Montana Catfish Association

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MT Cats Circuit Invades North Dakota

Nate Molstad and Brady Flaten take home Inaugural Catfish Clash

By: Montana Cats Staff

Williston, ND 8/20/11 – The 2011 Montana Cats Circuit came to a dramatic conclusion over the weekend with the Inaugural Missouri River Catfish Clash in Williston, ND. In the state's first ever Montana Cats event, there was plenty of familiar faces to go around. Featuring twenty-one teams from Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota the tournament would prove to be highly competitive. As is customary with all circuit events, the weekend kicked off with a calcutta of the fishing teams. The calcutta and social were sponsored and hosted by the 4-Mile Bar. Following the auction, the rules meeting was conducted by tournament director, Steve Harris, of the Montana Catfish Association.

Anticipation was high on Saturday morning as the teams gathered at Scenic Sports and the Little Muddy boat ramp, respectively. The Missouri River, which had been effected greatly due to record spring rainfalls, had finally dropped to navigable levels and the fisherman were ready to put it all on the line. Tournament hours ran from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. central time and temperatures peeked in the upper seventies. Despite the unseasonably mild weather, the action was hot and heavy for many of the teams. The high waters carved an all new terrain even for the most experienced local anglers, but it didn't seem to slow the action as the top five teams all weighed in over twenty lbs. Aside from the impressive total weight performances, four cats tipped the scales at over eight pounds as well. Brady Flaten, out of Glasgow, MT, and Nate Molstad, out of Havre, MT put together a day to remember, crushing the field by nearly eight pounds. Their five fish basket, at 34.38 lbs. sets the benchmark very high for future years. This was Nate's fifth career championship on the Montana Circuit and Brady's second. The duo's total weight received a big boost, when Brady landed the big fish of the event, a 9.7 lb. beauty. The big fish, coupled with a tournament championship netted them just over $1,300.00. The local anglers would not go home empty handed, however, as Mindy Degenstein and Matt Degenstein, both of Williston, took home runner-up honors. The husband and wife combo did all their damage from the shore and impressed with their 26.54 lb. basket. Another local squad rounded out the top three as Chase Rehak and Darrin Hanson, also of Williston, weighed in 23.94 lbs.

The first year of the "Clash" was an ultimate success. Any time you can get over twenty teams for an inaugural event it bodes well for the future. Montana Cats fully expects this tournament to continue to grow and plans on it becoming a mainstay on the MT cats circuit for years to come. Weigh-ins were held at Lewis and Clark Bridge and were very well attended. A big thank you goes out to All Awards out of Lewistown, MT., who again provided the trophies for the top two teams as well as the big fish plaque. The Montana Catfish Association and Scenic Sports also awarded three nice rod and reel combos at the conclusion of the weigh-in and award ceremonies. Feel free to join us on August 18th, 2012 for the 2nd Annual Missouri River Catfish Clash. Please enjoy the pictures and complete final results from this past weekend's event below.

Top 10 Overall (21 Teams)

1.	Brady Flaten, Glasgow, MT. – Nate Molstad, Havre, MT.	34.38 lbs.
2.	Mindy Degenstein, Williston, ND. - Matt Degenstein, Williston, ND.	26.54 lbs.
3.	Chase Rehak, Williston, ND. – Darrin Hanson, Williston, ND.	23.94 lbs.
4.	Brady Mueller, Sidney, MT. - Brandon Mueller, Sidney, MT.	22.78 lbs.
5.	Brenner Flaten, Wright, WY. – Cole Plouffe, Glendive, MT.	20.14 lbs.
6.	Troy Cotter, Sidney, MT. – Mike Licking, Sidney, MT.	19.66 lbs.
7.	Chad Mueller, Sidney, MT. - Kyle Mueller, Sidney, MT.	15.64 lbs.
8.	Todd Dooley, Sidney, MT. – Randy Hurst, Sidney, MT.	14.83 lbs.
9.	Loye Sunness, Epping, ND. – Dana Lutz, Williston, ND.	10.32 lbs.
10.	Rubin Indridason, Trenton, ND. – Vern Decoteau, Trenton, ND.	9.52 lbs.

Inaugural Missouri River Catfish Clash Final Results

Inaugural Missouri River Catfish Clash Pictures

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Morehouse and Kemmis Tame the Cat Classic

Calvin Kemmis and Luke Morehouse erupt in celebration

By: Montana Cats Staff

Glasgow, MT 7/16/11 – What a weekend! In what can only be described as outstanding, the 12th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic weekend is officially in the books. 2011 was no ordinary year for the Classic. Due to a "100 year" flood on the mighty Milk because of record snowfall and an unseasonable amount of spring rain, the Cat Classic was rescheduled for the first time in tournament history. At the end of May the decision was made to move the event to July 16th, this would undoubtedly give the anglers a few curve balls to try and handle. In what is typically a classic pre-spawn event, this year’s edition was held smack dab in the middle of the spawning period for the native Channel Cat. There were plenty of questions to be asked. Will the fish be holding in the same areas? Can we expect the weights to be as high? How difficult will it be to keep my catch alive? It took a night of fishing on the sloppy banks of the Milk to find out, but I think we have some answers to those questions and much more.

In typical Cat Classic fashion, the social and calcutta of the fishing teams turned the Montana Bar on its side Friday night in downtown Glasgow. While adjusting to the record crowds from previous years calcutta's, Front Street was closed off to all through traffic and roped off before the start of the auction. In the end, it paid off for the most productive calcutta in Montana Cats Circuit history. Brian Austin, with Austin Auctions, put on his typical highlight performance and kept the crowd entertained throughout all eighty teams. Fishing stories were told and tournament strategies were discussed until the early morning hours. Its hard not be overly excited and short on sleep after kicking off the weekend with the fellows anglers down at the Montana.

Saturday arrived with temperatures hovering in the nineties and the town a buzz for the night’s festivities. Teams began to gather at the meeting headquarters shortly after 4:00 p.m. and waited anxiously for the start of the rules meeting. As 5:00 p.m. approached, it was time to get down to business. Tournament Director, Brenner Flaten, spent ten minutes discussing the rules and regulations of the event as well as answering any of the anglers concerns. At 5:10 the first flight was released, the following three flights followed in one-minute increments. Having all the anglers on their way by a quarter after five was made a priority for this year and accomplished for the first time.

Not many could have predicted what was in store for the night. The eleven person event staff worked diligently throughout the night and was pleasantly surprised on how active the fish were. The spawn-post spawn transition did not seem to be having a negative effect on the numbers or the big fish bight. As it turned out, a record number of teams would weigh in fish and the fight to climb the leader board was as close as you will ever witness. Two teams set themselves apart from the field in dominating fashion. Co-tournament founder, Luke Morehouse, and his partner Calvin Kemmis took down the field with the second biggest basket in Cat Classic history. Their 36.19 lb. weight was needed to eclipse a former champion squad, Don Resseguie and Kevin Durell. The former champions came up just short of their second title at 33.48 lbs. Rounding out the top three was the father-son duo of Dan and Jim Brandt. The Brandt's used Jim's Jumbo Whisker Award winning catfish to jump up the leader board. The big cat tipped the scales at 10.98 lbs. and is the second biggest catfish in tournament history. Two-time defending champions, Jerry and Nate Molstad, managed a respectable tenth place finish.

Luke and Cal had a night to remember and it showed with their emotion on the stage at Saturday night’s famous midnight weigh-ins. As the scale crept past thirty-three pounds it was time to celebrate. An estimated crowd of five hundred people watched as they jumped in jubilation. The championship is extra special for the anglers, as they have both have a lengthy history in the Classic, and now the wait is finally over. The run to the title did not come without some adversity. The anglers lost what they felt was a "tournament clinching fish" just two hours into the night and just when they had recovered, Cal lost one of his rods on a fish as it went barreling into the Milk River. Regrouping, the duo fished the rest of the event with three lines in the water.

For most it’s a long wait until next years Cat Classic. Lucky for us, we only have to wait 10 1/2 months this time around. The 13th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic will return to its customary time slot on June 2nd, 2012. Sign ups begin immediately, as entry forms can be downloaded and printed from the website. The Catfish Classic is truly "one-of-a-kind". Do yourself a favor and pencil in the Classic on the calendar for next year you will not regret it. Please enjoy the pictures, podcast interviews, and complete final results from this past weekend’s event below.

Top 10 Overall (80 Teams)

1.	Luke Morehouse, Glasgow, MT. – Calvin Kemmis, Glasgow, MT.	36.19 lbs.
2.	Don Resseguie, Great Falls, MT. – Kevin Durell, Glasgow, MT.	33.48 lbs.
3.	Dan Brandt, Glasgow, MT. – Jim Brandt, Glasgow, MT.	23.19 lbs.
4.	Colin Kemmis, Glasgow, MT. – CJ Kemmis, Glasgow, MT.	19.71 lbs.
5.	Matt Smith, Billings, MT. – Jory Casterline, Glasgow, MT.	18.76 lbs.
6.	Steve Harris, Sidney, MT. – Chad Nelson, Sidney, MT.	18.66 lbs.
7.	Todd Young, Glasgow, MT. – Matt Tribby, Glasgow, MT.	18.17 lbs.
8.	Ben Unterscher, Glasgow, MT. – Randy Elletson, Glasgow, MT.	18.05 lbs.
9.	Larry Hockholter, Glasgow, MT. – Seth Ingram, Glasgow, MT.	17.85 lbs.
10.	Nate Molstad, Havre, MT. – Jerry Molstad, Glasgow, MT.	17.76 lbs.

12th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic Final Results

12th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic Podcast Interviews

12th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic Pictures

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Records Set at Monster Cat Roundup

Justin King and Jer Hopstad set the bar high

By: Montana Cats Staff

Sidney, MT 7/9/11 – The 3rd Annual Monster Cat Roundup took place in Sidney, Montana over the weekend. The festivities were once again kicked off on Friday night with the social and calcutta of the fishing teams at the Ranger Lounge. A record number of people showed up to bid on their favorite anglers and enjoy some good fishing conversation. Jerry Andreason and Jessie Williams with Good Ol' Boys Auctioneering put on a show with the calcutta and provided some good entertainment for the crowd. Tournament director, Steve Harris, of the Montana Catfish Association, presented the rules and regulations. As the opening night came to a close there was some nervous anticipation in the air and plenty of excitement to get it all started.

There was a lot of uncertainty leading up to this year's event. Due to the massive amounts of mountain snowpack and the extreme spring rains, the Yellowstone River was flowing at "action" flood stage. This was cause for concern for a lot of the local tournament veterans. Tournament team numbers were slightly down from last year do to this very reason, however, sixteen additional teams signed up in the three days leading up to the event bringing the total to twenty-five. The twenty-five teams proved that the high water should not be scaring away any teams in the future. In what has become customary on the Montana Cats tournament circuit, the high water turned on the BIG fish. The fishing was outstanding.

In arguably, one of the finest days in Montana Cats circuit history, tournament records were smashed and nearly the entire field had a basket of fish to show off. The top ten leader board had weights worthy of top three finishes the past two years as they all weighed in over sixteen lbs. Despite the outstanding fishing, there were three teams that got it done better than anyone else on this hot summer day. Local angler, Justin King, teamed up with Jer Hopstad, out of Thornton, CO., to weigh-in a record smashing 36.44 lbs. The five fish limit is the second highest weight ever recorded in a Montana Cats event. The duo targeted flooded vegetation and used jumbo shrimp to help them land five cats all tipping the scales at over 6.5 lbs. Jer's 10.16 lb. cat helped catapult them to the top of the leader board. It proved to be the second largest catfish of the day and the third largest cat ever weighed in at the Roundup. The big cat netted them an additional $50.00, bringing their total tournament purse to $1,790.00. Taking runner-up honors was the successful tournament veteran crew of Chad and Brandon Mueller, out of Sidney. They would fall just under three lbs. short with an outstanding limit of 33.75 lbs. The impressive basket of fish put $1,045.00 in their pockets. This is Chad's second runner-up finish in three years. Rounding out the top three was Corey Nay and Kenny Erickson, out of Sidney. Corey and Kenny brought in a limit worthy of a tournament championship, as they too smashed the previous tourney record. The local squad weighed in 32.46 lbs., and a large portion of that total weight was provided in the early morning hours when Kenny hooked into the largest cat ever weighed in at the Roundup. His 10.52 lb. pig not only provided them the boost for a top three finish, but it knocked off the previous record of 10.2 lbs. set in 2009. In turn, the team was able to cash in on the record big fish pot and this years big fish award worth a grand total of $930.00. In addition to the cash awards, the top two teams and big fish award winner were presented with breath taking trophies and plaques provided by All Awards out of Lewiston, Montana.

By the time all the anglers had weighed in and the awards were being presented it was quite a sight to take a look at the leader board. Twenty-two of the twenty-five teams weighed in fish and three catfish broke the magical ten-pound barrier. The weigh-ins and award presentation provided fun for the whole family and gave the anglers an opportunity to discuss what happened on the water throughout the day. There is no doubt that this years impressive weights gave the tournament anglers a lot to talk about. Immediately following the weigh-ins, the Ranger Lounge hosted an angler feed and social for all involved in the event. At the feed, Steve Harris held drawings for three door prizes. All three door prizes were catfish rod and reel combos and generously donated by area sponsors. Chuck Buxbaum donated one of the combos in memory of his close friend and long time catfish tournament partner, Gregg Burns.

This years outstanding weights and the local support the community of Sidney continues to provide bodes well for this event well into the future. A large thank you should be reserved for Steve and Ashley Harris for their dedication to the sport of catfishing and their efforts in providing a fun competitive catfish tournament for the area. This event is very professional and we invite you all to find out for yourselves when the 4th annual Roundup returns on Saturday July 14th, 2012. The 2011 circuit is halfway done and heads to Glasgow, Montana next weekend for the 12th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic. The eighty-team catfishing showdown should not disappoint. Please enjoy this weekends full results below, complete with podcast interviews with many of our top teams. Stay tuned for the event photos in the coming days.

Top 10 Overall (25 Teams)

3rd Annual Monster Cat Roundup Final Results

3rd Annual Monster Cat Roundup Podcast Interviews

3rd Annual Monster Cat Roundup Pictures

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High Waters, Weather Effect Savage Tournament

2011 Savage Tournament Champions

By: Montana Cats Staff

Savage, MT 6/11/11 – The 8th Annual Savage Volunteer Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament brought an all-new ball game this year. Only two weeks prior to the event, the Savage area was dealing with all-time record flows and high water. This in turn dramatically changed the traditional tournament landscape. Anglers had to deal with extremely high fluctuating waters, impassible muddy banks, and unstable weather leading up to the tournament. The prevailing thought was that it would be a struggle to catch the illusive "slot fish" needed to take home the top honors. (teams are only allowed to weigh-in 12" to 18" channel catfish) When anglers gathered on Friday night for the annual calcutta, the tournament organizers promised the event would go on as planned and it would be a success. 61 teams filled the competition nearly six weeks in advance. Despite the weather and high water, there was the usual excitement in the air.

This year's event would smash tournament records, unfortunately in a way the anglers would like to avoid. Their thoughts and concerns came true as it turned out to be the most difficult Savage tournament on record. The statistics were staggering; only eleven teams would catch a fish, and twenty-one total catfish would hit the scales. Not a single team weighed in their limit of five "slot fish", and one 17" slot fish would be good enough for sixth place and a spot in the prize money. Tournament veteran, Jim Messer, would captain the championship squad. Jim's team weighed in four cats at 5.175 lbs., blowing away the field by more than 6 tenths of a pound. Shawn Conradsen captained the runner-up squad, catching four fish at 4.455 lbs. Local angler, Bink Miller, cashed in on a separate cash pool reserved for the big fish contest. Bink's big cat tipped the scales at 7.955 lbs.

As is customary at the Savage catfish tourney, the fire dept. hosted the community and tournament anglers to a farm raised catfish feed following the weigh-ins and award presentation. Despite the high water, the event once again went off without a hitch. The fire dept. and the whole community of Savage should be commended for their outstanding hospitality and ability to put on such a fun-filled event. The 9th Annual Savage Volunteer Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament will return to Savage on Saturday, June 9th 2012. As a reminder, returning teams will be mailed entry forms next April, they will have until May 1st to fill out the form and return. On May 1st the tournament will open to the public and new anglers will be able to join in on the fun. Hope to see you all next year! Please enjoy the top six results from this past weekend's event below.

Top 6 Overall (61 Teams)

1.	Jim Messer	5.175 lbs.
2.	Shawn Conradsen	4.455 lbs.
3.	Terry Malo	3.285 lbs.
4.	Steve Munger	2.565 lbs.
5.	Dennis Schmierer	2.050 lbs.
6.	Cory Conradsen	1.770 lbs.

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Tallents Take "The Challenge" Head On

Gerald and Robert Tallent set record at Yellowstone Challenge

By: Montana Cats Staff

Huntley, MT 5/7/11 – The Yellowstone Challenge, brought to you by the Montana Catfish Association in conjunction with Cabelas, returned to Huntley over the weekend and welcomed a record 42 boats to the competition.  An unseasonably cold spring gave way to three straight days of beautiful weather leading up to the event, and that’s just what the doctor ordered.  The weigh-ins provided all the proof one needed to see that the big fish were active and the anglers were in prime form. 

Once again, the action kicked off on Friday night at the Pryor Creek Bar in Huntley with the annual catfishing social and calcutta of the fishing teams.  It was well attended and provided the perfect table-setter for the big event Saturday morning.  Anticipation was high and a day on the water was on everyone’s mind. 

