| Method 2 | | | | electronics, but if you can find shad or baitfish with |
| The second method that works really well for me is | | | | your locator as well as see the big fish marks, that's all |
| drift fishing. Lets start by explaining how drifting works. | | | | you need. |
| It's really pretty simple: you cast out bait and drag it | | | | Catchin' the Big Cats |
| behind or from the side of your boat while the wind | | | | The speed of your drift makes a huge difference. A |
| pushes you along. | | | | good rule to follow is 'the colder the water, the slower |
| Where to Fish | | | | you should go.' A big Blue Cat will not want to chase |
| The majority of Cat-men that I know all use the same | | | | bait that's traveling fast in cold water, so when you are |
| rig, although their tackle will differ from one guy to the | | | | dragging bait on the bottom you should use some kind |
| next. Whatever tackle they use, they are all dragging | | | | of drift sock or sea anchor. You might have to |
| some kind of bait on the bottom. The big difference | | | | experiment with different sizes until you figure out |
| between most drifters and myself, however, is that I | | | | what size slows your boat down. Manufacturers of |
| usually do not drift in water any shallower than 30 feet | | | | drift socks will usually give you an estimate of the size |
| deep while most others like to fish much shallower, | | | | of sock compared to the size of the boat you are |
| such as 10-20 feet deep. | | | | using. |
| The shallow waters of most lakes contain a few big | | | | Furthermore, just because you are a Cat-fisherman, it |
| fish and lots of little ones resulting in lots of action, but | | | | doesn't mean you can't use the tools other fishermen |
| not too many that will test your string. I have said | | | | use. Experiment with different hooks, weights, line, rods |
| before that Blue Cats can and will live and feed in | | | | and reels, but my advice would be to eventually work |
| deep water. My best day of drifting, as far as | | | | your way into having an exactly matched set of at |
| numbers of fish weighing between 3-20 lbs. goes, | | | | least 4 rods and reels. When you learn what works |
| occurred last December. In one drift I caught and | | | | for you, you will be much happier with a matching set |
| released 47 Blue Cats. These fish all came off of a | | | | of gear. Having your gear match might not sound like |
| huge flat that runs parallel to the main river channel | | | | much, but when you start catching Blue Cats over 20 |
| with an average depth of 45 ft. Its surface has a few | | | | lbs you'll know the limitations of your tackle. |
| small humps and a couple of old ditches running across | | | | Furthermore, you wont have to worry every time you |
| it. People drive by me and look in disbelief when they | | | | set a hook about which rod the fish hit because they |
| see me drifting in 30 to 50 ft of water, but when that | | | | will all perform the same. |
| fish locator shows big fish marks on the bottom at | | | | Closing |
| those kind of depths I have a pretty good idea of | | | | Get some good gear capable of handling big fish. Get |
| what's down there. | | | | your tools so you can go out and learn your lake. |
| Not all lakes are as easy to drift: some have gobs of | | | | Spend time learning your water before you start to |
| timber and some have tons of rock on the bottom. | | | | fish. If you can't or don't want to spend the amount of |
| The best lakes I have found have had some silting or | | | | money necessary to purchase all the equipment and |
| massive mud flats that were old fields at one time. | | | | cover all the various expenses, don't be afraid to take |
| Simple structures like old ditches that carve across | | | | guided trips. You'll have good company from someone |
| mud flats give Blue Cats a place to ambush their prey | | | | who knows the lake well and can teach you a great |
| and might give them a little relief in the water column | | | | deal, plus it takes A LOT of guided trips to add up to |
| when the water is at its coldest or warmest. Look at | | | | the cost of equipping yourself. |
| these flats from different angles and ask yourself, | | | | Don't be afraid to experiment with new tactics after |
| "How does the bank look?" Could the surface under | | | | you start fishing. Always remember: Blue Cats are |
| the water look similar to the structures above the | | | | Blue Cats, they don't know what lake they're in or |
| water? Chances are that it will be pretty close. | | | | where they live. They will behave the same where I |
| These ideas are not really new. Bass and Walleye | | | | fish or where you fish. If you'd like, I can actually travel |
| fishermen all over the U.S. use land structures to locate | | | | to your lake to prove it, as well as show you what a |
| their fish and when it comes to locating these | | | | professional guide would do on your lake or river. |
| structures, fish locators are very valuable tools. My | | | | Always keep your eyes on your fish finder, and get |
| opinion is that you get what you pay for with | | | | out there and try some non-typical Catfishing! |