In-Between = Catfish??

[TUMBLEWEED]

The only catfishing I've ever done was in some ponds and lakes in Oklahoma.Mostly bank fishing and some trotline use.We were thinking of killing some time in between the better walleye/northern/crappie times with a shot for some cats.I know worms and cut bait
are what you use,but do we just pull into a spot and throw it on the bottom??I was thinking maybe throw it on the bottom,with a float bobber set a foot or so too deep so when the "kitty" comes to play,we can see the strike and set the hook??We will be on the Horseshoe chain,I see lots of cats in the surveys.Just need a little help for fishing for them from a boat.Thanks

[GullGuide]

One of the best ways that I have found on the shoe is to Put a chunk of cutbait on a jig and work the bottom just as you would for walleye. Fish the channel areas early on.
Good luck
>"////=<

[Guest]

The method Gullguide is referring to works best in River Channel areas and hard botton areas. If you were to fish the shallow mud, like this time of year, you will want to try the bobber approach, as the bait will sink to far into the mud if you do not. If you want to have some real fun try a jig and minnow, never know what you will be getting then, Northern, walleye, cat...all good fun. ScottS

------------------
ScottS
[email protected]

[TUMBLEWEED]

Thanx for the tips guys. We had a super weekend for cats this last weekend!! They were everywhere.Biggest was an easy 8 pounds.
They were so easy to catch,that it was just a blast to kill some time in between the walters. We practiced catch and release,so those "kittys" are still up there for next time. I did see some walleye anglers getting
ticked off when they got a cat on. (The ones I saw all were released safely without any harm.)I thought that was kinda exciting,getting a good cat on light line!!
If you got kids that want to go fishing,I'd say take em out on the Horseshoe chain and let em play with the "kittys". If everything goes well,the catfishing up there should get even better with some real trophy size fish
available.

[andy j]

I agree, I love to catch catfish. I would like to see more bigger fish though. I caught a catfish close to 12-15 lbs. last year and a few in the 6-8 lb. range. Lets here If anyone else had caught any big ones on the chain.

[Guest]

To tell you the truth I think that they are ruining the walleye fishing. I have fished the chain my whole live and it only seems to be getting worse since the DNR decided to start stocking cats. They claimed that the did this to reduce the number of bullheads but it is affecting the walleye pop. also. I use to go out and catch piles of walleye everyday, CPR of course. Now I have all I can just to get a limit. Some days better than others. Nothing worse than fishing for walleyes and having to fight off the cats all day, summer or winter! Just my opinion I hate cats. The worst thing is that no one or hardly anyone like to eat cats and throw them all back so this just makes them more abundant I fear that the day is coming when cats will rule the chain and the walleye reputation that has been given to this great body of water will be lost forever.