Tournament director Tyler George directed the opening meeting just minutes before 11:00 a.m. out of the Minnow Bucket parking lot.  The sun was shining on an incredible cluster of boats while the anglers carefully positioned themselves for the inevitable sprint to their vehicles.  When all of the rules and regulations were carefully covered, the anglers were free to hit the water.  The temperature would hover in the 70’s throughout the afternoon and into the early evening.  With tournament boundaries stretching from the Huntley diversion dam to the mouth of the Bighorn River, three patrol boats were busy throughout the event.  A big thank you should go out to these three volunteer boats for their professionalism and the hard work that goes into making sure the event goes on as planned. 

As 7:00 p.m. approached the anglers rushed back to the weigh-in site to see if their performances would hold up against the competition.  In the end there can only be one true champion, and this years title belonged to the catfish savvy crew of Robert and Gerald Tallent out of Forsyth, MT.  They weighed in a phenomenal basket of four fish.  It tipped the scales at a NEW Yellowstone Challenge record, 33.09 lbs!  The champions total was boosted when they landed the “Sumo Cat” of the event, a 12.42 lb. pig.  It is the second largest ever caught in a Montana Cats sanctioned event.  The duo needed every last fish, however, as the two-time defending tournament champions were nipping at their heels.  Yellowstone Challenge legends Larry Green and Art Adame, weighed in an impressive four fish limit of 30.71 lbs, just narrowly missing out on a third straight tournament title.  Tournament veterans, Rod Seder and Kurt Weber of Billings, rounded out the top three with 27.65 lbs.  All of the fish caught were returned safely to the Yellowstone River on Saturday night and will live to fight another day.

Tragedy did strike this year’s event, however, when tournament anglers Joe Meeks and Raymond Herman, both of Billings were involved in an accident when their boat capsized against a logjam.  Mr. Meeks was able to swim to safety after the accident.  Unfortunately, Mr. Herman was not able to do the same and is presently unaccounted for.  Please join Montana Cats and all outdoorsman across the state in keeping the friends and family of Mr. Raymond Herman in your thought and prayers.    

A big thank you should be reserved for Cabelas, Billings, MT location, for being the premier sponsor for this year’s event.  Riverside Marine and Cycle out of Miles City was once again a top-flight sponsor and was gracious enough to provide a boat display at the opening and closing meetings.  Montana Cats recommends heading to RMC for all your jet boating needs.  Andy Rose, the owner and operator of the Minnow Bucket, is also an integral part of the Yellowstone Challenge procedures and the organization greatly appreciates his efforts.  If you need bait for that next catfish adventure stop by and see Andy at the Minnow Bucket. The 6th Annual Yellowstone Challenge will return to Huntley on Saturday May 12th, 2012. Mark your Calenders! The Montana Cats circuit will now move onto the 12th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic, held in Glasgow, MT on June 4th. The 80-team catfish catching extravaganza should not dissapoint. We hope to see you all there! 

Please enjoy the pictures and complete final results from this past weekend’s event below.  

Top 10 Overall (42 Teams)

5th Annual Yellowstone Challenge Final Results

5th Annual Yellowstone Challenge Pictures

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International Catfish Symposium

 

By: Brenner Flaten - MT Cats Field Staff

Back in June 1998, a breakthrough was made in the catfishing world.  That year the First International Catfish Symposium was formed, referred to as “Catfish 2000”.  Catfish 2000 was a meeting of the minds in Davenport, Iowa.  It consisted of the finest professors, biologists, fisherman, and conservationists involved with the species.  The knowledge that was shared at that meeting and the published proceedings has served as the basis of our current understanding of the entire species.  For the next decade, the findings from that Symposium had been referenced and studied by nearly everyone involved in the sport of catfishing.  As is so often the case in all areas of science, great advancements had been made over the course of twelve years.  A large amount of studies had been performed and new information was now available for everyone in the catfish world. 

We at Montana Cats, like so many others, knew that a new Symposium could very well be just around the corner.  It was announced in the fall of 2009 that the 2nd International Catfish Symposium, Catfish 2010, would be coming to St. Louis, Missouri in June.  In the months after the announcement, the anticipation began to build on what would be included at the Symposium. Even the legendary Bill Dance was excited about it, inviting everyone to the event..  This year’s addition would include a catfish tournament, hosted by Bass Pro Big Cat Quest, presentations from several continents covering conservation, ecology, and the management of catfish fisheries.  We knew it was important for us to be there.  The organization was gracefully willing to handle my expenses and send me down as the representative.  I couldn’t be more grateful and excited at the same time. 

The Big Cat Quest tournament, which was to be held Saturday, June 19th, was cancelled due to high water conditions, thankfully that was the only disappointment of the entire trip. I arrived on that Saturday night and could hardly contain the excitement.  Montana Fish and Game sent one of their own down to the meeting as well.  Mike Ruggles, FWP region 5 fisheries biologist, was there to take in all of the technical sessions and oral presentations.  Mike is a great guy and it was nice to see a familiar face down in St. Louis showing an interest in catfish. 

The main festivities got underway on Sunday, June 20th with a social and continental breakfast held in the Millennium Hotel.  At this time, I noticed that there were an impressive number of people at the Symposium; however, I was one of the few people representing the anglers.  This was fine by me and I was ready to soak up as much knowledge as I could from everyone involved.  Following the breakfast, it was time for the welcoming session and the Plenary Speakers to take the platform.  I had been looking forward to the Plenary Session for weeks, as it included two individuals I had the upmost respect for.  Those individuals were Steve Quinn, a senior editor for In-Fisherman magazine and Zeb Hogan, the host of the popular TV show Monster Fish on the national geographic channel.   Listening to Steve, Zeb, Donald Jackson, and Jonathan Ambruster spend three hours talking about catfish was a great way to get things kicked off in St. Louis.  Technical sessions and oral presentations would take place every twenty minutes for the next five hours.  This particular day offered two separate choices every twenty minutes.  I spent time observing presentations on the Missouri River Catfish, madtom studies, Mississippi River, and many channel catfish studies.  An interesting oral presentation was made on the channel catfish populations, management, and angler use on the Missouri River Reservoirs, including Fort Peck.  They had limited research on the two northernmost reservoirs, however, but did mention our extraordinary slow growth rates.  Sunday came to a close with the Poster and Trade Show Social.  The Poster display gave us the opportunity to see many of the studies in visual form and get an idea on what it all means.  The Trade Show included many catfish venders and plenty of product displays in the area of fish management.  I enjoyed talking catfishing at this time with Jeff Williams, the owner and founder of Team Catfish.
   
Day three was the continuation of Technical Sessions and Oral Presentations, once again in twenty-minute segments, however, the afternoon sessions were offered as “stand alone”.  I particularly enjoyed the presentations on catfish movement, growth rates, and the methods used to determine the age of channels, flatheads, and blues.  I had a serious interest in the study that was done on the channel catfish population in the North Platte River in Western Nebraska.  I felt it was relative to the issues we are dealing with in our area rivers.  Tuesday came to a close with the Thank You St. Louis Barbecue Dinner and Social.  This was a great time to get to know a lot of the others that had made the trip.  I enjoyed my talks with Steve Quinn, Zeb Hogan, and Red River fisheries biologist Lynn Schlueter (North Dakota).  A lot of very knowledgeable individuals were in attendance and it was truly an educational experience for myself.
        
Day four was a half-day, and a culmination of the event.  With more presentations taking place, I took interest in the baited hoop net sampling studies on channel cats. I also enjoyed the comparison between electrofishing and experimental gill netting on reservoir blue cats. The 2nd International Catfish Symposium came to a close just before the noon hour with the concluding remarks and adjournment.  I can’t say enough about the fine people and the hospitality that surrounded this event.  A big thank you should go out to the North Central Division Ictalurid Technical Committee and the Southern Division Catfish Management Technical Committee of the American Fisheries Society as they co-hosted “Catfish 2010”.  I am already looking forward to the 3rd Annual Symposium, which is sure to come next decade.  Please enjoy the pictures and the web links below pertaining to this symposium. 

2nd Annual International Symposium Pictures   

Detailed Schedule of Events

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Montana Cats 2011 Outlook

Steve Harris enjoying a day on the Musselshel River

By: Montana Cats Staff

Living in Montana, Wyoming, or the Dakotas can be a frustrating experience for the open water angler.  Our time on the water is often limited to seven months, followed by a long hard winter filled with only thoughts of big fish and late night camping adventures.  Thankfully, the time has officially arrived!  With the weather warming and ice beginning to break on our rivers and reservoirs across the region it is time to get excited and gear up for another catfishing season.  As accustomed at Montana Cats, the yearly preview article is intended to serve one sole purpose.  We want to put spring fishing on your brain!  Late March and into early April can be the most overlooked catfish bight in our area, it will provide some of the biggest catfish you will see the entire year.  If there is a time to grab a lawn chair or throw an anchor and just sit, this could be your time.  Go out and find that hot spot, that wintering location, where the cats are plentiful.  Chances are the channel cats haven’t begun their early season transition, and there is a good shot that their strapping on the feedbag.  Whether you are a river or a reservoir angler there is ample opportunity for you this spring.  It’s up to you to seize that opportunity.  Is it time for the second thirty-pound Channel Cat to come out of Montana waters?  Can you break your personal record and hook into one that is worthy of “hanging on the wall”?  Get out there and enjoy the great outdoors, then swing in and share your adventure and the fishing story with all of us here at Montana Cats.

With a new fishing season also brings a new tournament season!  Like so many of us, if you share a love for fishing and an interest in competition, then the Montana Cats Tournament Circuit is for you.  2011 will provide a slight makeover from the previous seasons on tour.  The season will once again open up in Huntley, MT with the annual Yellowstone Challenge, however some changes have taken place.  This years event will be bumped up to the first weekend in May, it will be Montana Cats first “boat only” tournament, and it will be scaled back to a fifty team limit.  The second stop on tour will be the 12th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic in Glasgow, MT and will take place on the first weekend in June.  This year’s biggest change is the addition of our first North Dakota event.  The Inaugural Missouri River Catfish Clash will be held out of Williston, ND and will be replacing the Bighorn Catfish tournament.  It will be held annually on the third weekend in June.  The final stop on tour will bring you back to Eastern Montana, to Sidney, for the 3rd Annual Monster Cat Roundup.  Moving back to its traditional second weekend in July, the Roundup should be a blast this season and a great culminating event for the association.  Enjoy the tournament schedule below.  Click on the tournament names below to download the entry forms and join in on all the fun.  We hope to see every one of you out on the water in 2011!   

2011 Montana Cats Tournament Circuit

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Glendo Reservoir Ice-Trolling

Tyler George pulls a 13.8 lb through the ice

By: Tyler George- MT Cats Field Staff

Ice fishing season is a time not often associated with the widely misunderstood Channel Catfish. Most anglers limit their quest for the elusive whiskerfish to strictly the warmest months of the year; typically June, July, and August. In fact, most fishermen are under the impression that catfish are simply “bottom feeders”, and the only way to target them would be to use an unimaginable smelly bait.  This common misconception could be no further from the truth.

Upon my relocation to the great plains of Wyoming, I began to gather research on possible channel catfishing destinations.  After a few Fall scouting trips, one location stood out above the rest.  It was Glendo Reservoir, located within beautiful Glendo State Park in Eastern Wyoming. Before I knew it winter was upon Wyoming and I found myself standing on frozen Glendo Reservoir for the first time.
My first ice fishing trip to this body of water was a learning experience to say the least. We hovered over a location where I had done well during open water season, and after searching for what seemed like hours we finally had five holes drilled at our desired depth. As I excitedly dropped my lure down the ten inch hole, I had visions of landing ten to twenty pounders hand over fist all day long. As my lure hit the bottom I reeled up the slack and began a lift-drop-hold cadence. As I began to lift my rod tip the third time I feel dead weight. To my surprise I was latched into a sizable fish. As drag peeled off, my rod pumped towards the ten inch hole. A few tense minutes later and I was posing for photos with my first ever hard-water whiskerfish.

Later that day we drilled more holes and decided to wait them out. We fished the rest of the day without a bite.
Since that day I have increased my success rate by executing some key techniques and presentation tactics specific to channel cats.  These ten tips are the foundation for Ice-trolling.

1---Mobility:
An ATV or Snowmobile is critical in transporting gear and fishermen throughout your day.
2---Ice Trolling:
During a normal day on Glendo we employ a run-and-gun technique. We always bring two power augers with very sharp blades. As you approach a likely fishing location, drill a grid of holes anywhere between ten to forty feet deep. Generally, I like about fifty holes to work over, given you have a few fishermen. Jig each hole for no more than five minutes. Resist the urge to sit on one hole hoping they come to you. If no one in your group catches a fish, move locations and start the process over. In an average day of ice trolling expect to drill upwards of two hundred holes.
3---Invest in Quality Electronics:
With the recent introduction of flasher units on the ice scene they are now becoming more economical for the average ice fisherman. A flasher unit will increase your catch rate not only by identifying unproductive water, but also should show you how the fish react to different presentations. Don’t hit the ice without it.
4---Be aware of baitfish:
If you mark many schools of baitfish, odds are the predatory fish are close by.
5---Fish Structure:
Look for any changes in bottom composition such as rock ledges, sunken islands, rock piles, sunken points, brushy areas, and transition zones. (gravel to mud bottom)
6---Don’t get too caught up on lure selection:
As you become a more seasoned ice angler you will begin to narrow your lure selection to only the ones that are successful. Rarely do I fish with more than five lures during a day on the ice.  In fact if a lure is producing well I often will only fish that one lure.
7---Seal the Deal with Presentation:
In the wintertime fish are triggered to feed by #1 sight, #2 lateral line (low frequency vibrations), and #3 taste/smell. To seal the deal and draw more strikes, tip your lures with a small minnow head. These can be live minnows or preserved bait. The added offering of scent is the total package and could mean the difference between a strike and just a look.
8---Fish Prime Feeding Times:
Catfish, among other species, are triggered to feed by light transitions. Many factors play a part in this including snow cover on the ice. Prime times for catfish include sunrise to 1:00 PM and sunset until midnight.  If you fish during peak feeding periods you will see a direct increase in your success rate.
9---Charge it Up:
Try adding glow lures to your arsenal. They are perfect for low light situations and night conditions.
10---Be a Weatherman:
Watch the solunar calendar and any changes in barometric pressure. The most conducive weather for catching fish is consistent patterns.

The forage base on Glendo Reservoir consists of gizzard shad, juvenile carp, crappies, and perch. Along with walleyes the channel catfish is an apex predator that continues to feed on and follow migrations of baitfish throughout the winter months. Very few bodies of water in the United States harbor such healthy numbers and average size of catfish. The combination of forage base, access, and size ranks this lake at the top of my list for winter catfishing destinations. If you execute these basic ice-trolling techniques on your next ice fishing trip be prepared to have a successful day on the water.  During the 2011 season we have landed countless catfish, many large walleyes, perch, carp, and crappies using the ice-trolling method. Good luck on the ice this spring and be safe.

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7th Annual First Class Cat Attack

Travis Carter and Dan Foss take home the title!

By: Montana Cats Staff

South Sioux City, NE 7/24/10 - What a weekend in Northeast Nebraska as the First Class Cat Attack came roaring into town.  For the first time in tournament history, the headquarters were moved across the Mighty Missouri River from Sioux City, Iowa to South Sioux City, Nebraska.  It turned out to be a great move!  The city of South Sioux couldn't wait to play host to one of the finest catfish tournaments in the country, and it didn't disappoint.  Over the course of the past six years, the First Class Cat Attack has attracted anglers from all over the mid-western United States for a chance at some catfish fame.  The 7th Annual event was no different, as 45 teams from 6 different states converged on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers.  The anglers were once again targeting all three major species of catfish; the Channel, Blue, and the Flathead. 

This years version of the Cat Attack provided teams with an all new obstacle to overcome as both rivers were running much higher than normal.  To make matters worse, the South Sioux area was hit with another couple inches of rain just days before the event.  The added precipitation from the storm had the Big Sioux River bursting at its seams and the Missouri River on a rapid rise.  The high water undoubtedly put some teams in a panic and out of some of their comfort levels.  As it turns out, the water levels had a drastic impact on the overall catch rate.  Not a single team weighed in their limit of 10 catfish, and 20 teams failed to catch a single fish. 

There were many teams who seemed to use all of it to there advantage, however, none more impressively than the duo of Travis Carter, of Elk Point, South Dakota, and Dan Foss, of Onawa, Iowa.  The impressive teammates focused their efforts in the Missouri River, jumping on the competition early on in the day.  They ultimately weighed in eight catfish, six flathead and 2 channels, that tipped the scales at 26.40 lbs., more than 12 lbs. clear of the next closest competition.  Travis had this to say about the dominating performance which netted $1,373, "Because of the rain, I thought it really hurt the Big Sioux more so than the Missouri, so it that was our preference today."  Taking runner-up honors was the local connection of, Shane Jones, of Westfield IA, and Adam Conlon, of Sioux City, IA.  They paired up on a very nice basket of eight Channel cats weighing 14.15 lbs.  Rounding out the top three was a pair of anglers out of Sioux Falls, SD., Roger Titze and Tron Glaser with a very respectful 13.70 lbs.  They would also cash a check for the biggest catfish of the tourney, Roger's 8.60 lb. Flathead would net them an additional $220. 

