catfish ?!?!

[big_matt_duq]

what kind of catfish are they? i might share a few of my secrets... find out what type of bottom your gonna fish like grass, rocky, etc. chicken livers work as a start and i hear shrimp work well too.

[big_matt_duq]

here is a little trick that u use.... your lucky i'm a nice guy. tie a uni to uni in you main line to whatever leader you want about 4 feet. put a bead on the leader and then a slip sinker or bank. tie on a barrel swivel. then 1-3 foot leader and put a small float(just big enough to float the bait off the bottom and above the weeds) on the leader before tying on a hook.( i like trebles) this will float your bait above the weeds. i run 2 separate leaders from the barrel through the float to two different trebles then put on on each side of the bait if its a big bait. this is my big fish rig i use for flatheads and big channels. this is basically a modified rig that they use in hateras for big reds!

now you can go much simpler... slip weight, barrel swivel, leader, hook

bait- live big minnows, etc are good for channels as are chunks of fish, hotdogs(my buddy swears by em) livers, and homemade dough balls. they eat almost anything. i have heard of shrimp and chicken soaked in cool-aid powder working good. i keep it simple and use live bait or chunks of fish. also you could try spraying your bait with wd-40 people swear by it.

any questions let me know

Matt

[agroce23]

Quiet waters Park in Deerfield Beach. Try the lake close to the water park, it has two points. the southern most point has a steady drop off, and a steep drop. Use shrimp or livers rigged as above. I have found that using a 1/2 oz egg weight (unless windy use 3/4 oz) with a 2'-3' leader works well, and try to stay fairly deep or if the water temp is cool and flowing fish the slopes, O2 levels are abundant then. I have only caught Channel cats at that park. I don't believe there are Blue cats (not a typical stock fish). Also, most canals have channel cats as well, but I wouldn't suggest eating these. The larger lakes such as Okee. has Plenty of cats as does the Loxahatchee. Also has many other species. Especially Gars, in which WILL steal your bait or get hooked up if your unlucky. Also plenty of turtles to make it difficult. One more thing,

To get there, Go east on Sample, then left on Powerline. Park is on left before Hillsboro. $1.50 per person.

[agroce23]

Another thing, carry a pair of needle nose pliers, watch for the spines(they will stick you), and palm the fish from under the haed with pinkie and thumb behind the spines. If you plan on keeping them as food, clip the tips off of the spines for easy grabbing later.

To clean, take and nail the head to a flat board, slice fron behind spine all the way to next spine and peel skin off with pliers, Then turn over and slice from anus to lower jaw. Snap the neck and pull down from head to anus. All will be removed from body this way.

[agroce23]

Yes, if you are talking about Trade Winds.

[itachi]

Any spots in south florida near the everglades or in the glades? i use to fish in the glades near the casino but that place has not been producing catfish for years(dont know what happened to them). thanks for any help.

[TampaGuy]

Hotdogs are good but what I like better is those little mildly spice mini sausages they sell in the shrink wrapped plastic. They have more skin so they hang on to a hook better.

[kiz]

I have a friend who fishes them out in West Boca. I'll see if I can get the exact spot from him and maybe we can try to tackle em together.

[Cookinman]

Chicken livers work great and have a TON of scent which will atract many cats from far away....but likely you will find smaller more mobile and aggresive fish....When fishing in current and having a hard time betting the bait to stay put on a hook - try this -

I learned it in KS fishing the Arkansas River while stationed at McConnell in the late 80's -Take an old pair of your Wifes or Girlfriends nylons....the thinner the better....buy em if you have to they are like a buck for enough to last a year....thinner the better...soak em in fresh water or better yet a bucket of Canal water to remove any soap scent that may be there due to washing em.....Rip ( better ti cut W SHAPP Scissors into small pieces like 3 in by 4 in....Wrap the livers in small pouches of nylon and impale the hook through them....will stay on for a few casts.....

For REALLY BIG...like 20# and up Cats....What we did there is hit a few spillways on the river.....From the water falling, it creates deep pockets under the place the water lands...usually under the spillway....here's where the real mogans lie in wait for stunned bait to get swept to them...just like BIG snook here in FL

Chic livers here got no play at all....for best results, we would hook a live Crappie - Bigger the better and chuck him at the base of the spillway allowing the current to sweep him under.

This type of fishing requires 4/0 with a stout stick to horse em out.

Back then, there was no braid, so 60-80 mono was the ticket....but I think now, I'd use heavy braid - less resistance.....

If your looking for big cats here I'd try that with a bluegill or tilapia or whatever....

Small (up to 5# Cats) use the livers.