Published: May 28, 2009 11:21 pm      

Catfish on the rocks and in the shallows

March and April are traditionally big spawning months for crappie and thousands of crappie are caught daily around the state during that time. May, on the other hand, is a time when the channel catfish head to the shallows to spawn as well. On Okatibbee Reservoir the catfish start heading to the shallows to spawn in late April and throughout the month of May, depending upon the current weather conditions and water temperatures.

And the peak of the spawn will usually vary from year to year. Recent rains have pushed the reservoir about a couple of feet higher in the last week or so and this will likely have an effect on the catfish. While thousands of catfish will head for the rocks to spawn, still others will head for the shallow coves and flats to spawn also.

While many areas of the lake are accessible only by boat, catching catfish this time of year is not quite so tough for bank fishermen. The two hottest spots year in and year out for spawning crappie are the rocks on the dam and on the causeway that runs across the upper end of the lake. As the rocks heat up and warm the surrounding water the catfish arrive to conduct their annual spawning ritual.



Bite indicator



At first the bank anglers will catch a few at random and the fishermen will be sparse. However, as more of the catfish head to the banks the harvest rate will continue to climb and you’ll see more and more anglers on the bank fishing.

One only has to drive out to the end of the dam, or the Gin Creek Landing to check and see how many folks are fishing to see if they are biting. Normally, no anglers means no fish. If you see a lot of folks fishing along the rocks then you can be sure that the catfish have been biting.

Hang around awhile and watch and see if they are catching anything. Better yet, strike up a conversation and see if they’ve caught any lately. Usually bank fishermen catch lots of fish and they’re not shy about telling you what’s biting and when.

Fishing for spawning channel catfish is kind of like fishing for crappie on the rocks. Crappie fishermen head to the rocks and use jig and cork combos and cover a lot of territory until they find the fish. Once they locate an area that has fish they can mop up in a hurry. Channel catfish are the same and provide the same opportunity and fun as crappie do.

All you need to catch a catfish is a cane pole, hook, line, sinker and bobber. And of course you also need a box of red worms, or catalpa worms, or whatever your favorite catfish bait is. This time of year I prefer the plain ole red worms, though. They are easy to find and the channel catfish dearly love them.



Crappie tackle



I prefer using my crappie spinning outfits when fishing for catfish on the rocks as the catfish generally run from a pound to two pounds and really put up a fight on lightweight tackle. Whether you are in a boat or on land the strategy is the same for finding spawning catfish. Set your cork around 18 inches to 3 feet deep to begin with and start fishing from 6 to 10 feet off the rocks.

Pitch your rig out and let it sit a couple minutes. If you don’t get bit then move a little further down the rocks. Each time cast out and let it sit a minute or so before casting 8 to 10 feet further. Keep on the move until you start picking up fish. Usually the catfish will be schooled up in a small area just like crappie.

Once you find an area where they are spawning, it won’t take much time to fill up your tringer or supper well. And the action will be fast and furious at times. But don’t take my word for it. Get out to Okatibbee right now and try if for yourself from the boat or on the rocks, and take a kid with you as well. You just might be glad you did.