A special thanks goes out to tournament director Pat Carter, for his continued work with the First Class Cat Attack.  His efforts have laid the ground work, for continued growth well into the future.  $6,533 in cash and prizes were given back to the anglers this year, as the payouts continue to be impressive and bring anglers from long distances.  The top 20 teams all brought something home to show off for their efforts.  2011 is expected to be even bigger and better for the Cat Attack, so mark your calendars for the final weekend in July and make your way to South Sioux City for some competitive catfish angling.  One thing is for sure, the Cat Attack is here to stay!  Please enjoy the pictures, podcast interviews, and complete finals results from this past weekends event below.               

Top 10 Overall  (45 Teams)

1. Travis Carter, Elk Point, SD. - Dan Foss, Onawa, IA.                  26.40 lbs.
2. Shane Jones, Westfield, IA. – Adam Conlon, Sioux City, IA.         14.15 lbs.
3. Roger Titze, Sioux Falls, SD. – Tron Glasar, Sioux Falls, SD.         13.70 lbs.
4. Roger Huss, Amazonia, MO. – Dwayne Huss, Sioux City, IA.         13.05 lbs.
5. Josh Zahner, Holstein, IA. – Ben Cleavland, N. Sioux City, SD.      13.05 lbs.
6. Doug Wagner, Jefferson, SD. – Wes Whitehead, Sioux City, IA.    12.30 lbs.
7. Michael Eck, Elk Point, SD. – Steve Hopkins, Elk Point, SD.          11.20 lbs.
8. Mike Gordon, Lawton, IA. – Brian Smith, Lawton, IA.                  10.00 lbs.
9. Bill B. Watts, N. Sioux City, NE. – Bill L. Watts, Farmington, MN      9.60 lbs.
10. Jason Lillie, Sioux City, IA. – Shane Foreman, Moville, IA.            9.55 lbs.

7th Annual First Class Cat Attack Final Results

7th Annual First Class Cat Attack Pictures

7th Annual First Class Cat Attack Podcast Interviews

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2nd Annual Monster Cat Roundup

Brenner Flaten and Nate Molstad proudly display their championship catch.

By: Montana Cats Staff

Sidney, MT 7/17/10 - All eyes were on Eastern Montana once again this past weekend as the Montana Cats Circuit rolled into Sidney for the 2nd Annual Monster Cat Roundup.  The Roundup, the 4th leg on the annual tour, burst onto the scene last summer and debuted with 23 teams.  This years event ballooned to 35 teams, while continuing to grow into one of the finest catfish tournaments in the state.  The weekend kicked off on Friday night with the Social and Calcutta of the fishing teams at the Ranger Lounge in downtown Sidney.  The social was once again well attended and provided the perfect leadup to a long day on the water.

The entire field of 35 teams would gather at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning at the Sidney Bridge fishing access site.  25 boats were in the water and ready to perform, while the other 10 teams were fully prepared to brave it from shore.  Tournament director Steve Harris, of the Montana Cats Field staff, had a few words of encouragement for the competitors and the released them in three separate flights.  As flight numbers were relayed to the teams, a mad-dash ensued towards their boats for what proved to be an outstanding day of fishing. 

When the dust finally settled, it was Brenner Flaten, of Wright, Wyoming, and Nate Molstad of Havre, Montana, that would put together the right combination and ride a nice limit of five catfish to the tournament championship.  This is Molstad's second tournament victory on the 2010 circuit, after capturing the Milk River Catfish Classic in June.  The duo's five fish tipped the scales at 19.28 lbs, besting the 2nd place team of Brady Mueller and Joe Carpenter, both of Sidney, MT, by a mere .22 lbs.  Mueller and Carpenter's 19.06 lb. limit also included the largest catfish of the day, a 7.66 lb. post-spawn beauty.  The local Sidney connection of Chuck Buxbaum and Greg Burns finished in 3rd place with 17.2 lbs.  The defending champions Chad Dawson, of Glasgow, MT, and Lars Sorensen, of Fort Peck, MT, rounded out the top four with a five fish limit of 13.21 lbs.

Cash Prizes were awarded to the top six teams in this 100 % payback event!  Very few fisherman went home empty handed however, as The Montana Catfish Association, handed out a slew of high-end door prizes.  Following the weigh-ins and award presentation, The Ranger Lounge hosted the post tournament social with a free pig roast for all tournament anglers.  The anglers took full advantage, and enjoyed the time to talk a little fishing strategy with all those involved.  The one common theme was that anticipation is already high for next years event. 

The Montana Catfish Association fully expects this event to fill the 60-team field for the first time next season. So mark your calendars for the 3rd Annual Monster Cat Roundup to be held on Saturday, July 9th, 2011 in Sidney, MT.   Next up on the Montana Cats Circuit is the final leg, The Inaugural Glendo NightCat.  It will be held on Glendo Reservoir in Eastern Wyoming on Saturday August, 21st.  Get ready for a good time, as it will be the circuits FIRST all night event!  Please enjoy the pictures and complete final results from this past weekend below.    

Top 10 Overall  (35 Teams)

1. Brenner Flaten, Wright, WY. - Nate Molstad, Havre, MT.         19.28 lbs.
2. Brady Mueller, Sidney, MT. - Joe Carpenter, Sidney, MT.         19.06 lbs.
3. Chuck Buxbaum, Sidney, MT. - Greg Burns, Sidney, MT.          17.20 lbs.
4. Chad Dawson, Glasgow, MT. - Lars Sorensen, Fort Peck, MT.   13.21 lbs.
5. Wade Rodgers, Sidney, MT. - Brad Hatter, Sidney, MT.           13.10 lbs.
6. Justin King, Sidney, MT. - Derek Carda, Sidney, MT.               11.71 lbs.
7. Trent Hansen, Glendive, MT - Faron Hansen, Glendive, MT       11.63 lbs.
8. Jeff Unterseher, Glendive, MT Ben Unterseher, Glasgow, MT     11.20 lbs.
9. Trevor Swisse, Sidney, MT. - Kelly Swisse, Sidney, MT.           8.81 lbs.
10. Eric Steinbeisser, Sidney, MT. - Troy Jensen, Sidney, MT.       8.22 lbs.

2nd Annual Monster Cat Roundup Final Results

2nd Annual Monster Cat Roundup Pictures

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Mahers, Brower Win In Savage

Soda Maher, Chad Maher, and Clay Brower show of their plaques

By: Montana Cats Staff

Savage, MT 6/12/10 - The small town of Savage, Montana was again all the buzz this past weekend as the annual Catfish Tourney came roaring in.  Much like in past years, the tournament filled its 60-team field a few weeks in advance.  Local anglers were abound and out of area teams were sprinkled in amongst the crowd, as is the case on the 2nd weekend of every June.  In what has turned out to be one of the finest communities events in the area, this years 7th Annual Savage Fire Department Catfish Tournament did not disappoint.

The rules stayed the same for 2010 in this all out "slot fish" extravaganza.  Each team is only allowed to weigh-in fish between 12" and 18".  These rare tournament rules provide an interesting twist and continually keeps the leader board very tight.  On a typical year, the winning team hovers around 6 lbs.  This year provided an unbelievable day of fishing for "slots", as the top six teams all weighed in over 6.34 lbs.  Much of the drama was saved for the top of the leader board, however, as local anglers, Chad Maher, Soda Maher, and Clay Brower took this years tournament championship with a limit of five cats weighing in at 7.410 lbs., the 2nd best weight in tournament history.  Nipping at their heels, was the tournament veteran crew of Brenner Flaten, Tyler George, and Cade Flaten.  Boasting the third best weight in tourney history, the crew weighed in at 7.345 lbs.  The Mahers and Brower's victory of 0.06 lbs. is by far the tightest the event has ever seen.  Casey Hamburg took home the separate big fish pot with a muscular cat tipping the scales at 12.11 lbs.      

The whole weekend was an overwhelming success.  The Friday night calcutta was well attended once again ,as many of the locals came and bid on their favorite fishing teams and good times were had by all involved.  Saturday got off on the right foot, as breakfast was cooked right in front of the fire hall in downtown Savage, as teams began to gather for a fun/competitive day on the water.   Teams were released in two flights beginning at 7:00 a.m. following the rules meeting.  The tournament took place until 3:30, when all of the teams conjugated on the river bottom to weigh in their respective catches.  As weights were tallied and fish were returned safely to the water, the teams began to retreat to the Fire Hall once again.  At this time, an incredible amount of door prizes were given away and the tournament and calcutta winners were announced to the crowd.  A free will farm raised catfish feed concluded the festivities on Saturday Night.  If you want a change of pace and enjoy fishing for the "little guys" make sure you mark your calendar for Saturday June 11th, 2011.  Please enjoy the pictures, podcast interviews, and final results from this past weekend below.  

Top 6 Overall  (60 Teams)

1. Chad Maher, Clay Brower, Soda Maher                  7.410 lbs.
2. Brenner Flaten, Tyler George, Cade Flaten             7.345 lbs.
3. Ben Rahr, Cullen Casey, Wade Nielsen                   6.855 lbs.
4. Gary Nelson, John Nelson, Lee Roy Schmierer         6.585 lbs.
5. Dave Harris, Lee Brady, Sparky Harper                  6.425 lbs.
6. Bud Peterson, Leslie Hagler, Loretta Prevost          6.340 lbs.
Big Fish Winner -- Casey Hamburg 12.11 lbs.

7th Annual Savage Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament Pictures

7th Annual Savage Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament Podcast Interviews

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Molstads Dominate Cat Classic Field

"Record Setting" Catfish Classic Champions Nate and Jerry Molstad

By: MT Cats Staff

Glasgow, MT 6/5/10-  WOW!  What an unbelievable night of fishing on the Mighty Milk River this past weekend!  80 teams kicked off the festivities in Glasgow Friday night with the social and calcutta of the fishing teams held at the Montana Bar.  The city of Glasgow buzzed with anticipation throughout the entire day on Saturday, as teams could be seen almost anywhere in preparation for the big event.  Whether it was catching bait, picking up last minute supplies, or just talking strategy with your partner, Saturday continued to be interesting to follow as a spectator. 

A ton of storylines surrounded this years Classic as the time drew near.  How would the teams react to the extreme high water conditions and would it effect the fishing?  Could the Molstads pull off another victory?  And would the addition of 20 more teams in the field prove to be a good move?  The answers were a resounding yes, yes, and yes!! 

The drastic high water did indeed affect the fishing, however, in a very positive way.  As the top 10 teams, incredibly, all weighed in over 20 lbs., doubling the previous record for 20 lb. baskets.  Prior to this years Classic, only six fish had ever tipped the scales at over 10 lbs., but this year five fish broke the 10 lb. barrier.  The dynamic duo of Nate and Jerry Molstad would claim yet another tournament victory.  The legendary Cat Classic anglers became only the 2nd team to win back to back titles in tournament history, and the first to win three career titles with their resounding victory that left no doubt.  They smashed their own tournament record set in 2007, with an impressive limit of five cats weighing 40.95 lbs., and they will cash a $1,000 cash prize for their efforts.  Not only did they set a near unreachable number in the Classic, but the basket of fish is also the largest ever weighed in at a Montana Catfish Association sanctioned event.  Congratulations Nate and Jerry!    

Mark Combs, of Glasgow, MT, and Lance Ramousek, of Bismarck, ND., took runner up honors at just under 30 lbs.  Mark and Lance also made tournament history, by becoming the first team to weigh in two fish over 10 lbs., the two bruisers came in at 10.54 and 10.09.  Shannon Albert, of Hardin, MT., and Rodney Hudyma, of Glasgow, rounded out the top three with a limit of five cats at 28.87 lbs.  Wayne Shipp, of Glasgow, took the Jumbo Whiskers Award for the largest cat of the tournament.  Wayne's 10.81 lb. cat is the 2nd biggest in tournament history.  The Big Whiskers Award for the 2nd biggest catfish of the tourney was awarded to Lars Sorenson for his 10.78 lb. beauty, the 3rd largest ever weighed in at the Classic.  Shipp and Sorenson used their big fish to catapult their teams into impressive top 10 finishes.   

The Catfish Classic has grown into one of the finest and most respected of its kind in the entire country.  With an 80-team field that fills up months in advance it is truly a sight to see.  Start Making your plans for the 12th Annual Catfish Classic to be held in Glasgow on Saturday, June 4th 2011.  Signs ups begin immediately.  Enjoy the pictures, pre-tournament podcast interviews, and complete final results from this past weekends event below.  The Montana Cats Circuit will now move on to its mid-way point when the Bighorn Catfish Tournament kicks off in Lovell, Wyoming on Saturday, June 19th.  Hope to see you all there!

Top 10 Overall  (80 Teams)

1. Nate Molstad, Havre, MT. – Jerry Molstad, Glasgow, MT.          40.95 lbs.
2. Lance Ramousek, Bismarck, ND. – Mark Combs, Glasgow, MT.    29.35 lbs.
3. Shannon Albert, Hardin, MT. – Rodney Hudyma, Glasgow, MT.   28.87 lbs.
4. Lars Sorenson, Fort Peck, MT. – Chad Dawson, Glasgow, MT.    26.84 lbs.
5. Paul Siefert, Glasgow, MT. – Jodie Siefert, Glasgow, MT.           24.91 lbs.
6. Ken Norgaard, Poplar, MT. – Morgan Norgaard, Poplar, MT.        24.32 lbs.
7. Wayne Shipp, Glasgow, MT. – Della Shipp, Glasgow, MT.           22.50 lbs.
8. Larry Hockhalter, Glasgow, MT. - Seth Ingram, Glasgow, MT.     22.09 lbs.
9. Jason Flaten, Gillette, WY. – Tyler George, Gillette, WY.           21.38 lbs.
10. Adam Morehouse, Glasgow, MT. – Kirk Boyer, Glasgow, MT.     21.10 lbs.

11th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic Final Results

11th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic Pictures

11th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic Podcast Interviews

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Adame and Green go Back to Back

Art Adame and Larry Green show off part of the Championship Stringer

By: MT Cats Staff

Huntley, MT 5/8/10 - What a weekend! When the Montana Catfish Association was searching for a catchy nickname for their newly found tournament back in the fall of 2006, they settled on "The Challenge". Little did we know, it would turn out to be the perfect fit for this annual Yellowstone River event. The tournament is held on the 2nd weekend of May every year, which usually ensures unstable weather. Additional challenges include the fact that its held during mid-day and in typical very unstable river flows. This years version was no different for the field of 60 teams.

Following the theme from previous years, most of the teams would find the Yellowstone River difficult to conquer. More than half the field came up empty handed, as only 26 teams weighed in cats. Despite difficult fishing, it didn't stop a few teams from having outstanding days on the water. Fourteen teams broke the 10 lb. barrier, while the top five all cleared the magical 20 lb. mark. The drastic weather changes leading up to the event and the extremely low water conditions didn't stop the dynamic duo of, Art Adame and Larry Green. Adame, of Ballantine, and Green, of Billings teamed up to bring in their limit of four cats tipping the scales at 30.45 lbs. This marks the 2nd consecutive Yellowstone Challenge championship for the two fine local anglers. Not only did they become the first ever back to back champions, but they did so in dominating fashion. Art and Larry came up just short of their own Yellowstone Challenge record, while breaking the 30 lb. mark once again and separating themselves from the field by more than 5 lbs.

Garvin Remme and Leonardo Valenzuela, both of Billings, took runner-up honors with a very impressive basket of fish weighing in at 24.87 lbs. Tournament veterans Tom Ringo, of Ballantine, and Nick Christman, of Huntley, rounded out the top three. They were catapulted up the leader board, when Tom landed a massive 13.16 lb. hawg. The trophy catfish is a new Yellowstone Challenge Record, smashing the previous record set by Levi Walter in 2009.  It marks the largest catfish ever caught in a Montana Cats sanctioned event.  Congratulations Tom Ringo!

The calcutta and social event held at the Pryor Creek Bar on Friday night broke an attendance record as teams, family, and friends showed up to bid on their favorite teams and "shoot the proverbial bull". This years event went off without a hitch and continues to be a high-quality event for all ages. Seeing 40 jet boats and 20 avid shore anglers in the parking lot getting ready for a day out on the stone, is a sight to behold. Montana Cats would like to thank all of the volunteers and sponsors that made this years edition such a success, as well as all of the competitors. We hope to see everyone back in 2011.  Next up on tour, is the prestigious Milk River Catfish Classic held in Glasgow, MT on June 5th. 

The Montana Catfish Association would like to thank Mike Ruggles and the Montana Fish and Game crew for the weighing, measuring, and tagging of every fish caught during the tournament.  We are also, once again, proud to announce a zero percent mortality rate, as all fish were returned safely to the Yellowstone River.  Please enjoy the pictures, podcast interviews, and complete final results from this past weekends event below.

Top 10 Overall  (60 Teams)

1. Art Adame, Ballantine, MT. - Larry Green, Billings, MT.                 30.45 lbs.
2. Garvin Remme, Billings, MT. - Leonardo Valenzuela, Billings, MT.     24.87 lbs.
3. Tom Ringo, Ballantine, MT. – Nick Christman, Huntley, MT.            24.57 lbs.    *Big Fish Winners*
4. Richard Theis, Billings, MT. – Matt Theis, Billings, MT.                  23.68 lbs.
5. Jason Farner, Billings, MT. – Jeff Hosa, Billings, MT.                     21.78 lbs.
6. Rod Seder, Billings, MT. – Ron Mackney, Billings, MT.                   17.83 lbs.
7. Dan Broyles, Billings, MT. – Geri Broyles, Billings, MT.                   16.40 lbs.
8. Brenner Flaten, Wright, WY. – Brady Flaten, Glasgow, MT.           15.47 lbs.
9. Steph Cantrell, Billings, MT. – Dave Wise, Billings, MT.                 15.42 lbs.
10.Brad Stewart, Billings, MT. – Tom Madden, Billings, MT.               14.10 lbs.

