Cold weather catfishing

The things that I may do different go more to Live Baits & Cut Baits more than I would Dip Baits (but I still fine myself using dip baits) - "Butterfly Shad Rigs" & "Large Minnows", using "Garlic Shrimp" also works good for me as well.
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Scott, you can go to the forest service office on west 6th St. there in Corona and buy a dead wood permit for $20 that allows you to take up to three cords of wood from the Cleveland National Up the hill.
That should be cheaper than driving to Arrowhead.
Or if you get your PM working I can send you the number of a friend of mine that has a tree business just off La Sierra in Riverside and you should be able to buy a pick-up load of camp fire wood from him cheap if you want to pick it up and load it yourself.
You can also get a map of the dead wood stand area where you can collect from the forest service.
It's up between Bradford Motor Way and Horsethief Canyon Rd. up at the or near the top. You can only take down wood, no standing stuff but the last time I was there there was plenty of oak. You just have to cut it how you want it.

 

Winter Fishing for cats is usually best, at least for me, shortly after a rain.
Seems to me that cats gather up in the coves where streams run into a lake to forage among the debris that a good rain washes into a lake.

 

About the only two things that are different in the winter are the clothes I wear and the time I fish. Obviously you dress according to the elements, and I start fishing about 5:00-6:00am until about 2:00-3:00pm. I love night fishing, but I just believe that the fish are not doing too much when it is 30-40 degrees outside, kinda like me. I love fishing on cloudy or foggy days. I have had a lot of success on such days. I do like using cutbait vs dipbait. I feel that the smell from the dipbait doesn't travel as far when the water is so cold, could be wrong, just my personal opinion. Can't wait to get out there mid/late December. We'll have to plan a trip Bigg Robb. Tight linez.

Sean!

 

Yes sir I do. We will have to walk the banks and find some of those fresh clams. Frozen is cool, but fresh is where it's at. I have something that I need to PM you about too.

Sean!

 

of late i haven't been getting a single bite (past week or so). i am wondering if either the bite has slowed due to the cooling temperatures, or have i fished my spot out?

i have read estimates on the per mile count of fish in the west main canal, and i don't see how me pulling out 12 - 14 cats per week could put a serious dent in the numbers of fish there.

thoughts?

 

doug, it's slowed down over here in yuma also. both canals and the main river. think it's more due the the frequent weather changes we've been having. but i do think during winter months, it's time to slow down the fishing and have more patience.
gary

 

Like a few of my other California Brothers, the only difference this time of the year is I dress warmer. I Catch channels all year long while I'm trying to catch Trout. I just use the powerbait or poweregg. Like some of the other guys said, the catfish bite seems to pickup after a good rain, be it warm or cold, the bite is better.

 

Agree with everyone else except yall left one thing out and its - during the rain. Its good after but even better during the rain. It stirs them up. The cats will remain around after a rain but only for a day or so and then they dispurse back to their deeper dwellings if the sun is bright. If overcast they will remain around a little more. If multiple days of rain is happening(2 -3), you can have your best catfishing of the year during those times. I love those time periods of big rain and flooding and you know I will be at the lake.

Overcast days or my next to favorite fishing times and I quess it have an affect on the barometic pressure which cause them to bite well during the colder months.

 

Many good points have been brought up that can improve your catch if your timing is right.

Windblown shores, whether summer or winter, will many times congregate baitfish. If the wind is blowing pretty good for a couple days in the same direction, fish the shore that the wind is blowing towards.

Inlet streams, creeks, sloughs, etc: The first really big rain of the year, this is where you want to be. Fish right where it enters the lake, or another body of water. Lots of worms and insects (& even rodents) get washed into these waters and the catfish take advantage. You can fish this type of area all winter long, but the first set of big rains is my favorite.

Shallow expansive flats: You know those first few days of March where you say, "it's kinda warm today". Well, on those days, the cats will congregate in areas where there is a large area of shallow depth. Most larger lakes will have several areas where this occurs. Sometimes it's in the back of larger bays, sometimes it's elsewhere. The key is that it must be a large area of uniform depth, say 4 to 10 feet, adjecent to deeper water. These large areas of shallower water get a few degrees warmer than the adjecent water and it's enough to draw in the catfish to look for an easy pre-spring meal on those first few days where we have multiple 70+ degree days in a row.

As the water cools, catfish become less active. They can eat less in the winter because they expend less energy in the colder waters. Catfish have been known to congregate in deeper holes during the winter. You will typically find more catfish in shallow water (less than 10 feet) during spring and summer.

Of course, catfish are opportunistic and will many times winter over in a deeper area that is close to an area that will provide easy meal opportunities (a deep hole near a shallower creek channel, a deep section near a shallower shelf, a deep section near lots of cover, etc.).

Tight lines

 

My strategy certainly changes in the winter.......I fish for something else! I like foul weather fishing, but I will usually target steelhead, trout, or perch in the winter months. I know there are some good cats to be caught, but I don't have a boat and they are a lot harder to find from shore. I have had some good luck with white cats in January. There are some spots in Rio Vista and Stockton where they congregate in shallow water and bite like crazy. Knotguilty and Bluehunter have much more helpful info on this subject.....this is just my 2 cents.
Linz

 

Just to clarify, I'm talking about Channel Cats in the above quote. Blue cats & Flats are not my specialty and have different habits than channels.

 

i agree with you on the cause of the slow down . . . all things aside the only changing variable was the weather changing so much. i will be hitting those canals again this weekend hoping to land some big one.

many thanks for the responses fellas.

 

What a great web site!!!!. im still learning all the ends ands outs of this place and you guys are a wealth of info. As for winter catfishing,there is something about being fairly warm and dry with proper clothing and all hell breaking around you and your even catching fish,yeah!!. In winter I give each spot a hour or 2 before moving on. where. in other times 30 to 45 min max if no bites. I agree with whoever said cut baits may be better due to futher penatration thru the water but then again Ive never been around really excellent dips, just store bought. Really looking forward to hooking up with you pros from Dover, and thanks for the warm welcome Bert and the fella from Fresno,whos name I just forgot(brain fart).

 

i always thought the cold weather affected every kind of fishing

 

You all got me inspired to keep looking for cats this winter that for sure.

 

Hey Dameon,

"Real Fishermen" Never stop!
(Think About It)

"Happy Holidays Buddy",
Bert:cool2: (Shania:0010