meal but sometimes its like the lottery, O, not even the power ball. Guess I am lucky that even with the temps as they are I still get to be on the lake 365 + days if wanted.

I really don't think that the water temperature has anything to do whether you catch anything or not as some do ice fishing and catch some trophy sized fish, but your right you have to be in the right place at the right time and hope they are biting on something but seems they don't bite on anything you present them...

 

[gm280]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

I love to fish (and hunt) and after I get this boat project finished I hope to fish even more. My problem has never been the fishing part. It is always been the catching part. I give them every opportunity to bite but they won't take what is simply presented to them for free...

Kind of like me hunting for elephants, lions, and tigers too. I set there in my deer stand and say for them next hour I'm going to hunt lions, but I never see any, same for the elephants too...

Not really folks, I have no ambition to hunt anything except small game and deer. :joyous:

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

I fish catfish using ?????? When I pull the bait up to check the hook its ice cold even at 20 to 25 feet. Once in a while I catch a few for a meal but sometimes its like the lottery,

I'd say you are using the wrong bait, presentation, or they are just not there. I seem to catch a few cat's when i'm Bass fishing. They will eat just about anything.
Do you use sonar or some kind of finder?
Try focusing on 10 to 20 feet with soft bottom flats, next to a drop off. Use something bright colored, even yarn is good so I hear. I have caught a few with plastic worms on a shaky head just bouncing off the bottom.
Again, I don't cat fish but this is where I have caught them before.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

The best bait for cold water Blue cats is live shiners 2-4" long. About 12" off the bottom in 15-25' of water.

Fish creek mouth, points, and humps.

I don't catch many Channel cats in these spots but do get the occasional big Flathead.

 

[leesumm]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

I don't have a problem catching cats. This morning it was just sheer boredom and thought I would try to post something out of the ordinary. Ice fishing in this part of Arkansas isn't a problem either, there isn't any. My wife thinks I am crazy if the forecast is anything above 50 for the day and its clear enough to see the top of the mountain in the back yard I am off to the lake. Having fished Wisconsin, Missouri, and North West Kansas most of my life fishing Arkansas and catfish are somewhat different. When in Kansas it wasn't unusual at all to have ice on the line. Having drove a truck over the road for 42 years I know weather is different in other parts of the USA also. Just moved back and retired I have too much time to fish now. My post this morning was just in just humor alone and seems pretty dry at that .

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

So let's see some pics of these denizens of the deep Lee.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

I was reading and began wondering if I am the only nut case left that is taking the boat out and fishing all day?

Yeah, you're a nut, but I think I've got you beat... :der:

Last Thursday I hit the river at 3am and left the following night at 6pm,,,, after it had been raining for 2 hours. I was going to stick it out, but glad I didn't as the radar showed the area getting hammered when I got home.

 

[leesumm]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

So let's see some pics of these denizens of the deep Lee.

LOL. Last time out which was an overwhelming 70 degrees Friday I think, I caught 3 . The only camera I had at the time was the camera on the phone but then the phone was bigger than the fish. I have yet to catch "the monster" of the deep. 3 lakes I fish , largest one is about 100 acres and can go to 40 foot. I know there are some in there that can go to a good size, I hooked two so far that lasted about 15 to 20 minutes and just about the time I put the net in the water , they're gone. Another lake I fish I have heard of some at 100 +. All I can catch is up to about 5 lbs tho.

 

[mjc3276]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

heck no! the high in northern va today was 52 and on the Potomac it was 48! My buddy and I caught tons of channel cats.... 20 total thanks to the shrimp I forgot about 2 weeks ago from my trip to the Chesapeake that was still In the boat...

 

[polecat77]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

Nope we go fishing two - four days a week got to love it

 

[pdgs]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

LOL, you could always come out to sunny Ca and chase ghost fish on the river with me. I was out yesterday morning and it was flipping cold, cold, cold. I was rewarded with a couple of nice fish but nothing I could keep.

Alternatively you could wait and come out for the next run in early Feb and chase the fish of a thousand casts when it's really cold and miserable.

So to answer your question, no, you've got plenty of company!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

Heck, this is the best time of year to be out and about in the Natural State. I'm gearing up now for my multi-day float trips on the Buffalo. Got one coming up MLK weekend. Woo-Hoo!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

You know its cold when you have ice in the guides and you are fishing in saltwater.

November thru January are our best fishing months. Water temps upper 30's -low 40's. Blue bird days are awful. The best days are 40 degrees and overcast with light rain and fog.

 

[ngt]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

If you're on the Lake "365+" days per year, you aren't like anybody else in the world.

 

[rpsloan]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

When I lived in Kentucky, I would fish for bass in the snow and catch them. I fish year round, when the bass bite slows down I switch to trout or to saltwater bass or halibut fishing until the water and weather warms back up. In San Diego though I pretty much can fish for bass and catfish year round because it stays warm enough.

 

[leesumm]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

If you're on the Lake "365+" days per year, you aren't like anybody else in the world.

you didn't finish the quote "if I wanted" . I am retired now, did my time and letting my SS account catch up with me. I have only two things left that I have to do. Cut wood in the winter for heat and fish. The rest is just passing time.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

Water temp. was 53*F this morning at 9:30, fishin' was great... catchin' was very slow. The high was 65* today and I fished in a T-shirt for a couple of hours.

Crappie quit biting at noon, and then the Bass started pestering me at 2:00. Called it a day at 2:45.

Smallest Crappie is 10".

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Just wondering if I am the only nut case left LOL

catchin' was very slow.

Yup, I only got 3 today



Low 40's at 3am with a stiff breeze that made it feel like it was 10* lower. Rain started at 9am and I was out of there at 11.