4th Annual Yellowstone Challenge Final Results

4th Annual Yellowstone Challenge Pictures

4th Annual Yellowstone Challenge Podcast Interviews

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Colorado Duo takes Lake Mac Title

Tournament Champions Matt Ryan and Mike Oshea

By: MT Cats Staff

Lewellen, NE 5/1/10 - The 13th Annual Lake McConaughy Catfish Classic took place over the weekend.  The Classic once again proved to be a true test of catfishing ability.  The tournament was headquartered out of the Oregon Trail Trading Post just outside Lewellen, Nebraska and began Friday night with a calcutta/social and free burgers and brats for all the competitors.  This years version pitted 53 avid teams against each other.  Tournament boundaries included the entire Lake McConaughy and The North Platte River west to the town of Oshkosh.  A ten fish limit, ten hours of fishing time, and the option to fish from boat or shore provided the anglers with a lot of flexibility throughout the tournament. 

Tournament conditions were average, with temps in the upper 50's, but winds gusting up to 30 mph.  Overall weights were down drastically from previous years, as only 28 teams would weigh-in fish and 25 teams would come up empty handed.  When the smoke cleared, however, it was the tournament veteran combo of Matt Ryan and Mike Oshea, both of Denver, Colorado that would take home the top prize.  Last years 3rd place team and Big Fish winners, the duo remained patient throughout the entire tournament to help them boat a total of nine catfish weighing in at 33.66 lbs.  Mike had this to say on their victory, "We didn't have a single fish before noon, but ended up fishing 20 to 25 spots, and landed 8 of our 9 fish in two hours when we found a honey hole".

Coming up just short, finishing in 2nd place was the local team of Buck Johnson and Robert Stitt, weighing in their limit of 10 cats at 31.3 lbs.  Buck and Robert are no strangers to tournament success on Lake Mac either, as they finished 4th place in 2009 as well.  They landed a total of 16 catfish on the day, and Buck gave us some insight into their success, "It was a pretty tough day overall till we started looking for them after lunch.  We had nothing at noon, but we starting catching some bigger fish when we fell into 14 to 18 foot of water."  Only three teams would make a return to the top ten this year, but that group included last years champions, Loyd Volgamore and Marnie Ryan, finishing in a very respectable 7th place with 24.1 lbs.  Montana Cats Field Staff members, Brenner and Jason Flaten, both of Wyoming, made the trip to Lewellen for the fourth consecutive year, placing 17th with 13.3 lbs.    

If your looking to get your catfish tournament season off on the right foot in future years.  Consider making a trek to Western Nebraska.  Darrell and the crew at The Oregon Trail Trading Post are a class act, and put on a tremendous event.  Enjoy the pictures, podcast interviews, and complete final results from this past weekends event below.

Top 10 Overall (53 teams)

1. Matt Ryan – Mike Oshea            33.66 lbs.
2. Robert Stitt – Buck Johnson       31.3 lbs.
3. Nick Werth – Ken Manzanares     28.24 lbs.
4. Timothy Kumm – Michael Croxen  27.64 lbs.
5. Sean Sanders – Kevin McCarthy  27.14 lbs.
6. Bob Hattendorf – Doug Leopold   26.82 lbs.
7. Loyd Volgamore – Marnie Ryan    24.1 lbs.
8. Tater Johnson – Mark Ribble       22.92 lbs.
9. Jacob Sanford – Jason Sanford   22.52 lbs.
10. Dean Kellogg – Dan Lindblom     21.50 lbs.

13th Annual Lake Mac Cat Classic Final Results

13th Annual Lake Mac Cat Classic Pictures

13th Annual Lake Mac Cat Classic Podcast Interviews

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Montana Cats 2010 Outlook

 

Baylee Rodenbaugh

By Brenner Flaten

3/3/10- March has finally arrived and we all know what that means.  Yes, Montana Cats has awaken from its annual winter hibernation.  Now that the string of cold months has passed, we only have one thing on our minds,  CATFISHING!!  Is this the year you set a new personal best?   Maybe it’s your turn to win a Montana Cats tour event or break that magical 20 lb. mark?  Most of us would just settle for a little more time enjoying the great outdoors.

2009 was another breakthrough year for the Montana Catfish Association.  The debut of the Montana Cats Tournament Circuit (a four-tournament shootout) ,was a success on all levels, thanks to the continued work of the dedicated field staff and many other volunteers.  The tournaments set records in participation across the board.  Catfishing popularity continues to boom across the Midwestern United States and we are proud to play a role in that.   

You can expect many changes in 2010.  We are adding a 5^th tournament to the already popular Montana Cats Tournament Circuit.  There are three tournament opportunities in Montana and two in Northern Wyoming.  The website will expand to include even more interviews, pictures, and videos from each tour event.  It's our goal to enhance your overall “online catfishing experience”.  Keep your eyes peeled for even more in-depth front-page articles from our field staff, as well as raw and un-cut fishing footage throughout the entire open water season.  

A couple of major changes will hit the tour in 2010.  The Milk River Catfish Classic will expand to 80 teams for the first time, in what promises to be an unbelievable event.  The 2^nd Annual Monster Cat Roundup will raise its entry fee to $60 to provide anglers another opportunity to cash in on an even greater prize.  See tournament entry forms for further details.  The Glendo NightCat will join the tour, as the second Night-time tournament.  The tournament season will kick off in Huntley, MT on May, 8^th with the annual Yellowstone Challenge.  We hope to see you all there.  Below you will find the complete 2010 schedule.  If you have any questions please join post them on the message board.  Please click on the links below to access the tournament entry forms.

2010 Montana Cats Tournament Circuit

Date          Tournament                                            Location                          Contact

5/8/10       4^th Annual Yellowstone Challenge                   Huntley, MT                       (406) 544-9961

6/5/10       11^th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic              Glasgow. MT                       (701) 290-7277

6/19/10     3^rd Annual Bighorn Catfish Tournament           Lovell, WY                          (307) 548-2221

7/17/10     2^nd Annual Monster Cat Roundup                    Sidney, MT                         (406) 489-1170

8/21/10     Glendo Reservoir NightCat                             Glendo, WY                         (307) 680-1503

 

Wanna catch more catfish? Establish a pattern and you will!

Two time Cats Incredible Champions Travis and Pat Carter accept their 4th Place check at the 2009 event

By Pat Carter

August and September are prime time months for catfishing. If I could only fish for catfish two months out of the year it would definitely be August and September. It's my favorite time of year to fish for them, but I'll go anytime.

When someone asks me for advice on catching catfish, I usually don't tell them about a favorite bait or a favorite spot, I talk to them about "Patterns". Patterns are more important if you ask me because catfish are not always in the same place and don't always prefer the same bait. You always hear bass fishermen talk about patterns but you never hear catfishermen talk about them. Those bass guys know what they're talking about. Patterns are just as important in consistently catching catfish as they are in catching bass.

There are many indicators that can give you hints on what pattern to follow. I wouldn't etch anything in stone though, because there is only one thing about fishing that I know for sure and that is there's nothing for sure. There have been many times that I have stumbled onto a pattern and not fully understand why catfish are in a particular area or prefer a particular bait. But if I'm catching catfish I'm going with it.

First find them. If water is high, you might want to try shallow. If water is low, you might want to try deep. Are they holding near structure? Are they holding near the drop offs? If so, on the top side of the drop off or bottom side. There are many other variables to finding them also. Weather, time of year, time of day, water temperature, dirty water, clean water, and many others.

Next, bait. Catfishermen have more of a challenge when comes to bait than those bass guys do. Bass fishermen can have a tackle box full of what ever lure they may need. Different colors, sizes, crank baits, spinner baits, rubber worms, jigs, tubes, you name it. They have it right there ready to go at a moments notice. I can't stress enough how important it is to have good bait when catfishing. Catfishermen need to have a live bait or at least a bait that was once alive. There is stink bait but I have found that stink bait works well for smaller catfish but not so much for larger ones. There's shad, shrimp, frogs, chubs, gold eye, and many more. All are good baits but none are a catch all, all the time bait. Alot of times bait shops won't have a certain bait I'm after, so I'll have to go catch it myself. I like to take with me at least 2 or 3 different types of bait.

I bet almost everyone that would call themselves a catfisherman, could tell you a story about how they went fishing and they were catching catfish left and right using a certain bait or fishing in certain spot but were unable to repeat it the next day. Usually that's because conditions have changed. If conditions have changed then you should too.

Patterns can be hard to nail down. Patterns can change throughout the day too. There have been times I have been out catfishing, when I was unable to catch anything, so I tried fishing an area or tried a certain bait that normally I would think would never work and have it pay off. So if your out catfishing and your not having any luck, make an adjustment. Try a different type of area or try a different bait. Maybe it's the size of the bait. Maybe there finicky and want a small bait or maybe the bait isn't large enough. Establish a pattern and you'll put more catfish in the boat. I guarantee it.

 

Tournament Record Tumbles at 22nd Annual Cats Incredible

Tournament Champs Troy & Zach Srnsky proudly display their trophies

By MT Cats Staff

East Grand Forks, MN 8/1/09- Catfish anglers from 11 different states converged on East Grand Forks, MN this past weekend to compete for the 22nd annual Cats Incredible title.  The Cats Incredible has proven to be one of the premier Catfish tournaments in the nation, due in large part to the world class Channel Catfish waters of the Red River and the lasting friendships that have been fostered over the previous 21 years of the event.  This two day event has 150 boats on just over a 35 mile stretch of river that puts tremendous pressure on the fishery and leads to volatile catfish behavior and an unpredictable leader board.

Intermittent rain, high winds and post-spawn fish behavior presented numerous challenges over the two day event.  As if catching these monster Channels in adverse conditions isn’t difficult enough, an additional test the tournament presents is the “no culling” rule.  Any fish that enters the live well must stay confined due to state regulations.  Two fish over 24 inches and three under the limit are allowed to be weighed in each day.  This makes for some difficult decisions during the early tournament hours on whether or not to keep a marginal fish.

Solving the Cats incredible puzzle in record fashion were anglers Troy & Zach Srnsky.  The Warren, MN duo smashed a nearly 10 year old tournament record by 7.5 lbs., catching a two day total of 91.5 lbs.  The Srnsky’s also landed the tourneys largest Cat which tipped the scales at just over 22 lbs.  They were rewarded handsomely for their record basket, taking home the top prize of $4000, $1000 for largest catfish and the $500 Lund Boat (top team fishing out of a lund boat) award for a grand total of $5500! Former champion Larry Barrow and his son Joel put together two outstanding days on the water to claim the 2nd place trophy.  Their 43 lb. Day two total was good enough to vault them from 6th place after day one.

Anglers Paul Cariveau & Mervyn Rud of East Grand Forks, MN used their local knowledge and 78.32 lbs to propel them to a third place finish.  Two time champions Pat and Travis Carter were on top of their game once again.  As one of the most successful teams in tournament history, the Carters were in third place after day one and within striking distance of the top trophy. They were able put together another solid performance on day 2 and finished in fourth place.  The “Mr. Consistency” award (a Montana Cats fake award) goes to Marv & Shane Feltman. The local anglers finished in 33rd place. They have finished in the top 35 seven times and the top 15 four times.

If you have a love for catfish tournaments, then this is the event for you.  Those interested in participating in the 2010 Cats Incredible, be sure to stay posted with the Grand Forks Chamber at www.gfchamber.com.  The tournament entries are due in February and the participant lottery takes place in March. Enjoy complete final results, pictures and podcast interviews from this past weekend’s event below.

Top 10 Overall (150 teams)

1.   Troy Srnsky & Zach Srnsky Warren, MN                                 10 91.5
2.   Larry Barrow & Joel Barrow Lincoln, NE                                   10 82.35
3.   Paul Cariveau & Mervyn Rud EGF, MN                                     9 78.32
4.   Pat Carter & Travis Carter Elk Point, SD                                  9 76.71
5.   Brandon Oby & Chris Dolan St. Thomas, ND/Minneapolis,MN        9 76.55
6.   Darwin Lunski & Brian Nord Grand Forks, ND                             10 76.1
7.   Kevin Gietzen & Ryan Kemnitz EGF, MN                                    7 73.06
8.   Mark Swenson & Jerry Wenzel EGF, MN & Randall, MN               10 67.71
9.   Ryan Rupert & Chris Koon Grand Forks, ND                               8 67.49
10. John Sonstegard & James Nordlof Baudette, MN                        9 67.09

22nd Annual Cats Incredible Final Results

22nd Annual Cats Incredible Pictures

22nd Annual Cats Incredible Podcast Interviews

 

Huge Blue leads to Cat Attack Championship

Dean Stroman and Bruce Stroman show off their 56.6 lb Champion Blue Cat

By MT Cats Staff

Sioux City, IA 7/25/09 – Montana Cats field staff members, Brenner and Jason Flaten competed in the 6th Annual First Class Cat Attack in Sioux City, Iowa this past Saturday. The tournament was stationed out of the main boat ramp on the Missouri River in Sioux City, but tournament fisherman were allowed to fish the Missouri and any of its tributary waters as long as they could be reached by boat. All three catfish species, the Blue, Flathead, or Channel were legal targets.

The Cat Attack has truly become one of the premier catfish tournaments in the entire nation, boasting some of the finest catfish anglers from seven different states. The anglers reigned from Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wyoming, Missouri, Kansas, and South Dakota. It offers an impressive payout that can be hard to find when scouring the globe for great catfishing competition. The event is ran by successful catfish angler, Pat Carter, and is backed by his great sponsors, including their top-flight sponsor, the First Class Credit Union.

The tourney offered a guaranteed $5,000 payback in cash and prizes. When it exceeded 30 teams, every additional team added to the final payout. With a record 51 teams competing this year, and the First Class Credit Union generously pitching in a $1,000 Carter bounty, the total cash payout for this year’s event was an astounding $6,205.00!!
During the 2009 edition of the “Cat Attack”, there was no shortage of surprises either. No Blue Cats had been landed since the Inaugural event six years ago, while this year one big blue and another monster blue were hauled into the weigh-ins. More than twice as many Flatheads were caught this year than in any of the other previous five tournaments. Tournament limits, however, were hard to come by, as only two teams were able to land their limit of ten catfish.

When the dust finally settled, it was the duo of Dean Stroman and Bruce Stroman, both of Sioux City, Iowa taming their home waters and taking home the team title. It only took one fish, however, as they landed a beautiful 56.6 lb. Blue Cat during the early morning hours. It would ultimately hold up and they would be crowned the 2009 champions. The big bruiser would end up netting the anglers a total of $2,936.00!! Runner-up honors went to Keith Copenhaver of Sioux City and Chris Sharp of Merrill, Iowa with an impressive ten fish limit at 40.9 lbs. The duo showed their versatility in bringing in 6 Flatheads and 4 Channel Cats. Their biggest fish, the largest Flathead of the tourney, weighed in at 14.7 lbs.
A special thanks should go to Pat Carter for running this impressive event and to the First Class Credit Union for helping the tournament grow to all-time heights. Montana Cats field staff looks to return to Sioux City in future years.
Enjoy complete final results and the pictures from this past Saturday’s event below.


Top 10 Overall (51 teams)

1. Dean Stroman - Bruce Stroman      56.6 lbs.
2. Keith Copenhaver – Chris Sharp      40.9 lbs.
3. Brant Kurtz – Travis Deeds            35.7 lbs.
4. Chad Saunders – Dan Gill              28.5 lbs.
5. Jeff Wagner Jr. – Jeff Wagner Sr.   25.65 lbs.
6. Larry Carter – Mike Carter             24.15 lbs.
7. Greg Barnes – Kyle Barnes             20.05 lbs.
8. Rick Rivers – TJ & Sam Hummel       19.95 lbs.
9. Cork Lemmon – Dolly Huss             17.95 lbs.
10. Douglas Wagner – Jeanne Stich    15.75 lbs.

Complete Final Results / Pictures

 

Inaugural Monster Cat Roundup

Championship Team Chad Dawson & Lars Sorensen

By: MT Cats Staff

Sidney, MT 7/11/09 - The Inaugural Monster Catfish Roundup is officially in the books! The weekend kicked off much like the other MT Cats Tour events, with a Friday night Calcutta held at the Ranger Bar in downtown Sidney. This year’s event was an instant success, as 23 teams set out on the river at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Twenty teams chose to fight it out in boats, while the other three teams battled the elements from shore. Air temperatures peaked in the mid 80’s and water temperatures were approaching mid to upper 70’s, once again putting the anglers at a small disadvantage when trying to catch high numbers of catfish.

The Glasgow area duo of Lars Sorensen and Chad Dawson ran away from the field, posting an impressive stringer of five cats weighing in at 23.9 lbs. Lars reeled in the second biggest cat of the tourney, a 7.7 lb. beauty that helped propel them to victory. The angler’s title didn’t come without some stress however, as they had a 6lb. cat die on them within only a couple hours left until weigh-ins. They would keep their focus and land another fish to take its place and finish comfortably ahead of the rest of the pack. Lars had this to say on the victory, “We targeted some shallow water with deep water right next to it, and it worked out. We were just concerned with getting our limit first, and it just took care of itself.”

