11-13-2010, 08:31 PM
Channel cats are scavengers. They will eat the dead crap they find layin around.
BUT...
They also chase live shad. And a fish that weighs 20+ lbs is most likely not going to suck up that tiny piece of anchovy you tossed out. As channels mature they start eating mostly larger baitfish. Im not saying you wont EVER stick a pig tossin small, dead, frozen baits, but you have a much better chance if you use big, fresh, lively baits.
Go toss that cast net for a few hours and catch a couple big 5"- 8" gizzard shad.
Hook it up with a live bait stinger rig.
![[Image: pg-KingEO-12s.jpg]](http://a.espncdn.com/winnercomm/outdoors/saltwater/2009/saltwaterXmas/brownkingfish/pg-KingEO-12s.jpg)
One in the nose, one near the tail.
Put that reel in freespool, and forget about it. Check your bait every 45 minutes, and put a new one on when the old one dies.
There may not be a new world record channel cat in our lake, but I know there are fish out there that must top 25 lbs. With so many people exclusively fishing with anchovies and nightcrawlers, many of those bigger fish aren't even pressured by anglers. I bet if some of you guys put in the time with the right monster cat baits, we will start seeing some hogs. I think I'll try for one in the spring.
I love catchin cats. River cats fight harder though. That current really toughens em up.
Great baits for BIG channels:
![[Image: Gizzard-and-Threadfin-shad.jpg]](http://crankbaitcentral.com/Images/Gizzard-and-Threadfin-shad.jpg)
![[Image: 382022806_ac69c901fe.jpg?v=0]](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/382022806_ac69c901fe.jpg?v=0)
Buy those big 2lb squid from seafood city. Cut them up into big 6" x 3" strips. Killer!
Get some of this:
![[Image: CIMG0450.JPG]](http://www.jegimajo.net/catalog/images/CIMG0450.JPG)
And make these out of it.
![[Image: 062010blood.jpg]](http://www.poisonappleshirts.com/ohsofat/062010blood.jpg)
Holy crap that stuff works like mad in the summer.
[url "http://www.ehow.com/way_5814418_homemade-catfish-blood-bait.html"]Homemade catfish blood bait[/url]
Bluegill work great, but that isn't legal here...
![[Image: 4188778.jpg?248x502]](http://gilman.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/1197577/4188778.jpg?248x502)
The World Record Channel Cat was caught by W.B.Whaley in 1964.The fish weighed 58 lbs and was caught in lake Moultrie South Carolina. This is part of the famous Santee Cooper Resevoir system.
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BUT...
They also chase live shad. And a fish that weighs 20+ lbs is most likely not going to suck up that tiny piece of anchovy you tossed out. As channels mature they start eating mostly larger baitfish. Im not saying you wont EVER stick a pig tossin small, dead, frozen baits, but you have a much better chance if you use big, fresh, lively baits.
Go toss that cast net for a few hours and catch a couple big 5"- 8" gizzard shad.
Hook it up with a live bait stinger rig.
One in the nose, one near the tail.
Put that reel in freespool, and forget about it. Check your bait every 45 minutes, and put a new one on when the old one dies.
There may not be a new world record channel cat in our lake, but I know there are fish out there that must top 25 lbs. With so many people exclusively fishing with anchovies and nightcrawlers, many of those bigger fish aren't even pressured by anglers. I bet if some of you guys put in the time with the right monster cat baits, we will start seeing some hogs. I think I'll try for one in the spring.
I love catchin cats. River cats fight harder though. That current really toughens em up.
Great baits for BIG channels:
Buy those big 2lb squid from seafood city. Cut them up into big 6" x 3" strips. Killer!
Get some of this:
And make these out of it.
Holy crap that stuff works like mad in the summer.
[url "http://www.ehow.com/way_5814418_homemade-catfish-blood-bait.html"]Homemade catfish blood bait[/url]
Bluegill work great, but that isn't legal here...
The World Record Channel Cat was caught by W.B.Whaley in 1964.The fish weighed 58 lbs and was caught in lake Moultrie South Carolina. This is part of the famous Santee Cooper Resevoir system.
[signature]