Channel Catfish River Strategies
James and Nick Lindner share some pointers for catching channel catfish in the rivers of the Upper Midwest. Cats don’t get as much love in the northern states, but they are an excellent resource you should take advantage of!
River Channel Catfish Strategies for Log Jams
Catfishing is one of our favorite activities, and today we have an interesting mission for you. We’ll be targeting catfish in a mid-river logjam. Nick and I have been fishing for catfish for years, and it’s always a thrilling experience. Sometimes, we even calculate our catch in pounds, with hundreds of pounds of catfish being caught in a single day. Fishing for catfish is not just a hobby for us; it’s a passion.
When fishing in a logjam, we like to run up or down the river and stop in front of these spots. We give it about ten minutes and cast our lines. If we don’t get any bites within a couple of minutes, we move on to the next spot. The key is to target the active fish and keep moving until we find them. This strategy has proven to be successful for us over the years.
Typically, when catfishing, we fish from an anchored position. However, on this particular trip, we decided to try something different. Instead of using our usual anchor, we used the MinnKota trolling motor with spot lock feature. This feature allows us to anchor the boat quickly and easily with just the push of a button. It’s a game-changer for catfishing because it allows us to reposition quickly and target different areas without wasting time.
As we started fishing, we immediately caught a catfish. However, after that initial catch, we didn’t get any more strikes. So, we decided to reposition using the spot lock feature. It only took a few seconds to move to a new spot, and we were ready to cast our lines again. This flexibility is one of the reasons why we love using the spot lock feature.
The logjam we were fishing in was deep on both sides, and we wanted to target the middle of the file. With the spot lock feature, we were able to position ourselves directly over the sinker, ensuring that our bait was in the right spot. And just like that, we got another bite almost immediately. The activity level seemed to be picking up, and we were excited to see what else the day had in store for us.
Throughout the day, we caught a total of at least thirty catfish. It was a successful day of fishing, and we were thrilled with the results. Catfishing in logjams can be challenging, but with the right strategies and tools, it can also be incredibly rewarding.
In conclusion, fishing for catfish in logjams can be an exciting and rewarding experience. By targeting active fish and using tools like the MinnKota trolling motor with spot lock, you can increase your chances of success. Remember to keep moving and repositioning until you find the sweet spot. And most importantly, enjoy the thrill of reeling in those catfish. Happy fishing!
