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Original post made by Jackie Johnson(Abilene) on June 7, 2004
I don't think I have the touch either, but we can't let a little thing like that stop us. Those rascals are hard to locate aren't they? If we can find 'em, we have a lot better chance of catching 'em, hehe. I kinda' consider myself a catfishing specialist, but that doesn't mean I can find cats anytime I want to. Lots of times I have and lots of times I haven't. Bank fishing limits us to the places we can reach by casting. We go to all the good places we can, but they are not always there. When we are in the right place at the right time, they may only be grazing on the go and then they are gone on down the creek or whatever. If 10% of our waters hold 90% of the fish, where in that 10% will they be, can we reach them from the bank and how long will they be there? If they are good eating size, they may not be there long unless they are camping. They spend a lot of time on the move and like nomads, will camp anywhere along the way that provides some kind of cover. Usually in 10 to 15 foot of water. They will stay there until they feel the need to feed, which is sometimes quite often or once or twice a day and all night long, unless unstable weather conditions causes them to extend their stay. Other factors such as large schools of baitfish in the area, spawning fish and their eggs, or any other opportunity that presents itself, will attract them and keep them hanging around. This is why chumming works, remember "JAWS?" The larger fish depend on more defined structure to make them feel secure and prefer not to get too far from it's protection. They spend most of their time laying around the house, protecting their property. Large Flats may not feed but once or twice a week. If all a big fish has to do is open it's mouth and suck in some supper without having to move, it will never leave the crib, except to spawn or run another fish off. As a general rule, the size of the fish determines how deep it will have to be to feel "safe" and how far and how shallow it is willing to go to feed. This information and tips from local fisherman or your bait house can narrow the field down considerably. Probing any expanse of water with a hook on the end of a line for a fish is a lot like looking for the needle in the haystack, unless you know where to look, you need a boat and a good fish finder or a big magnet and a good metal detector, lol.
I don't think I have the touch either, but we can't let a little thing like that stop us. Those rascals are hard to locate aren't they? If we can find 'em, we have a lot better chance of catching 'em, hehe. I kinda' consider myself a catfishing specialist, but that doesn't mean I can find cats anytime I want to. Lots of times I have and lots of times I haven't. Bank fishing limits us to the places we can reach by casting. We go to all the good places we can, but they are not always there. When we are in the right place at the right time, they may only be grazing on the go and then they are gone on down the creek or whatever. If 10% of our waters hold 90% of the fish, where in that 10% will they be, can we reach them from the bank and how long will they be there? If they are good eating size, they may not be there long unless they are camping. They spend a lot of time on the move and like nomads, will camp anywhere along the way that provides some kind of cover. Usually in 10 to 15 foot of water. They will stay there until they feel the need to feed, which is sometimes quite often or once or twice a day and all night long, unless unstable weather conditions causes them to extend their stay. Other factors such as large schools of baitfish in the area, spawning fish and their eggs, or any other opportunity that presents itself, will attract them and keep them hanging around. This is why chumming works, remember "JAWS?" The larger fish depend on more defined structure to make them feel secure and prefer not to get too far from it's protection. They spend most of their time laying around the house, protecting their property. Large Flats may not feed but once or twice a week. If all a big fish has to do is open it's mouth and suck in some supper without having to move, it will never leave the crib, except to spawn or run another fish off. As a general rule, the size of the fish determines how deep it will have to be to feel "safe" and how far and how shallow it is willing to go to feed. This information and tips from local fisherman or your bait house can narrow the field down considerably. Probing any expanse of water with a hook on the end of a line for a fish is a lot like looking for the needle in the haystack, unless you know where to look, you need a boat and a good fish finder or a big magnet and a good metal detector, lol.
