Channel Catfishing Later

[Guest]

I don't have any Bullheads so can I use LARGE sucker minnows? Will that be just as effective? This will be in a LITTLE LAKE, perhaps 50+ acres but there are tons of Channels in there. Also, how should I rig it? Just a BIG hook and a HEAVY sinker?

[hanson]

Web-

For targeting channel catfish, I wouldn't worry too much about having live bait. Live bait is more of a flathead cat tactic. Channels love cutbait. I have caught them on cut sucker, golden shiner, and my favorite- Goldeye.

Nightcrawlers will also catch channels although you may catch other fish also, especially in a river.

Fisher Dave showed me the two fathead minnows on one hook trick. That seams to be effective also. Lip hook both fathead minnows and then rip one of the minnows in half so the head is on the hook, this will add a little scent.

I would go with a 3/0 size circle hook on about a 12-18" leader, a barrel swivel, and then your weight. If there is not much current, you don't really need much weight (1/2-3/4oz would seem fine to me). Its basically a Lindy Rig.

[Guest]

Hanson,

I'll be on a lake so there won't be much, if any current at all but thanks for the tip! I'll get some fatheads later because I don't want to catch little sunnies!

Whats a goldeneye??

[hanson]

Here's a photo I found in a different thread.

Goldeye is a 'rough fish' that is primarily found in rivers. My primary goldeye spot is up north and I just stock the cooler with them when I'm up there. They sort of look like a big shiner minnow. Oh yeah, fun to catch too. Fiesty critters.

[Guest]

gotcha! Thanks for the tip! I'll let you know how I do later with the fat heads

[Fisher Dave]

Try to mess around with your baits some.. let the fish dictate the size of your bait.. a 1" piece of a fresh cut, meduim sucker can be a very good choice for cats of almost any size. The Fathead trick is my early season trick when the fish are still pretty lethargic and dont want to take the larger offering... sometimes the smaller, scent filled presentation dropped in front of their nose is hard to refuse.. even in cold water.

Right now.. its not cold water. Any bait out there that has some flavor and is set near the fish should produce some action... you dont need a huge bait for channels, but you want to have enough bait on the hook to coax the fish into biting. I have done EXTREMELY well in the summer months on leeches also..

I am a novice to lake fishing for cats.. same specie of fish, different conditions. I definitely wouldnt outrule fishing under a float because the fish may be suspended chasing bait around.

I would highly recommend trying to keep *walleye* size baits out there.. not too big, not too small.. just right.

[Guest]

I just bought 6 small sucker minnows and 1/2 scoop of fat heads. Heading out now, will update when I get back!

[basssmasher*]

my best channel bait has been a dip bait or stinkbait if ya wanna call it that.. get the worm about 1/2 covered w/dipbait... put a small slip sinker on and have fun!!

[htgeren]

I've never heard of anyone using this up here yet for cats but this is similar to the fathead minnow deal but I've found it to be pretty effective as well. Back when I was growing up in southern Iowa on the mississippi fishing for giant Channels and Blues below L&D 18 we used to jam anywhere from 4 to 6 fatheads on a hook, then step on them and get them squished up real good. Not so they are too mangled to fall off the hook but enough that their guts and the internal juices start leaking out. We used to slaughter them down there with that, worked good for Flats too especially when we left one or two of the minnows in tact. Spent 18 years down there primarily fishing for cats and the funny thing is I have yet to target them since I've been up here. I got to get my priorities straight.

[Guest]

I got skunked last night. Even with the fat heads and sucker minnows

[EBass]

So how did it go? And I saw the new Batman and thought it was pretty cool.

[Guest]

Last night me, my brother and my wife went and after we left the launch, I put on a daredevil, my favorite crappie colored daredevil. 1st cast, I had a strike. It felt like a bass / small pike because he didn't fight much so I was reeling it in and all of a sudden this hugh muskie jumps out of the water, shakes his head a few times and spit my daredevil out!! I was so mad! I only had my medium / fast action st. croix rod with me and when I set the hook, it didn't hook him well enough. Man, I lost the biggest muskie I've ever seen in real life.. My brother and wife and confirm this too because their jaws just dropped on how big that muskie was! I'm going to go hunt for him everyday! haha

As for the batman, I thought it was going to suck but when I saw it for the 1st time I was impressed. ITs was definitely a good movie. It set the tone for the '89 Batman with keaton.. I actually liked keaton as batman better but this was as good show

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So how did it go? And I saw the new Batman and thought it was pretty cool.

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