Channel Cats

[Clan Cularius]

Many years ago I took my kayak onto one of the tributaries off of Lake Erie, fairly near to the lake. Port Bruce I think and started catching Channel Cats unusual in size and number. I thought it was right around this time of year. I live farther away now but if it's the right time of year I wouldn't mind making the drive and trying again. Can anyone tell me if my memories serves correctly? Is this the right time of year or has the intensity of the winter and/or the coolness of the spring affected the timing?

Clan

 

[dusty122]

yep, i was in port bruce yesterday bro, i perch fish there and going to do some channels there too.
bruce is having their channel durby this coming june sometime or it could be this weekend i cant remember but yea. the channels up there are big. somone caught 22lb channel a few weeks ago. there running man and hope u can get there. there a tone of funnnnn

 

[Clan Cularius]

Thanks for the feedback. I stopped fishing about 5 years ago and now wish I'd taken more pictures and kept a diary as memories such as these are a little fuzzy.

 

[Clan Cularius]

When I did get into the channel cats I was in my fishing kayak. When you hooked onto one it was sort of a sleigh ride experience.

 

[Alfiegee]

When I did get into the channel cats I was in my fishing kayak. When you hooked onto one it was sort of a sleigh ride experience.

Nice!
A friend hooked one in Jordan Harbor a few years back about 15 lbs. We were in a small row-boat and it towed us around the harbor for about 20 minutes and gave us a good shower before I could get it in the net.
The channels usually spawn late Apr, or May, but you are right that because of the cold, cold winter they seem to be a little late. They are in now. I read somewhere that they spawn when the water is about 20 degrees. I don't carry a thermometer, but they are moving.
I've only gotten into Channel fishing the last few years since I moved near the harbor in Hamilton and started fishing the Grand as well. They are a great catch, they fight well and are a lot of fun and can get to good sizes. My pb from Hamilton Harbor was about 12lbs, I caught that one from shore and that was a battle keeping it out of all the deadfall around where I was.

Alfie.

 

[dusty122]

yea they channels fight like a muskie pure muscle.
but yea there running.

 

[Clan Cularius]

Went out yesterday evening and caught 3.