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I want to take my young kids out for some catfish this week. I have not had much luck finding a good spot on the Ottawa River. I am also fine going to the Rideau. We would be fishing from shore.

Any suggestions where we should go (and when or other pointers) to have a good chance at landing some good sized fish?

Thanks!

PM sent....

Use a gob of worms on lightly weighted line resting on the bottom. I find cutting a long worm into 3 four parts and threading them on to a single hook puts out alot of scent; Your not going to catch the big ones on worms but I have caught many 2-4 pounders.

Last year at pwtrie island at the first bay on the right side we caught a ton of 7-10 pound channel cats last summer.. worms and minnows and chunks of hot dog even! 2-3 foot down with a bobber and a good hook did it for us!

Andrew Haydon Park, as long as the water is still high. Once the water drops on the Ottawa it is not worth it. Shrimp works well. Good luck

Sounds like a lot of fun! Andrew Haydon park is only a few minutes from my house so I will be hitting it this long weekend.

Thanks everyone!

Go to Bate Island under the champlaine Bridge it's full of cats seriously.. I've been going there for years it's my favorite spot

BATE ISLAND

We went to Andrew Haydon park tonight, didn't catch a thing, not even a nibble.

There are thousands of shiners under the bridge and in the creek which made for an interesting show. Also the baby mallards have hatched, so the kids still had fun watching them.

We fished from around 6:30pm until around 8:15pm. Perhaps we didn't stay late enough.

We were fishing a combination of baits on three rods (I took two kids along): catfish stink bait, dead minnows and corn.

I also tried fishing off the rock-wall into the main channel, but it was too rough.

The Deschene Rapids park along the Ottawa River Parkway, sorry, the Sir John A. Parkway. is not a bad spot to try. Worms work well there (lots of ducks to amuse the kids as well).

The Deschene Rapids park along the Ottawa River Parkway is a good bet like Pints said. I used to fish there for cats when the water is high and lots of small guys but I have caught them over the 5 lbs mark. You will get the odd panfish and walleye too. Kevin

Lazy bay, at Lemieux island. There's a deep hole near the south east corner full of cats.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=45.41109 ... 17&iwloc=A

Daboss, where does one park if they want to fish Lemieux island? I always wanted to check that spot out, thanks kevin

Right here, small public lot, no fees.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=45.41225 ... 18&iwloc=A

I am certainly going to give that a shot!

Lazy Bay was awesome tonight. Clearly it is important to stay late.

Caught many 4lb or so cats, even kept a couple to try eating.

Also latched onto something huge that took most of my line before breaking off. Left me with an empty reel, I knew then it was time to pack up.

Was fishing with worms on two single-hooks and a weight to keep them on the bottom. Even managed a double-header tonight, boy did these two little guys take a long time to reel in!!!

Well done. Efforts paid off.

This spring I have seen some mind-blowingly big cats meowing about in the shallows. Wanna hit some up one of these days.