Catfish News/Tip on catching BIG Catfish

[capt.kirk]

News Flash,anyone that get there Paws on the March Issue of
North American Fisherman,this Issue deals with catching catfish on/in
the Rock River in Illinois,Great tips on big Channel Cats in Shallow water.
Also has some good information on taking Giant Blucats.Mostly deals
with the use of cut bait and nightcrawlers,boat position and fishing
in as little as 6 to 8 inches of water,just when we think we know it all
along comes a young buck to tell us more.;) Kirk

[Catfishing Matt]

Thanks Kirk, I'll have to check on that!

[cattracker16]

very interesting i have heard about big cats being in shallow waters before not sure who told me. I just know it wasn't soup..

[capt.kirk]

Kenny,I have caught several big cats in less than 2 ft of water at night,
one day in August,high noon,air temp 104,got a 21 lb blue in about a foot
of water by a log in the shade,Big Suprise :D Hard to figure sometimes.
Kirk
We know it wasant Ole Soupy,maybe you dreamed it.

[Soupy_1us]

HUH ? What I do?


very interesting i have heard about big cats being in shallow waters before not sure who told me. I just know it wasn't soup..

[Timotha7]

Big Channels definitely move up into the shallows and along edges of shallow
weed lines at nite on lakes around here, an on the little rivers the flatheads
move out of holes and cruise the sand bars

That holds for the other predators as well
have always had the best luck catching bigger fish at nite than during the
day an that includes crappie an walleyes an bass as well as cats

Another thing I have read is that as fish get older, (bigger) their
eyes become more light sensitive, so they start patterns of feeding at
nite

One thing can add to that, when you fish daylight, you generally see a
lot of pressure, go out bout 2 in the morning on same lake an you are
often times all alone
Big fish get big by having feeding patterns that take them away from
fishermen
Feeding at nitetime is one of those patterns IMO

[capt.kirk]

Tim,your right on the patterns that they run,I would rather Catfish at
night in the rain than have :D the rain really brings them
to feed along the banks. Kirk

[Timotha7]

Yep the rain will get em going, so will a nice lil wind stirring up the shallows
a tad bit

When I got wind coming into my face like that I like to fish them with slip bobbers

Got a slope from deeper to shallow, will set it say 15 foot down, then
cast out so that bait is suspended and then is pushed into the 15 foot
depth on the slope by the wind
That way you can fan cast the whole area and work the slope at precise
controlled depths
after fan casting at 15 foot or deepest starting depth, will move the knot
up about 2 foot and repeat the processusing that
slip bobber like that will let you find out where they are hanging and you
can really target them from there
Lots of times even a foot or so difference can make big difference in wether
you get on the bite or not

Same bobber techniques works great for crappie and walleye too,
and you can use live bait under them or even "pop" jigs that way too

[capt.kirk]

Tim there are tales about wind outta the east that fishin is not good,
well to that i say:p If the wind is outta the east fish the west bank.
where the bait fish are if a person waits for the perfect weather he
aint a true fisherman/women.Kirk

[Timotha7]

That is a fact, you gotta be out there to catch them
Lightening is bout the only thing that I have found that will
totally turn off fish
*(and might not turn them off, but it sure runs me off when it starts
popping too close )\

[capt.kirk]

Lightning to close,when the static electricity stands the hair up on
your arms,To late to move when it lifts your line up outta the water,
it is gonna have a shocking conclusion,But if you have to go, might
as well go while fishing.;) Kirk