Serious catfish bait shortage

[SpurHunter]

Southerncats - 8/26/2008 8:16 PM There's lots of them.....but getting them to bite is alittle tricky......there feeding on the tiny shad.......hopefully all this rain will make TVA generate alittle more water in the upcoming weeks, and maybe the skippys will come up river.

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I thought that was the problem when I went there as well. Sooo much bait, its hard to make them hit a spoon or sabiki. What did you have the best luck with?</p>

 

[Southerncats]

They were hitting the sabiki and white and pink maribou jigs.......I think they would have hit just about anything......the skippys were busting all over downstream below the power lines....but the key was to find them where there wasn't so much bait....I went up in alittle faster water where there was hardly any topwater skipjack action...there probably wasn't near as many skipjack up there but they were hitting our baits much better.

 

[shsimons]

Last year I was doing some bass fishing above the dam. I remember them breaking water like crazy, and I could not get them to hit a sabiki rig at all. Sometimes they just crush it, I don't understand it.

Would fishing with baby threadfins be an option for them or not? That is what they are feeding on, obviously the bass like them.

 

[SpurHunter]

I would say small threads would work, but I bet as hard as they hit those little fellers, you would lose a bunch!

 

[engatty]

Skips often are deep. Try this:

Place a 1/2 or 3/4 ounce egg sinker on your main line and then add a small barrel swivel. To the barrel swivel add an 18" leader. To the leader add your favorite skip bait.

Throw this sucker out and let it sink. I catch lots of skips in 8-15' water. They're deep when they're not hitting on top.

SkipMaster

 

[Southerncats]

Steve's exactly right....I catch them like that often.......but these I caught the other day weren't deep.....but I was using 1 oz of weight, they wanted it worked fast and this enabled me to keep it down in the current

 

[foodsaver]

mike what do you charge for a skipjack guide trip????

 

[Southerncats]

$250........It cost me $75+ on gas to go to wheeler dam.......I will keep yall informed when the action get's hot at Guntersville dam again.

 

[Nickajack Angler]

I've told you all a number of times. Below Pickwick, they are stacked like wood.... I'll try to get a few sacks full for you Eric. I owe you HUGE anyway. We'll figure out a way to get them to you. Picnic isn't far off....Maybe I can bring some to you then. 2in white swimbait, preferrably white with a blue back, and a 1/4 oz jig head. The last hour of day light will yeild 1/cast sometimes and at least every third cast.Mr Twister makes the ones Louie and I use. Also, I've had hit and miss this year below the RR bridge below Chick, but earlier this spring I've caught over 100 in an evening down there. I know it kills you guys to stand on shore... That first eddie there up to the bridge is the best stretch..... I walk the shore there and slay them on this little bait. I'll take a pic and post tomorrow.