river fishing

[Paxton R]

today me and my buddy went wadding down the river we were LMB fishing we started with finese worms i caught a 4 pounder we worked are way down and my friend swithed over too a rooster tail and on about the 3rd cast he pulled out an 8 pound catfish? is this normal or just happened to bite it? thanks it was a good day i caught a 4 lber and a 5  1/2 lber and that cat well thanks

[Little Luey]

It has not happened to me but I hear guys saying it is not anusual to get a cat every so often on lures, specially crankbaits for what I have heard. Cats are good fighters, they are fun to catch.

[fishfordollars]

I have caught them on worms, crank baits, spinnerbaits, and jigs. the largest 31 lbs, was caught in Veech Bay on Sam Rayburn back in 82 on a 1/4 oz trap chrome/blueback.  Needless to say if would not fit the livewell so I gave it to a trotliner fishing not far away. You just never know until you see the slime creeping up your mono.

[Walz]

This is quite common for me. Atleast this year anyway. I have probably caught 30+ cats on Rooster Tails this year including one day were I caught 10. They really seem to like the vibric version. There have been days were I see guys targeting cats on the bottom getting skunked and I have them taking Rooster Tails 6" from the surface.

[7mm-08]

They really seem to like the vibric version.

Agreed.  I've caught several cats on rooster tails over the years and they definitely seem to prefer this one.

[Unknownwaters]

one of the biggest myths about catfish is that they are just bottomfeeders, but from what ive read and experienced they not only have sleek streamlined bodies build for speed but will often chase down baitfish at midranged depths and sometimes even the surface.  I always catch them fishing with live herring for striped bass on Lake Lanier.  

[Busy]

Catfish will eat anything provided they are in the area.  Check the weather.  High, muddy waters can disorient them fairly easily.  Add strong current to high, muddy waters and they turn into a frenzied animal, feeding on anything they can catch.  Very sudden changes in pressure can bring them off of the bottom.  I prefer it when they stay on the bottom, they are much easier to find that way.