There are two kinds of catfishermen out there. The first is the guy or gal that simply wants to put some fish on a stringer and later in a pan with some cornbread. The second catfisherman is the trophy hunter looking to turn a pool stick into a horseshoe shape symbol of joy with a reel singing the blues. I would have to admit that I am more firmly part of the first group although I certainly enjoy taking the time to entice a big monster cat from time to time. In fact, I am long overdue for a battle with a sulking, whiskered hulk. Perhaps that will be remedied this spring, which brings me to my point.

Early spring can be a tough time to hook up with either eating size or trophy catfish. Unsettled weather makes things just plain unpredictable on the tidal rivers and muddy water surging over banks after cold spring rains do nothing to help the situation at all. Then to top things off anglers have to contend with all the fresh bait entering the lower and middle reaches of our favorite catfish rivers come mid March. I would opine that too much bait in the river is my toughest obstacle to catching a catfish in March or even April. That is not to say that it cannot be done. Over the years I have just had to learn to work with the variables as we all do and overcome them. Should you find yourself in a similar situation consider the following tips.

Eating size cats
Eating size cats seem to be either easy to catch or just plain AWOL. Watch the weather fronts. The time immediately after a cold front is the toughest to fish for catfish. However, they do have to eat and with plenty of bait in the river they will eat. It is just up to us to find them and entice them to eat.

First, if the day is warm and the sun is shining try fishing mud flats or ledges where the water is shallower. Fish the outgoing tide and even the beginning of the slack tide when smaller fish may cruise the warmer shallows looking for white perch, herring or even shad. On overcast or blustery days you are likely going to have to fish deeper with a sinker. Try those moderate ledges or holes on a flat where there is a little structure. Don’t bother with going to the deepest holes though.

Second, with plenty of shad, herring and perch in the river you will definitely have to go with fresh bait. The cats have their pick of anything to eat all day long when swarms of fresh food go right by them. It is my perception that catfish will take the easiest but tastiest bait they can get. That being said, a two to five pound blue cat is probably less likely to chase down a three-inch perch if a bloody strip of fresh cut herring floats by. What do you think? With plenty of bait out there consider catching your own bait and freshen it up often!

Trophy Cats
While not my forte these days I do know a number of cat hunters out there that have shared some tips with me about sticking “the big one”. Much like the eating size fish, the larger fish are less cooperative on the day following a nasty cold front. However, catching one can be done.

Fish a moving tide when bait is kept in motion. I prefer an outgoing tide myself but others swear by an incoming tide. Just be sure it is moving. If it is not then perhaps you need to move during the slack time. Study a GMCO map or your fish finder map closely. Find a bend or hole near some shallow water coupled with structure. The bigger fish identify with bait and structure exclusively. If you have a good fish finder locate a ball of shad or herring over a ledge, tree,

roadbed, log or whatever. I heard of a guy that found a sunken boat he fished IN and could even feel the rails and such as he dropped his weighted bait over and around it. If your fresh bait or wounded herring stands out among the other baitfish swimming around, hang on tight. You will be next in line to get hit.

Most trophy cat anglers know that putting out at least four or five rods is so much more productive than putting out one or two. I would have to agree. However, be sure to put them out at different depths. If you can anchor on a flat and still cast to a ledge or channel edge then please do so. Put a bait out on a flat with little weight and then fan the rest out to the deepest water. Give a spot at least a half hour when the water is cold. Some anglers say to wait an hour.

As with the eating size cats be sure to use fresh bait. If you can find live herring and net them (where legal) use one on a large circle hook with just enough weight to get it down to the right depth. Once the herring or shad dies slice it a few time to bleed it out and toss it back in. A freshly bloodied bait does wonders to a big cats whiskers.

While the fishing in March can be slow it can still be well worth the gas to head out to your favorite hole. I would advise anglers to take notes on the conditions and locations where they catch fish on a given day during a certain type of weather and water condition. The notes will be worth your time later when the same conditions arise. Keep a cast net handy and keep an eye on the fish finder. Bait can be easy to get if you are paying attention. Wear a rain suit when casting the net to stay dry.

Good fishing!