Cats

[wuteversbitin424]

I typically use a bag of frozen raw shrimp. but worms chicken liver and the minnows work too. i prefer the shrimp and minnows cause turtles and perch stay off of it. the cats should be just off the rocks around the bridge at aldrich using shrimp or minnows under a cork 3-5 ft deep 10-20 feet out. i should add cats aren't like other fish. when fully spawning and on the nest they will not eat. The females will after laying but while on the nest for 8-12 days a male cats will only strike if threatened. then they move to the flats early and late and deeper when real hot and feast on shad. After spawn i just catch a couple nets of shad at ramp at aldrich then go to flat north of bridge and drift. if your going to the bluff at aldrich I've caught more cats from the bank there on minnows than shrimp but i usually take some anyways.

[CrappieCole]

Gonna go to Coffmans branch. Ya go past Aldrich and turn left on a back road. It's a bluff. So fish a minnow there 5 feet deep in 15-20 foot of water?

[wuteversbitin424]

Ya that's it. if you don't catch anything after a bit play with the depth. fish close far shallow deep till you find the pattern. I fish there a lot. i toss it out about 10 ft or so from the bank about 4-5 ft deep. if no crappie after a bit might have to throw on a slip bobber and fish deeper a little farther out on the rock shelf.

[CrappieCole]

I fish there a lot for crappie to. Just never have fished there for cats. And have no idea how to either

[wuteversbitin424]

I used to fish ruark for cats but last year while crappie fishing on the bluff one night i come home with a limit of cats so i fish for them there too but i still prefer h hwy more for cats

[CrappieCole]

Should I try shrimp with bobber for cats or just minnows?

[wuteversbitin424]

Its a toss up. I'm going to ruark tonight an am using shrimp. but when i go there I've already got minnows and if the cats are up there they will bite those so i don't think you'll have much more of an edge other than variety. when i go to ruark i use shrimp cuase I'm not crappie fishing and i can reuse the shrimp. I would just use the minnows. saves money.

[CrappieCole]

Alright. I'll letcha know how we do. Thanks for the info

[wuteversbitin424]

Well got down to h bridge around 730 and fished the rocks while my wife and daughters swam. used the very smelly shrimp i had left in the back of my truck and to my suprise didn't even get a bite. only fished till about 9 then had to go for icecream. i don't think the cats are spawning yet so must just be a tad early still in that part of the lake. hope you had better luck cole.

Kevin

[CrappieCole]

Just got back. Used minnows. I caught a drum and 2 small crappie. My buddy caught a 4-5 lb channel and a small crappie. Not very good