anybody fish harts or swofford for cats this year

[spokey9]

i couldn't get out there and was curious how the fishing was

[Toni]

I fished at Harts Lake in Pierce County this year. Before Salmon season opened for the rivers. I wasn't fishing for cats but one of the last times I was there they were catching them. Some were huge. Some of them caught were close to 10lbs. Look into the lake reprts for Harts Lake.

[gpc]

I have never actaully fished hart unfortunatly. I heard a lot of good things about it this year and really wanted to make it out there. Most the stuuf I heard about hart had to do with catfish and it sounds like it was pretty easy fishing. But I heard that they closed the park down after dusk this year as well.

[The Quadfather]

In reference to talk of catfishing at these lakes.... can someone tell me how you go about using chicken livers when catfishing? I purchased some this last summer, and it seemed like a pain in the... to get this stuff to stay on your hook. I sort of imagined that maybe people even use a little thread to tie it somehow around maybe a treble hook. What do you guys do to keep the liver on the hook?

[leahcim_dahc]

spokey9-

I fished quite a bit at Swofford this past summer, and only fished for cats a couple times. Both times I caught fish, one was right around 10 or so inches long and the other 31 inches. I was told by some locals there are quite a few cats in there, along with Carlisle (down the road a few miles). So they are in there...its just a matter of tossing a line out and waiting it out. For what it's worth...the only time I have caught the cats were during dark. Meaning anytime between 10:30pm and 5:00am. They seem to be more active at night...doesn't mean they can't be caught during the day, but usually done better at night...that's when the big one's come out to play. I'll post a picture below of the cat I caught this summer.

Most the stuuf I heard about hart had to do with catfish and it sounds like it was pretty easy fishing.

Fishing for cats is probably the easiest I have done. Put on some nasty stinky bait on your hook, toss it out and sit back and wait. I like fishing for cats during the summer months, especially if it's a little toasty out. Find a good shade tree, toss out a line, and relax.

What do you guys do to keep the liver on the hook?

I hear you on that one. The chicken liver is the worst to keep on the line. For the most part, put the liver on a treble hook...will stay much better. I have used both treble hooks and single hooks...I prefer the singles over trebles. I haven't fished for cats up here nearly as much as I did back home, but I used to take the liver and let it sit out and get nasty. In the hot Kansas sun...there wasn't much of a chance for the liver to get all soupy like out here, it would dry up some around the outside, making it much easier to keep on the hook.


Chad

[lskiles]

I saw an article about keeping the liver on the hook and they suggested using an egg loop knot. I will attempt to attach a picture, but if you google "egg loop knot" I am sure you will find instructions.

They also said that beef liver works better, but it is harder to keep on the hook and that you should use fresh liver. I have also heard as stated by leahcim_dahc that it works better stinky...every fisherman has a different way that works.

EDIT: I found this web page that shows how to tie the egg loop. http://www.fintalk.com/fishing-knots/fish-egg-loop.html

[tnj8222]

when i lived in NC and fished the rivers for cats we would use shrimp, worms or chicken liver. we would put the liver in a small piece nylon stocking. we bought a pair and threw them in the tackle box.

[Jake Dogfish]

I have done alot of squawfishing with chicken and sometimes beef liver (single hooks), and found that if it is VERY fresh it stays on the hook well. Otherwise, its like trying to keep a cube of butter on a hook... Using multiple hooks if legal helps...

[gpc]

I Have never actually used liver so I dont know from experience, but I would imagine that if you "cure" the liver it should stiffen it up. I am using the term cure very loosly, more so refering to laying it in some salt overnight, kind of like if you were to cure some eggs or brine some herring. I would be willing to bet that the exact same recipe for eggs or herring would probally work pretty well on liver. They have many diffrent scents and colors for eggs and herring. For catfish I wouldnt bother with the color, because they are almost blind anyway. But to add a little bit of shrimp scent or any scent for that matter would probally work wonders. Garlic and cheese are very popular fish scents and are both everyday items. I dont know how you would extract "cheese scent" from cheese. But if you buy a jar of minced garlic all the liquid in there is pure garlic oil and that stuff is loaded with scent.

[leahcim_dahc]

I Have never actually used liver so I dont know from experience, but I would imagine that if you "cure" the liver it should stiffen it up.

Never tried that...sounds like a decent idea. Might have to give it a whirl this summer.

...we would put the liver in a small piece nylon stocking...

Good tip! I've used small pieces of skein net that same way. I'd be willing to bet nylon stocking material is quite a bit cheaper and lasts longer.


Chad