Quote:
Originally Posted by scott free
Tons of great advice in all of your posts, you obviously know your stuff.
|
Thanks.
I've been reading up on flat heads because I caught a big one, well big by my standards not necessarily big by flat head standards, totally by accident a few years ago so I'm now hooked on going after big cats.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scott free
Do you usually fish rivers or lakes?
|
Both and it's seasonal.
I like getting out to the river in early spring when the rains and ice melt have it swollen and rolling. This is what triggers their pre-spawn feed, particularly that first big wash of water coming down stream. It brings a whole bunch of catfish food down with it and the big cats will be out patrolling looking to fill the empty spot after the winter slow down and to load up on carbs before the spawn.
When that slows down I like to head for the mud flats of a lake because that's where they'll start staging for the spawn.
After the spawn there's a slow down as the females become disinterested in feeding and males are guarding the nests. This is usually around July to August and during this time you'll have to drop your bait on top of a male to get him to bite.
This is about the time I'll switch to fishing for bass, crappie or channel cat. I really dig top water fishing for bass and July to August is a great time of year for that.
After about mid August, after the eggs have hatched and the males have come off their nests, they and the females will go into post spawn feed mode loading up for the winter slow down. At this time I'll hit the river if there has been a storm, or Redman is dumping, and the water is coming up but otherwise stick mostly to the lakes.