Summertime is Peak Time for Big Cats

courtesy of Georgia DNR

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Georgia - Fishing for catfish is a summertime tradition in Georgia. From the experienced angler attempting to land a new state record to the grandfather taking his grandson on a first-time fishing trip, catfishing opportunities are abundant. With summertime nearing its peak, the Wildlife Resources Division is highlighting the hot weather hot spots and offering tips on technique and equipment for anglers of all skill levels.

"Trying to reel in a catfish is a favorite pastime of many anglers in Georgia, and we are fortunate that we have so many locations where this experience is enjoyed," says John Biagi, the division's chief of Fisheries Management. "Catfish typically are found in waters close to home, require relatively simple gear and taste great on the dinner table - all good reasons to get out and fish!"

Georgia's plentiful public waterways are home to several species of catfish, including channel, white, blue, flathead and bullheads (consisting of several similar species - yellow, brown, snail, spotted and flat). The larger species, blue, channel and flathead catfish, can grow to exceed 100 pounds.

Following are summer's hot spots:

· Lake Nottely - Contains good populations of channel and white catfish (averaging one pound or less) and fewer, but larger flathead catfish (weighing up to 40 pounds).

· Lake Tugalo - Contains an abundant population of white catfish.

· Lake Marbury (Fort Yargo State Park) - Supports an excellent population of channel catfish.

· Lake Oconee - Supports high numbers of channel, blue, flathead, white and bullhead species of catfish.

· Flint River - Great location for flathead (5-30 pounds) or channel catfish.

· Andrews Lock and Dam (Chattahoochee River) - Best location in southwest Georgia for catching a flathead catfish exceeding 20 pounds.

· Lake Seminole - Good catches of channel catfish available throughout the summer.

· Lake Blackshear - Excellent channel catfish spot. Best places are the main lake and below Warwick Dam.

· Altamaha River - Great location for flathead catfish. The current flathead state record was caught here by Carl Sawyer in 2006 (83 pounds). The Altamaha boasts an additional state record catfish - the channel cat, caught by Bobby Smithwick in 1972 (44 pounds, 12 ounces).

· Satilla River - Excellent fishing available for channel catfish, white catfish and several species of bullheads.

· Southeast Georgia Public Fishing Areas (including Evans Co. PFA, Paradise PFA, Hugh M. Gillis PFA and Dodge Co. PFA) - Some of the best locations for channel catfish in southeast Georgia. The division recommends that anglers use a medium weight rod with either a spincasting or spinning reel.

· St. Marys River - Healthy populations of channel and white catfish are available.

As a rule, the species and size of catfish should dictate the fishing line used. If targeting channel and white catfish, Wildlife Resources biologists recommend 8-14 pound test line and medium size hooks (6 or 8) under a bobber and fished on the bottom.

For anglers trying to land a large flathead, heavy tackle is a must - large spinning or casting tackle with at least 20-50 pound test line with heavy weights to keep bait on the bottom.

Best baits for channel, bullheads and white catfish are worms, liver, live minnows, cut bait and stink bait. Recommended flathead bait: live goldfish, bream and shiners.

Anglers fishing rivers during the day should target deep holes that contain rock or woody structures. During dusk, dawn and at night, anglers should concentrate on shallow sandbars and shoals nearby the deep holes fished during the day.

Though most species of catfish are active throughout the day, the best summer fishing is at dusk and during the night. The best time of the year to fish for all catfish species is from early spring until the peak of summer.

Take Me Fishing™ A recent national survey indicated that 87 percent of Americans believe fishing and boating have a positive effect on family relationships. So take your family fishing and you will always have something in common.

For more information on fishing for catfish in Georgia, visit the Wildlife Resources Division online at www.gofishgeorgia.com .

Choosing A Fishing Guide - Two Perspectives

To give you some insight into choosing the Fishing Guide or Charter that is right for you we have enlisted the help of National Bass Professional Fishing Guide, former radio talk show host and author Steve Chaconas, and Professional Bass Angler Luke Clausen.

Choosing a Guide

by Steve Chaconas, NationalBass.com

Choosing a guide is tricky.

I get asked a lot of questions from prospective clients. They usually focus on the fishing and maybe the type of gear, including boat I run. I think the most important question they should ask...it might not be the first, but should be the deal breaker...What form of liability insurance coverage do you have? If they do not have a 'commercial' policy, then you might run into issues if there is a problem. Many guides try to cut corners here because complete insurance coverage costs about double or more. They will try to cover their guiding business with a regular policy...if a company finds out, they will deny claims in most cases.

They should also ask about the level of skill required for the techniques being used. Some guides are not very good teachers and are not able to teach learnable techniques to new clients. Knowing the range a guide can cover might help as well. Some guides might not be able to communicate this, so it is up client to ask sufficient questions to determine whether a guide will be able to accommodate the skill level of their trip. Read More

Subtleties to smallmouths
by Art Ferguson of Art of Fishing Guide Service

Smallmouth bass fishing, in my eyes, is the best fishing in the world today. I have fished for most species of freshwater and many saltwater, both bottom as well as flats fishing and still nothing compares day in and day out to smallmouth bass! They are aggressive, competitive, strong, fighters, jumpers, diggers, mean, schoolers, quick yet smooth and are not fearful!

I've found in recent years that smallmouth bass are more predictable than the largemouth bass and that goes against popular beliefs. The difference is, smallmouths tend to move a bit more throughout a years time, but, once you figure out where they spawn, feed and winter, you will have a much better understanding of these great fish.

Being a full time guide on the Great Lakes, I can honestly say I've caught thousands and thousands of smallmouths in the past 16 years as a guide. Customers have caught nearly as many. This is due to the aggressive nature of this fish. I've learned where to look for them at different times of the year and it pays off in extreme fishing situations. Some days, we'll catch well over 60 a day and this is due to their nature.

I'm a man of Faith and do not believe in luck, but rather God being in control of everything including weather patterns which in turn, make wildlife and fish react differently at different times. If you get lined up with God's perfect timing, when fish are most active in areas of the lakes or rivers you are fishing, this is when it happens. Smallmouths are no different, though they do seem to go into frenzies better than many species of fish. This is due to their schooling nature. Whenever you find a smallmouth, chances are, there are more nearby.

Lets get into some seasonal patterns as well as the subtleties that can make you or break you out on the water. Most of us know through experience that spring and fall fishing is typically better than any other time of the year for most fishermen. This is the time when the fish are shallowest and seems that once you find them, it's endless. Then the heat of the summer comes, the fish are post spawn and suddenly the heroes of the lake are the zeroes of the lake. This is due to fish spreading out into the vast areas of each particular lake. I find most of my summer smallmouth on our Great Lakes will relate to the first major breaks off of spawning flats or move into major rivers and channels that produce cooler waters, oxygen levels are increased and an abundance of baitfish. Finally, winter fishing. Well, I live in Florida during this time of year, so I won't comment on ice fishing.
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