What Areas In Summer?

[Gatorjet]

My son and a couple of his friends have the idea of making a one day trip to Mark Twain next weekend. Their plan is to set out weighted jug lines for Mr. Whiskers, then we retreat to some flooded timber to fish for crappie while the jug lines work their magic. Not specifically Twain, but that would be a great help. What type of depth, structure, and cover could be productive for catfish during the day in the middle of the Summer?

[Bird Watcher]

I think it depends on what type of catfish you are targeting. I think Blues suspend most of the time following shad around, I think Channels relate to the bottom more somewhere above the thermocline and can be really shallow, and I think flatheads tend to bury up cover during the day-either logjams or rocks. I can't speak about the catfishing specifically on Mark Twain, but that's what I think about where catfish would be in summer during the day.

[straw hat]

Got 4 channels this morning at 25 to 28'. Only fished a few hours before it just got too hot for me. By the way, I agree with birdwatcher. The larger channels will often be in less then 10' this time of year. Those 1 to 3 pounders often run in the 25 to 30' range though. He hit it right on the head on the flatheads. Fish the heavy cover in 10' or less. Log jams, rock rubble. Good luck.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't think thy will be shallow normally, but they will when it comes time to spawn, normally July, and who knows when that will be this year. I think the biggest problem with jugs in the day time is keeping them on the bottom, which isn't they were designed for. I would go with a trot line and run it from the bank out across a 20' deep or so channel.