Can't quit catching catfish!

[Cale DeLozier]

I'm completely new to bass fishing. Other than the few I've caught fishing off the docks here and there, I've never really done much of it. I bought a jonboat because it seemed like a good, cheap way to get out there and try it. Absolutely fell in love with it and now I'm hooked. Bought a new bass boat and can get out there some more. I'm Fishing Grand Lake in Northeastern Oklahoma and having a problem with catching catfish when I'm throwing crankbaits. It wouldn't be a problem if I was actually fishing FOR catfish but I'm not. I switched to worms and have a little better luck but not sure if its a seasonal thing or something I'm doing wrong. I'm fishing areas along the shoreline where the bluffs turn into beaches, some ledges and around docks. I've only had the boat two weeks so I'm still learning the electronics. Everytime I catch a dang catfish it takes me 10 minutes of destroying my lure to dig out both sets of treble hooks.. Then all my gear is slimy... Any thoughts?

[GORDO]

I can honestly say Im not quite sure lol Im stoked to see what people are gonna sy about this little problem youre having. At least youre still catching fish!

[Bluebasser86]

No way to avoid it man. Catfish are predators just like bass and attack lures like a bass will. I've caught them on all kinds of lures, even had 2 on buzzbaits last Thursday. Just something you have to deal with. Cranks and bladed jigs are the worse/best catfish catchers for me except for flatheads. Flatheads love to thump a jig. 

[scaleface]

Whats your best catfish crankbait ?  

[Oufb90]

Caught a 7-8 pound blue in a bass tournament Friday before last on a chartreuse spinner. Thought I was in the money. 

[00 mod]

Only way to not catch them is fish water without catfish in it.  Just keep at em!

Jeff

[davecon]

Just TRY to catch catfish !

That would solve the problem for me.

[iiTzChunky]

I didn't know catfish would chase like that. And I thought them picking up the tail of my worm was annoying. 

[Cale DeLozier]

So far the king of catfish lures has been anything colored like a crawfish... They're hitting the topwater zara spooks as well. I'm wondering now if what I'm seeing on my lowrance unit is actually catfish and not bass.. So maybe I'm the one going for catfish and not realizing it.. Going to try for deeper water this weekend and see what I can do.. If not, the wife is going to buy some breading and oil and go for catfish I guess!

[the reel ess]

I've only had a "problem" with catfish when I'm bass fishing during their spawning times. They seem to inhabit the same spaces and bite just about anything then. I believe that's usually in spring. Looks like you need a change of scenery.

[Kbral87]

One of the ponds that I regularly fish has some aggressive catfish, I haven't caught a bass out of it since early spring. Ive pulled out many 10-15lbs catfish out of it. Im starting to believe that they are the dominant predator in that pond.

["hamma"]

Sounds like you need to be fishing different locations, you will endure some catfish on crankbaits occasionally. But if thats all your catching, you need to relocate on the lake to a different area, or fish a bit deeper (especially in summer), or concentrate on lilypads with a frog.

[scaleface]

3 hours ago, Cale DeLozier said:

So far the king of catfish lures has been anything colored like a crawfish... They're hitting the topwater zara spooks as well. I'm wondering now if what I'm seeing on my lowrance unit is actually catfish and not bass.. So maybe I'm the one going for catfish and not realizing it.. Going to try for deeper water this weekend and see what I can do.. If not, the wife is going to buy some breading and oil and go for catfish I guess!

Catfish love points and flats and they will show  all over the depth finder not just hugging the bottom  . I have mistaken catfish for bass many times . 

[jr231]

I agree with just about everything that Everyone has said to you !! And if you insist on staying in the same area... try some soft plastics or something with just one hook. Then you don't have to worry about your cranks being destroyed and it won't be as big of hassle to get it out ( and the bite rate of the cats might drop too) . 

Personally  I think itd be fun to catch cats on cranks. Not as beautiful (to me) as the largemouth , but often a very strong fight. And that's what I'm out there for. 

[scaleface]

Catching catfish doesnt bother me any . I love hooking into the occasional Dogfish too . 

[lo n slo]

On August 29, 2016 at 1:37 PM, the reel ess said:

I've only had a "problem" with catfish when I'm bass fishing during their spawning times. They seem to inhabit the same spaces and bite just about anything then. I believe that's usually in spring. Looks like you need a change of scenery.

early spring for me. we ususaly catch several 5-10 lb blues on t rigged lizards up here on Norman during the pre-spawn period. makes you think it's big girl at first :-/

[Onvacation]

Some great ideas to solve the problem, but I prefer this one. Thin the herd.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/38107/barlows-blackened-catfish/

[Ratherbfishing]

On 8/29/2016 at 11:41 AM, davecon said:

Just TRY to catch catfish !

That would solve the problem for me.

This!  The only time I've caught musky (4 so far) was when I was fishing for bass and, on one lake at least, likewise for crappie.  It's impressive when a 14 inch crappy takes a 3 inch chigger craw or 5 inch super fluke.  

Just "target" catfish and they will surely go away.

[davecon]

I'm not much for catfishing but a friend told me about this years ago and I was dumbfounded at how well it works. 

Local lake, spring early summer, sandy flats in 4 to 6 feet of water. Throw a rattle trap (color makes no difference) as far as you can, let it sink to the bottom and sit for about 10 seconds. Take up all the slack line and sweep the plug with the rod only then let it sink. Repeat this all the way to the boat. My kids and I could easily catch 50 to 60 pounds of blue cats this way in just a couple of hours. Really works !

I know it sounds crazy but in all honesty it worked like a charm and these fish averaged about 5 pounds each.

[scaleface]

23 minutes ago, davecon said:

I'm not much for catfishing but a friend told me about this years ago and I was dumbfounded at how well it works. 

Local lake, spring early summer, sandy flats in 4 to 6 feet of water. Throw a rattle trap (color makes no difference) as far as you can, let it sink to the bottom and sit for about 10 seconds. Take up all the slack line and sweep the plug with the rod only then let it sink. Repeat this all the way to the boat. My kids and I could easily catch 50 to 60 pounds of blue cats this way in just a couple of hours. Really works !

I know it sounds crazy but in all honesty it worked like a charm and these fish averaged about 5 pounds each.

It doesnt sound crazy to me . 

[MIbassyaker]

18 hours ago, Onvacation said:

Some great ideas to solve the problem, but I prefer this one. Thin the herd.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/38107/barlows-blackened-catfish/

Now we're talkin'

[Red Bear]

On 8/29/2016 at 1:37 PM, the reel ess said:

I've only had a "problem" with catfish when I'm bass fishing during their spawning times. They seem to inhabit the same spaces and bite just about anything then. I believe that's usually in spring. Looks like you need a change of scenery.

i hit them just right during the spawn once, i mustve caught 600lbs of catfish or more that weekend, nothing above 4lbs either. just lots and lots of catfish with bellies full of eggs...

[Onvacation]

They sure do seem to like Ned rigs too. When I was a kid, all we wanted to catch was catfish.  Between my wife and I, we have caught at least a dozen on Ned rigs this year while fishing for bass.  Hooked onto one on a 10" worm too. He finally broke off one me but it was like an episode of Wicked Tuna until he did.  

[fishballer06]

Switch to dough balls. Bass love them...

[clh121787]

My solution Is a filet knife and peanut oil