MrGiggles

I believe I misidentified the cat I caught on the crankbait, it was just a large channel. Anyway I took the boat out and did a lot better on the newer pond. At first we weren't having a whole lot of luck. I threw out a bobber with some pink Powerbait grubs on a normal hook with my small panfish pole... The first cat of the night hit that and my line snapped trying to pull the fish out of the water (forgot the net.) My brother was with me and he hooked the next one using a pink Roadrunner with a yellow skirt, and had a couple more hits that got loose. I started using my popper and landed 3 2-3lb largemouths in about 15 minutes. I am wondering about common pond rigs for bluegill in the summer.. We caught a few on the roadrunner but they were smaller than my hands. I would like to catch some bigger ones, if anyone has suggestions.

Well I tried pretty hard again and didn't have any luck with the cats. I think mic is right about the channel cats being gone from that pond. There are some fallen trees along the edges of the pond and whatever sunken trees that are left I can't see. I've only been able to catch bass out of this one, I bought a popper from walmart that really slays them. There is another pond at this place that is a little smaller but still large and it's only 4-5 years old. I caught a 20" flathead accidententally on a crankbait that I turned loose. Channel cats were stocked as well. I'm gonna take the boat out there next time.

I'm from Minnesota so I really don't know much about Catfish. I live in Missouri now and bought a setup large enough to use on cats, so I'm looking for a little info on the subject. My fishing hole is a large pond (about the size of a football field) that is fairly deep (probably over 20feet in some spots.) It's at the very least 10 years old, probably more. I know for a fact channel cats were stocked, but over the years I'm sure some other species have been thrown in. I am targeting any type of cat. I went the other day without the boat and didn't have any luck on cats. I was just using a 3 way swivel with a 1oz. weight and a #4 treble, baited with a whole shad. I just casted it out as far as I could and let it sit. No action whatsoever. Tonight I will be taking the boat out and will have better access to the rest of the lake. I am wondering what type of rig will work good for me, and how to use it. I purchased some pre-made baits that I'm hoping to use. I'm just using a cheap spinning combo with 25lb mono. I'm really not sure what the bottom of the middle of the pond is like. I know for the first 25 feet or so it is a clay bottom that is weedy. What type of structure should I be looking for? And how can I tell what it is without a fish finder?

I used to live in Minnesota and did a lot of fishing. One of the best times was on a trip to Lake of the Woods. Caught some monster Walleyes and Perch in the 12" range and my first Tulibee through the ice, usually on just a minnow or a swedish pimple and minnow-head. Ice was around 3.5 to 4 ft in March. Another winter I went to an eddy on the Snake river in the winter. Caught Pike all morning, my uncle getting the biggest around 28". Went there in the spring also and caught Pike on the surface using spoons or crankbaits. It was an absolute blast. I really miss the fishing opportunities up there. Having 10 lakes in a 50 mile radius was wonderful. I really haven't had much luck in Stockton lake or Pomme either. I'm sure it's just technique or not knowing the hotspots but my fishing now is mainly limited to local ponds that I seem to do really well on.