Willow Kitty Prices....Is that normal?

[Juls]

I was talking to a friend this morning, who is fishing the MWC at Dubuque, and was told that Willow Cats are going for $28.00 a dozen there. That's $2.33 per kitty! (They have opted to use other presentations instead...go figure? LOL).

Is that normal for this time of year, or are they just trying to take advantage of the tournament in town, and gouging the angler's wallets?

That would hurt, if you had any left over after a day of fishing and had to kill them before leaving the ramp. Talk about throwing money away... :cookoo:

Good luck to all!

Juls
p.s. I also heard it was a very tough bite on pools 11, 12, and 13 right now too.

[wimwuen unlogged]

Hi Juls,

I've seen them priced in the $20-$25 per dozen range when there's a big tourney in town. It's also harder to find good sized kittys by this time of year. You really don't want to pay $28 per dozen for small Willow Cats that aren't as hardy as the regular sized ones.

Another consideration is keeping them alive. If you keep them in a baitwell and keep water flowing, or keep them in a cooler with ice, they should be fine. It's also becoming a specialty market. Some states can't sell them, and if you want to fish with them you either need to catch your own or pay through the nose for them across the river.

[Scott Lewis]

I must be a hillbilly!!! What the he*# is a willow kitty? I'm from S.Dak (maybee that explains things LOL) and never have heard of them.

[Juls]

http://www.wiscfish.org/fishid/wFrmWisconsinFishList.aspx

click on "Tadpole Madtom" from the link above. Willow Cats are a local name for them. I'm not sure where that name came from?

Maybe they are easily trapped under the hanging boughs of a Willow tree, and since they look like itty bitty kitties, the name made sense? I have no clue why they call them that. :)

Juls

[fishim]

I would have to say there takin ya to the cleaner at $28. I could see maybe paying around $1 a piece for the bigger ones (2.5-3.5"). Unfotunately they know that us tourny guys will spend whatever it takes to have what ya need. $10 a dozen would be a fair price but good luck finding that. Hopefully enough guys turn them down at that price and they realize that were tryin to make a living to!!

[REELMAN]

yes you are a hill billy.

[fastboy]

gotta pay to play.

[Ex T man]

Jeepers Juls you have never seen the fresh numbers up on the gas price signs at the stations when you roll into town for a tournament? Today gas prices fluctuate much more than the late 80's and 90's but it was common to see the price jump 5 cents a gallon when we (PWT) rolled into town. Yes retailors of all stripe love to gouge the tournamnet anglers.

[KTurner UL]

>Jeepers Juls you have never seen the fresh numbers up on the
>gas price signs at the stations when you roll into town for a
>tournament? Today gas prices fluctuate much more than the late
>80's and 90's but it was common to see the price jump 5 cents
>a gallon when we (PWT) rolled into town. Yes retailors of all
>stripe love to gouge the tournamnet anglers.

5 cents? This years FLW at BDN I fished my half day down south the day before the tournament. Filled the Burban and Ranger up to the tune of $3.06/gallon in Wisc. When I got back to Escanaba the price was somewhre in the range of $3.47. Talked to a young businessman at the pump and he said "welcome to our town, snicker, snicker.... It won't go down until you folks and the county fair folks go home." Makes you wonder how the Chamber allows such gouging to go on.......

[Juls]

Sure! You Bet!

But come on...2.33 for a single undersized willow kitty? You get a lot more gas for 2.33 than you do livebait, in this instance.

That's just sad.

We never buy the little buggers anyway, so it doesn't really matter to me, I just think it's crazy, that's all. :)

Juls

[Flog]

I'd have to agree with the Escanaba hospitality. Some of the rudest people I've ever encountered for tournament fisherman. Must be in the water... will Never go back.

[Juls]

Really? We didn't experience that at all. Everyone was very nice to us, I thought. It was a pleasant experience other than the off bite we had. (Booooooooooo! Stupid fishes! heheh)

Juls

[logjam]

Flat out pathetic that some bait shops bump up the price like this when anglers come to town. You never see this happen when anglers come to places such as the Detroit River. Hey theres a tourney in town lets bump our emeralds to $10 a dozen or more. The prices stay the same no matter who is in town or how good or bad the bite is. Willow cat dealers that are taking advantage of the situation wake up and take notes and show a little decency!!! Hope you bait shop owners that take advantage of the opportunity sleep well at night after the good rammin' you impose on folks that want to try fishing your little willow cats. Sorry to vent. Just my two cents!!

Enough said! Go fishing and have fun!!!

P.S. Fish a fathead or a Gulp Minnow. Just as good!!!

[Dubuquer]

I have no idea were your getting your imformation, I live in Dubuque and I'm not aware of ANY baitshop in Dubuque or Iowa selling Willow Cats.The closest place I'm aware of is Falling Rock North of Prairie de Chien, Wis. About 60 Miles NORTH of Dubuque. Good luck to everyone fishing here this weekend.

[logjam]

Dubuquer, I apologize! My statement about Willow Cats was not directed towards any bait shops in Dubuque. Dealers are not allowed to even sell them in Iowa. The bait shops we have been to in Dubuque have been great. My point was I have seen it happen in many tournaments on the Mississippi system when big tournaments come to town the price on the Willows goes through the roof. Again enough said. Let's go fishing!

[logjam]

Dubuquer, I apologize! My statement about Willow Cats was not directed towards any bait shops in Dubuque. Dealers are not allowed to even sell them in Iowa. The bait shops we have been to in Dubuque have been great. My point was I have seen it happen in many tournaments on the Mississippi system when big tournaments come to town the price on the Willows goes through the roof. Again enough said. Let's go fishing!