Fishing Forum

I fish UL alot, but I dont seem to catch the real big cats. I usually just use shrimp anyone have any suggestions on baits or areas? I mostly fish Goshen bay.
[signature]

My tip would be to PM TubeDude and see if he will let you tag along.[]
[signature]

By the way, I'm not just being a smart alec, that really is what I would do.
[signature]

[cool][#0000ff]Welcome aboard. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]By your own admission you are limiting your opportunities to catch big cats. Fishing in one area with one bait is not a good way to insure success.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]While shrimp CAN be a good bait, it is definitely not the preferred bait of most big catfish chasers. You should be using "natural" baits...food that the big cats include in their diets on a regular basis. White bass meat and carp meat are two good choices. So are big minnows...chubs or carp. Whole small white bass are good too.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You don't say whether or not you fish from the bank a boat or a float tube or pontoon. Getting away from the shoreline will often put you in better position to get the bigger fish...simply by getting away from the spots that everybody else fishes.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I am attaching my old writeup on Utah Lake Catfish. Hopefully there are a few tidbits in there that will help you come up with some new ideas and some new spots to try.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

Here's how to get it done. Use medium heavy tackle with 14-16lb. test Berkely Big Game or other smooth casting quality line. You'll want to use a slip sinker rig with a 1 1/2-2oz bell sinker on the main line followed by a barrel swivel, a 2 ft. leader, and a 1o hook. Use chicken liver and wrap it in nylon panties and tie and snip the ends and then thread it onto the hook. It will stay on this way, even with a really powerful cast, and small fish won't just keep stripping it off the hook. Chicken liver is bloody and puts a scent trail in the water that Mr. Whiskers can find from several feet away. Find a long shallow flat where the wind is blowing in and cast out as far as you can toward deeper water on the edge of a drop off next to the flat. NEVER set your pole down because if the catfish are hitting and dropping, such as during day time high pressure conditions, you will not have time to run over and set the hook. Also, an untended catfishing rig can go flying off into the water really fast if a large fish hits aggressively. I know because i've lost one that way before. Keep your rod tip down and sideways to the line direction so that there isn't alot of slack and you can instantly sense a strike and know when the fish is moving with the bait so that you can set the hook. If the takes are nippy give the fish some slack and don't let them feel any resistance and then set the hook. Catfish will, often times pick up a bait, drop it, bat it around with their tale, and then ingest it. Other times they just inhale their target and take off. If you find their daytime hangouts then you will want to fish the same areas in the shallows after dark; especially during the early summer spawn right on the edges of the harbor dikes because they nest in those places. At that time you will want to use just a large bobber with any kind if fresh cut bait right next to the rocks with the bait anywhere from 2-10 ft deep. Try to envision any large gaps, holes, concrete pipes, etc. that you've noticed when the water is lower and then drop your bait right in front of those places. Don't overlook boat raps because the bottom edge all the way to the far end in the water, especially on an old ramp, are wallowed out by the waves when the water is lower and the catfish can easily turn a small opening into a gaping hole to nest in that could go several feet back under the ramp and hold several fish. Post me some pics when you get a hog.[]
[signature]

Thanks for the input all that information should prove to be helpful! I'll post the pics when i pull the hog in the boat.[]
[signature]