Mudcat issue!

[Syddallfishing]

I've been spending a lot of time shore fishing at Utah Lake as it gets colder. I want to get into larger channel cats, but have been plauged by mud cats and bullheads. Any tips or tricks to get into the bigger channels?
[signature]

[SkunkedAgain]

Hey Welcome to BFT, great to have you on board with us... I'm not a Utah Lake guy, but for me with mudcats I typically do one of two things... First bigger bait tends to be more than they will take, so they usually leave it alone, or drive you nuts with the little pecks that they can't get into their mouths so you can hook them... In that case I do number two and move to different location... Usually I find if there are big channels around, the mudcats will be gone... I think they don't like to be ate, so they move out when the big cats or walleye move in... Watch this and see if it isn't true... I will have mudcats driving me nuts and then all of a sudden they will shut off completely and shortly after I'll catch a channel or some other predator.... Sometimes changing the type of bait will also help... Using a cutbait rather than worms will help, but most of the time it's hard to deal with them unless you move to a new spot... Good luck... J
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Not a good time of year to be chasing channel cats from shore. When water temps drop below 55-60 degrees the bigger fish move out into deeper water and slow down. The will still bite, if you can find them, but fishing from a boat or other floatation craft will get you into more fish.

Mud cats are just a bit heartier than channels. They bite well even through the ice...and in shallower water when it gets colder. In fact, they move into the shallows on fall or spring days during the afternoon when daytime air temps have been high enough to warm the shallows even a couple of degrees.

Good luck.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]