[Tr33guy]

If you could go anywhere in the states looking for big cats - where would you go? why?

I think I would head down towards Missouri and Truman lake. No real reason other than I've been down there years ago chasing bass and wouldn't mind going back.

 

[DerbyCat]

Most of the impoundments on the Tennessee River, starting with Wheeler. Mississippi River around Memphis. James River out east. Why? That's where the majority of YouTube videos I've seen are catching monsters.

 

[Don Fischer]

I don't think I would go anywhere looking for big cats, I like eater size cats. But would like to find a place where I could catch more than one or two a day!

 

[metalman]

Plus1 on the TN River in TN.

…W

 

[Jbuck]

The James in Va. and/or Watts Bar in Tn. Like Derby said, where the guys producing U-tube videos seem to do well.

 

[BigRoy]

Personal I would head southeast. Anywhere I was not looking at 8" - 16" of ice everywhere.
The Mississippi has always intrigued me so I would follow it until the fishing looked good.
Must be in my blood for I was born in Hannibal, MO.
Roy

 

[Sam Antonio]

Lake Texoma, but only on the Texas controlled side of the reservoir.

 

[Torvaldsberg]

Seems that most folks want to go south for the big blues and I can definitely understand that. For me, fishing for big channels in the Red River is on my wish list.

 

[csurowiec]

That's tough because I have plenty of blues and flatheads less than 30 minutes from the house on the Susquehanna River but they aren't big there yet. I've only had 2 that bottomed out a 30lbs scale. It would have to be a location where I stand a good chance of getting a personal best. Even if numbers of fish were really low. Probably Tennessee River, maybe Nickajack. At home, I'm used to fishing below a hydroelectric dam and timing my fishing around a generation schedule. Doing that same type of fishing but in a different location would give me some level of comfort and familiarity.
Buggs Island/Kerr Lake would be good but I would need a guide. That place would be a bit overwhelming in my kayak. Too much water to try and cover.

 

[D schuerenberg]

I have never fished lakes for big cats Kentucky and Barkley dam around 1.5 hours away Mississippi river at New Madrid 15 miles Cape Girardeau around 45 miles
Last year twisted cats torment had 2 100+ weighed in

 

[bigdog21]

No where got some of the best right here. Blues, up to 90# flathead 40-70# and bass galore. Channel cat in every lake and river around. Plenty of bait everywhere. Know you could talk me into a trout trip.

 

[gregrn43]

I can leave my drive and be sitting at osceola ramp on the Mississippi in 1.5hrs. Less than 4hrs to the tn river at pickwick. Less than 4hrs to the tri rivers area of the white, Mississippi, and Arkansas rivers. May not be the best fishing in the country, but it ain't bad. Day trips we go to osceola, weekends or longer trips we go to one of the other. It's always fun to fish new places tho. I've wanted to fish the Ohio river for a long time. Actually it's less than 4hrs to the mouth of the Ohio from my house. Never been there to try it.

 

[truckgrandpa]

Lakes in N Carolina.
Or Watts Bar in Tn.
Seen Dieter and Catfish Dave hook up on some big ones in those two.

 

[CaptainBrad]

Seems that most folks want to go south for the big blues and I can definitely understand that. For me, fishing for big channels in the Red River is on my wish list.

Our river is in great shape! I just interviewed the area DNR biologist for my podcast and he said probably the best shape ever.

For me it is go south for blue cats just because it is different.

 

[DerbyCat]

I forgot about the Red River. I'd love to fish up there with CaptainBrad.

 

[Happycaster58]

Chickamauga in TN or Gaston/James River in NC/VA.

 

[Happycaster58]

Meant Nickajack in TN

 

[metalman]

Chickamauga in TN or Gaston/James River in NC/VA.

Meant Nickajack in TN

Either or both would be good!

…W

 

[Pond Pounder]

I live in the Raleigh-Durham area in NC and there's excellent catfishing within about an hour so in any direction that I go. Gaston / Kerr to the north, the Cape Fear River to the south and east, Badin Lake to the west... I fish the lakes a lot in the winter for big catfish and saw a 100 lb fish on my livescope the other week at Kerr (a.k.a. Buggs Island... where the world record blue is from) 😮 100 lb catfish on livescope