Catfish Fishing

small river springtime cats

5/4/24 @ 9:27 AM

INITIAL POST

wiscoarborist

User since 11/6/18

I am not a dedicated catfisherman. It's usually been something I've done in summertime. Chicken livers in the deeper holes is almost a guarantee to steady action - as long as i move when fishing slows.. I release all but the one or two smallest cats I catch 'cuz I no longer "stock the freezer".

But I got out a couple/tree times this spring including a couple hours yesterday. I caught one bullhead. I caught stuff casting a jig but that doesn't count. Wasn't cats....Chicken livers in the deepest holes in a stretch of river inaccessible to shore fishermen.

I know - earlier in the season "rancid minnows" works well but...holes? Flats,runs,eddies?...I never used commercial stinkbait but is it necessary in colder water?

Anyone wanna share?

Thanks.

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Displaying 1 to 6 of 6 posts

TODAY @ 10:00 AM

wiscoarborist

User since 11/6/18

Vet - I've been a chicken liver or cut bait (mostly livers) guy for years but during covid,livers were almost impossible to get. Fresh cutbait isn't always a guarantee. This being WI I can't even possess a cast net on the water.

SV - SSS - the blood? or the cheese mix.

5/16/24 @ 9:10 PM

Veteran2

User since 9/8/20

Wiscoarborist,
Once the pleasure boaters take over the local lakes, I like to fish the rivers for cats and anything else that bites a dead stick presentation. My preferred bait in the colder water
is cut suckers. Once the water warms into the 70's, I go to chicken livers, but I will still use fresh cut bait for larger channels and flatheads.
On the rivers I fish, I have not found a big difference in fishing the deeper holes versus shallower structure. But, the deeper holes are only 10' to 13'

5/7/24 @ 11:20 PM

svitreum

User since 8/29/06

I use Triple S almost exclusively. I've tried cut bait and other stuff, but I always catch cats faster on stink bait. It works for me when the water temp is 50 or higher. I concentrate on snags in 2-6 fow in the Spring. I always do well.

5/7/24 @ 9:33 AM

-T Fish-

User since 2/12/23

I found some cats in the slower water with worms on the bottom on this trip. I'll echo what BIGG400 said. I think the water was warmer and calmer in the spot where I found them. On this trip, I was just searching for anything that would bite a worm on the bottom, and it just so happened to be channel catfish.

5/4/24 @ 9:49 PM

BIGG400

User since 12/23/12

I'm a stubborn year-round dip bait guy and it's been a very good late winter and spring for me so far. I'm fishing pools 13 & 14 on the Mississippi River and the Rock River. I'm catching my fish shallow - 6 feet or less. Areas that have reduced current - below snags or points. Muddy banks that are exposed to the sun are a plus Anything that produces slightly warmer water are cat magnets. I get most of my fish this time of the of the year in the middle and late afternoon. Hope this helps.

Displaying 1 to 6 of 6 posts