meow!

[cbcs1987]

Went down below loudon dam on watts bar the other day and caught a mess of catfish when i was trying to catch stripes. bouncing live shiners off the bottom. heres what i ended up with.

Some other guys caught a monster flathead when i was there. What do you have to do different to catch the big cats? I'm not interested in keepin the big ones... I'd just like to fight one at least one time in my life!

 

[spitndrum]

Nice Catch!!

 

[easy45]

cool

 

[paincave_2000]

Big bait catches big cats.

 

[Kimberman]

My buddy caught a 52 lb flathead on a 4" Watermelon Zoom Ringworm on Watts Bar about 4 years ago. Somehow I dont think that it would be a high percentge catfish bait, but I know it worked once!

 

[mike243]

nice catch, but i dont think they want you to eat catfish out of there,you might want to read the precautions for that area,mike243

 

[Football Hunter]

Big bait catches big cats.

Yep,and remember.a Flathead is a predator,not a bottom feeder like a channel

 

[rsimms]

. What do you have to do different to catch the big cats? I'm not interested in keepin the big ones... I'd just like to fight one at least one time in my life!

Do exactly what you were doing... but do it earlier in the year, starting late March, thru April and May. From my experience below Chickamauga, bigger cats have moved out of tailrace areas right now. You're still liable to stick one anytime, but in general bigger fish move into the prime areas first... then once they move out, smaller fish take over.

And yes, sometimes bigger baits mean bigger fish. However the biggest catfish I've ever seen (120 lbs. caught on a trotline) ate a piece of hotdog about the size of you thumbnail, so you never really know. The one thing a big bait will do is weed out the little guys so your big bait stays in the water until a big one comes along.

 

[shhs37]

Big bait catches big cats.

Yep,and remember.a Flathead is a predator,not a bottom feeder like a channel

try LIVE blue gill with the tail cut off, it makes a blood trail and also triggers a striking action when they are trying to swim.

 

[mike243]

Watts Bar Reservoir Roane, Meigs,
Rhea & Loudon TN River portion (38,000 acres) PCBs Catfish, striped bass, and hybrid (striped bass-white bass) should not be eaten. Precautionary advisory* for white bass, sauger, carp, smallmouth buffalo, and largemouth bass.
straight out of the fishing guide,its a shame so many of our water ways are in such sad shape,motor by any plants near rivers & lakes & you will see them running water back in,mike243

 

[DOC1187]

good deal

 

[imograss]

Book a trip with rsimms

 

[cbcs1987]

Book a trip with rsimms

Believe me I would in a heartbeat but being a broke college student who gets lucky to work on the farm one week outta the month...my finances limit me :( Once I graduate I will be givin him a ring!

 

[cbcs1987]

. What do you have to do different to catch the big cats? I'm not interested in keepin the big ones... I'd just like to fight one at least one time in my life!

Do exactly what you were doing... but do it earlier in the year, starting late March, thru April and May. From my experience below Chickamauga, bigger cats have moved out of tailrace areas right now. You're still liable to stick one anytime, but in general bigger fish move into the prime areas first... then once they move out, smaller fish take over.

And yes, sometimes bigger baits mean bigger fish. However the biggest catfish I've ever seen (120 lbs. caught on a trotline) ate a piece of hotdog about the size of you thumbnail, so you never really know. The one thing a big bait will do is weed out the little guys so your big bait stays in the water until a big one comes along.

Thanks for the tips. I'll definately get out there earlier next year. I think I'm gettin cat fever pretty bad! I have fun with these 2 lb fish... I can only imagine what a big boy would fight like

 

[cbcs1987]

Watts Bar Reservoir Roane, Meigs,
Rhea & Loudon TN River portion (38,000 acres) PCBs Catfish, striped bass, and hybrid (striped bass-white bass) should not be eaten. Precautionary advisory* for white bass, sauger, carp, smallmouth buffalo, and largemouth bass.
straight out of the fishing guide,its a shame so many of our water ways are in such sad shape,motor by any plants near rivers & lakes & you will see them running water back in,mike243

Yeah I've seen it in the fishin guide but theres not ANY water around me where its OK to keep catfish. I've gotten to the point where I will eat some cats from the water once in a while..no more than once every two months.... if that. I love catfish and its a shame we have such good fishin here but our water is so contaminated we can't even eat hardly anything from them besides bluegill.

 

[RUGER]

Book a trip with rsimms

That is what I was gonna say.

Just don't eat out for a few weeks and you will have it. :D
DEFINATELY worth the money.

 

[cbcs1987]

Book a trip with rsimms

That is what I was gonna say.

Just don't eat out for a few weeks and you will have it. :D
DEFINATELY worth the money.

lol I never eat out! I told my girlfriend that a trip with rsimms and scenic city is what I want as a graduation present when I get my bachelors degree in two years. Maybe she will remember!