As far as temperature, Our temperature changes constantly. When they generate water, our water comes from the depth of the lake. Meaning colder water. But as soon as they shut down, the water heats fast on a rock bottom averaging 4' deep. Good stuff, thanks for the replies. Im guessing its in full swing on Sinclaire. The bite has tapered off for me at least drastically. Up till the end of Feb me and my boys could get 10 or so a night off our dock with a couple or so in the 10 range.
The method of fishing near the dens is not necessarily a wrong method but there is a much more effective way to catch channel catfish during the spawn. What this means is that not all catfish spawn at the same time, in fact some biologists believe that not all catfish spawn every year. If the conditions are good for spawning fish like it is still pre spawn. What you will find is that you will continue to catch pre spawn fish in the more aggressive locations such as current breaks and troughs of a river.
During this time you will notice that you will go from catching robust pre spawn fish to catching skinny post spawn fish. Should the water temperature cool back to below 70 degrees it could hold up the process and make this method a bit tougher as the spawning process will virtually stall until another warm snap. During the summer of I ran into this exact pattern.
I noticed that the fish were moving onto the nests but the weather was nice and I decided to stay fishing very aggressively, changing spots every 15 minutes or so if no fish. Stay on the move to find aggressive fish. We had a great day with 16 channel cats up to 16 pounds coming into the boat throughout the day. All of the fish were healthy and willing to fight pre spawn fish.
At the end of the day I spoke with some other anglers that were complaining that they were really struggling. They noted that the spawn is always tough and they would just continue to tough it out. The next day I went out again but with different guests and fished the exact same pattern as the day before only this day just 24 hours later all of the big fish were skinny beat up fish that had clearly been spawning and wanted to bulk up after the ordeal.
Just like a light switch the last of the pre spawn fish had gone to head the call of nature as the first were coming out and getting on with their catfish lives. In many waters, the spring catfish spawning period appears to be a dividing line in catfishing. Prespawn spring catfish fishing can be spectacular, followed by a downturn during and shortly after the spawn, with good fishing again when the fish settle into their summer patterns. What do we know about the catfish spawn behavior that can help explain this seasonal progression?
More importantly, what does the biology tell us that will help your catfish pursuits be successful? As so commonly happens when I go to the biological literature to answer "how to catch 'em" or "why" questions, I come up with a few aces and a lot of spaces. The reason: Biologists seek information essential to effectively manage the fish or, in the case of catfish, to spawn and rear them in captivity on fish farms.
Thus, from the anglers' perspective, biologists have some answers, but not all. This is certainly the case with the "big three," channels, blues, and flatheads. Indeed, much of what we know about the big three is tied to the important aquaculture industry for channel catfish, so this is where we start. In northern rivers, where the fish are adapted to a cooler thermal regime, active feeding begins at even cooler temperatures.
Some anglers disagree with the biologists' observations. Spawning Behavior — Channels, flatheads, and blues are "cavity spawners. Aquaculturists sink milk cans, drainpipe, or wooden spawning boxes in the spawning ponds. The spawning ritual involves the male selecting a spawning cavity, then attracting and inducing a female to spawn.
The female is then chased from the cavity, and the male tenaciously guards the developing eggs. The eggs hatch in 5 to 10 days, depending on water temperature. Do the males feed while guarding the clutch?
They probably don't leave the nest when guarding eggs but, as any noodler can attest, they wrap their jaws around anything that intrudes the nest cavity. Channel and blue catfish are nomadic. In large systems like the Mississippi or Missouri river, channel catfish migrate out of the tributaries even when they're as large as the Wisconsin River to overwinter in deep holes away from current.
Springtime finds these fish migrating back upstream, some to the same area they occupied the previous summer. The fish move upstream, spawn, and then spend summer back downstream. There is also evidence that channel catfish leave reservoirs in the spring to spawn at upstream sites.
However, not all blue and channel catfish populations are migratory. Researchers found that in Kentucky Lake, the farthest downstream impoundment of the Tennessee River, blues and channels increased movement prior to the spawning season, but recapture provided no evidence for any long-distance migrations to spawning or wintering sites.
In lakes, where there is no opportunity for an upstream spawning migration, sexually mature channel catfish have greater daily movement during the spawning season. The big boy, however, is the blue catfish, which can weigh up to pounds.
Bait casting is a popular way to catch a catfish. Bait casting requires larger lures that you will cast a longer distance. Make sure that your rod has good spring action. Use a to pound test line, and make sure the rod also has an anti-backlash reel.
You can use lures, but if you want to use fresh bait, channel catfish are fond of cut fish, squid, shrimp and either soft or peeler crab. Most seasons and times of day are favorable for still fishing from shore, a boat at anchor, a bridge or a pier. You'll be fishing on the bottom of the body of water, where the catfish are also looking for dinner. To keep banks from eroding, engineers place riprap -- chunks of stone or concrete -- near causeways, bridges and dams. These banks make great fishing areas during the catfish spawn, because catfish like to spawn in cavities between the rocks.
The best locations aren't where the riprap is neatly placed. Rather, look for rockslides, or even for logs or pipes. Army Corps of Engineers may not seem like a fishing buddy, but this group has made improvements to major river navigation systems that will help you.
In an attempt to keep riverbanks from washing away, members of the agency smooth the shore and then cover the soil with revetment , or concrete matting. Underneath these structures, are prime nesting grounds for catfish. If you're fishing from a boat with a sonar screen, watch for bucked-up slabs of the revetment.
Go upstream within casting distance and drop anchor. If you haven't gotten a bite within 15 to 20 minutes, move further upstream to find another hole. Persistence and patience are always key in successful fishing. This is even truer during the catfish spawn, but determination makes a difference. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots.
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