toothsnhooks
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channel cats
anybody know a good place to go for channel cats big ones, I've never actually targeted big cats but would like to start I seem to catch only small cats here in my area but am willing to travel for the big boys?
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beerman0303
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/07 13:50:07
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I don't know where you are located but you can catch channel cats in all three rivers. Personally, I fish the Allegheny and have been able to catch them in almost any spot on the river. The numbers bite is usually best at night, but some of my biggest cats have been caught during the daylight. Live bait, cut bait, and chicken livers are tops for me. I usually just use one rod with live bait and one with fresh cut bait because chicken livers can be tough to keep on the hook. You could also catch a flathead with the same techniques, which is always a blast.
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beeverfishing
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/07 16:19:40
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I also fish the Allegheny for cats. I prefer to use live bait. Normally blue gills as I can get them easily..and they work good. The bigger the better...
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mr.crappie
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/07 18:14:26
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psu_fish
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/07 19:06:03
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PaWolfman
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/07 19:45:46
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I am not sure where you live but you can catch good size channel cats in many places. You can catch them in rivers, lakes and even small ponds will hold big size channel cats. Lake Arthur has some real big channel cats. Any of the three rivers are a good place to look also. I usually use cut bait. Shrimp works good also. Dip bait is good at catching good numbers but you will usually not get the big cat when using it.
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.-Thomas Jefferson
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jolie
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/08 08:44:04
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The biggest cats are, without exception found in the biggest waters. this means if I had to catch a 20# I would concentrate on the three big waters in the three corners of PA.
Erie, Ohio, and schukyll.
of course, presumably the state is big enough that not anything within PA is reasonable :) so it begs the question, does it have to be the BIGGEST cats? any bigger river and many big reservoirs have good populations of catfish and I'm sure all of them can produce a 10-15# cat. Is this big enough?
if not flatheads run roughly twice as big. Scratch out the reservoirs and stay away from erie, but the big rivers hold them as well.
we can make a mighty nice list... but is that useful? Is this all something you really didn't know?? perhaps a better question might be to ask where on XYZ lake or river to start to look. let us know.
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toothsnhooks
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/08 11:01:55
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thanks for the info. I should step up the size of bait. I been using northern pike sized shiners about 4-5 inchers and getting nice ones but not big enough.I thought that was enough but beeverfishing is using big blue gills nice! Yea maybe I need a bigger fish on the hook for a 10,15,20#er. As far as location I mainly been fishing the deepest holes I can find mostly on and around the Juniata River because it's fairly close been trying to get to the big Three thats about an hour an a couple minutes for me it's going to happen soon. Thanks everyone!
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jolie
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/08 11:28:45
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.
post edited by jolie - 2011/07/08 12:35:47
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Porktown
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/08 13:24:17
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Cool shark, sandbar I'm guessing?
During the night, the cats will move from those deep spots to shallower spots looking for food. They'll likley be in the deeper spots during the day though.
Susquehanna has them too, and might be an easier drive for you. The York area has a few powerplants and other things that attract big cats.
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toothsnhooks
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/08 13:54:13
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Yea i think that is another name for it not sure but the guys at bobs bait and tackle in duck called it a sand tiger I'm no shark species expert but it was fun actually caught several that week but that was the only one i got good pics of and the biggest. Back to channel cats though the susqy is not too far for me not real familiar with where exactly I'd go. Definetly look into it though always wanted too fish that river good a place as any to start. I wonder if a little 6-10 inch catfish would be good bait? I can catch loads of them.
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FishinGuy
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/09 07:33:03
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I've heard 6" bullheads are great flat head bait. But I don't know a good place to load up on em to give them a decent try. For flatheads make sure you're using big hooks esp w big bait like gills. 4/0-8/0 gamakatsus for me circle or octopus. And a baitcaster w a clicker or a spinning reel w a baitrunner can be a big help, let em take it for a few sec before attempting a hook set to make sure they take it down. See how to catch a flat head in the carp and catfish forum.
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SevenMileShowcase
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/09 16:35:45
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Arthur holds some nice Channel Cats. If theres one fish out theyre in healthy numbers that is it. Go get about 20 creek chubs and clip their tails and just let them freely rome and do not have your line tight. When you see it tighten grab your pole and let them run. The Gamakatsu Octopus Circle does the rest.
Your going to catch Stripers and Walleyes as well. But all your fish will be fun fighting and the cats will not be small. Minimum of 20"
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akitadog
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RE: channel cats
2011/07/09 21:07:52
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i use a bunch of bullheads in the paylakes. i drive over 1 hour just to get them. i will take a live bullhead over any bait. i went through 30 this past saturday.
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