Catfish/bass bait.

[sonny1]

Looking forward to having a boat that can get into the shallows of creeks and rivers that empty into lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. Proven and simple method of catching quality fish. Add water and an air supply. Bait store is real close Bait store covers a little over an acre. Self service Made the trap myself and use either cat food or sardines as bait. Takes about a hour and usually catch between 15-30 bait fish. If I leave it in overnight I have more bait then I can use. My pond is full of these little guys. Used shad in the past but the perch work a lot better. A simple slip float rig works great. Have caught a lot of nice size bass with this rig. The cat fish love it especially the flathead. Having a boat will make a big difference in my success. The ability to get right at the mouth of the creeks that feed into the lake may just produce some good size fish. Portable live well for bait will be added to the boat. Just thought I would share.

 

[senkosam]

Not into using anything but lures - even ice fishing. Granted, there is a better chance of catching catfish but not so much bass and panfish.

 

[sonny1]

Some of the largest bass that I have caught has been on perch. A slip float set up and all is good.

 

[LDUBS]

We used to use live minnows all the time to fish for trout in our go to lakes. Small treble hook & split shot. Strip off 15 to 20 feet of line in calm deep water and wait. It was really a fun way to catch trout. Everyone sold them back then. It is no longer legal to use them in California lakes, at least the ones I go to. I sold my old metal minnow bucket in a garage sale. I think the restrictions have to do with introducing invasive species to a lake, but am not completely sure.

 

[sonny1]

Wow had no idea California got that strict. Here in Oklahoma game fish is not allowed but no other restriction apply. My primary baits are perch,shad and crayfish. Certain times of the year worms work even better. Minnows are ok but they cost money.

 

[LDUBS]

Sorry, I was thinking of minnows purchased at the bait shop (or local gas station) like in the good old days. In my area I think it is permissible to dip net and use certain non-gamefish as live bait. But nothing can be brought in. I think it is also OK to catch and use crawdads.

For California DFW, the state is divided into districts which might be further separated into specific rivers & lakes. With so many different rules and exceptions, it makes the reg's hard to understand, at least for me. I would offer to re-write them in simple language, but I doubt they would take me up on the offer.

 

[KMixson]

In my experience with catfish, I find that to catch bigger fish you use bigger bait.

 

[airshot]

In my area we call them " bluegills" have a pond full in my backyard. Also Bass and a few big catfish!! To keep the bluegill population in check, I frequently net out the little guys, often stick one on a hook and toss back in...can become quite a fight between the bass and the catfish to grab that little bluegill !!! Tried a couple as bait for walleye in the big lake, but no sucess...

 

[sonny1]

Double post

 

[sonny1]

My perch population is kept in check by the bass. When I moved in the pond was full of catfish. My wife's dad ran jugs and all the smaller cats was released in the pond. Over the years the cats have lost ground and the bass have taken over. Caught a eight pound bass about 20 years ago out of the pond. She was pregnant. Tossed her back in. Set a rule anybody who goes fishing in the pond must throw the bass back in. Last year I called the grand kids and told them they could come over and for one day keep everything that they could catch. I swear before I hung up the phone they were in the driveway. The pond was getting overpopulated with bass. I still pull in a lot of baby bass in the traps. Pond has been there forever. It is fed with a naturally spring. Covers a little over a acre and the deep end is about 18 feet. Water is clear which is rare in Oklahoma. I have had to remove a few beavers who thought they had found heaven. Live traps and then relocation.

 

[Douglasdzaster]

Looking forward to having a boat that can get into the shallows of creeks and rivers that empty into lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. Proven and simple method of catching quality fish. Add water and an air supply.View attachment 114005 Bait store is real closeView attachment 114003 Bait store covers a little over an acre. Self serviceView attachment 114004 Made the trap myself and use either cat food or sardines as bait. Takes about a hour and usually catch between 15-30 bait fish. If I leave it in overnight I have more bait then I can use. My pond is full of these little guys. Used shad in the past but the perch work a lot better. A simple slip float rig works great. Have caught a lot of nice size bass with this rig. The cat fish love it especially the flathead. Having a boat will make a big difference in my success. The ability to get right at the mouth of the creeks that feed into the lake may just produce some good size fish. Portable live well for bait will be added to the boat. Just thought I would share.

I wish I could do that. I love to catfish but in Texas your only aloud to use bait you caught from the same body of water that your fishing in. If you purchased bait you need to have your receipt of a bait dealer.
So if I don’t catch shad I can go to the bait store and buy some frozen that nobody knows where they came from. I could get away with freezing my own probably but I like fresh bait. I have a 34acre private lake in my subdivision that I can catch brim with my cast net easy.
It’s because of all the evasive species. One of the big bass fishing lakes near me is over run with tilapia. It’s a power plant lake so they thrive year round in it. If you catch any they have to be cleaned before you leave the area.

 

[sonny1]

Oklahoma has some very relaxed fishing regulations. They have placed a size restriction on blue catfish. On the other hand they have opened up flathead fishing so now you can keep three feet or better. About the only species they keep an eye on is bass. Strongly enforced 5 bag limit.

