For fast-paced catfishing action, follow Jerry Kotal’s five-step process.
Five Steps for Catching Catfish by the Numbers
By Terry Madewell
Jerry Kotal has five steps he follows to find fast-paced catfishing from right now through the summer.
Targeting big catfish is the current craze for many catfish anglers and with good reason. But it’s not the only exciting way to enjoy catfishing. May ushers in the time when catfish are on the prowl as water temperatures warm. From May through the summer months, anglers with a good plan can experienced the intense action enjoyed by targeting catfish by the numbers.
Guide Jerry Kotal has developed a five-step process he uses to catch catfish in big numbers.
Kotal (706-213-8745) lives in Elberton, Georgia and guides on Lake Richard B. Russell on the Savannah River for catfish (as well as black bass and stripers seasonally). Lake Russell, on the Georgia and South Carolina border, harbors some big catfish, but Kotal said fishermen rave about the almost-continuous action from smaller fish.
“I have five fundamental steps that enable me to consistently catch catfish in big numbers,” he said. “By May, the water temperature is warming and the catfish bite is strong and getting better. I typically get on a solid pattern at this time of the year that lasts through July. This process works on other lakes I’ve fished, too.”
Step 1: Targeting the Correct Areas
Kotal’s first step is to target the right areas.
He said his targets are primarily offshore near deeper water, but orient to shallow water. They’re areas frequented by forage as late-spring and summer patterns develop.
“I fish long points that extend well offshore, and offshore humps and ledges that drop into deeper water” Kotal said. “The water in Lake Russell is usually clear, so I’ll anchor in eight to 15 feet of water and fan cast rods all around the boat. I work the shallow and deeper areas to find the pattern for that specific spot. If one area, or specific depth, gets hot, I’ll flood that spot with bait. During August, this basic trend continues, and I fish similar places, but I do move slightly deeper to stay on fish.”
Step 2: Downsizing Tackle
Kotal said downsizing tackle is crucial to numbers of fish.
“Big catfish will bite on heavier line and larger terminal tackle,” he said. “For numbers of fish, the line size, weights and all the terminal tackle matters. Catfish can be finicky, and if the line size is too large, they’ll not bite as readily. I’ve tested heavy and light tackle side-by-side, and it makes a big difference. By the end of a trip, the lighter tackle accounts for more fish. I use spinning rigs with 15-pound-test braided line, for a small line diameter and low stretch for better hook setting. I use size 1 to 1/0 regular Eagle Claw J hooks and a 1/2-ounce sliding sinker about a foot above a small swivel. When we hook a bigger fish, we deal with it and have a ton of fun in the process.”
Step 3: Using Proven Baits
Kotal said he uses proven catfish baits to target numbers of fish.
“I prefer smaller baits for lots of catfish action,” he said. “Some are better than others, and my number one at this time of the year is catalpa worms. That’s a local favorite, and where anyone fishes, a locally favored bait may be available.
“Since Lake Russell is loaded with shad and herring, my next choice is small chunks of herring or shad,” he continued. “But it would be whatever the primary forage is in the lake being fished. I prefer thumb-sized chunks of cut-bait. Stinkbaits are productive, and I’ll use those because they generate fast-action. With elevated water temperatures and high metabolism in warm water, catfish feed aggressively, and these baits attract chunky channel catfish and moderate-sized blues.”
Step 4: Timing It Right
Kotal said time of day is important but may change daily. During low light, forage often goes shallow, and catfish follow.
“If catfish are shallow at this time of the year, they’re likely eating,” he said. “I go early hoping the bite is on. Fishing for numbers during the morning, or evening, can be awesome, but the action can be comparatively slow. On those unusual days when early morning is slow, mid-morning to mid-day action can get wild. If anglers fish a lake that produces electric power, the power generation schedule and subsequent water movement can trigger a good bite anytime. Even when the bite is great early, the mid-day action is often excellent. Anytime of the day can be productive. Night fishing is excellent, but I prefer to fish by day because we can catch all the fish we can handle.”
Step 5: Finding Numbers of Fish
The final phase of Kotal’s process is to diligently search for areas with lots of fish.
“A great thing about targeting numbers of catfish is no long wait for bites,” he said. “I anchor fish, so after I’m set up. I’ll stay no longer than 15 minutes without fish-catching action. I’ve learned if I’m in a good spot with the right tackle and small baits, we’ll usually be hooked up before I get all eight of my rigs set.”
Kotal said that it’s not unusual to be hooking fish occasionally. and he’ll surprise his clients with his desire to move.
“It shocks people sometimes, but a steady bite every few minutes is not what I’m chasing,” he said. “I want multiple rods bent with fish hooked that outnumber the people on the boat. It can be chaotic, but, man, it’s fun when all I do is net fish and rebait rigs for folks. And even at those places, when the pace of bites slows, I’m moving because that type action is happening somewhere else on the lake, and I’m going to look for it. I may move several times to find the wild action I’m looking for.
“This is a systematic process that leads to fantastic fish-catching action,” Kotal concluded. “And it’s really that simple.”
(Terry Madewell of Ridgeway, S.C. has been an outdoor writer for more than 45 years. He holds a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management and has a long career as a professional wildlife biologist/natural resources manager. He is passionate about sharing outdoor adventures with others.)
