Channel Cat Rigs

[MrGiggles]

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?

[mic]

I am by no means am an expert, but I learned this summer that I like the simple rig. Circle hook on a 8 to 12 inch leader. I cut it off the end of the line on the pole. Leader to swivel. Swivel to the line with an egg weight above the swivel. Again no expert, but if you are fishing the bottom in the middle of the pond, there may not be much fish there as the thermocline would keep oxygen level low. Try closer to the bank in 6 to 8 feet of water...around structure if you can find it. Finally, channel cats probably aren't reproducing in that pound unless there is a ton of structure. So, if they were only put in 10 years ago, there may not be that many left. However, if they are left they will be big. Also, try smaller pieces of shad in the one inch range. I also have had luck this year with fish heads ran through stink bait. Let me stress, learning all this this summer, but this is what I've learned here and has worked the last few times out for me.

[Wayne SW/MO]

This time of the year it seems that pond cats have a liking for the shallows and dark.

[MrGiggles]

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.

[Kayser]

Try the 4-8ft range around brush, in the shade. Near a dropoff is best. The channel cats will cruise around the banks looking for food this time of year.

If you're chasing flatheads, you'll want to switch to small live bluegill, or something else alive. A 2oz weight might be required to subdue them, though. Cut bluegill is my go-to channel cat bait.

[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.

[Clayton Will]

Hi MG,

Here are some of my favorite Catfishing tips.

One thing I don't have on here is that evening and an hour or so after dark is best.

[Jerry Rapp]

I think Mr. Giggles has a limit and is culling.