Another nice Lacygne Blue Catfish

Today I took my mom fishing at Lacygne. I have had such good luck there recently I thought I would try to put her on some fish. Early morning bait was quick and easy. Filled up the grayline bait tank with shad and also put some big gizzards on ice in a cooler for cut bait. Just a quick plug for those shad tanks...I didn't lose one shad today in 90 degree water...and I added no ice....amazing tanks.

Morning started out tough. Probably only caught 10-12 fish by 9:30 which was not a good start compared to my recent outings. The past few weeks I had caught most my fish by then. We actually caught most our fish between 10:00 and noon.

The biggest Wiper today was 6lbs (fish was 24" long but super skinny)...which is the fish my mom is holding. Mom also reeled in in this nice blue cat...it was a bit much for her to hold so I got the photo op. Fish was released to grow some more. Just a side note, I caught about a 3/4lb channel cat today on a live 4.5 inch gizzard shad...shad was gone and in his belly....amazes me the size of shad these fish will feed on. Also caught a few nice wipers on Chart. Fish Tech spoons again in 3/4oz.

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Excellent post Jayhawk and anyone who takes their Mom wiper fishing is awesome.

That is one nice bluecat...sounds like a great day...thanks for the report and pics.....looks like you've got LaCygne figured out.

nice fishes wtg

How are you fishing the shad, drifting?
Where are you finding the shad?

"WOW' good kitty thanks for sharing!!!!! Kansas has everything big BUCKS,GOBBLERS,CRAPPIE AND CAT'S

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Originally Posted by Captain Dan

How are you fishing the shad, drifting?
Where are you finding the shad?

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Captain...I use my Minn Kota I-Pilot....I do drift...but only until I mark a big group of bait fish, or even better, goups of bait fish with big fish marked in, around or below the shad schools...then hit the anchor lock function on my I-pilot. I will stay until the bite stops and then drift or use the trolling motor to do a slow controlled drift (very slow troll) looking for where the fish have moved to or for new schools of bait or actively feeding fish. Most my searching begins near submerged creek channels...checking the channels, the edges and flats in close proximity to the creek channels. As you know with wipers though...I have gotten distracted before and drifted off into the middle of a big flat with nothing on it and stumbled onto big schools of bait and feeding fish.

At Lacygne there are shad near the warm water return year round. I get there just before sunrise...most the time when its still dark. I personally cut the big motor early and use the trolling motor to move to the bait...keeps them up on the surface and easier to net...sometimes it doesn't matter...but easy is always better for me. That being said...you can catch shad at the warm water return any time of year or day. The cove where the marina is has a lot of shad too...as does sugar creek which feeds the lake...but the chances of hanging up your cast net are less at the warm water return.

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Originally Posted by jackie53

"WOW' good kitty thanks for sharing!!!!! Kansas has everything big BUCKS,GOBBLERS,CRAPPIE AND CAT'S

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Not really. We are just really good liars and good with Photoshop!!
As anyone not originally from Kansas will tell you, there is nothing here,, keep moving on. Kansas is the armpit of America.

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Originally Posted by crappieslinger

Not really. We are just really good liars and good with Photoshop!!
As anyone not originally from Kansas will tell you, there is nothing here,, keep moving on. Kansas is the armpit of America.

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Roflrotfl:Hands ClappingRofl

Dang, what do you fish out of a wrecker?Rofl Need something big to haul that diver eating hog out:biggrin

gettin worried bout you doc all this postin can't be much fishin your not even gettin any free pub out of it prolly gettin the shakes by now?

Very nice catch. That is a great looking Blue and the wiper isn't too small either. Sure wish that was my rod on the end of those fish...

Looks like you have really got things dialed in since I talked to you at the ramp several weeks ago. Nice job! When you purchased the shad tank did it come with everything you needed? I have looking at getting one of those but hard to fork over the money. Funny you mentioned the wiper was skinny, we picked up a 25" at Pomona yesterday and it was very skinny less then 5 lbs. That wiper fishing can be a blast in this heat.

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Originally Posted by HairyVetch

Looks like you have really got things dialed in since I talked to you at the ramp several weeks ago. Nice job! When you purchased the shad tank did it come with everything you needed? I have looking at getting one of those but hard to fork over the money. Funny you mentioned the wiper was skinny, we picked up a 25" at Pomona yesterday and it was very skinny less then 5 lbs. That wiper fishing can be a blast in this heat.

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Fishing has been great since I talked with you guys. The information you guys post and share on Kansasoutdoorsman.com is really helpful. You are a great group of guys and represent Kansas well.

The Grayline bait tank comes with everything. I did a lot of experimenting in the past, trying to make my own shad tanks and buying cheap ones. Should have bought a good one to start. George Lening at Grayline is a great guy. He'll talk to you as long as you'll let him. He is extremely helpful...even after the sell.

If interested and you buy a tank...I use tap water and condition is with Prime Water Conditioner from the pet store. 1 cap full for my 30 gallon tank. I fill up the day before my trip to raise my tank water temp and get it closer to the lake water temp to prevent bait from going in shock. Try to keep it within 5-10 degrees of lake water temp. The most important thing I do is add 1 quart or 32oz of Morton's Solar Salt...buy at Lowe's...$5/40lb bag. I then add 1 tblspn of Better Bait chemical which is marketed for minnows but recommended by a striper guide I've used on Texoma. Only other thing I do is rinse the filter media once or twice an hour of shad scales. This set up and system makes all the difference in the world.