Why are they here?

We did not target large catfish. If someone had said to me, “let’s go to Stumphole area at Santee and try to catch some 20 pound catfish” the LAST place I would look, or expect to catch any, would be in 3 ft or less way up in the swamp. But that’s where we literally “stumbled” into them because we were NOT expecting this. During spring-summer spawn? Sure, but I’m at a loss as to why these were so shallow. Admittedly I’m no expert by a long shot but trying to learn so...

So can can anyone explain why these big cats were back in such shallow water?
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Only reasons I can think of is the water is the temp they can tolerate and their food source is there. What were you guys baiting with? In the winter that's where you catch alot of catfish where I live and fish. Looks like you guys had fun though.:)

Sorry for the photo snafu’s above. Posting from my phone.

Gotta love it, congrats!

We used to catch a lot of cats and stripers in the mid-back sections of creeks in late fall. I always thought it was due to the shad migration going back there as the weather cooled.

Chris

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Originally Posted by gabowman

Only reasons I can think of is the water is the temp they can tolerate and their food source is there. What were you guys baiting with? In the winter that's where you catch alot of catfish where I live and fish. Looks like you guys had fun though.:)

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Congrats on a great fishing day and thanks for sharing. I agree 100% that they are in a pre-winter feeding pattern before heading to their deeper water winter haunts. I have always believed that fall and early winter is one of the best times to catch bigger and higher numbers of catfish.

Following the baitfish whatever they may be. Nice fish.

Shad getting ready to spawn in the backs of creeks and shallow areas

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