 

[Douglasdzaster]

Oklahoma has some very relaxed fishing regulations. They have placed a size restriction on blue catfish. On the other hand they have opened up flathead fishing so now you can keep three feet or better. About the only species they keep an eye on is bass. Strongly enforced 5 bag limit.

Here Channel and Blues are 25 daily bag with no more than 10 20” or longer. No minimum length.
Flathead 5 per day Min. 18”
For me right now 5 flatheads is a good day.

 

[sonny1]

Flathead is some good eating fish. The small perch works well for catching 5-15 LBS flathead. Which I believe is the Ideal size for a meal. I land better quality fish using perch than I do using shad. Blues seem to prefer the shad.

 

[Steph Boeker]

Are "flatheads" just another name for Ops ??

 

[Douglasdzaster]

Are "flatheads" just another name for Ops ??

They have more aliases than any other fish I believe.
Flathead , Ops. , Yellow cat , in Louisiana Goujon.

 

[Douglasdzaster]

Flathead is some good eating fish. The small perch works well for catching 5-15 LBS flathead. Which I believe is the Ideal size for a meal. I land better quality fish using perch than I do using shad. Blues seem to prefer the shad.

If I happen to get some perch I’ll definitely have a couple in the water along with my shad for blues and channel.
It’s just easier to catch shad with my cast net.
I have never caught a decent flathead though. I might dump up across a small one now and then. I plan on changing that. I just rigged my boat for night fishing. I’ll catch me some perch during the day or day before. I’ll have to teach myself how to hunt for them. I’ve talked to people that catch them day or night. They’ve always skunked me. I’ll find me some shallow structure for night fishing for starters.

 

[Steph Boeker]

They have more aliases than any other fish I believe.
Flathead , Ops. , Yellow cat , in Louisiana Goujon.

I grew up on a lake in Louisiana (bout' 7mi) and many ponds around it. I caught Blue's, Channel's, Mudd's & Ops, for sure & for certain, but prolly never distinguished between Mudd's & Yellow's or Ops. Blue's & Channels may have even been the same. But I really enjoyed catching them. I caught them from the bank, from a small kids boat, I'd trout line off the whole cove and catch them dozens at a time. The 70's was my hay day but after a 30+ yr career, I'm only now getting back into it.
Thanks for the reply Doug,
Sincerely ...............

 

[Douglasdzaster]

I grew up on a lake in Louisiana (bout' 7mi) and many ponds around it. I caught Blue's, Channel's, Mudd's & Ops, for sure & for certain, but prolly never distinguished between Mudd's & Yellow's or Ops. Blue's & Channels may have even been the same. But I really enjoyed catching them. I caught them from the bank, from a small kids boat, I'd trout line off the whole cove and catch them dozens at a time. The 70's was my hay day but after a 30+ yr career, I'm only now getting back into it.
Thanks for the reply Doug,
Sincerely ...............

Same here brother. 22 year career for me and I got me an old 16/52 jon boat and been fixing it up. Everyone is fishing different now a days. I’m pretty excited about drift fishing for some big fish. I’ve studied all these pros and put together what I think will work. Also rigged up for night fishing. When I was a young fisherman I don’t believe there where any professional cat fishermen. When I first got the boat I got on a catfish site and asking about places to do some jug lining. Everyone stopped talking to me. Turns out people that jug line take more than their share of resources. I was told that anyway. I still found me a lake as hour away that allows jug lines and troutline. Made me up some jugs and had fun until I had to park the boat and take care of corrosion issues and that turned into me nearly rebuilding everything. Lol
I’m about to finish and head back to that lake this time loaded for bear.

 

[Steph Boeker]

Same here brother. 22 year career for me and I got me an old 16/52 jon boat and been fixing it up. Everyone is fishing different now a days. I’m pretty excited about drift fishing for some big fish. I’ve studied all these pros and put together what I think will work. Also rigged up for night fishing. When I was a young fisherman I don’t believe there where any professional cat fishermen. When I first got the boat I got on a catfish site and asking about places to do some jug lining. Everyone stopped talking to me. Turns out people that jug line take more than their share of resources. I was told that anyway. I still found me a lake as hour away that allows jug lines and troutline. Made me up some jugs and had fun until I had to park the boat and take care of corrosion issues and that turned into me nearly rebuilding everything. Lol
I’m about to finish and head back to that lake this time loaded for bear.

That's a funny story I knew there were new regulations since I was fishing back in early to late 70's but I didn't suspect I could be shunned for things we thought were natural when I was 8yrs old. I better look into that. I really just wanted to get off the bank and start fishing w/ my old rods & reels again. I sent my 71' Ambassador 5000 to get totally refurbished and boy did it turn out great. The guy offered me a pile of money if I would sell it to him but I got it for $50. when I was 10 so I said no for sentimental reasons. Good luck w/ the boat build and thanks for the reply.
Sincerely ...................