How to target channel cats in lakes

[mainbutter]

There are a few small lakes I know of that are supposed to have some decent channel kitties in 'em, one of the lakes supposedly even has average lengths of 24''.

I had no luck last year finding them from shore, but then again I didn't hit it as hard as I could have.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to target channel kitties in lakes?

[Fishingdad77]

Try bobber fishing with shiners a couple feet off the bottom

[SteveD]

This is how we do it on lake St Croix and it should work on your lake.

This is a pretty simple approach to catching cats. You will not find a cheaper or simpler rig than our standard drifting rig: Tie a size 1/0 or so snap swivel on your main line. Tie a 1/0 to 5/0 circle hook on about an 18” to 24” leader and then tie about a size 1/0 barrel swivel to the end of the leader. Hook that barrel swivel on the snap swivel and you are ready to fish. We normally use fresh cut sucker for bait. That is it! Pretty simple. The weight of the cut bait and the two swivels is about all you will need to get your bait in the strike zone. Most people think they need to have a weight or some kind of sinker on their line to get it down to the bottom but before you add weight to your rig give this set up a fair chance – it will surprise you how effective it is.

I like to fillet suckers into strips about 1 ½” to 2” wide and about 4” long or so. We use fresh cut sucker, it seems to leave a good scent trail. We cast that bait out behind the drifting boat feeding line until you will feel your bait ticking along the bottom. I place my rods in rod holders and watch my rod tips – you will see the rod tips jump as the bait ticks along the bottom but watch them because – WHAM! Those channel cats hit like freight trains. We will sometimes hold a rod and get a feel for the bottom and what is going on with the bait. This way you can feel the light biters and will sometimes boat fish you never see with a rod sitting in a holder.

We try to fish the flats along the main channel targeting that first break into deeper water. That is where the shad schools seem to be congregate. Another location we have found is main channel humps with water in the 15 to 20 foot range and shad schools in the vicinity. Find the shad and you will find the catfish. When the shad are present and you can find them on your electronics, they will key you to catfish.

We try to maintain a drift speed in the .5 mph to .75 mph range. The slower the better is usually a good rule. When I am drifting with the wind I will sometimes use a drift sock to control my speed and direction. Sometimes we will just use the electric trolling motor to run into the wind or use the electric if there is no wind at all. The trolling motor allows you to very accurately control your direction and speed – you are actually trolling more than drifting with this technique.

I use my GPS to mark each fish caught so that I can return to another drift close to that same location. I find the GPS invaluable because you can analyze each drift. I try not to spend any time on empty water already fished plus the GPS allows me to find and repeat the good drift lines.

[mainbutter]

So I guess I should move more and cover more water? I was basically doing the same thing as I do when I fish the rivers for channel kitties with cut bait, but I just can't find the darn things in the couple lakes I've tried.

[Carp-fisher]

Once the water warms of abit, one thing I would definitely try would be to fish woody cover on windblown side of lakes. If the water is murky, channel cats will move up into 2 feet of water in the wood in the middle of the day. Pitch some chicken liver in there...

[Brad B]

mainbutter,

For lakes I just fish the cats like I would for walleyes. I fish them under a slip bobber rig about 6" to 1' off the bottom. If there are cats there and they are hungry they will take you bait. The only difference would be you would use like a 10 lbs or heavier line(for walleye I use 6lbs). I did notice in your original post you said from the shore. to be more effective on lakes you would need a boat and to look for deeper holes(20 to 30 feet deep). Like steve d said use cut suckers for bait. My main lake that I will be targeting the cats on is horseshoe lake up by richmond,mn (this lake is part of the sauk river chain of lakes). The size up there runs between 16" to 24" with some over 30" once in awhile.