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March Madness is upon us, which means Catfish season has come! Went to Lyons Ferry planning on heading up into the Palouse. As always, looking at my depth finder en route caused me to stop paddling up the Palouse and start fishing the jetty. I fished my usual routes, following the first pipeline buoy to the 3rd one. When the wind picked up I dropped a drift sock to slow my drift. When the wind did the opposite I would anchor down. Fished 15 to 20 feet using a Kentucky (drop shot) rig with large circle hooks and fresh chicken breast for bait. We saw catfish jumping, but not at the rate that would cause us to throw on bobbers. Morning was calm, wind picked up at 2pm until it was white capping. Fishing was great with 3 fish 7 to 10 lbs and one 4lb. All had massive bowling ball bellies and stomach's full of minnows and crawdads.

If you haven't read my previous reports, I will recap catfishing. Starting in March, catfish will start moving from the main current into tributaries to spawn. Most people concentrate in May, when the quantity of fish is higher. However they miss on the opportunity to catch the biggest fish. The biggest fish will move in first. Why wouldn't they? They are top dog.... Errrr well... Cat. The earlier you can fish any spawn, the better chance you will have at getting the big ones. Catfish are not always a bottom fish. Ive tested Kentucky vs Carolina rig and found the Kentucky to work best because it keeps the bait off bottom. The other beauty to the Kentucky rig is what a mess it does on the bottom.
I use a 2 ounce weight, which will slam the bottom....kicking up dirt and making noise. Catfish have long been known to appreciate noise. I kayak this area and let my weight barely touch bottom.
Every minute I will rock the boat left and right letting the weight pick up off the bottom then slam back down into it. When the fish are jumping and the water is calm, switch to a 2 ft leader and a bobber. Hooksets will be tough, but when they are on the surface, you gotta put the food in front of them. I've tried every backwoods tribal knowledge bait imagined. From worms and cutbait to strawberry jello hot dogs and rotten meat. What I have found works best is FRESH chicken breast. If it's been frozen, you can forget about catching fish. The other tip is you need patience. The bite will be crazy one hour and dead the next. Like all fish they have feeding times and will turn off the bite outside of those times. In May and June it is important to listen for the jumping and follow the noise. The massive schools that exist at the time come through an area like a hurricane and leave that area just as fast. The last tip is the most important. Catfish aren't the easiest hooksets. Often times they will suck the bait off the hook. To prevent this, you must take away their leverage. Cut the chicken into thin strips the size of your pinky. Run the hook through the entire length of the chicken so you don't leave a tail end hanging. Like perch do with worms, catfish will get ahold of the tail and rip your bait off.

What worked:
Kentucky rigs
Fresh chicken breast
Slow drift .5 to 1pmh

What didn't work:
Bobbers
Being impatient

BentRod

3/21/2022 7:08:30 AM

Great report and tips! Thanks.

Guammaine

3/21/2022 2:30:01 PM

looks like a good mess of catfish fry.

ifightnerdz

3/22/2022 4:20:27 PM

Just had some last night. It was great!

JediMbs

3/21/2022 6:55:36 PM

Nice Cats ifight! I have another suggestion for you to try. Chicken liver in my experience will just about outfish other baits including cutbait. Just as with your chicken breast, have it thawed and fresh. Use scissors and on a cutting board, cut out several pieces about the size of your thumbnail. to adhere to the hook, just use magicthread and wrap it on. it adheres beautifully and the blood in the liver puts out a great scent trail that creates a chum line that attracts cats better than about anything else. Also, if you leave your liver on a board out in the fresh air while you are fishing, it will harden a bit and become easier to handle and adhere better to the hook. Give it a shot and enjoy hauling in more hawgs. Gotta love those tasty Snake R. cats. I my opinion some of the best catfish in the U.S. Tight lines!

ifightnerdz

3/22/2022 4:20:05 PM

I'll test it out!. I wonder if salting it might stiffen it up too?

JediMbs

3/23/2022 10:14:36 PM

Ifight. yes salting helps to stiffen it up as well. But definitely when you put it on a board and let it sit out in the air for a half hour or so, especially in the sun, it stiffens up nicely and the miracle thread is a must it does wonders to keep it on. just rip off about a 5 inch peace and wrap it around the liver on the hook and it holds it beautifully.

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