It was a close battle for runner-up honors as the father-son duo of Chad and Kyle Mueller, both of Sidney, edged out Brenner and Brady Flaten by three tenths of a pound. Kyle Mueller would win big fish honors, when he landed a 10.3 lb. beast. He put the monster in the boat with a half hour of fishing remaining and it shot them up the leader board and into the runner-up position. The local team of Stacy Fullmer and Eric Bartelson was the only other team to crack the ten pound barrier, placing 4th with 11.1 lbs.

The live weigh-in was very impressive as twenty one teams would weigh in at least 3.8 lbs of fish. All the catfish were immediately released back into the Yellowstone River to live another day. This event was brought to you by the Montana Catfish Association and was directed by Field Staff member Steve Harris. Steve is a Sidney native and has been a Yellowstone River rat nearly his entire life. The Big Cat Roundup was the 4th and final stop on the 2009 Montana Cats Tour. On behalf of the Montana Catfish Association, we would like to thank all 160 teams who competed on tour this year. Expect many positive changes and additions in 2010 as we continue down the road to a very bright future for Montana Cats!  Enjoy complete final results, pictures, and podcast interviews below from this past weekend’s great event.

Top 10 Overall (23 teams)

1. Lars Sorensen, Fort Peck, MT. – Chad Dawson, Glasgow, MT.     23.9 lbs.
2. Chad Mueller, Sidney, MT. – Kyle Mueller, Sidney, MT.               15.3 lbs.
3. Brenner Flaten, Wright, WY. – Brady Flaten, Glasgow, MT.         15.0 lbs.
4. Stacy Fullmer, Sidney, MT. – Eric Bartelson, Sidney, MT.           11.1 lbs.
5. Troy Cotter, Sidney, MT. – Mike Lickin, Sidney, MT.                    9.4 lbs.
6. Chuck Buxbaum, Sidney, MT. – Greg Burns, Sidney, MT.               8.7 lbs.
7. Marty Shaide, Fairview, MT. – Chuck Thiel, Savage, MT.              8.3 lbs.
8. Corey Nay, Sidney, MT. – Tena Nay, Sidney, MT.                       8.0 lbs.
9. Eric Steinbeisser, Sidney, MT. – Justin Jones, Sidney, MT.            7.9 lbs.
10. Greg Snow, Crane, MT. - Shawn Gainan, Wibaux, MT.                7.6 lbs.

Inaugural Monster Cat Roundup Final Results

Inaugural Monster Cat Roundup Pictures

Inaugural Monster Cat Roundup Podcasts
 

2nd Annual Bighorn Catfish Tournament

Tournament Champions Brenner Flaten and Tyler George

By Brady Flaten

Lovell, WY 6/20/09 – Much like the rest of the Montana Cats Tour events, the 2nd Annual Bighorn Catfish Tournament experienced growth in all areas from the previous year. Friends of Bighorn Lake once again ran this tourney in conjunction with the Montana Catfish Association, and experienced a rise from 12 teams at last years inaugural event to 17 this year. All seventeen teams fished out of boats on a sunny 90-degree day, however, teams had to deal with numerous obstacles on the water. Not only was the heat scolding for the second straight year, but they also had to fight the rapidly rising water. Big Horn Lake had risen 12 feet in the four days previous, causing water to creep into shoreline trees for the first time in many years. The debris on the entire waterway was out of control.

Fishing was no doubt affected by the combination of the high temperatures and rapidly rising water. Only four teams were able to crack the 10 lb. barrier and only two teams were able to land their limit of six fish. Despite the tough conditions, fisherman turned out a valiant effort and brought in their share of channel cats. Montana Cats Field Staff members, Brenner Flaten and Tyler George, used a run and gun attack to land their limit of 6 cats that weighed in at 19.48 lbs. to take home the title. Brenner would also land the big fish of the tournament, weighing in at 6.2 lbs. Tyler had this to say on the victory, “With the help of a jet boat this year, we were able to cover lots of water and experiment with fishing new structure and it paid off.” The combination of a tourney title and the big fish netted the duo a cash prize of nearly $500. Powell, Wyoming anglers, Eric Menning and Zach Brando turned in an impressive limit of six catfish tipping the scales at 14.76 lbs. and good enough for a runner-up finish. Team Nagel out of Columbus, Montana rounded out the top three with five cats at 13.76 lbs.

Every catfish that was caught was once again weighed, measured, and tagged by Wyoming Fish and Game. We are proud to report that only one fish failed to make it out alive, proving once again that anglers are doing an excellent job on the water maintaining their catch. Extremely hot days like this one, makes it even more pressing for the anglers to make sure their fish have fresh, circulating, and cooler water. FOBHL will once again run next year’s event on the 3rd weekend of June 2010, and they expect to have even more teams participating. The 2009 Montana Cats Tour will come to a close in Sidney, Montana with the Inaugural Monster Cat Roundup on the Yellowstone River Saturday, July 11th.  Enjoy complete final results, pictures, and podcast interviews below from this weekend’s exciting event.

Top 5 Overall  (17 teams)

1. Brenner Flaten, Wright, WY. – Tyler George, Billings, MT.             19.48 lbs.
2. Eric Menning, Powell, WY. – Zach Brando, Powell, WY.                14.76 lbs.
3. Jason Nagel, Columbus, MT. – Tammy Nagel, Columbus, MT.        13.76 lbs.
4. Orville Brando, Powell, WY. – Tim Brando, Powell, WY.                 10.48 lbs.
5. Roger Hoffman, Crowley, WY. – Austin Layne, Lovell, WY.             7.23 lbs.

2nd Annual Bighorn Tournament Final Results

2nd Annual Bighorn Tournament Pictures

2nd Annual Bighorn Tournament Podcasts

 

Molstads win 2nd Cat Classic title in three years

10th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic Champions Jerry and Nate Molstad

By Brenner Flaten

Glasgow, MT 6/6/09 - This year’s event provided an all-new obstacle for fisherman as the weather hovered around 40 degrees with a constant drizzle throughout the tournament.  Couple that with the fact that the Milk River flows had taken a major downturn over the last week, due to irrigation and a lack of precipitation.   It was going to take a brilliant effort to bring in a large stringer. 

The cold weather and drastic low water coudn't stop the dynamic catfishing duo of Nate and Jerry Molstad.  The Molstads stole the show Saturday night in downtown Glasgow as they took home their second Cat Classic title in three years.  It wasn’t a record setting performance like 2007, but this was just as impressive.  They used the popular run and gun approach to help land their 5 cats weighing in at 22.7 lbs.  Patience and preparation paid off for the father-son combo, as Nate landed a 10.7 lb. Milk River trophy at 11:00 p.m. catapulting them atop the leader board.  Their large Catfish tied for the 2nd largest cat ever weighed in at the Classic.  The Molstads become just the second team in tournament history to win the title twice, joining Brenner and Jason Flaten.

The “young gun” team of Jake Knaff and Joe Shipp had a great night on the muddy banks of the Milk as well, as they were the only other team in the 60-team field to crack the 20-pound barrier.  They both had this to say, “It’s about time!”, expressing relief after several years of frustrating finishes.  Mud puppies proved to be the key for the duo and it helped them land a 10.7 lb. beast that would also tie the 2nd largest catfish in tournament history.  Similar to previous years, the local anglers proved tough to beat as 18 of the top 20 teams were either from the area or grew up near the Milk River.   

Once again FWP assisted in weighing, measuring, and tagging all 181 catfish that were caught and each one was released back into the Milk River to fight another day.  The Montana Catfish Association is proud to report a 0% mortality rate from this weekends event.  Tournament anglers continue to do an excellent job of keeping the fish healthy regardless of the fishing conditions.  A crowd of nearly 300 people enjoyed the famous midnight weigh-ins, as 47 teams would weigh in fish.  The weigh-ins were moved to the Valley Event Center this year due to the weather conditions, but promise to be returning to their traditional outside location in downtown Glasgow on Saturday June 5th, 2010.  The events surrounding this annual tournament continue to grow at an all-time high as the Friday night Calcutta/Social, hosted by the Montana Bar, was packed wall-to-wall with people once again.  From the scenes of the high bidders to the big fish stories that are told, this is a can’t miss weekend for everyone in the Glasgow community and surrounding area.

Sign ups begin immediately for next summers 11th Annual event.  You can print off an entry form for next years event here.  Enjoy the pictures, pod cast interviews, and complete final results from this past weekends event.

Top 10 Overall (60 Teams)

1.    Nate Molstad, Havre, MT. – Jerry Molstad, Glasgow, MT.             22.7 lbs.
2.    Joe Shipp, Glasgow, MT. – Jake Knaff, Glasgow, MT.                  20.1 lbs.
3.    Mark Jackson, Vandalia, MT. – Steve Wellendorf, Glasgow, MT.    15.5 lbs.
4.    Brady Flaten, Glasgow, MT. – Jason Molstad, Glasgow, MT.         14.7 lbs.
5.    Don Resseguie, Great Falls, MT. – Kevin Durell, Glasgow, MT.       14.4 lbs.
6.    Adam Morehouse, Glasgow, MT. – Kirk Boyer, Glasgow, MT.         13.5 lbs.
7.    Ricci Olson, Glasgow, MT. – Dustin Mavity, Glasgow, MT.            13.2 lbs.
8.    Ed Sugg, Glasgow, MT. – Storm Jackson, Glasgow, MT.              12.5 lbs.
9.    Chad Dawson, Glasgow, MT. – Myles Kittleson, Glasgow, MT.       12.2 lbs.
10.    Seth Combs, Glasgow, MT. – Blaine Berg, Glendive, MT.            11.2 lbs.

10th Annual Milk River Cat Classic Final Standings

10th Annual Milk River Cat Classic Pictures

10th Annual Milk River Cat Classic Podcast Interviews
 

Records smashed at 3rd Annual Yellowstone Challenge

Big Fish winner Levi Walter shows off his 12.4 lb Yellowstone Pig

By MT Cats Staff

Huntley, MT 5/9/09 - The Yellowstone Challenge continues to grow at an all-time high, this was evidenced by the nice crowd gathered around the Minnow Bucket in Huntley this past Saturday.  This years 3rd Annual event provided fun and thrills for all the ages involved.  The 60-team limit was filled 3 weeks in advance of the event, as anglers rushed to assure their entry.  The local anglers are becoming more excited about catfishing and if this year’s tourney is any indication, we should see continued growth and positive changes into the future.

After a short opening rules meeting at 11:00 a.m., tournament director, Tyler George released all the teams onto the mighty Yellowstone River bottom.  Seeing all 60 teams being released at one time is a spectacle in itself.  38 teams fished from boat, while 22 teams braved the conditions from shore.  The month of May always provides us with a lot of weather changes throughout the day, and this particular day was no different.  With highs peaking in the upper 50’s it was a relatively cool day on the water for most teams.  River conditions were once again slowly rising, and very similar to the previous two years. The combination of unpredictable weather and predictable river flows gave way to some big weights for the top teams, as the entire top five weighed in a limit of four cats of at least 28.5 total pounds. 

Tournament veterans, Art Adame of Ballantine and Larry Green of Billings, were able to put it all together and rise above the 60-team field with 31.7 lbs., a new Yellowstone Challenge Record!  The record catch turned out to be worth $2,740.00, as they also purchased themselves in Friday nights Calcutta.  When asked about their incredible catch, Larry Green replied, “It was pretty slow for a few hours there, then we caught a shad and cut it up, they seemed to like it.”  The Green-Adame duo are no strangers to success at The Challenge either, as they already had a 3rd place finish in 2007 and a 5th place finish in last years event to their credit.  The tournament championship total weight wasn’t the only Challenge record to go down this weekend, as Levi Walter of Shepherd smashed the previous big fish record, with his 12.4 lb. Yellowstone bruiser!  The big cat helped Walter’s team fly up the leader board and finish in a very respectable 7th place.  This years top 10 was littered with teams making return trips to the leader board and showing consistency on the big river.

This event was brought to you by the Montana Catfish Association, and was the first tournament on the 2009 Montana Catfish Cup Circuit.  Points have now been awarded to the top 10 teams as well as participation points for all the other teams that participated.  Three more tour events are planned for later this summer, with the next being the 10th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic in Glasgow, MT on June 6th.  Montana Cats will crown a 2009 tournament circuit champion at the Inaugural Monster Cat Roundup in Sidney, MT on July 11th.  We hope to see you at our upcoming events!  Enjoy the complete final results, photos, and podcast interviews from this past weekend’s event.

Top 10 Overall – (60 Teams)

1. Art Adame, Ballantine, MT. - Larry Green, Billings, MT.                 31.7 lbs. $850
2. J.D. Smith, Billings, MT. - Bruce Boracker, Billings, MT.                 30.8 lbs. $500
3. Siler Giles, Billings, MT. - Rick Davis, Billings, MT.                        29.5 lbs. $350
4. Matt Theis, Billings, MT. - Richard Theis, Billings, MT.                  29.2 lbs. $300
5. Steve Reidy, Billings, MT. - Keith Ratcliff, Billings, MT.                 28.6 lbs. $250
6. Pete Sanderson, Billings, MT. - Christopher Hofmann, Billings, MT.  26.8 lbs. $200
7. Levi Walter, Shepherd, MT. - Dan Walter, Billings, MT.                 24.2 lbs. $150 * Big Fish Winners
8. Jonathan Stark, Billings, MT. - Darren Donness, Billings, MT.         19.6 lbs. $100
9. Nick Christman, Worden, MT. - Tom Ringo, Ballantine, MT             18.5 lbs.
10. Jason Flaten, Gillette, WY. - Matt Smith, Billings, MT.                16.6 lbs.

3rd Annual Yellowstone Challenge Final Results

3rd Annual Yellowstone Challenge Pictures

 

Colorado Teams Come Up Big at Lake Mac

12th Annual Lake McConaughy, 1st through 3rd place trophy winners

By Brenner Flaten

Lewellen, NE 5/2/09 – The 12th Annual Lake McConaughy Catfish Classic is in the books! The popular weekend kicked off on Friday May, 1st with a Calcutta and social at the Oregon Trail Trading Post in Lewellen. The tournament was held on Saturday and can be a long and grueling one for some, as tournament hours run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. It provides a little different twist as well as it allows for teams to either fish in Lake McConaughy or within the North Platte River.

54 teams hit the water under steady overcast skies, with highs hovering around 50 degrees the entire day. Despite the cold front, sixteen teams were able to catch their limit of ten cats and four teams would break the magical 50 pound mark. The state of Colorado dominated the event, sweeping the top 3. After all the dust settled, Loyd Volgamore and Marnie Ryan would take home this years championship. It has been a long time coming for Loyd, who has competed in every Lake Mac Catfish Classic since its inception twelve years ago. He has been knocking on the door for years, placing 3rd three times and 5th three times. When asked what the key to their tournament victory was, Loyd replied, “ We setup on the warmest water we could find in the reservoir, used shrimp and shad guts, and had our limit by 9:15.” The duo will now cash a check for $2,028.60!! The top three teams were all fishing in a similar area and caught the majority of their cats between 4 to 6 feet. All three Colorado teams would catch well over 20 cats on the day and spend a lot of their time culling out their livewells.

Mike O’Shea, of the third place team, caught the biggest catfish of the day. The big cat fell for some shad guts and weighed in at 9.4 lbs, it netted Mike a check for $450. Three top 10 teams from 2008 found themselves back in the top 10 this year, as the tournament continues to be a great event for both the local and out of area teams. Montana Cats Field Staff members Brenner and Jason Flaten, both of Wyoming, returned to the event for a 3rd consecutive year placing 12th with 39.22 lbs.

If you are looking for a great time make sure you mark down the first weekend of May on your calendars every year for the Lake Mac Catfish Classic in Lewellen, Nebraska. Darrell and the crew at The Trading Post do an outstanding job and put on a great event. Montana Cats will be returning for years to come. Congratulations to the entire top 10! Below you will find complete results and photos from this past weekends event.

Top 10 Overall (54 teams)

1. Loyd Volgamore – Marnie Ryan         58.82 lbs.
2. Darrell Fisher – Mark Hemmes           52.78 lbs.
3. Matt Ryan – Mike O’Shea                51.66 lbs.
4. Buck Johnson – Robert Stitt             51.48 lbs.
5. Henry Barker – Brandon Barker         49.48 lbs.
6. Mike Moody – Kevin Carlson             49.36 lbs.
7. Jeremy Canning – Nathan Robertson  48.84 lbs.
8. Robert Mallard – Kendal Kessler        45.98 lbs.
9. Nick Werth – Rick Spence               44.00 lbs.
10. Levi Gardner – Danny Garder          42.46 lbs.

12th Annual Lake Mac Cat Classic Final Results

12th Annual Lake Mac Cat Classic Pictures

 

Selective Harvest--Why does it matter?

By Nate Molstad

With the sport of catfishing becoming more and more popular throughout Montana, selective harvest becomes vital to sustaining the excellent fishing opportunities that surround us. What makes the sport of catfishing so attractive? Channel cats often produce an enjoyable fight, they're usually pretty cooperative to bite, and you don't need a tackle box full of expensive gear to catch them. More importantly, what other of Montana's favorite fish: walleye, trout, or northern pike, can you consistently produce a ten pound or greater fish, which is truly a trophy channel cat on almost any body of water. Montana boasts at least a dozen different rivers or lakes that can regularly stake claim to cats of this proportion. However, with the popularity increasing, the importance of selective harvest looms large in the management of our fisheries. With proper fishing habits, we can sustain the excellent catfishing so many of us have come to enjoy.

