Some lakes here in Nebraska have shad, some don't. I don't know what those catfish feed on when there are no dead shad. Folks had luck with iceout cats early in Feb, but then winter threw a snowstorm at us and the lakes have refrozen. Don't know how the cats will react now. My first time going for catfish this early. Normally I start the first week of June when the water hits the upper 60's to 70 degrees.

I don't have a good idea on how catfish feed during the early spring. Are they lethargic and slow taking the bait to the point I should turn the clicker on and set the hook myself? Or turn the clicker off and let them run with it and let the circle hook set itself?