flat heads

[cva54]

Who all is fishing the MN. Doing any good? I am seeing some realy nice fish just not on my pole. Dam is it fun. Going to set up my boat for the river any sugestions.

[Jdrummer]

What kind of boat are you gunna set up ?

[cva54]

1982 16' smoker craft pro angler V hull 50 hp 4 cyl. merc bow mounted trolling motor the live well is going to be a bait bucket need some more rod holders. What works the best for lights ( so I can see that tree floating ) Ive had this boat for for awhile now so I got most every thing. Would like 1 or 2 more gas tanks can only carry 12 gal. right now

[Jdrummer]

I haven't seen any "official" boat head lights but I think two of those better quality fog lights from walmart or somewhere mounted to the front of your boat would be enough to see "that log" ? If we need to get into some detail I would ask for some pics of your rig then the MNO communtiy would have a better idea of what they use and could possibly make your rig even better than it is !
Y so many gas tanks?
Do you have any L.E.D  lights in side the boat?

[cva54]

no I dont have led's thay do work good. I got 2 lights on the in side but I dont like how thay work here is what she liiks like a oldy but a goody

[Jdrummer]

Nice! I would look into some bright lights for night sriving and they make cheaper l.e.d lights that have a hood or cover over the top so all the light shines down. if you have light shining up or too bright in your boat its hard to see infront of you . ( I figure you already know this but just saying) I hope 7outof10 chimes in with what kind of lights are in his fishhawk .

[7outof10]

i used what is called chrome utility lamp its made my truck lite and i got it at napa part # 434wd most stores should have them if not should be able to get them pretty fast they work really good they are half coved on top so you do not blind your self when you have them on so all the light gos down in the boat where you want it and i used 5 of them in my boat and it works out pertty good i got them on a 3 way switch so if i push it down only 2 lights in the back are on and if if push it up all of them are on and the middle they are all off works out really good for me i used them a lot cupple weeks ago up on OT  the part # on the switch is tg6034 and that is a napa part # .........im going to send a pic of the light to drummer so he can post it

[cva54]

today at work I had to go on a parts run. When I was there was loking at them led lights kids put on there dash of there car I think thay might do just what I want for the inside. I think for seeing down river iam going to go with a hand held 1 of them 10,0000 candle power jobers that should do it. now were do I get the $$$$ O yes bullhead fishing

[Jdrummer]

I love it when all the Cat fishermen start compaining about how they spend more time catching the bait than fishing for what they are really after 

[cva54]

I got my inside lights. side marker lights off a 18 wheeler rer yellow or clear going to go with yellow ez on the  eyes. just got to mount them 2 in the front both sides 2 in the rear same way and 1 in the middle. Just have to string in the 1 wire (self grounding) add in swithces. Also was looking in a book found a 500,000 candle power 12 volt hand held light that should do it.

[Jdrummer]

Nice! now all  your missing is some pics of GIANT Cats to post on here!    :fishing2: :fishing2:

[cva54]

I will going down there this week end from the bank at a mouth of a creek with some luck I will have a pic

[Jdrummer]

Oh maybe another tip. In my ice house I have placed black tape on  the botom of the over head light to keep the light from shining down. so maybe bring soem black tape with you when you test your lights and if needed try tape on top of them ? Just a idea

[cva54]

Well went out last night from the bank had 2 cats and I think 1 big walleye on nothing made it to shore. I got a ? I am having a hard time getting a hook set using gamakatsu octopus #8 with power pro 50#test hiviz yellow line 4oz. flat teer drop slip sinker a swivle how long would make the snell/ leader uesing the same line. The walleye cut the line right a way. the 2 cats didnt how long do U let them run. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG

[Jdrummer]

I am not familiar with how big the hook is so I may not be able to help more on how long to wait to set the hook . Can you post a pic of the hook next to a quarter or something? thanks. What are you using for bait and how are you hooking it to the hook? (it might be that?) Everyone around here (mankato) always say that only a 12" leader from the weight to the hook is plenty . they usually use thesameorheavier line for a leader.

[cva54]

think me and my bubby figered it out. was out last night to 3:30 he had the spot he got 4, 1 18#, 2 10#s, and 1 13#er, (what a pecker head) I missed 2. I think with this line it has no strech and with a 8' poll U dont have to set the hook like U would with a bass. More like just pick the poll up and give it a small tug. Is that how U do it? Iam on the MN river right by the 35w bridge / black dog not realy but that is close enogh. it funny me and U are the only 1s on this post. Do U have any finer points U can tell me on fishing flats. What other bait works good bulheads are working but what els crawdads? 

[Jdrummer]

I have never fished with craws so I am no help there. But if I am fishing with a bigger sucker or a bull head I always let him run with it for 20 seconds or so depending on how hard he picked it up and did he stop to eat the bait yet? Then close the bail and hope they have the hook is in their mouth enough to hook up .  :fishing2: Cut sucker or chicken gizzard work well for others also. let the bait get as stinky as possible too . A few days in the sun with the gizzard usualy does it  Some people hook the sucker through the lips and most hook a bullhead through the tail ? just what I have heard

[KTapper]

Stinky bait usually works best for channel cats.

Bullheads are good hooked towards the tail. From what I know Flats like live or cut bait more. I am only just getting into cattin but I have done some reasearch. I just bought a killer cat/musky setup!

Anyone else think that 7" and under bullhead rule is bogus?

[cva54]

I use a 8' poll my buddy got a 7' and his kid using a 9'. I hook my B.heads right behind the dorsel fin it seams to be were the cat grabs it. I am new at catin to trying to learn the most I can  I want that 30+ pounder

[Jdrummer]

Tapper, How stiff is the tip or top half or the rod? I found most cat rods ( even though the bottom of the rod is big ) are simply too light or flimsy to pull decent sized musky lures effectively. just my 2 cents.

I think for cats there is no guide line really. just use what you feel comfortable with . cats= bigger is always better

[KTapper]

Drummer thats why I bought a musky rod!!!!

[KTapper]

Drummer to answer your PM Its a gander mountain musky competetor series 7' medium action rod. With a Abu Garcia Ambassador reel. Its a pretty nice setup can't wait to use it!

[cva54]

Well finley hooked some got 4 to bad it was my buds 19 1/2 #er

[KTapper]

Nice fish! :fishing2:

[cva54]

thanks, update on my boat got it running it runs great now. Had to make a new gasket for the carb(gas inlet) did the other carb to. got all the lights in and a big hand held. Next week end goin down with her

[Jdrummer]

nice ! keep us posted! :fishing2:

[KTapper]

I went out a couple nights ago, and had 2 runs and one softshell turtle! lol It was a big one, and I hooked him in the mouth ha He fought like he would have been a 10-15# flat.

[cva54]

all right then was out fri night and sat till 5:00 am boat works great. Got 1 chanle 12#s and 3 runs. Here is 1 for U on 1 run a good 1 to I set the hook and missed it when I look at my bait the hook was hooked in is belly after a few choise words Ilooked up and said thats my f&*%$#* luck. But that boat thing shure beats that walk was sitting talking with the wife about it. How boradom sets in and I got a greart idea. Going to steal the tv and the vcr from the living room and strap it on the bow put the vcr in my now DRY live well and strap my big genrator on the back. I wonder how far I will get?