Since I can't catch crappie i went catfishing

I know this is the crappie forum but SInce I can't catch crappie now, I loaded up my remote control boat and went catfishing below the dam. As a lot of you locals know, we have to stay 300 feet away from the dam, so to get around this, several years ago , I built a remote control boat to pull my lines to the dam. Last weds, we caught 2 limits of nice size blues. Our rods have 2 hooks a piece and 4 different times we caught 2 at a time. One time I had a 10-12 pounder and a 3# on at the same time. Pulling those two in for 100 yds is hard on an old man. The little boat is 4'x3' and has a 18# thrust trolling motor and has forward and reverse plus left right steering. It pulls 2 lines out at a time, when it gets to the dam, we just give a little snap and they pull off and the floater drifts them along the dam. The depth at the dam is 18-20' so we set our floaters at 16'. I appologize about the fish not having scales but I thought you might find it interesting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...k/100_1903.jpg

When a fish hits, the red end will stand up and usually shoot straight down.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...k/100_1694.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...k/100_1693.jpg

that's neat. only a hillbilly would think of that.

That's just too cool! I'd love to see it in action! Oh by the way I can't catch crappie either but gonna try it again in the morning!

I've heard several times about using those, but never saw em. Looks like the Blues on the winter bite. I may have to try a little fishing over there soon. I won't be able to fish Nimrod if I drop my nets in anyway.

I recall reading several years ago about a fellow doing the same thing on the Trinity River below the dam on Lake Livingston in Texas. He caught some very large cats.
Your catch is certainly impressive, way to go.

Bait? Shad or something else?

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Originally Posted by olduckhunter

that's neat. only a hillbilly would think of that.

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And I am as hillbilly as you can get.

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Bait? Shad or something else?

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Shad either cut or whole is by far the best but you never know when you can get them so we use bass minnows. I tried freezing shad but you know how mushy they get. If they are running at least 2 generators you should be able to catch a lot by drifting just outside of the fast currant where the water curls back toward the dam.

Great story and pics.

thanks.

Great idea.

That is awesome. I would like to see a video of that. Great catch and how much did the big cat weight? Thanks for posting I enjoy seen fish caught in arkansas even if they aint crappie.

which dam are you fishing there?

My guess for the largest is 12-14 lb. This was at the Dardanelle dam, but it works at Morrillton and Ozrk, never been to toadsuck My biggest fish in the past doing this is 41 lb
but I have caught several in the 20-30 lb bracket. Its a lot of fun at first but believe me , its a lot of work and trouble and dangerous. I would rather catch 5 crappie than 200 lbs of catfish. here is a couple pics from the past. I will be going tomorrow and am trying to get my hands on a video cam, if I do I will give you a link to it .

The only flathead I ever caught with the little boat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...zedfish003.jpg
On this day, my son and I cought 44 but kept 20 and that was way too many for me.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ollagecopy.jpg

You did'nt go today? Was a balmy 14 degrees at daylight here.

Yea, but you didn't take into account the heat index. That made it 16 degrees.

That's awesome!! Hillbilly fishin at its finest!!

Freekin awesome ray

This i an old post guys , post a new trip Ray. I know ya gotta be fishing somewhere.:biggrin

That's a cool way to fish, Ray! Took some imagination to think that up and then be able to build it! Thanks for the post and the pics.

Man, who dragged out this old post? Its almost 3 yrs old. I have been out fishing one time in a month so I have nothing to post. Thinking about hitting the river tomorrow though. I may get the RC boat ready and try to catch a few river buzzards later this week.

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Originally Posted by rtark

Man, who dragged out this old post? Its almost 3 yrs old. I have been out fishing one time in a month so I have nothing to post. Thinking about hitting the river tomorrow though. I may get the RC boat ready and try to catch a few river buzzards later this week.

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I think it was Chris. He's desperate to see some new material even if he has to resurrect one from time to time.:Rofl Still some nice fish even though they came from a few years back.

You the man Rtark, them some nice fish

The only thing bad about this post is you did'nt call me to go with you this time. I had a blast doing that Ray. I will keep my phone line open for ya. HAHA!!! Good Catch Hill-Billy.