Spring Catfish

[Fishoholic]

The spot I'm talking abou is right in between Nepean sailing club and Britannia yacht club. You park at Britannia beach and then follow the sidewalk to the two big rock piers. I go to the one that goes straight out into the river. You can fish of fthe end of it and all along both sides.

[scarkner]

The spot I'm talking abou is right in between Nepean sailing club and Britannia yacht club. You park at Britannia beach and then follow the sidewalk to the two big rock piers. I go to the one that goes straight out into the river. You can fish of fthe end of it and all along both sides.

If find that kinda interesting as it is one of the few spots that I HAVEN'T had much luck with Catfish! I caught a few small ones there, but was always surprised how poor the fishing was from that rock point. It is really shallow on the south side (just a foot or two of water) unless you are almost out at the end of the point.

I only tried the place two or three times, perhaps I need to give it another shot

[Fishoholic]

I only go early spring when nothing else is open but I've had days where it is cat after cat with a few OOS incidental catches. Worm and a heavier sinker to get maximum casting distance. I cast it out as far as i can off the tip of the rock point and kick back and relax. Trick is to reel in fast when changing it up so your sinker doesn't get snagged. I tie my hook a foot or so above the sinker so the worm dangles just off the bottom, sometimes higher, just want the worm to be around the bottom but not buried in the rock piles (lots of big rocks so you don't want worm hiding inbetween rocks but more ontop of them, hence why worm is tied above sinker. The sinker will fall inbetween the rocks but the worm will be dangling just above the rocks so it is easy for the cats to hone in on it). I don't know what it's like after May but early season can be really good. I was usually fishing there in evenings and around sunset.

[Fishoholic]

In spring the water is a lot higher too, sometimes the rock pier is almost completely under water so plenty of deep enough water to fish. Always see carp and gar cruising around while the grass is flooded too.

[Peron]

Don't get your gear out quite yet. Here are the webcams over Lac Deschenes from Britannia Yacht Club (http://byc.ca/webcam/cam.php) Parts were clear the other day but all the upstream ice floes have found a home. Looks like the pier (in the distance in the top webcam) has a lot of Ice.

Rod

[Netman]

Trick is to reel in fast when changing it up so your sinker doesn't get snagged.

I have to do the same thing. It also helps to keep your rod tip up high. My arms are over my head when reeling in

[scarkner]

I have tried several inventions to try to overcome this, so far no luck.

[smitty55]

Trick is to reel in fast when changing it up so your sinker doesn't get snagged.

I have to do the same thing. It also helps to keep your rod tip up high. My arms are over my head when reeling in

I have tried several inventions to try to overcome this, so far no luck.

Any of you guys tried using slinky weights at the end of your line. That should be far less prone to be getting hung up.

Cheers

[zippyfx]

Any of you guys tried using slinky weights at the end of your line. That should be far less prone to be getting hung up.

Cheers

Maybe I'll make a couple up this year....

I have heard that some people swear by them. You can make them with nylon shoelaces and splitshot; Funny thing is I saw them for sale at bass pro when I was in Toronto a couple of weeks ago (they don't seem to have them on there website though).

A couple of videos.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGiSccbXiys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NDaUk-ug7Q

[scarkner]

I had little luck with slinky weights. Their surface area to weight ratio is too poor for the Ottawa river, i found they would easily get swept up in the current. Even tried larger sling shot balls. The larger diameter then gets caught under rocks easily again. Aaaarrrrgh!

[smitty55]

I had little luck with slinky weights. Their surface area to weight ratio is too poor for the Ottawa river, i found they would easily get swept up in the current. Even tried larger sling shot balls. The larger diameter then gets caught under rocks easily again. Aaaarrrrgh!

Yea I guess they would be better if you were fishing downstream from an island or bridge pier. The steelheaders use them for drifting in rocky bottoms but that's not the same at all as trying to anchor your line in a cross current. Of course you can get the no flip sinkers meant for catfishing but they're still meant for boat fishing afaik.
What you need is a free/super cheap disposable sinker with a slip function or a thread loop that breaks off easily so you retain most of the hardware.

Cheers

[Jo3yjo3y11]

Hey guys,

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in here,

I've never tried the Rideau River for cats but in the east end most creek mouths will hold them in early spring and I've also heard you can find them at Petrie Island once the water warms up further. Will be trying a new stinkbait from Team Catfish this year called lucky seven, had amazing reviews online but had to order from bass pro shops so should be here in a couple of weeks. Usually I just use worms and a sinker but I will let you guys know how this bait works out.

- Joe

[smitty55]

Hey guys,

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in here,

I've never tried the Rideau River for cats but in the east end most creek mouths will hold them in early spring and I've also heard you can find them at Petrie Island once the water warms up further. Will be trying a new stinkbait from Team Catfish this year called lucky seven, had amazing reviews online but had to order from bass pro shops so should be here in a couple of weeks. Usually I just use worms and a sinker but I will let you guys know how this bait works out.

- Joe

I used to fish Taylor Creek just east of Orleans lots before they stopped the parking on the highway. Even fished it when the river was still frozen. Never caught a catfish there but we did catch thousands of barbot/bullhead over the years. I'm wondering if you're perhaps mixing up the two.

Cheers

[Jo3yjo3y11]

Hey Smitty yes you are correct,

about Taylor Creek that's the one that feeds into petrie right? I'm pretty sure petrie is mostly bullheads you catch, but I have caught some small channels at the mouth of the nation and at another undisclosed location in the east end that I fish. Sorry for the mix up!

[Netman]

Any of you guys tried using slinky weights at the end of your line. That should be far less prone to be getting hung up.

Cheers

Never tried the slinky weights. I toss out a 2oz bell sinker and with my method of retrieval I very rarely get hung up