Small Lake catfishing in febuary?

[Catfishc0rey]

Well the weather is awkward at them moment since one day we are having snow and the next its 75 degrees out.I fishing a lake thats about 2 acres, maybe bigger and i'm dieing to catch my limit of catifhs. ( 4 per person, per day) Its a public lake and I have been twice and skunked twice. In the summer time I have no issue but I can't catch one this time of year. The catfish are 1lb up to 5lb ( eating size) and lake lake is probably 10 ft at the maxium dephth and i perfer to use a slip flat rig. Any help would be appeciated on baits locations etc anything really thanks.

[playin4funami]

I would try soured cutbait, in the warmest corner of the pond or on the side the wind is blowing towards and into. this will replicate a winter killed baitfish, blown towards shore by the prevailing winds, fish shallow also, I would start in 2 to 3 foot of water. A good way to do this would be to set your slip rig at say 8 foot depth and move your splitshot up to just 3 foot below your bobber stop, cast it out into deeper water (8+ foot) and let the wind bring your bait towards you on shore,let the float drag the bait in if it will. This will in effect be drift fishing at first that will cover the ranges from 8 foot to 3 foot depth, while you quietly wait for the bite keep the big slack out of your line. Once you start getting hits watch where they occur at and you can adjust to that depth for a little faster action.

Any soured cut baitfish should work well, shad is always good if you can get some. fish smaller peices than you would in summer and when you get a take, reel down on him to get the slack out and cross his eyes, I use j-hooks for this, they might not be aggressive enough for good hooksets with circles. good luck!!!!! and post pics of your catch!

[rocket256]

Wooooooow you took the words right out my mouth for this question. Also try punch bait. Cause I been fishing a lil pond just like you described and had no luck on everything you could think of (shad, shrimp, worms, minows...etc). Then I brought out the ol summer time punch bait (for eaters/ numbers). This worked like the difference in night to day. The fish were 1-3lbs. But hey I was catching fish. Some of the fish I didn't even know they were on my line cause they didnt even fight or give an indecation they were on ilne. And the crazy part when I reeled them in they came right on in with no fight, was extremely cold when held.

[kraftjd]

Don great post brother.
Corey, if you're lake fishing with a float, set it to where you'll be a few inches off the bottom, cast out, troll it in, if you don't get a bite move your stop about 6-10" up then repeat. If you're fishing a 2 acre lake keep moving brother, if you're not getting any hits move. The cats are in there you just gotta find them and when you do find them, you'll have a blast. Keep moving til you do. Good luck!

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