Catfishing Help

[mathewjp]

I grew up bass/crappie fishing so I am relatively new to catfishing.

I threw some jug lines together for this spring/summer, so I am looking forward to that. As far as where and when to fish for catfish is what I need help with.

I have a boat with a finder but I am curious what areas and contours on lakes and rivers I should target catfish? What times of day are catfish more apt to bite and does weather/moon phase/pressure affect them?

The lake I fish is about 30 foot deep at most, in the river channel on main lake. The dam side is lined with rip rap, there are several creeks and some standing timber on the north side of lake.

Basically looking for all the pointers I can get so I can put my nephews on some catfish!! Any information helps.

[Erin Brewer]

Lake wise it just depends on what stage the cats are in. Most fish jug lines on flats close to inlet waters around creeks and such. Your line length on the jugs will need to be a little deeper for lake fishing. Now if you get in the river or creek that has good flow you can fish with lines about 2 foot deep. The rivers are always my go to for catfish. These came off the tallahatchie river in mississippi

[Hawkeye72]

Depends what your targeting channel, flats or blues? I only rod and reel fish mainly in a small river by my house. I have always had good luck fishing edys bait will gather in the slack water. Creek mouths are also good places to target cats will move into the creek to get away from the current. Channels will feed anytime of day if you can catch some skipjack herring channels and blues love the stuff. Flats you will need live or fresh cut bait bluegill and shad are great bait. Fish around structure anywhere they can sit and get out of current by them selves. I've had good luck with eaters during day. Most people fish for monsters at night. And remember big bait for big fish.

I can't really say much for moon phase I don't really pay attention to it.

Re read your post if I was fishing with a kid I would grab a couple jars of stink bait. You will not catch anything over 5 lbs but channels usually bite good on it when water is above 60 degrees or so. Kids will have fun reeling them in just make sure they don't get stink bait on themselves.

[mathewjp]

That's a good haul, Erin!

Woukd like to catch some bigins but mainly wanting to catch some smaller channels for filleting. I have some sudden impact punch bait I've used a few times but haven't had any luck. Probably wasn't where the fish were. Lol.

Thanks for the info, I will try some creek mouths and river channels. We are heading out in a few to fish an arm off the Verdigris river. Just got plenty of rain so the water ia up. Will post how we do.

[mathewjp]

Letting a bunch of water out but we managed 2 channel cats on shrimp and shad.

Set a couple limb lines with shrimp and struck out. We'll get em next time.

[NIMROD]

For Channels look on drops with cover . If fishing where there is no current try chumming with soured grain like wheat .

[mathewjp]

Learning a little along the way. Mostly by trial and error.

I have learned that when they are dropping the lake, don't bother fishing. Pretty much goes for all species.

I heard some guys saying they like to fish shallow this time of year. What time of year can you catch them in shallow water flats and how long does that last? Wanting to try it again this weekend. Any help appreciated.

[NIMROD]

We catch them near shallow flats in summer . Never say fish don't bite on falling water , but they many times change locations . We find looking for fish on drops . points and where water running in on a fall. They can be found feeding on bait being pulled into lakes and rivers where water being pulled back into main water body.

[Slabprowler]

They move up to the shallows to spawn around this time every year .they will roam up and down the rip rap or banks early mornings and late evenings feeding. get u a float fish out from the bank 12-15' or so from the bank. use chicken liver use a piece about the size of half dollar or red worms or night crawlers.if you are looking for big uns I would look for deep holes or in the mouth of creeks would use fresh cut bait .dont know how your river system is but if you have shell beds you can count on them being laid up their.

[Lepomis]

I would fish the riprap with a slipfloat rig about 4-5 ft. deep. The lake I fish is mostly channel cats. This time of year they are looking for crevices and cavities to spawn in, and riprap fills the bill. I mainly fish deep rocky banks with broken bedrock chunks and overhanging layers. Right now they are shallow; when they go deeper I bottom fish the same banks with as little weight as possible to slowly sink the bait and reduce hanging.

I bait with the cheapest raw peeled or unpeeled shrimp you can find. Put it in something like a pimento cheese carton and sprinkle strawberry jello powder in it (I'm sure it would also work without the Jello). Shrimp stays on the hook good and the non-catfish generally leave it alone, but you will catch the occasional bass. When you get home just put the carton in the freezer for the next trip.

USE CIRCLE HOOKS. You will gut-hook fewer fish and fewer will get off the hook. Fight the urge to "set the hook"; just reel up the slack and give the fish a tug.

Good luck!