Why is it important to choose selective harvest? Currently, Montana Fish and Game does little to absolutely no stocking of channel catfish. In the past, catfish have been ordered from Oklahoma. However, according to fish and game's stocking report, no channel catfish have been stocked anywhere in Montana since 2005. At the present time, they are no longer able to transport them over state borders. Montana also has a very liberal limit of 20 catfish per day. Simply put, we are removing more catfish from our rivers and lakes than we are replacing. The catfish that currently inhabit our fisheries are all we have. We're counting on these fish to continue to spawn and sustain our fisheries. The primary spawning catfish are typically the larger fish. A female catfish, on average, lays 3,000 eggs per pound of body weight. These large catfish aren't growing overnight either. Montana catfish are a very slow growing fish. Some studies conducted on several of Montana's rivers concluded that a 28 inch fish would be around 14 years old. If we choose to mismanage our fisheries, it's going to take far longer to repair them than damage them.

What are some factors to consider when choosing selective harvest? First off, it's important to gain an understanding of the catfish in the specific body of water you are fishing. Ask yourself a few questions when deciding what catfish to harvest or whether you harvest any at all. Is the catfish population high or low? If there is a high population of catfish, it may actually benefit the fishery to keep some fish. The predator to prey relationship in a body of water has a direct affect on how large fish grow. An over abundance of predators reduces the overall health of the population and stunts the growth of fish due to the lack of forage. What is the cutoff size of fish that should be released? Again, the larger fish are usually going to produce more offspring and better aid in maintaining a fishery. Also, these fish are typically superior in genetics. A person should make it a goal to release the fish above that cutoff size. Are the fish sustaining their population through spawning? For the most part, our rivers have suitable spawning habitat and the catfish are doing very well. However, oftentimes in ponds, catfish lack the proper habitat to spawn and simply reabsorb their eggs. A person should understand each body of water may be different and varying factors may come in to play, while taking into consideration these questions when selecting fish to harvest.

Lastly, make it easy on yourself to choose selective harvest. We all know how much everyone wants to bring home a stringer of fish to show off to our buddies. Instead, make it a point to take a camera along and photograph your fishing success. Montana Catfish Association encourages you to post your pictures on its website forum for all the viewers to see. In doing so, those fish you release will be there for the enjoyment of another angler to catch. Sustaining our fisheries through selective harvest is simple. Do your part to ensure we have the same great opportunity tomorrow that we currently have today. More importantly, lets work to make it better for future catfish anglers. Please support Montana Catfish Association in its goal of educating catfisherman on the importance of selective harvest in preserving our catfishing opportunities.

 

Montana Cats 2009 Outlook

Mitch Erdmann-  Fort Peck Fall Channel Cat

By Brenner Flaten

3/2/09- Wake up from your winter slumbers and enjoy the fresh air of spring. As we roll into March, we'll start to see our days get a little longer, the grass and trees will begin to green, and our lakes and reservoirs across this great state will begin to open. Yes, its just about time to head out and wet your first line of the 2009 open water fishing season.

2008 was a great year for Montana Cats. Steps have been taken to improve the site and organization each year we've been in existence. We continued to see major growth in our online membership and message board activity. Montana’s catfish tournaments were literally bursting at the seams and it looks like 2009 could very well be the first year that every tournament sells out. Most importantly, the excitement level and popularity of catfishing in these parts seems to be growing at an all-time high.

2009 promises to be an exciting and innovative year for the Montana Catfish Association. We look forward to bringing you continued up to the date information on the sport of catfishing and Montana catfishing specifically. The MT Cats field staff will continue to take great pride in improving the knowledge and helping boost overall awareness of Catfish within the upper-Midwestern United States. The sport of competitive catfishing is still in its infancy, and with tournaments growing at an all-time high, it's exciting to do our part in promoting the sport.  Many organizational changes are on the horizon. We are working diligently to improve your online experience within montanacats.com.  Look for videos, podcasts, and premium Field Staff articles to be featured on a more regular basis. Our biggest news, however, is the debut of the Montana Catfish Association Tournament Circuit.

The Circuit will include four tournaments and will be scored on a point system. You will not be required to fish all of the tournaments to win the Circuit title, but it will enhance your chances.  Information in regards to the point scoring for the Montana Catfish Tournament circuit will be updated in the near future.  Field Staff members Tyler George will take over the reigns on the Yellowstone Challenge this May and Steve Harris will kick off the Inaugural Big Cat Roundup in Sidney. A special thanks to the Friends of Bighorn Lake, for running a high quality event that will now be a part of our Circuit as well. The grand daddy of all Montana fishing tournaments, the 10th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic, once again promises to be an outstanding event.  Click on the links below for tournament entry forms.

2009 Montana Cats Tournament Circuit

Date                  Tournament                                              Location                     Contact

5/09/09              3rd Annual Yellowstone Challenge                    Huntley, MT                 (406) 544-9961

6/06/09              10th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic               Glasgow, MT                (701) 290-7277

6/20/09              2nd Annual Bighorn Catfish Tournament           Lovell, WY                   (307) 548-2221

7/11/09              1st Annual Monster Cat Roundup                     Sidney, MT                  (406) 489-1170
 

Local Anglers win 1st ever Bighorn Catfish Tournament

Tourney Champs Oren Jones and Craig Winterholler

By Brenner Flaten

Lovell, WY 7/12/08 - The Inaugural Bighorn Catfish Tournament kicked off near Lovell, Wyoming last Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. as twelve teams set out to claim the top prize. Nine teams competed out of boats, and three decided to brave the elements from shore.

It was a beautiful day in northern Wyoming as temperatures would peek in the mid-nineties and there was very little wind making it very hard for the fisherman to stay aggressive and find the active fish. Fishing proved to be very difficult throughout the entire day as only three teams were able to bring in their limit of six catfish. This tournament provided difficulty to the competitive angler, because it is held during spawn period rather than pre-spawn like the rest of the regional catfish tourneys. Catfish are generally not as active during this time, and it showed on this afternoon. Local Veteran Bighorn River Anglers; Oren Jones and Craig Winterholler, both of Lovell, Wyoming were able to run away with the tournament crown, by catching their limit of six cats at just over twenty five pounds. Congratulations to Oren and Craig! Only two other teams were able to reach the teen mark, 2nd Place team of Jim Bowman and Jeff Minchow, and the 3rd place Montana Cats duo of Brenner Flaten and Tyler George. Jeff Minchow would also cash the check for the biggest catfish of the tournament, a piggie, tipping the scales at 9.26 pounds.

Every catfish at the event was weighed, measured, and tagged by the Wyoming Fish and Game. We are happy to report there was once again a zero percent mortality rate. The entire tournament field deserves some recognition for that. The Friends of Bighorn Lake did a tremendous job at getting this event off the ground. The opening rules meeting and the weigh-ins were run very well and this tournament will undoubtedly see massive growth into the future. A special thanks goes out to Joe Anderson at the Horseshoe Bend Motel from the Montana Cats field staff. Thank you for your generosity and we look forward to working with you and the rest of FOBHL for many years to come. There is a distinct possibility that this event will join three others alike in Montana next fishing season, to form the first ever Montana Catfish Association tournament circuit! Please enjoy the final results and the pictures from this weekends event below.

Top 10 Overall (12 teams)

1. Oren Jones , Lovell, WY / Craig Winterholler, Lovell, WY     25.23 lbs.
2. Jim Bowman, Cowley, WY / Jeff Minchow, Lovell, WY         13.40 lbs.
3. Brenner Flaten, Wright, WY / Tyler George, Billings, MT      13.24 lbs.
4. Clint Pollock, Laurel, MT / Ryan Mangus, Lovell, WY            6.36 lbs.
5. Eric Menning, Powell, WY / Zach Brando, Powell, WY          5.03 lbs.
6. Dale Goff, Shoshoni, WY / Cecil Boyle Jr., Shoshoni, WY      3.02 lbs.
7. Nikoma Dowd, Lovell, WY / Rick Harm, Lovell, WY               2.89 lbs.
8. Robert Duval, Greybull, WY / Michael Renfro, Greybull, WY   1.25 lbs.
9. Casey Brazelton, Garland, WY / Brandon Gates, Powell, WY  0.82 lbs.
10. Jay Cotter, Powell, WY / Nelson Crawley, Cowley, WY        0.76 lbs.

Inaugural Bighorn Tournament Results

Inaugural Bighorn Tournament Pictures
 

5th Annual Savage Fire Dept.

Tourney Champs Matt Reynolds, Lance Kuylen and Troy Cotter

By Tyler George

6/9/2008- The 5th Annual Savage Volunteer Fire Department Catfish Tournament scheduled for the second weekend in June filled the 60 team limit a week early this year. Unlike many fishing tournaments that highlight targeting the biggest fish, this one has an additional challenge. Each 3-man-team may only weigh fish between 12-18 inches. This slot limit is an additional hurdle to cross, often times requiring anglers to change their traditional fishing techniques or locations. The tournament weekend kicked off with the Friday night Calcutta/social. This is a time when fishermen can bid on tournament teams while enjoying conversation, fresh grilled burgers, or cold refreshments.

Following the Calcutta, tournament action began at 7 AM Saturday and weigh-ins conclude at 3:30. One team stood out above the rest when it came time to weigh the days catch. Matt Reynolds, Lance Kuylen and Troy Cotter braved the high waters, mosquitoes, and swarms of gnats with an impressive 5.98 lb stringer. Keith Nelson, Duane Smith and Lee Moore came in a close second place finishing only .15 lbs behind the leaders.  Tourney vet Kevin Bentz led his team of Augie Bentz and Dave McKinney to a third place finish.  Field staff members Brady Flaten, Brenner Flaten, and Tyler George earned a respectable 4th place finish with 5.515 lbs.

Pat Reynolds and the Savage Volunteer Fire Department continue to put on an exceptional catfish tournament. Montana Catfish Association commends Miller and the S.V.F.D for expressing concern for conservation in addition to organizing such a great catfish event. Another thanks goes out to the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks for aiding in measuring and weighing our catches. Final results are listed below.  Team interviews and picture links will be up soon so keep checking back for continued coverage of this great event.

Top 6 Overall (60 Teams)

1. Matt Reynolds, Lance Kuylen, Troy Cotter         5.98 lbs
2. Keith Nelson, Duane Smith, Lee Moore              5.965
3. Kevin Bentz, Augie Bentz, Dave McKinney          5.735
4. Brenner Flaten, Brady Flaten, Tyler George        5.515
5. Wayne Quinnell, ,Courtney and Corey Zentner    4.825
6. Bill Jones, Mike Sampson, Phillip Hageman          4.805

2008 Savage Fire Dept. Podcast Interviews

 

9th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic

Don Resseguie & Kevin Durell 2009 Cat Classic Champions

By Brady Flaten

Glasgow, MT 6/7/08- Who would take home the 9th Annual Catfish Classic championship…..rookies, tourney vets or past champions? Relatively stable weather and good river flows were sure to provide plenty of drama and huge Channel Cats for the traditional downtown midnight weigh-ins. One of the unique challenges this tournament poses, is the astounding amount of river miles within the tournament boundaries. The scenic Vandalia Dam separates two sections of the boundary and these two sections offer drastically different Catfish habitat. The teams that were able to guess their locations correctly would certainly be rewarded.

After the dust settled, local anglers Don Resseguie and Kevin Durrell proved to have the answer, weighing in an impressive 25.2 lb stringer of fish. Using a combination of different baits and tactics; this duo caught an extraordinary amount of Cats and were able to upgrade their championship stringer throughout the night. Tourney vets Jason Flaten and Tyler George finished a mere .3 lbs behind the champs, however, it didn’t come easy. A good mixture of tourney vets and rookies littered the top 10. Check out the link below for comments and interviews from tournament participants.

It was another successful Cat Classic weekend in Glasgow. The Calcutta, Catfish Seminar and tourney weigh-ins were highly attended and exhibited continued growth. The sky is the limit for this tourney and community. Please follow the links below for comments and interviews with tournament participants. Join us on June 6th 2009, for the 10th Annual Catfish Classic.
 

Top 10 Overall (60 Teams)

1. Don Resseguie, Great Falls, MT. – Kevin Durell, Glasgow, MT.     25.2 lbs.
2. Jason Flaten, Wright, WY. – Tyler George, Phelan, CA              24.9 lbs.
3. Ross Kastet, Glasgow, MT. – Cody Dix, Glasgow, MT.               24.7 lbs.
4. Colin Kemmis, Glasgow, MT. – CJ Kemmis, Glasgow, MT.            24.2 lbs.
5. Ed Sugg, Glasgow, MT. – Storm Jackson, Glasgow, MT.             23.7 lbs.
6. Landon Holte, Fort Peck, MT. – Tyler Daddix, Fort Peck, MT.      22.2 lbs.
7. Norm Braaten, Fort Peck, MT. – Dustin Braaten, Fort Peck, MT.  21.3 lbs.
8. Louie Monson, Glasgow, MT. – Randy Cumber, Glasgow, MT.      19.9 lbs.
9. Seth Combs, Glasgow, MT. – Dan Brandt, Glasgow, MT.            19.4 lbs.
10. Jory Casterline, Billings, MT. – Cole Plouffe, Glasgow, MT.        18.1 lbs.

9th Annual Milk River Cat Classic Final Results

9th Annual Milk River Cat Classic Podcast Interviews

 

Local anglers win 2nd Annual Yellowstone Challenge
 

 Tournament Champs Ryan Smith & Kevin Van Donsel  

Huntley, MT 5/10/08– The annual Yellowstone Challenge is in the books and there were many impressive stringers recorded on this beautiful 65-degree day. A record 51 teams set out on the section of Yellowstone River stretching from the mouth of the Bighorn River to the East bridge in Billings. Bank and shore anglers were allowed to compete; as most teams experienced mixed results throughout the day, encountering a somewhat sporadic bite. Billings anglers, Ryan Smith and Kevin Van Donsel, took home the championship with an impressive four fish limit of 30.4 lbs., earning themselves a check for $700. They would also take home the Big Fish Prize, a large backyard grill valued at $300, for their Channel Cat weighing in at 10.4 lbs.

Twelve teams were able to weigh in a stringer at over 20 lbs. and nineteen teams weighed in at over 10 lbs., much higher totals than the inaugural event the previous year. Last years tournament was conducted in higher water conditions, while as this year offered more stability. Still with all of the quality weights coming in almost half of the field came in empty handed, as 24 teams turned in a goose egg. No section of river seemed to be better than the next, as the top teams were spread evenly throughout the entire tournament boundary.

Fish and Game was once again helpful this year, as every catfish weighed in was tagged and released back into the mighty Yellowstone River the night of the tournament. Montana Cats is happy to confirm a 0% mortality rate, which is one of our top priorities while hosting a tournament. A huge thanks also goes out to the anglers fishing this year’s tournament, as they continue to make a conscious effort to keep their fish in good shape throughout the entire event. That is the stuff we need to have happen to keep this event running at a high level. Thank You!

Tournament director Jason Flaten was satisfied with the outcome of this year’s event and is looking for improvements and continued growth into the future. With 51 teams battling it out this year, you can expect the field to fill to its maximum of 60 teams for the first time on Saturday May 9th, 2009. Please enjoy complete tournament results and pictures of the event by clicking on the links below. See you all next May!

Top 10 Overall (51 Teams)

1.  Ryan Smith, Billings, MT. – Kevin Van Donsel, Billings, MT.         30.4 lbs. $700
2.  Siler Giles, Billings, MT. – Rick Davis, Billings, MT.                     28.6 lbs. $400
3.  Matt Theis, Billings, MT – Richard Theis, Billings, MT.                26.5 lbs. $325
4.  Robert Wise, Billings, MT. – Bobby Wise, Billings, MT.                26.1 lbs. $250
5.  Art Adame, Ballantine, MT. – Larry Green, Billings, MT.              23.7 lbs. $200
6.  Keith Ratcliff, Billings, MT. – Steve Reidy, Billings, MT.              22.7 lbs. $125
7.  Phil Hageman, Billings, MT. – Bill Jones, Billings, MT.                  22.1 lbs. $100
8.  Steve Frey, Worden, MT. – Matt Sand, Billings, MT.                 21.4 lbs. $75
9.  Spencer Cantrell, Billings, MT. – Stephanie Cantrell, Billings, MT  20.5 lbs.
10. Paul Waller, Billings, MT. – Perry Jones, Billings, MT.                 20.5 lbs.
 

2nd Annual Yellowstone Challenge Final Results

2nd Annual Yellowstone Challenge Pictures
 

Tournament Catfishing.....in the snow?

North Platte River, Lewellen, NE

Lewellen, NE 5/3/08 – Montana Cats field staff members, Brenner and Jason Flaten, recently competed in the 11th Annual Lake McConaughy Catfish Classic held in Western Nebraska. The tournament is quickly turning into a huge event and it is growing on a yearly basis. The event includes a Calcutta and social on Friday night, as well as the tournament on Saturday.

This years tournament, however, provided a challenge to the anglers unlike any other year, with temperatures dipping into the 30’s in the two days leading up to the tourney. A massive snow storm fell in the Lewellen area on Friday, leaving nearly 6-8 inches on the ground, and dropping water temperatures in the river to the mid 30’s. This didn’t seem to scare away the avid catfish anglers though, as a record 55 teams entered in the 10-hour one-day cattin’ tourney. As you would expect, the catfish were a bit tight-lipped throughout the entire tournament, as only 12 of the 55 teams were able to land fish. No team was able to catch their limit of ten catfish, and the 1st place squad was only able to boat seven cats. The Championship team, Tater and Buck Johnson, were able to find the right combination and topped the leader board with 20.46 lbs. Tater and Buck fished Lake McConaughy, as did the other eleven teams that were able to land fish. No team fishing the North Platte River even caught a catfish.

