Montana Cats Field Staff
Brenner Flaten
(BigSky CatMan)
Brenner is an avid catfish angler with over 12 years of experience. He is the co-founder and current President of the Annual Milk River Catfish Classic held in early June at Glasgow, MT. During his time with the classic, the tournament has grown by leaps and bounds, and is now known as the premier catfish tournament in Montana. Growing up on the banks of the Milk River Brenner learned to love the sport of Catfishing, and it’s his desire along with the rest of the Montana Cats Pro staff, to help the sport grow in this area. While he is out on the water pursuing that elusive Montana channel cat record he practices catch-and-release and encourages others to do the same. His competitive nature has lured him into the catfish tournament scene where he has experienced success. Tournament credentials and personal records are listed below. Brenner had this to say to all, "Montana is an overlooked catfish paradise, the opportunities are endless for the serious catfish angler, see you on the water!"Contact Brenner Flaten: bigskycatman@montanacats.com
Personal Records
Channel Cat (All-Time) 28.5 lbs. Red River (Selkirk,MB Canada) 6/21/03
Channel Cat (North Dakota) 18.7 lbs. Red River (Grand Forks, ND) 7/22/05
Channel Cat (Montana) 21.6 lbs. Fort Peck Reservoir 4/20/00
Channel Cat (Yellowstone River) 12.2 lbs. 4/8/06
Channel Cat (Musselshell River) 17.0 lbs. 5/16/06
Channel Cat (Milk River) 10.6 lbs. (Twice) 5/23/99 & 6/3/00
Tournament Results
Tournament Weight Place
1st Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 17.0 lbs. 4th Place 5/20/00
2nd Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 1 lb. 6 oz. 13th Place 5/19/01
3rd Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 1 lb. 7 oz. 13th Place 5/18/02
4th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 14.8 lbs. Champions 5/31/03
5th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 17.7 lbs. Champions 6/5/04
17th annual Cats Incredible -Grand Forks, MN 32.44 lbs. 86th Place 8/1/04
Red River Valley Catfish League Tournament 22.4 lbs. 11th Place 7/23/05
3rd Annual Savage Tournament 7.74 lbs. Champions 6/10/06
Red River Valley Catfish Club Tournament 17.2 lbs. 29th Place 7/22/06
10th annual Lake McConaughy Catfish Classic 48 lbs. 14 oz 8th Place 5/5/07
1st Annual Yellowstone Challenge 17.4 lbs 8th Place 5/19/07
4th Annual Savage Tourney 1.16 lbs 24th Place 6/9/07
Brady Flaten
(Big Cat Dad)
My love for Catfish spans back to the late 80's on the banks of the Milk River. Late night episodes fishing with minnows, clam meat and crawlers led to many monster Kitties. In 1997, while attending the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND my attraction reached new levels. I couldn't believe the size and number of trophy Channel Cats that were present in this body of water. I was hooked. Since that time I have done my best to increase my knowledge base surrounding this amazing fish. Reading small rivers for Channel Cats is my strength. I love competing in tournaments and feel they have helped increase my ability as a fisherman. They have helped me explore deeper into bait, rigging and habitat options. With a recent purchase of a 2006 River Pro, there will be no limitations as to where the Cats can hide. I am also the webmaster for this site and current President of Montana Catfish Association.
Contact Brady Flaten: bigcatdad@montanacats.com.
