Aldrich report 5/18

[bologna]

Put in at Aldrich his morning about 9, caught around 10 walleye, 10 crappie, 2 nice cats, and about 5 largemouth. Fished across from Coffman close to the bank. Unfortunately most were small but I manged enough for dinner. Very strange is that I didn't catch any white bass.

Water was kinda murky, caught almost everything on a storm baby thunderstick in silver and blue. Tried other lures without much luck.

Saw others with nice cats as well.

[slab slinger]

Good report...It's almost time for the cats to be full swing at Stockton. If your wanting a mess of cats try the bridges with rip-rap. They will nest in the crevices and holes in between rocks. Fish worms, leaches, liver, minnows, or cut bait 2ft under a float. You'll know pretty quick if there's any fish around or not. Chunk rock and lay downs with hard bottom is also good. If you wanna tear them up, pray for a hard rain and then fish the backs of creeks where waters running into the lake with cucurrent. Fish same baits on bottom. Turkey, Maze, Sons, and Turnback Creeks are all great for this. Also have good access for bank fishing during rising water conditions.

Good Luck!

[wuteversbitin424]

Slab is right for sure. You can also drift flats with said baits early, late, and def. At night and produce limits as well. One thing to note is male cats DO NOT eat while on the nest but they will strike while guarding for protection but 4 out of 5 times you will end up in the rocks and hes not coming out. After laying the females hit the flats. So if there not biting or you keep getting hung up in place that you havent before try another bridge in a different part of the lake or if you have a boat fish flats around the bridge. Especially after the spawn cats will be on the flats in the cooler parts of the day. Early morning and after dark catfish hit shallow water to hunt. Keep that in mind and youll find some. Get a 1\4 in cast net and with practice youll never have to buy bait and the shinners are usually around rip rap and on the flats. Good luck all!

[5bites]

What general depth do you guys target around bridges and also around flats? I've don't the bridge thing but not the flat drifting deal. Friday morning I will be there with my boys and hopefully guests trying to catch s few cats.

[wuteversbitin424]

When its like this out and the water is still not blazing hot 6-10ft. Whent it get real hot out late jun in to aug. I do that depth early and then as it gets hot by mid morning i will go out to the edge or in the channel 12-20ft. Good luck friday. Theres some good flats across from coffeman and just east of aldrich bridge

[5bites]

Right on. I'll be at Ruark. That's where I've always tried it in the past. I may have to broaden my territory though. I'm a bass guy but watching a kid with a 5lb+ catfish is a good time. Hopefully the weather is reasonable and the fish cooperate. I'd really like to watch the boys rip them this year especially if we have company.

Thanks for the advice.

[wuteversbitin424]

I should add too that i hunt the shinners on the flats. Thats why the cats move in on them is primarily feed. So where you find shinner schools there should be cats. Ive fished the flats at ruark with little luck but that doesnt mean anything however h highway bridge on the beach side just down from the little bush on the end is where ive caugh the most and biggest cats on the whole lake. Lol dont hold me to all of this though...i tell my buddies this stuff all the time and they wil go and not catch a thing but i really hope you get into them. Ps if it rains hard in the back of greaser should really produce doing what slab talked about. Good luck!!

[Aggressor1988long]

Really any cove around aldrich is good, I use cut shad and night crawlers, under a 4inch styro float, 3 1/2 feet down in 6-8 feet of water.

[5bites]

Never heard of anyone suspending their bait like that.

[dprice]

With big rains . I think you may consider night crawlers Especially around Aldrich