Cat Fishing Near Kimberling City

[jwood]

Next couple of weeks I'm fishing on T-Rock near the Kimberling City Bridge- just east of it- looking for catfish; Any suggestions on how to catch them- We want to use rods not jugs; My boys have never caught a catfish bigger than a perch on a rod. We are going to fish in the day- Our plan is to get back in 1 of the coves;

When I do -- what should I be looking for? Throw near the bank and drag out to the middle of the cove? If the cove has timber in the middle, throw in the middle.

Don't know what to use for bait- doughballs or some WalMart cat bait or should we use something else? How deep do we need to go this time of year? Any advice?Thanks. Joe

[Jason Essary]

Joe, first these are just my opinions.

Until summer, main lake around Kc does not sound the most productive area. I think it would be extremely more productive to go to one of the river or major creek arms. Aunts Creek is close to Kc and would be where I would head. Head to the back of the arm, as the water temp will be up to 5 degrees warmer back in the extreme back of the arm. Warmer water draws the shad, which will be were the cats are. Mud bottom flats close to deep water, 8' to 20' that can drop into 30' close by would be perfect.

As for bait, If you have any way of doing it, use a thow net and catch some shad in the very backs of the bays as they have been balled up on the surface. I saw some the other day that would have been easy to net. If you dont have a net or at least for back up I would use premade baits in shad flavor (I never go catting looking for shad with out a back up bait, sometimes they are just not avalible). Some of the tackle shops in the area should have some frozen shad that might be the ticket.

Slip sinkers with circle hooks (if you know how to use them) work great for kids. Basically a carolina rig.

Good luck and please let us know how you do.

[jwood]

Joe, first these are just my opinions.

Until summer, main lake around Kc does not sound the most productive area. I think it would be extremely more productive to go to one of the river or major creek arms. Aunts Creek is close to Kc and would be where I would head. Head to the back of the arm, as the water temp will be up to 5 degrees warmer back in the extreme back of the arm. Warmer water draws the shad, which will be were the cats are. Mud bottom flats close to deep water, 8' to 20' that can drop into 30' close by would be perfect.

As for bait, If you have any way of doing it, use a thow net and catch some shad in the very backs of the bays as they have been balled up on the surface. I saw some the other day that would have been easy to net. If you dont have a net or at least for back up I would use premade baits in shad flavor (I never go catting looking for shad with out a back up bait, sometimes they are just not avalible). Some of the tackle shops in the area should have some frozen shad that might be the ticket.

Slip sinkers with circle hooks (if you know how to use them) work great for kids. Basically a carolina rig.

Good luck and please let us know how you do.

Thanks for the fishing tip- we might try ACreek

[jwood]

Thanks for the fishing tip- we might try ACreek

Jason: Looking @ the Aunt's Creek area from Google sat and if we launch fro AC public area, would you recommend going north up the creek? There is 1 major arm that is to the north west of the public area and then there is the main arm of AC that you can follow to the north east-- when this arm ends it looks like alot of mud,sediment from the satellite map. Any suggestions? Thanks for the info. Joe

[Jason Essary]

When you put in, hang a left. that will take you towards the back of the Aunts creek arm. Would try different areas back there. If you set up and dont get bit in a hour move. deeper water, shallower water, farther back or more towards the main lake.

Really havent ever fished for cats until after the bass spawn (just always chasing other things) but I would think this would be the best chances for some.

Might try some simple nightcrawlers also. Never know what you might catch, bass, walleye, cats.

[Martin]

It's WAY earlier then I've ever tried. I have no tips that would be real solid info...Jason's idea's sound pretty good. I usually start in May, and fish for cats (Flatheads) until July or so. Good luck !

[MstStudent10]

As for location, you may wanna think about putting in at Cricket Creek down in the Long Creek arm. I fished that area a ton last spring for bass, and I can honestly say I don't recall a single trip that I didn't catch a flathead catfish. And I was even bass fishing using Jigs and ChiggerCraw trailers. They just seemed to be everywhere. And most of them ran in the 3-10 lb range. Plus the water down there will be dirtier and warmer than most of the other parts of the lake at this this time, I would think that would be a better recipe for success.

Granted thou, I can't vouch for catfish this early in the season, just don't know enough about fishing for them.

Either way, good luck!

[jwood]

As for location, you may wanna think about putting in at Cricket Creek down in the Long Creek arm. I fished that area a ton last spring for bass, and I can honestly say I don't recall a single trip that I didn't catch a flathead catfish. And I was even bass fishing using Jigs and ChiggerCraw trailers. They just seemed to be everywhere. And most of them ran in the 3-10 lb range. Plus the water down there will be dirtier and warmer than most of the other parts of the lake at this this time, I would think that would be a better recipe for success.

Granted thou, I can't vouch for catfish this early in the season, just don't know enough about fishing for them.

Either way, good luck!

Thanks for the input on Cricket Creek; Since A.Creek is close to our house by Kimberling City we are going to try that 1st; if not successful, we may go to CC the next weekend- a 1 day trip. Really appreciate the fishing lure ideas. Take care. Joe

[fullmoon]

Check out Team Catfish on the internet for more info. They say winter is the best for bluecats.