PUBLISHER
Dan Dannenmueller
EDITOR
Keith “Catfish” Sutton
SR. WRITER
Ron Presley
ART/ CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Matt Mullikin
WRITERS
Brad Durick
Brent Frazee
Michael Giles
Anietra Hamper
Terry Madewell
Ron Presley
Richard Simms
Keith Sutton
Jeffrey Miller
Richard Hines
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Cover Photo Credit
Arkansas angler Lewis Peeler poses with a big Missouri River blue catfish caught on a winter fishing trip. This big river has been producing lots of huge cats in recent years, including some over 100 pounds. Photo by Keith Sutton.
Building the Right Pond Fishing Environment for Catfish
Six years ago, my wife Sue and I purchased our forever property, and it included an older pond/lake that originally was a channel catfish and bluegill pond. It was not cared for by the previous owner, so it had little structure and malnourished catfish and bluegills.
In the first year, we lowered the pond some and did some excavation work. We also placed numerous types of Mossback Fish Habitat structures, introduced river gravel in strategic locations and stocked minnows, hybrid bluegills, crappie and a few bass.
The excavation work was to deepen and enlarge the pond to almost two acres. Years of muck were removed as pond had been used as a water source for racking horses. Shorelines were restored, and the high-water drain replaced.
We then introduced more than 35 Mossback Fish Habitats of varying sizes and depths to create cover for the minnows, panfish and catfish. These structures will last a lifetime and have allowed the pond residents to flourish. We are now on our fifth generation of every species of fish, and they are healthy.
Feeding the fish with a Texas Hunter feeder has enhanced all the fish sizes. Our channel cats are up to 10 pounds now. One of our grandchildren caught one over 8 pounds this past Thanksgiving. Compare the average sizes now to be 3 to 5 pounds in stark comparison to an average of 1 pound or less just five years ago.
Fishing for the channel catfish in the pond is a real treat. They are as powerful as any I have caught on public rivers and lakes.
I like to use two principal types of bait for them. The first is chunked hot dogs on a 1/0 Tru-Turn hook rigged beneath a small bobber and a split shot for drop and casting. The other bait is a 2-inch, black/pink or black/chartreuse Bobby Garland Slab Slay’R or 1.25-inch Itty Bit on a Blakemore Road Runner or Itty Bit head.
These catfish are great table fare as well. They are fun to catch, and the eating can’t be beat.
Don’t forget to take a kid fishing!!
God Bless,
Dan Dannenmueller, Publisher
