Montana Catfish Association - News & Updates

June 03, 2017 by Montana Cats Staff

It was supposed to be difficult. It was supposed to give anglers problems. Many felt it might even path the way for some teams to win their first ever Catfish Classic. None of it proved true!

May 13, 2017 by Montana Cats Staff

The 11th Annual Yellowstone Challenge Catfish Tournament once again threw the top catfish anglers in Montana a curve ball. With erratic spring weather, this tourney consistently provides inconsistent and unpredictable conditions. This year wasn’t an exception. Due to unseasonably warm temperatures the week leading up to the event, the river swelled to over 30K CFS, with water levels rising near a foot on tournament day.

August 20, 2016 by Montana Cats Staff

The 2016 Missouri River Catfish Clash was off and running Friday August 19th with the catfish social and Calcutta at the Four Mile Bar in Williston, North Dakota. Fifty-one teams showed up for the festivities and plenty of tips and techniques were shared amongst the anglers. A record amount of bidding was the perfect intro to an absolutely stunning day on the water. Tournament fishermen couldn’t ask for much better than 70+ degrees, sunny, with little to no wind. Teams were released in flights of ten beginning at 9:00 am from the Lewis and Clark boat launch just outside of Williston. Most teams struggled early, but they were consistently catching fish every hour from there on out.

July 16, 2016 by Montana Cats Staff

Early on Saturday, Sidney Catfish anglers, Matt Reynolds and Carrie Niblock, didn’t know what the day of fishing would hold. Carrie remarked to Matt early on during the tournament, “how cool would it be to win this thing?”, Matt quipped in return, “I don’t care, I just want my name on one of them t-shirts”.

June 11, 2016 by MT Cats Staff

6/11/16 Savage, MT – For a 12th consecutive year, the Savage Fire Department Catfish Tournament was held in the small Eastern Montana town that hugs the Yellowstone River along the Montana-North Dakota border. The rules remained the same. Each team is allowed to bring five Channel Catfish to weigh-ins. ALL five catfish must fall in the “slot” and measure between 12” and 18”. Anything under 12” or over 18” must released during the tournament and not weighed. This always creates an interesting obstacle for the 3-man teams to overcome. One weekend a year, catfish anglers need to change tactics, shift the focus off of big fish, and scratch and claw for the little guys.

This year was unlike any other on record, however, as twenty-five teams out of sixty weighed in over seven pounds. (a weight that is typically impressive enough to take home the title). Fighting their way to the top of a field littered with impressive weights was the trio of Brenner Flaten, Glasgow, Chad Dawson, Dickinson, ND, and Cole Plouffe, Glendive. Using a run and gun approach and a plethora of different baits, the champs set a NEW all-time tournament record with a basket of fish tipping the scales at 8.305 lbs. “Anytime you can win a tournament it just feels great, regardless of the event or the money on the line, taking hardware home is awesome”. Dawson, Flaten, and Plouffe have teamed up the past four years in Savage and had previously finished in the top six in both 2013 and 2014. Flaten becomes the first 2-time champion in event history. His previous title came in 2006, while teaming up with Jason and Brady Flaten.........