Brenner had this to say on the tournament, “We knew we were in trouble when we showed up to our main spot in the morning and we couldn’t fish effectively because there was too much ICE floating down the river, that’s not a situation we typically prepare for.” “We were spending a lot of time just trying to keep our baits positioned, because the ice was just catching our lines. The water temp was 34 degrees, which doesn’t exactly trigger feeding. We threw everything at them and we just couldn’t get them to bite.”

The guys at the Oregon Trail Trading Post in Lewellen, NE do a tremendous job with this event and you can expect even more growth into the future. Montana Cats has already penciled in the tournament for 2009. Congratulations to all of the top ten and good luck for the rest of your catfishing season!

Top 10 Overall (55 Teams)

1. Tater Johnson / Buck Johnson         20.46 lbs.
2. Johnny Ramsey / Scott Ramsey       19.50 lbs.
3. Justin Johnson / Matt MacIntosh     17.12 lbs.
4. Mallard / Kessler                           16.30 lbs.
5. Loyd Volgamore / Doug Volgamore   16.20 lbs.
6. Roy Parmely / Wayne Hanson         13.04 lbs.
7. Mark Hemmes / Darrell Fisher II       11.48 lbs.
8. Greg Shaver / Hobert Shaver           8.64 lbs.
9. Bob Hattendorf / Doug Leopold         6.90 lbs. * Big Fish Winners
10.Marnie Ryan / Daryl Bertolini            6.70 lbs.
 

Montana Cats, Crazy in Nebraska

Jason Flaten & Brenner Flaten display their championship Channel Cats

By Brady Flaten

Imperial, NE 4/5/08  – The Montana Cats field staff put together a team this past weekend for a tournament in South-Western Nebraska.  The 1^st Annual Izaak Walton League Catfish Tournament on Enders Reservoir, located near Imperial, was a great success and the team of Brenner and Jason Flaten, both of Wright Wyoming, came away with the top prize. 

 

Fourteen teams would set out on beautiful 1,700 acre Enders Reservoir at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning.  The team of Flaten/Flaten used a variety of baits throughout tournament hours, while fishing numerous spots, helping them land nine catfish on the day.  The action, by no means, was non-stop, as the team was boating about one fish every hour, however, their 5 fish-limit weight of 22 lbs. 15 oz. outdistanced the competition by just under 4 lbs.  When asked about their keys to a successful day on the water, Brenner Flaten said, “The River Pro was essential for us at this tournament, some of the water we wanted to fish was real shallow, and without the aid of a jet boat it would not have been possible to get back there.  I also think having a variety of fresh baits always helps in tournaments.”   The duo had their limit at noon, and spent the last three hours trying to improve their stringer.    Six teams would catch their limit of five catfish on this beautiful sunny 65 degree day.  The second place team boated a five fish limit of 19 pounds. 

 

The tournament paid out the top three teams in the tournament, the calcutta, as well as the big fish pot.  The Flaten's came away with just over $1,000 for their efforts, as they also took home the big fish pot and calcutta.  The Izaak Walton league will now use the money derived from this inaugural event to put on two kids fishing days during the summer.  These kids fishing days have been very successful on Enders in the past, and the money will help provide free tackle, apparel, and bait to all youth involved.  It’s nice to see the proceeds from this event going to such a great cause!  The event is sure to experience growth into the future and the field staff members will most likely return for many years to come.   

 

 

Top 5 Overall (14 Teams)

1. Brenner Flaten / Jason Flaten     22 lb. 15 oz.
2. Butch Raue / Mark Spady          19 lb.
3. Rammage Jr. / Louie                 17 lb. 12 oz.
4. Rammage Sr. / Dick Miller          13 lb. 7 oz.
5. Joe Birge / Mary Birge               10 lb. 3 oz.
 

 

Montana Cats 2008 Outlook

Joe Horn & Collin Kemmis-  "Jumbo Whiskers" award winners at the 2007 Milk River Cat Classic

By: Brenner Flaten

3/21/08- Yes.....it's that time once again.  Break out your tackle and round up some of your favorite bait, its catfishing time!  As the month of March comes to a close, the ice is beginning to break loose on Montana’s lakes and rivers.  When April arrives, the bite will be heating up and it will be time to go out and look for some monster cats.  With that in mind we would like to update you on the direction of the website, association and tournament schedule for the 2008 season. 

2007 was a great year that included positive progress for the Montana Catfish Association.  The website continued to grow at a rapid pace and the message board activity reached an all-time high.  The Montana Cats field staff also expanded to five members in 2007, with the inclusion of Nate Molstad and Steve Harris.  Steve and Nate bring a wealth of experience and a love for the sport of catfishing to the current staff.   

We are open to suggestions on improving the association now and in the future.  Look for memberships to become available by 2009.  We are also seeking ways to improve and expand our website.  We hope to include Podcast interviews and Youtube video on the site this year.  Video footage of fishing trips, tournament weigh-ins as well as podcast interviews of tournament participants will be a way to increase web traffic and improve viewers online experience.  We also hope to update the tackle section to include reviews on: catfish reels, hooks and boats.  The Cat Waters section will be updated to include the: Powder River, Tongue River/Reservoir, and Missouri River.  We also hope to include a new apparel section that will include: caps, t-shirts, decals, etc.   

Catfish tournaments are a big part of our passion and we could not be happier with how the 2007 tournament season transpired.  The inaugural year of the Yellowstone Challenge Catfish Tournament held in Huntley was a smashing success.  42 teams entered the event and it promises continued growth into the future.  The Milk River Catfish Classic provided new records and extreme drama in 2007.  It has become one of the premier social events in North-East Montana over the course of the past decade.  The community of Glasgow has embraced the idea of a competitive catfishing tournament and has run with it.  If you haven’t made it up for the annual showdown, mark your calendars for the first weekend of June 2008.  Come see what all the excitement is about!  The Savage Catfish tournament filled to its 50-team capacity for the first time in its four years of existence.  Jim Miller and company do an excellent job and put on one heck of a feast too!  It should be another exciting year for Montana catfish tournaments in 2008.   

The Milk River Cat Classic will be extended by a ½ hour this year and the Yellowstone Challenge by an hour.  This will allow the anglers more time on the water and a better chance at a more impressive stringer.  Both the Challenge and Savage tournaments will expand to a 60-team field , making all three Montana Catfish tournaments a 60-team limit.  Entry Forms can be obtained by clicking on the links below.

2008 Montana Catfish Tournament Schedule

Date          Tournament                    Body of Water                Location 

5/10/08      Yellowstone Challenge      Yellowstone River            Huntley, MT

6/07/08      Milk River Cat Classic        Milk River                      Glasgow, MT (SOLD OUT)

6/14/08      Savage Fire Dept.            Yellowstone River           Savage, MT  Contact (406) 776-2334

 

20th Annual Cats Incredible

Jason Molstad-  19 lb Channel Cat

By: Brenner Flaten

East Grand Forks, MN 9/12/07- Two teams from Montana recently competed in the prestigious Cats Incredible tournament held on the Red River along the border of Minnesota/North Dakota.  The teams of Brady Flaten/Jason Molstad and Jerry Molstad/Nate Molstad, looking to prepare themselves for the tough competition and conditions, traveled over on Tuesday evening with a mission in mind.  They spent three full days pre-fishing and mapping out a plan.  Pre-tournament fishing yielded mixed results for the two squads.  Brady and Jason felt they had the fish on a pattern.  Their Wednesday through Friday total resulted in 6 fish over 10 lbs., 2 over 19, and 1 over 21.  Nate and Jerry ,however, were experiencing some difficulties on the water and fishing was unbearably slow. 

The tides soon turned as the first day of the tournament approached.  150 boats were just about to invade a 35 mile stretch of river.  The anticipation was high for all the tournament anglers involved.  The opportunity to take home the first place prize of $4,000 was at stake.  It was time to "get it on"!

Day one was a bag of mixed results.  Fishing was down from the start (as compared to previous years) and the weights were not overwhelming.  Nate and Jerry’s first day, however, total was just that....impressive!  Their 36 lb. limit of 5 cats was good enough for a 4^th place day one standing (150 teams).  Brady and Jason were drained after a grueling day on the water; which yielded only three slot fish for a total weight of 11 lbs. They stood in the middle of the pack after day 1. 

Day two would prove pivotal in determining which team would be walking away with the grand prize, as well as those that were determined to move up the leader board.  Jerry and Nate knew they would have to put together another impressive day to stay in the big money and Brady and Jason knew it would take a Herculean effort to sneak into the top 35.  When it was all said and done, the two Montana teams were not able to put together the second day result they were desperately hoping for.  For the second straight day, Brady and Jason would boat their three slot fish early, only to miss out on the cats that could make the difference.  Jerry and Nate boated two slots during the second day pushing their total to 39.52 lbs. good enough for 41^st place, finishing just outside the money.

Final Results:  2007 Cats Incredible Results

Pod Cast Interviews

Nate and Jerry Molstad after--Day 1

Fishing Minnesota's Chris Hanson at boat launch--Day 2

Fishing Minnesota's Chris Hanson at weigh station--Day 2

Red River fishing guide Rusty Miller at weigh station--Day 2

Former Minnesota River guide Dennis Steele at weigh station--Day 2

 

High, Muddy Water Highlights Savage Tourney

2nd Place team Bill Jones, Phil Hageman, Kent O'Donnel.

By Brenner Flaten

Savage 6/9/07- The 4th Annual Savage Volunteer Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament took center stage in Eastern-Montana on June 9th, 2007. Like many of the other catfish tourneys in the region, the event again had an all-time high in teams and filled the capacity 50-team field a week in advance. What teams didn’t expect, was the massive rain-fall leading up to the event and the sudden change in the water conditions. This created an all new challenge for all 150 participants in the event. The weekend kicked off with the popular Friday night Calcutta held at the fire hall in downtown Savage. The Calcutta provided a great atmosphere that allowed teams to gather around and tell fishing stories and talk tactics, all the while enjoying a fresh burger or hotdog right off the grill! This years Calcutta pot did not disappoint and continues to grow ever year, it managed to grow to just over $10,000 this year.

It was a beautiful sunny day for this years tourney, providing the first day of sun for the area in nearly five days. The team captained by Chuck Reynolds was able to find the winning combination and win the tournament title! The team stuck with one spot throughout the day and was able to milk 7.175 lbs., a truly impressive stringer of 12-18 inch catfish. The team of Bill Jones, Phil Hageman, and Kent O’Donnell used a different approach to claim their second straight runner-up finish in the event. Putting a run-and-gun approach into play, the three-man team hit multiple spots throughout the day. Bill Jones added. "We would pull up on a spot, and pull one or two fish out, than the action would slow, and it would be time to move on." The approach seems to be working well, because back to back top 2 finishes is very impressive. The Big Fish Award winner was Chad Maher, who landed a 7.425 lb. hawg, good enough for a $200 check. Overall, the number of teams bringing in their limit was down, however, the tournament was still very much a success.

Jim Miller and the Volunteer Savage Fire Dept. continue to put on a tremendous event that continues to grow on a yearly basis. The Montana Catfish Association truly appreciates people like Jim that help provide more opportunities for the catfish angler in the state of Montana. Jim had this to say, "Next year we are looking at some potential growth, I would like to see the boundaries be lengthened and the number of teams increased." Take a look at the final results from the weekend as well as pictures from the entire event.
 

Top 10 Overall (50 teams)

1. Chuck Reynolds     7.175
2. Bill Jones             5.785
3. Jason Partridge     5.425
4. Clint Prevost         4.830
5. Troy Conradsen     4.470
6. Mike Metzenberg   4.390
7. Pam Klempel        4.315
8. Mario Thorson       4.280
9. Brandy Lien          4.25
10. Lance Miller        3.54

2007 Savage Fire Dept Final Results

2007 Savage Fire Dept Pictures                                                   

 

Record Rain has HUGE effect on 8th Annual Cat Classic

Nate Molstad & Jerry Molstad 2007 Cat Classic Champions

By Brady Flaten

Glasgow 6/2/07- When catfisherman talk about 6.5 inches they are usually referring to the size of their sucker minnows, not the amount of rain that fell in the month of May in the Glasgow area.  The record rainfall had a HUGE effect on the fishing conditions, with the river reaching near flood stage in much of the tournament boundary.  The uncertain conditions leading up to the tournament had many participants anxious, wondering where and how to catch their limit of Cats. The record rain, however, also delivered record stringers of Catfish.  The 2007 version of the Cat Classic again filled the 60 team limit, although, this year the tournament filled over two weeks in advance and the competitors were chomping at the bit to get on the water. 

Tournament Director, Brenner Flaten, released the teams at 6:00 and participants were to return to the weigh-in station by midnight.  As teams started to filter in, the smoke cleared, and by the end of the night it was apparent that this was not an ordinary year for the Classic.  Emerging from the crowed field were tournament veterans Jerry and Nate Molstad.  Jerry and Nate strolled on stage; placed their fish on the scale and an amazing 34.9 lbs. was the result.  The crowd erupted and the Championship team celebrated….what a stringer of fish!  The Molstads smashed the previous tournament record, bringing in a basket of fish nearing a 7lb avg., which included the second biggest fish of the tournament weighing 9.7 lbs.  The father/son combination have been knocking on the Championship door for years, finishing in the Top 3 four times.  They broke down that door in 2007 with a record catch.  Congratulations Jerry and Nate. 

The top team wasn’t the only hot thing going as records fell left and right.  Six teams weighed in baskets over 20 lbs. The 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th largest weights in tourney history all went down by nights end.  The “Jumbo Whiskers” honor was awarded to the 4^th place team of Colin Kemmis & Joe Horn, who landed a 10.0 lb Milk River piggy.  If there was an award given for the “most fish caught” that would probably have gone to team of Shannon Albert and Rodney Hudyma.  “We probably caught over thirty fish tonight and lost over 6 in snags” exclaimed Albert.  When asked how they braved the high waters of the Milk they stated it wasn’t rocket science, “we casted our lines into the middle of the river and let the current take it down and let the Cats take them out.”  The third place team had to rely on instincts, as they were unable to fish for quite a while before the tournament.  “I haven’t pre-fished for over two weeks due to the high water”, stated Hudyma.  Those instincts paid off with a great catch that landed them in third place. 

The tournament wasn’t the only excitement offered by the Cat Classic in ‘07.  The weekend festivities kicked off on Friday night with the Calcutta at the Montana Bar.  Auctioneer, Brian Austin, rocked the crowd and the bidding turned out to be outstanding.  The total purse totaled over $4,880, an incredible amount for the first year.  Saturday morning also featured the first annual Montana Catfish Association “Catfish Seminar".  Topics covered at the seminar included Catfish specific rods, reels, hooks, line, rigs, bait and live wells.  The individuals that contributed at the event included: Brady Flaten, Jason Flaten, Brenner Flaten & Chris Hanson.  Chris shared his vast Catfish knowledge gathered on the banks of the Minnesota and Red River. 

Tournament Director Brenner Flaten also had this to add “My sponsors were once again there for me. A special thanks to Tim Jennings and The Nemont Beverage Corporation for being my top-flight sponsor the past few years. Also big thanks to the following people and local businesses: Farm Equipment Sales, Montana Bar, Uncle Milts, Newton Motors, Gordons Foods, D&G Sports and Western, Earls Body Shop, Bell Mortuary, Cornwell Ranch, Elks Club, Glasgow Swim Team, City of Glasgow, Markles Hardware, Glasgow Flower Shop, and Good Evening Glasgow. I couldn't put on this event with all of these people helping out.”  "Once again I had a 10-man crew working the tourney and they did an excellent job in helping everything run so smoothly, Cat Security Rocks."  He also added a few words of encouragement. “Those who didn't fair that well this weekend, look at the bright side of it, this high water is doing nothing but good for our fishery. Nobody holds the Milk River closer to their heart than me and I realize that this high water is boosting the population of catfish in the river and this year-class of cats will be amazing. That should make for many more exciting years for the Catfish Classic.”  

