Bait Placement Question

[skolvikesallday]

I read somewhere on here that piled up trees underwater are a good current break and a good place to find cats.

I know of a lot of places like this on pool 6 where I fish but Im not sure about how to target them.

Where would I place my bait when fishing these snags? In front of the logs? behind them? Off to the side? All of the above?

Thanks

[MinnesnowtaWild]

It's really up to you. Give them all a try, nothing wrong with changing bait placement in a spot a few times before you move. I would personally try to fish immediately downstream from the snag in the current seam and then try moving upstream from the snag.

I would say more times than not people will fish upstream from structure and cast up into it as close as they can get.

[nsnutter]

Yeah, it really depends on what you're fishing from. Being predominantly a shore fisherman, I will take whatever is given to me, if I can find a clearing with a decent enough bank to land a fish both down and upstream, I will do the same, start downstream and move up ... if you're in a boat, it's a totally different ballgame. You can actually pull right up to the snag and drop just a weight ( cut your leader with hook off for now ) and just drop it down all along the snag to find clear routes down ... once you have found several routes of clear bait placement, go ahead and tie your leader back on after checking your line for damage of course ... and load 'er on up with a bullie. With this method, you can try several different clearings in the logjam, and therefore just about drop the bullie right in front of Mr. Flathead's face ... give it a shot if you're fortunate enough to have a boat to fish from!!

[nsnutter]

Here, on second thought I have pulled up a quick google search, to clear up any confusion on what I have just told you ... hopefully these will help to clarify my post above.

Edit: Yikes sorry I didn't realize you couldn't post links (that nsnutter is such a noob )

[Shack]

Quote:

Where would I place my bait when fishing these snags? In front of the logs? behind them? Off to the side? All of the above?

Pretty much the best answer. If you limit yourself to only doing one option when you go out, you will learn the meaning of "skunk streak".

My idea of time spent in one location without a bite is about 45 minutes (2 hour in reality ). If nothing is happening as far as even some clicker runs or thumps in 45 minutes, IMO chances are nothing is in the area as far as bait fish and actively feed cats.

[DTro]

(with the current conditions) Put your bait on a transition from slow water to fast and hold on!

Once the flow and level comes back down, toss er in the wood anywhere you can find a spot.

[skolvikesallday]

Thanks for the replies guys. I am lucky enough to have a boat so I guess Ill move around and try different things till I see what works best for me.

I should have asked this question first, but are these log jams a good place for me to start looking for cats? Or are current seams better. What about holes? I assume each location can be good depending on the conditions, time of year, water level, etc... but if you were to go out on a part of the river you have never been on, where is the first place you would start looking?

What if I have a current seam, near a deep hole, near a large logjam, near a shallow bay with lots of baitfish? This would seem to me to be an ideal location, but Im pretty new to catfishing and still learning a lot.

Thanks again for all the help, I have read all the big catfish threads (some several times) but Im just trying to learn some of the specifics and hoping to save myself from wasting too much time fishing unproductive spots. Hoping to get out for an all nighter the next nice night, ill let you guys know how it goes. Now if I could only find some bullheads near winona...

[rushing]

Im just trying to learn some of the specifics and hoping to save myself from wasting too much time fishing unproductive spots.

Its never a waste of time out on the river!

The thing of it is you can spend time fishin a productive area at the wrong time or not be in the "right spot" in that area. There is no real one answer..different parts of the river have different structure and depth. Best thing to look for is "structure". That could be wood piles, current seam, rocky areas, shallow to deep.

Best advice is to get out and just enjoy your time on the water and the fish and the learning where to find them will come.

[Surreal Deal]

What if I have a current seam, near a deep hole, near a large logjam, near a shallow bay with lots of baitfish? This would seem to me to be an ideal location, but Im pretty new to catfishing and still learning a lot.

[Scott K]

Sometimes fish are where you dont think they would be as well. A lot of good spots get over looked because people dont think the spot looks good, although under the water, there maybe a drop off, a hump, or just a washout, that a fish will like. I am pretty sure any experienced catman has caught some decent fish in spots, they never thought they would, but for some odd reason decided to stop and throw out a line for 20 minutes.

I have one spot that is on the main channel, and a straight stretch of the river, is about 4 feet deep, not much for timber in the water, but I have pulled out sever fish over 30 in that spot, and one almost 50.