Topic: Never knew big catfish would bite soft plastics

[senkosam]

I do remember catching channel catfish on one tail-spin back in the 70' when I was stationed in Texas, but for some reason the lure never caught fish in NY. A few years ago I had a pass as a vet to fish West Point lakes (which have excellent quality fish) but had a fish break my 6 # test line being used for panfish. The following year I made sure the drag was set properly and caught this 7 lb cat on a Slider Worm & light jig:









The same year I caught more catfish in the same lake ranging from 2.5-6 lbs. - all on soft plastics. Here's two different specie catfish caught on small jigs and soft plastics:



Here's another one caught on a t-rigged mini-stick:



...this one caught on a Joker Grub:




I guess it shouldn't surprise me considering that over 15 year ago my partner and I were fishing for stripers using 3/4 oz Hopkins Spoons, cast & retrieved way across a creek channel on the falling tide, and all we caught were carp ranging in size from 4-8 lbs. My largest carp - over 15 lbs - was caught using the same spoon vertical jigging in another creek in early spring. But man do I hate catching carp!!!!!

[Curt - NC]

I'm not at all surprised. Catfish will eat just about anything that's an easy meal.

One night about 25 years back (maybe longer), my brother-in-law caught a catfish on a topwater bait after dark! 

[senkosam]

Amazing! 


BTW - got email notifications. Yahoo!

[Curt - NC]

BTW - got email notifications. Yahoo!

Glad to hear it!