Personal RecordsChannel Cat (North Dakota) 17.6 lbs. Red River 1998
Channel Cat (Fort Peck) 20.3 lbs. Crooked Creak 2000
Channel Cat (Yellowstone) 21.6 lbs Forsyth 2006
Channel Cat (Milk River) 7.4 lbs Glasgow 2007
Channel Cat (Musselshell) 12lb 4 oz Musselshell 2007
Tournament Results
Tournament Weight Place Partner
1st Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 24 lb. 5 oz. Champions 5/20/00 Jason Molstad
2nd Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 10 lb. 3 oz. 3rd Place 5/19/01 Jason Molstad
3rd Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 12 lb. 7 oz. 2nd Place 5/18/02 Jerry Molstad
4th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 12.7 lbs. 2nd Place 5/31/03 Jason Molstad
5th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 13.9 lbs. 3rd Place 6/5/04 Jason Molstad
6th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 12.2 lbs. 10th Place 6/4/05 Jason Molstad
7th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 18.3 lbs. 3rd Place 6/3/06 Jason Molstad
17th Annual Cats Incredible-EGF, MN 25.3 lbs. 103rd Place 8/1/04 Luke Morehouse
18th Annual Cats Incredible-EGF, MN 49.74 lbs. 33rd Place 8/14/05 Jason Flaten
3rd Annual Savage Tournament 7.74 lbs. Champions 6/10/06 Brenner Flaten, Jason Flaten
Red River Catfish Club Tournament 36.2 lbs. 4th Place 7/22/06 Steve Harris
19th Annual Cats Incredible-EGF, MN 50.3 lbs. 70th Place 8/13/06 Nate Molstad
1st Annual Yellowstone Challenge 17.4 lbs 8th Place 5/19/07 Brenner Flaten
8th Annual Milk River Cat Classic 27.3 lbs 2nd Place 6/2/07 Jason Molstad
4th Annual Savage Tourney 1.16 lbs 24th Place 6/9/07 Brenner, Jason Flaten
20th Cats Incredible-EGF, MN 19.35 lbs 81st Place 8/11/07 Jason Molstad
Jason Flaten
(Cat Ferret)
Jason has a unique understanding of Catfishing. It all started over 15 years ago on the Milk River. Spending night after night trying to lure in those 6 lb. Milk River beauties, and attempting to break the Montana Stone Cat record. He loves the challenge that Catfishing provides, and he continually works towards becoming a top catfish angler. Jason’s specialty is small rivers, and any uncharted catfish waters. If you are looking for someone to travel with beyond fork stick country, he is the man to contact. Catfish Tournaments are high on his priority list, as he pencils in at least three on the calendar every year. Jason is also the founder and tournament director of the Yellowstone Challenge Catfish Tournament held annually in early May near Huntley, MT.
Contact Jason Flaten: catferret@montanacats.com
Personal Records
Channel Cat (All-Time) 24.5 lbs. Selkirk, MB Canada 6/10/05
Channel Cat (North Dakota) 16.3 lbs. Red River - EGF, MN 8/14/05
Channel Cat (Montana) 22.3 lbs. ???????? 2005
Channel Cat (Yellowstone River) 10.8 lbs. 3/18/08
Channel Cat (Musselshell River) 16.5 lbs. 5/06
Channel Cat (Milk River) 9.0 lbs. 2000
Stone Cat 0.32 lbs. Milk River 1993
Tournament Results
1st Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 17.0 lbs. 4th Place 5/20/00
2nd Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 1 lb. 6 oz. 13th Place 5/19/01
3rd Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 1 lb. 7 oz. 13th Place 5/18/02
4th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 14.8 lbs. Champions 5/31/03
5th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 17.7 lbs. Champions 6/5/04
17th Annual Cats Incredible - EGF, MN 32.44 lbs. 86th Place 8/1/04
Red River Valley Catfish League Tournament 22.4 lbs. 11th Place 7/23/05
18th Annual Cats Incredible - EGF, MN 49.74 lbs. 33rd Place 8/14/05
3rd Annual Savage Tournament - Yellowstone 7.74 lbs. Champions 6/10/06
Red River Valley Catfish Club Tournament 17.2 lbs. 29th Place 7/22/06
10th annual Lake McConaughy Catfish Classic 48 lbs. 14 oz 8th Place 5/5/07
8th Annual Milk River Cat Classic 18.1 lbs. 8th place 6/2/07
4th Annual Savage Tourney 1.16 lbs. 24th place 6/9/07
Steve Harris
(Cat Doctor)
Steve grew up in Yellowstone River country, taking camping trips 2-3 times a year with his dad and fishing for the mighty Channel Cat. When he was ten years old, he caught his biggest Yellowstone catfish to date. That giant twelve lb. cat hooked him. He started begging his dad to fish more and more and once he had wheels, if he wasn't hitting the books at school, he was on the banks of the Yellowstone. His summers and evenings were spent at the river and is what you would call a self taught Cat Man. Catfish have always been his favorite fish but until the last few years he didn't take it very seriously. He now has a passion for fishing every Montana Cat fishery and catching the biggest possible cat out of each body of water. The Musselshell River is his home away from home. Steve also had the opportunity in 1997, while living in Wisconsin, to take in a Doug Stange seminar on Catfish.....lucky dog. His current goal is to land a giant Montana cat that breaks 20 lbs and eventually catch the first thirty lb. Channel in Montana history. He loves competition and would love to win any of the Montana Catfish Tourneys.