Top 10 Overall (60 teams)

1. Nate Molstad, Havre, MT. - Jerry Molstad, Glasgow, MT.                 34.9 lbs  $850

2. Brady Flaten, Wolf Point, MT. - Jason Molstad, Glasgow, M              27.3 lbs  $500

3. Shannon Albert, Hardin, MT. - Rodney Hudyma, Glasgow, MT.          25.6 lbs  $350

4. Colin Kemmis, Glasgow, MT. - Joe Horn Glasgow, MT.                     25.1 lbs  $300

5. Byron Kemp, Glasgow, MT. - John Britzman, Glasgow, MT.               20.9 lbs  $250

6. Tyler George, St. Ignatius, MT. - Chris George, Glasgow, MT.           20.6 lbs  $200

7. Adam Morehouse, Glasgow, MT. - Arron Fjeld, Glasgow, MT.            18.6 lbs  $150

8. Jason Flaten, Billings. MT. - Chris Hanson, Plymouth, MN.                18.1 lbs  $100

9. Curtis Shipman, Glasgow, MT. - Bob Harrington, Glasgow, MT.          16.9 lbs

10. Larry Hockhalter, Glasgow, MT. - Mark Johnston, Glasgow, MT.       16.8 lbs

8th Annual Milk River Cat Classic Final Results

Inaugural Yellowstone Challenge a Success

       

Yellowstone Challenge Champions Richard & Matthew Theis

By Brady Flaten

Huntley 5/19/07-  The Yellowstone Challenge marked the first ever Catfish tournament in the Billings region.  Local anglers who participated in the inaugural tournament were eager to get out on the water to catch some huge cats and capture bragging rights.  42 teams in all (mostly local) braved the high water conditions for an afternoon of good fun and competition.  The field was essentially split, with half the field fishing from shore and the other half from boat.  Tournament Director Jason Flaten released the teams at noon and they were to arrive back at the weigh in station by 7:00 P.M.  It turned out to be a difficult day of fishing with a lot of teams struggling to catch fish or not able to hook the light biting fish.  Some criteria that may have contributed to the tough bite were the high, spring water conditions which limit the opportunities for the bank anglers.  The water level was also dropping drastically, which can also turn off or taper fish activity.  Richard and Matthew Theis capitalized on the tough conditions while fishing in their Gregor jet boat.  The father/son duo found the right combination and locations to take home the championship with a nice four fish limit of 25.2 lbs.  "There's no secret to what we did," exclaimed Richard " we used cut bait we got right here from the Minnow Bucket this morning."  They focused on classic high water areas and it paid off.  It's no surprise this team took home the championship, they are no stranger to the river or catfish.  "We've been fishing this stretch of the river since 86'," said Richard.  "We enjoy fishing for cats because they are easy and fun to catch......it's also a great fish to get kids interested in fishing."  They also noted the need to be pro-active in conservation and regulation, "we used to be the only ones out on the river.  Now you see a lot of boats and shore anglers targeting catfish."  These two men are great representatives for the sport of fishing and specifically Channel Catfish.  Congratulations Richard and Matthew on taking home the championship.  Another impressive accomplishment came from the 2nd place team of Scott Swanson and Dan Oblander landing a 11.2 lb Yellowstone pig.  That fish was good enough to land the "Big Fish" award and claimed the Skeeter pontoon as a prize.  Montana Cats would like to thank the numerous volunteers, all the participants and the many sponsors that provided cash and prizes for the tournament.  A special thanks also goes out to the Minnow Bucket Bait Shop in Huntley and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Nate McClenning, for ensuring the safety of all the tournament fish.    The 1st annual Yellowstone Challenge was a huge success......surely a start to a great tradition.

Top 10 Overall (42 Teams)

1. Richard Theis, Billings MT. - Matthew Theis, Billings MT.                  25.2 lbs.

2. Scott Swanson, Billings MT. - Dan Oblander, Billings MT.                  24.9 lbs.
   
3. Larry Green, Billings MT. - Art Adame, Ballantine MT.                      22.6 lbs.
 
4. Steve Stark, Huntley Mt. - Steve Frey , Worden MT.                      22.2 lbs.

5. Walter Estelby, Charlo MT. - Robbie Guptill, Laurel MT.                    18.8 lbs.

6. Keith Ratcliff, Billings MT. - Steve Reidy, Billings MT.                       18.6 lbs.

7. Charles Furguson, Big Timber MT. - Will Grundhauser, Mcleod MT.     18.1 lbs.

8. Brenner Flaten, Glasgow MT. - Brady Flaten, Wolf Point MT.             17.7 lbs.

9. Mark Striegel, Pompeys Pillar MT. - Tyler Striegel, Ballantine MT.       16.6 lbs.

10. Perry Jones, Billings MT. - Paul Waller, Billings MT.                         14.8 lbs.

Inaugural Yellowstone Challenge Pictures

Inaugural Yellowstone Challenge Final Results 
 

Field Staff Compete in Nebraska Tourney

Nebraska 5/5/07– Brenner & Jason Flaten recently competed in the 10th annual Lake McConaughy Catfish Classic held in Western Nebraska. The tournament field was made up of 53 teams comprised of mainly Colorado and local Nebraska anglers. This was a boat or shore event and was limited to the ten heaviest catfish. The Montana based team made the trek to Nebraska on Wednesday so they could get in a few days of preparation for the event. The pre-fishing days were spent mapping out a plan and putting the fish on a pattern. The days leading up to the tournament and the day of the tourney, were mainly rain-soaked and overcast. 

With a plan intact, we began Saturday morning with a ton of anticipation. However, it did not take long to realize that the fish were in a little different mood that day compared to the pre-fishing we had done. Action was slow throughout the majority of the tournament hours. We were bringing in a catfish about once an hour, and anybody that knows anything about tournament fishing knows that isn’t very good! We knew fishing was slow when we were putting our baits in the very same places we had been a week ago and nothing seemed to be working. Those same places were yielding fish after fish of over six pounds just a week earlier. We put ourselves in a difficult situation and we felt confident that our plan would work, when it backfired, there really wasn’t a whole lot we could do about it. We had set up a pick up point with a local resident a day earlier, and that pickup point was at least five miles down river from where we had started the day. When we arrived at the pickup point there was only one hour remaining in the tournament. We were sitting on a limit of catfish at the time, but not anymore than 30 pounds. We had caught 16 catfish in the nine hour period we had been walking that stretch. We knew it would take a lot more than that just to crack the top ten. 

So we got dropped off at the place we started in the morning and plan B jumped into motion. While pre-fishing the previous day, we had located a spot on a different section of the river that was very productive and we felt that we could milk a couple out before the time ran out on us. A few wash-board gravel roads and a 1/4 tank of gas later we had arrived at plan B. With only twenty five minutes left to do our fishing it proved to be a smart move. In the twenty five minutes we landed five cats , four of them would be included in our 10 fish limit at the end of the day. Three of the fish were well over five pounds and we managed to catch them all within 15 minutes of each other. Arriving at the weigh-in station, without a minute to spare, we were feeling a little bit of relief. We knew we didn’t reach our goal , but glad we stayed after it when things were not going as planned. Our ten fish limit ended up being a respectable 48.14 lbs., good enough for 8^th place overall.

Top 10 Overall - (53 Teams Total)

 

1. Andy Hain / Robbie Hain                      74.9 lbs.

2. Henry Barker / Brandon Barker              63.1 lbs.

3. Rob Sack / Bob Sack                          61.06 lbs. 

4. Bob Hattendorf / Doug Leopol              56.78 lbs.

5. Johny Ramsey / Scott Ramsey             54.24 lbs.

6. Mark Hemmes / Darrell Fisher               51.52 lbs.

7. Jeremy Canning / Nathan Robertson      49.32 lbs.

8. Jason Flaten / Brenner Flaten              48.14 lbs.

9. Charles McDowell / David Collins           48.02 lbs.

10. Sean Sanders / Kevin McCarthy          45.86 lbs. 

 

2007 Montana Catfish Tournaments

Adam Morehouse & Kirk Boyer- 2005 Milk River Cat Classic Champs- 31 lbs.

By Brady Flaten

2/22/07-  2007 is going to be a breakout year for Catfishing in the state of Montana.  Three tournaments are scheduled and we are well on our way to Montana Cats vision of a state wide tournament circuit.  Entry forms can be obtained by clicking on the links below. 

Date          Tournament                Body of Water                Location              

5/19/07      Yellowstone Challenge  Yellowstone River            Huntley-SOLD OUT

6/2/07        8th Annual Cat Classic Milk River                       Glasgow-SOLD OUT

6/9/07        Savage Fire Dept.       Yellowstone River            Savage- Contact Jim Miller @ 406-488-5520

19th Annual Cats Incredible

 

Nate Molstad- 2006 Cats Incredible.  Photo by Chris Hanson

By Brady Flaten

East Grand Forks, MN 9/10/06-  Anticipation surrounded the 2006 Cats Incredible tournament as Montana Cats made a return trip to the annual event held on the mighty Red River of the North.  Nate Molstad and Brady Flaten competed on behalf of Montana Cats for the 06' version of the tournament.  The competition was stiff, as many of the 150 teams were comprised of the top Catfish anglers in the region.  The weather was tricky.  It's been a very dry summer, which in recent weeks, led to a very tough bite due to the low water conditions.  Two days prior to the tournament, however, monsoon like rains pumped new life into the Red River Valley.  Stable weather was not in the cards, which at times can lead to a very intriguing bite.  Jason & Brady Flaten finished in 33rd place the previous year, so this year was sure to be an improvement.....right?  Not so fast my friend.  Pre-fishing was mainly used to scout new areas and get a "feel" for the river.  We entered the tournament with a plan and we were sticking to it.  After day 1, however, we struggled to meet the 5 fish limit; ending up with 3 fish, missing out on two slot fish.  We made a few decisions early that ended up costing our daily pound total as well.  State law requires each team to decide on the spot whether or not to keep the fish due to the "culling" regulation.  We were unable to find the pattern to land the big ones on day two; boating 5 fish but staying put at 70th place; 8 fish total for 50.3 pounds for the weekend.  Despite the disappointing finish, It was another fun weekend on the Red and 2007 is sure to be interesting.  Two Montana teams have registered for the 2007 tournament: 1.) Brady Flaten/Jason Molstad 2.)  Nate Molstad/Jerry Molstad.  Now it's just a waiting game.

Discuss 2006 Cats Incredible                                                                         Discuss 2007 Cats Incredible      

Update: Catfish Rod Reviews

By Brenner Flaten

8/30/06- The most extensive Catfish Rod review ever produced is now in print.  If you are new to Catfish and looking to purchase your first rod or a veteran angler looking to replace your old tackle these reviews should come in handy.  This is the first section of reviews in our Catfish Tackle section with more to come.

Montana Cats Fish Red River Catfish League Tourney

Brady Flaten & Steve Harris

By Brady Flaten

East Grand Forks, MN 7/22/06-   The Red River of the North is widely considered the premier Channel Catfish water in the world.  The Red didn’t disappoint as the Montana Cats Pro Staff, along with Montana Cats member Steve Harris, made the seven hour trek across North Dakota to compete in the annual Red River Valley Catfish Club Tournament.  Brady Flaten and Steve Harris made up the first team and the brother combination of Jason and Brenner Flaten comprised the second.  Conditions weren’t ideal with low waters, extreme temperatures and the fish in post-spawn mode which provided numerous challenges for the Montana anglers.  Pre-fishing proved puzzling as the fish weren’t necessarily congregated in one specific area.  Both teams, however, enjoyed great success pre-fishing on Friday, boating numerous fish over the 10 pound mark.  Confidence was high and anticipation great.  Strategy would prove to be a huge aspect in this and every Red River tournament.  Three fish would be weighed with one of those fish having to be under the 24” mark.  Due to state regulations there would also be no sorting or culling fish in the live well.  This would force anglers to make the tough decision on whether not to keep or release the fish after landing it.  35 teams took off from the South landing at 7:00 A.M. and had to return by 3:00 P.M.  The team of Brady Flaten and Steve Harris, however, didn’t need the full allotted time weighing their three fish in at 10:30.  The strategy of not putting anything in the live well less than 15 pounds before noon turned out to be successful.  Brady and Steve turned back 3 other fish over 10 pounds before finally boating their final fish of 16.8 lbs.  Three fish consisting of 16.8, 15.8 & 3.6 totaled 36.2 lbs good enough for 4^th place.  Brenner and Jason Flaten turned in a fish of 14.2 and 3.2 for a tournament total of 17.2 lbs.  Boat trouble and the tough decision of turning a fish of 9 lbs back summed up the day for the brother combo.  The Red River Valley Catfish Club put on an outstanding tournament and a good time was enjoyed by all.  If you have any questions about this tournament or the Red River in general, please feel free to post on the message board. 

Catfish League Tourney Pictures & Catfish League Home Page.                  

3^rd Annual Savage Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament

Tournament Champions Brady Flaten, Brenner Flaten and Jason Flaten.

By Brady Flaten

Savage 6/10/06-  The Yellowstone River is the longest free flowing river in the lower 48 States and it boasts some of Montana's best Catfishing.  It was put to the test this Saturday during the 3rd Annual Savage Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament.  The folks at the Savage have put forth a ton of effort to get this fishing extravaganza organized and running.  This years event included a pre-tournament social, Calcutta, fishing tournament, catfish feed and numerous door prizes.  The tournament rules allowed teams of 1-3 and the quirky rule of targeting 12 to 18" Cats (5 fish limit).  Normally this would not be a difficult task, however, the Yellowstone has an average fish size much larger than that.  It was a rainy afternoon with as much as 1 1/2 inches of rain falling on the contestants heads.  Most teams weighed fish but staying under the slot limit was difficult for many.  39 teams braved the wind and rain to fish for the mighty Channel Cat.  Brady Flaten, Brenner Flaten & Jason Flaten, fishing in a 2006 River Pro, were able to find the right combination.  They finished with a 5 fish total weighing 7.74 pounds, which was good enough for the tournament title.  This tournament was well run and a good time was had by all.  Montana Cats recommends anyone interested in a good time and meeting some friendly people to pencil in the second weekend of June, 2007 for Savage, MT.  Sidney Herald Article 

Top 6 Overall (39 Teams)  

1. Brenner Flaten, Glasgow- Brady Flaten, Wolf Point- Jason Flaten, Billings           7.74 Lbs. ($500)

2. Mike Samson, Billings MT. - Phil Hageman, Billings MT. - Bill Jones, Billings MT.    5.59 Lbs.  ($375)

3. Brett Hepp - Tandi Hepp - Heidi Schmierer                                                   5.075 Lbs.  ($300)

4. Justin Messer - Bill Hamburg - Jim Messer                                                    4.59 Lbs.  ($225)

5. Angie Bentz - Kevin Bentz - Dave Mckinne                                                   4.58 Lbs.  ($170)

6. Tim Dolphey - Marshall Vojacek - Paul Vojacek                                             4.26 Lbs.  ($75)

Big Fish Winner: Kevin Bentz                                                                         11.71 Lbs. ($200)

 7th Annual Milk River Cat Classic a Hit

Mitch McIntyre & Cole Plouffe- 2006 Milk River Cat Classic Champs

By Brady Flaten

Glasgow 6/3/06-  The City of Glasgow was buzzing Saturday night; with the 7th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic again raising eyebrows in the community.  With each year comes added anticipation and this year was no exception.  Just six years ago this tournament started with 12 teams; as this year it ballooned to fill the tournament limit of 60. The 2006 version of the "Cat Classic" was filled with veteran Catfish anglers and budding new fisherman.  Anglers from Roundup, Billings, Laurel, Minot & even Wisconsin competed in this years event.  The day started as a windy and miserable one but as the tournament was about to kickoff, the wind clamed down and a beautiful night of fishing was ahead.  Tournament President Brenner Flaten, sent the teams out in three flights and the contest was underway.  Catfish security did an admirable job all night finding and checking nearly all contestants.  The famous midnight weigh-ins attracted a crowd over 250 spectators and they were in for some fireworks.  Burgers and Dogs were grilled but all eyes were on the scale as the anglers brought in their evenings catch.  Brenner predicted "this years weight would be down from last years record breaking performance due to the low water levels this year".  That prediction turned out to be spot on but the weights were still very respectable.  The youthful connection of Cole Plouffe and Mitch McIntyre ran away with the tournament championship with an impressive stringer of fish.  They also captured the Big Fish title with a an impressive 9.3 lb Milk River monster.  This duo proved that pre-fishing does payoff as they found numerous top fishing locations and used the "Run-N-Gun" approach to capture the tournament title.  The Catfish Classic was again a huge success.  Catfish knowledge and appreciation has reached a new level in the town of Glasgow and that can be directly attributed to this tournament.  If you wish to read more about the tournament, follow the link at the bottom of this article.  Thanks again for everyone who helped out this year and we can only hope that the 8th Annual Catfish Classic can continue this impressive trend.  MILK RIVER CATFISH CLASSIC ARTICLES 

Top 10 Overall (60 Teams)

1. Cole Plouffe, Glasgow MT. - Mitch McIntyre, Glasgow MT.              22.7 lbs.

2. Marjie Capdeville, Hinsdale MT. - Dallas Capdeville, Hinsdale MT.      19.1 lbs.

3. Brady Flaten, Wolf Point MT. - Jason Molstad, Glasgow MT.            18.3 lbs.

4. Todd Young, Glasgow MT. - Neil Chouinard, Glasgow MT.               17.9 lbs.

5. Seth Combs, Glasgow MT. - Dan Brandt, Glasgow MT.                   15.7 lbs.

6. Drew Henry, Minot ND. - Courtney McFarlin, Williston ND.               15.6 lbs.

7. Vance Anderson, Glasgow MT. - Kevin Durell, Glasgow MT.             15.5 lbs.

8. Sam Morehouse, Glasgow MT. - Ross Kastet, Glasgow MT.             14.9 lbs.

9. Dave Fuller, Fort Peck MT. - Ryan Lott, Fort Peck MT.                  14.6 lbs.

10. Jerry Molstad, Glasgow MT. - Nate Molstad, Havre MT.                14.5 lbs.

10. Byron Kemp, Glasgow MT. - John Britzman, Glasgow MT.              14.5 lbs.

7th Annual Milk River Cat Classic Final Results                           

NEW MONTANA CHANNEL CAT RECORD

Mark Sullivan Photo

Nelson Reservoir 5/28/06-  Montana Cats believed that the state record Channel Cat of 27.17 Lbs was well within reach.  Well....the record was reached and it was smashed by an astounding 2.5 pounds!  Jim Jones of Malta was fishing in a boat at Nelson Reservoir on Sunday and landed a monster Channel Cat tipping the scales at 29.71 lb and measuring 38 3/4 inch.  The new state record was lured in by a night crawler in 6 to 8 feet of water.  In 2005, a 25 lb+ Channel was also hauled out of Nelson.  The Reservoir has a fast growing reputation as a top Channel Cat destination in the state of Montana.  Montana Cats plans on traveling to Nelson this summer and a review of the fishery would ensue.  Congratulations Jim on an outstanding catch!

Source: Billings Gazette Article