Pacemaker Fishing Forum

In the thread "9-7-09, Potomac River (DC waters) report by Pacemaker" I had mentioned catching 11 fish on that day including a 27 lb catfish.

I neglected to mention that 6 of the 11 fish caught that day (including the 27 lb catfish) were caught on one new lure I was trying for the first time... a 6 inch "Polish Shad".

We were trolling 5 lines that day and I was impressed that one line caught over half of the fish. So I bought a few more of the 6 inch "Polish Shad" and most of the time now I have been trolling them on two or three of the five lines out.



9-17-09
The "Polish Shad" again proved to be popular. Caught 11 catfish under 10 lbs, mostly on the "Polish Shads". However, what was more interesting was the ones that got away. I lost two big fish due to hooks on the Polish Shads being straightened out and lost a third big fish due to split ring failure, the fish pulled a treble hook right off the lure. I also lost another big fish that hit a Polish Shad... about halfway back to the boat, it stuck it's huge head up out of the water and did a violent head shaking manuver which snapped the 30 lb test leader.

So, before the next trips, I beefed up the hooks and split rings on those lures, and made some 50 lb test leaders.

9-19-09
Not too exciting, we caught 5 cats under 10 lbs (4 of them on Polish Shad) and a small striper (on a Rebel).

9-21-09
We caught 4 cats under 10 lbs and brought a big gar to boatside (then it shook off as I tried to boat it)... all on the Polish Shads... we had no hits on other lures that day.

9-25-09
We caught 20 fish in about 5 hours... 17 cats under 10 lbs mostly on Polish Shad; 2 big cats (34 lbs and 21 lbs) on Polish Shad... no more problems with hooks or split rings; and a smallmouth bass which hit a Rebel.

9-27-09
We caught 18 fish in 5 hours. 17 cats under 10 lbs and a 21 inch striper. On this day we didn't get any hits from monsters and most of the fish were caught on the Rebels for a change.

9-19-09 little striper


We've been catching lots of these catfish under 10 lbs


9-25-09 catfish 21 lbs


9-25-09 catfish 34 lbs


9-25-09 nice smallie


9-27-09 striper 21 inch


9-27-09 For a short while I put out one of my biggest lures and it caught the smallest catfish that we have seen in quite a while.