Contact Steve Harris: catdoctor@montanacats.com
Personal Records
Musselshell River- 18 lbs. 2 oz
Powder River- 10 lbs 4oz
Fort Peck Reservoir- 8lbs 12 oz.
Red River ND- 15.8 lbs.
Missouri River- 13 lbs
3rd Annual Savage Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament
Red River Catfish Club Tournament 36.2 lbs. 4th Place 7/22/06
2007 Milk River Classic 5.2 lbs. 26th Place 6/2/07
Nate Molstad
(Katchin Whiskers)
Nate is a dedicated catfish angler with a wealth of experience. His specialty is reading small rivers while chasing the mighty Channel Catfish. He has experienced success in tournaments, but also enjoys just kicking back and casually spending a day on the river. He comes from a family of successful multi-species anglers. Nate teamed up with his father Jerry and won the 8th Annual Catfish Classic in 2007, smashing the previous tournament weight record in the process. His brother Jason is also a former Cat Classic tournament champion and avid outdoorsman. Nate grew up in Milk River country near Glasgow, and now resides near the Milk River in Havre, MT. Nate is dedicated to refining his own techniques as well as trying new things to help improve his catch rate in every situation. His goal is to see catfishing popularity and knowledge increase, in the eyes of the freshwater angler in Montana and the surrounding areas. He would like to see Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks become more proactive in conservation and increase catfishing opportunities throughout the state. Nate is a highly skilled writer and a major contributor to the website, look for his many fishing reports from the field on our Montana Cats message board.
Contact Nate Molstad: katchinwhiskers@montanacats.com.
Personal Records
Milk River 9.7 lbs. 6/3/07
Musselshell River 19 lbs. 5/12/07
Red River ND 16.03 lbs. 8/11/07
Tournament Results
1st Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 5 lbs. 2 oz. 9th Place 5/20/00
2nd Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 10 lbs. 13 oz. 2nd Place 5/19/01
3rd Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 12 lbs. 2 oz. 3rd Place 5/18/02
5th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 9.1 lbs. 8th Place 6/5/04
6th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 12.7 lbs. 9th Place 6/4/05
7th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 14.5 lbs. 10th Place 6/3/06
19th Annual Cats Incredible - EGF, MN 50.3 lbs. 70th Place 8/13/06
8th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic 34.9 lbs. Champions 6/2/07
20th Annual Cats Incredible – EGF, MN 39.52 lbs. 41st Place 8/11/07
Tyler George
(Doublehaul)
Tyler has been a multi-species angler since
he can remember. In the summer he would be found either targeting walleyes on
the weekends with his father or passing the time wetting a line in the Milk
River near and around his hometown of Glasgow. As winter rolled by, spring would
follow. With it would come open water and he could be found on the mighty
Missouri fishing for huge rainbow trout. For a short period of time during his
college experience at the U of M, he primarily targeted trout on fly rod and
spent the majority of his free time doing so. He is a conservationist at heart
and strives for long-term sustainability in our Montana waters. Due to
geographic location he briefly retired from chasing the elusive channel cat,
only to target them on short-lived trips back to eastern MT. Due to some gentle
persuasion from field staff members, in addition to placing 6th in the 2007 cat
classic Tyler chose to jump right back into catfishing with both feet. He also
is our most recent addition to the field staff. He now resides in Billings, and
will be serving that area and spending most of his time chasing cats on the
Yellowstone River.
Personal Records:
Milk River- 10.75 lbs 1991
Yellowstone River- 14.6 lbs 4/9/07
Fort Peck Reservoir- 10.2 lbs 7/5/08
Channel Cat (Montana) - 21.7 lbs 7/19/08
Flathead Catfish – 8.5 lbs. 5/10/08
Tournament Finishes:
Milk River Catfish Classic
2000- 8th place (Luke Morehouse)
2001- 9th place (Luke Morehouse)
2007- 6th place (Chris George)
2008- 2nd place (Jason Flaten)
Savage Fire Department Tournament
2008- 4th place (Brenner Flaten, Brady Flaten)
Bighorn Lake Tournament
2008-3rd place (Brenner Flaten)
Do you want to be contributing member of Montana Cats? Please send us a bio and what you can do to help promote the sport of Catfishing in Montana or Montana Catfish Association.
Join us online at www.myspace.com/montanacats or contact bigcatdad@montanacats.com.
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