Springfield Lake Cats

[usmcgrunt]

I went out this morning before work, figuring I'd just net some shad and toss out a couple cat rigs and then bass fish between bites. That mostly happened, only I didn't have enough time between bites to bass fish. I was using small shad, about 2 to 3 inches long, thrown out about 40 yards. I kept getting hits but no takers for a while, and with my luck I wasn't about to leave a pole unwatched as that's when they seem to jump in the water. Finally I had a good solid thump on the line, then my pole started to slide towards the water. I made sure the circle hook did it's job, then I tore into him. Turned out to be a channel cat, about 10 lbs. I got dumb and tried to horse him over the weeds and snapped the line, so no fish fry tonight, but with a little luck my daughter will be worn out and my fiance won't have a honey-do list so I can try again when I get off work

[Patrick M]

when do you get off umsc? whens a good time to cat at night? do you fish the warm water area or the other side?

[usmcgrunt]

I'll be off around 4, but there's no telling when I'll be able to fish, if I'm able to at all. I've always had the best luck on nights when the moon is full, or very close to it like tonight. And I fish the warm water area whenever there's an open spot, but if there's no open spot I'll go all the way to the end of that little point and cast either towards the dam, or about halfway across that cove. The shad are hanging out there and it's an all you can eat buffet for the fish.

[usmcgrunt]

Went out saturday afternoon till about 10 pm. I only had 2 bites from cats, and got 2 15 inch bass on a jig. The cats weren't landed, but the first was barely big enough to get my bait in his mouth so when I set the hook all I did was jerk the hook out of my bait. The second fish on the other hand was a monster. He hit a 4 inch live shad on the bottom and tried to take my pole with him. When I set the hook, he didn't budge at all so I thought I was snagged on a rock. Then he took off like a freight train and never looked back. I was using 15 lbs test line with my drag set pretty tight and he still peeled line like it was nothing up until my hook pulled free. I called it quits soon after before I got carried away by the mosquitoes. I'll be back out in the morning, probably around 4:30 till 8:30 by the hot water and I'll post my report when I get done

[Jayvee]

Nice man. Where do you fish at for cats and bass? I never have any luck over there. Not even nibbles. I usually go on the other side where the dam is. The other side where the dock and island is always jam pack full of ppl.

[usmcgrunt]

I'm usually catfish from the last dock on the point and cast toward the dam. I've pulled a lot of 4 and 5 pounders out of there, and hooked a few that were a lot bigger. I bass fish right next to the hot water discharge and usually do pretty good on top water baits and football jigs.

[crappie_adams83]

sweet cant wait to get out there and tonight and get a couple cats on the line