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Great day out on the water. Took a buddy of mine out on the john boat in search of some catfish by jug fishing. While there, we started off by catching live perch and all in all ended up rigging 13 jugs. While we let the jugs "soak" we traveled to the opposite side of the lake for some bass. Ended up catching a nice 4 pounder off of some descent rock structure. As the sun crept down, we headed back over to collect the jugs and surprisingly hooked up with a healthy 10 pound blue cat. Looking forward to cooking up a gourmet feast tomorrow :0.
Pictures coming soon.
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Be careful.......not sure jug fishing is allowed there. Might want to check the regs. Game Wardens frequent BDR.
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I dont know the regs either, but like Curly says: Game Wardens Frequent BVDR. Have all paperwork etc on hand -there are no warnings.
I met him down there in March one year. He does weekdays as well
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I hope it really was not a blue cat.....and hopefully, the picture will be of good quality so we can get a positive ID!
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The biologist reports indicate that Blue cats were being stocked into BDR in the 80's but were discontinued because of low catch rates. I wonder if they reproduced and are still around?
Paul Naj said he saw a large blue cat that was dead because it choked on a large shiner so I guess they are in there..
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Yes, I have checked with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. I came up with the idea last year after reading an article on it somewhere, so through curiousity, i contacted the game warden and he stated that it is legal. However, on all jugs you have to post your address, phone number, and name. And yep she was a blue cat! I'm trying to put the pics up now.
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I'm new to putting pictures up, so i threw in a couple from earlier in the season.
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Good on you for doing the research!
And some nice pics to boot!
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I was thinking the same thing Patrick, the head seems off
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White cat? I don't se the coloration for a channel but agree about the blue....someone needs to start counting spines and fins!
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I agree.......white cat
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haha. Positive it's a blue cat. I've caught several small 1 pound white cats and their much more slender in the head and have more of a bony narrow body (plus that would make me a state record holder due to the fact that the current record is 7lbs. 6 oz.) I'm also sure it's not a channel because the blue catfish have a different fin and color pattern.
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I'm actually about to head out again in a little bit to the reservoir. Hopefully we can have this debate again after i hook up with another one...
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That looks eerily like a large channel catfish. The blue cat is heavy-bodied with a wide head and high spot forward of center near the head called the dorsal hump. I don't see that dorsal hump on this catfish. It looks to have a more streamlined hump like the channel and white cat.
I guess counting the anal fins is the best way to find out; 30-35 rays in the blue cat's anal fin verses the channel cat's 25 to 29 rays. Let us know if you get a chance to count them..
Very nice catfish nevetheless!
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/f … ish=010390
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/f … ish=010125
Last edited by Bass Hunter (Aug-24-10 2:52PM)
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I was out there too yesterday 4:30-7:30. Got two small LMB, two WP and a green sunfish. I made one WP into a meal for my oscar. I may be out there on Wednesday.
Last edited by T. (Aug-24-10 6:38PM)
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Thank you that's helpful. I just got back from my trip this evening and hooked into a 17 pounder. I will post the pic as soon as possible. It looks like a blue, however now i'm not sure. :0
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Bass&Reds26 wrote:
I just got back from my trip this evening and hooked into a 17 pounder.
Hey Khahn! No need to travel to catch big cats! Get hooked up with Bass&Reds26....
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Pacemaker wrote:
Bass&Reds26 wrote:
I just got back from my trip this evening and hooked into a 17 pounder.
Hey Khahn! No need to travel to catch big cats! Get hooked up with Bass&Reds26....
You are right. Looks like these boys know where the bigs hang out. I drove out to Occoquan River last weekend to scout things out and saw a guy there fishing from land, right beside the tour boat beside the boat ramp, with a long stringer full of nice sized eating cats like the one posted on this thread. The guy told me Occoquan river is stacked with small blues and that the bridge pile ons near the marina are a great place to anchor and catch them. I've seen the pile ons in the background of many of Carl and Mo's pics. They must fished for perch there alot.
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Bass&Reds26 wrote:
Yes, I have checked with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. I came up with the idea last year after reading an article on it somewhere, so through curiousity, i contacted the game warden and he stated that it is legal. However, on all jugs you have to post your address, phone number, and name. And yep she was a blue cat! I'm trying to put the pics up now.
note the following as copied from VGIF fishing regs:
Trot Lines, juglines or set poles may be used to take nongame fish and turtles provided they are not baited with live bait (worms are permissible), except on waters stocked with trout, Department owned or controlled lakes, and within 600 feet of any dam. Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish in Carroll, Dickenson, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe counties, and in the Clinch River, in Russell, Scott and Wise counties. Any person setting or possessing the above equipment shall have it clearly marked by permanent means with his or her name, address, and telephone number, and is required to check all lines and remove all fish and animals caught each day.
seems like the question is whether one is permitted to use live bait while jugging.
in my mind the prohibition would make sense, as the potential for catching a game fish with this method is more likely.
this scenario was demonstrated in another post
Last edited by bigjeffie (Aug-26-10 6:08AM)
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Live bait other than worms is prohibited.
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That's interesting. Thank you for finding that for me i would of never thought. Guess it's time to think up a new bait.
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I think a dead perch might work just fine.
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Bass Hunter wrote:
I think a dead perch might work just fine.
Exactly! Cut off the head and hook up the rest...catfish aren't picky.
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