Fast action in prespawn conditions is typical; Rodger Taylor fights
a fat blue as Don Hardy hefts one he just boated.
Prespawn Catfish Tactics
Story and Photos by Terry Madewell
Prespawn catfishing can be the sizzle before the spawn fizzle. Get your CatfishNOW.
Catfish are reasonably predictable fish regarding habits, cover and foods they’ll eat, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to catch them. But during the prespawn period, anglers with knowledge of how, when and where to fish can make a good catch on most days.
As with every fishing sport, catfishing has times and places when fishing conditions are naturally more challenging than usual and demanding for everyone. One tough time is during the spawn when propagation of the species takes precedence over eating.
Fortunately, balances exist that offset this problematic spawning trend when fishing is potentially more productive than usual. During the prespawn period, catfish are active, eat heartily and are literally on the move.
The prespawn is equally a good time to prowl the lakes and rivers for fat cats, as the spawn is tough.
Here are some tactics to take advantage of when catfish are willing to bite.
Where’s The Forage
One strong pattern of catfishing is following the forage, and that’s true almost year-round, except for the spawn.
Finding the forage is key during prespawn, and specific targets vary depending on the part of the country and whether you’re fishing on a lake or river.
By May, forage that catfish want to eat is moving in or toward shallower water, and the cats follow.
A perfect illustration of this occurred when fishing with catfish guide Rodger Taylor last year on Lake Wylie, located on the North and South Carolina border. Taylor discussed the recent excellent prespawn action in shallow water when he pulled into a large embayment with a point protruding from the middle, flanked by two coves. He said the water depths at the mouths of the coves were about the same.
“Pick one at random,” he said. “We’ll check it out.”
I picked the one to our left, and he nodded and said, “Good.”
“Until yesterday, I’d never fished either cove at this time of year, but I fished the one on the right yesterday,” he said. “It had forage, primarily shad, but I also marked larger fish eating that forage, likely crappie, and white perch. Both of those are potential forage for catfish, too. We caught multiple quality fish quickly.”
We made a similar effort in the left cove, and at one time, we had two catfish hooked up and another two lying on the boat floor, still hooked on other rigs. The action was quick and aggressive because that cove was full of forage. When the bite slacked off, we moved and hunted the next place. About half of the places we targeted that day produced similar action, and we caught and released over two dozen healthy blues during our morning of fishing. Taylor didn’t linger long at any place that didn’t produce quickly.
We performed our due diligence and tested different waters. When we found an area loaded with forage or smaller fish catfish could chow on, the bite was on.
Moving Water Put Catfish on the Prowl.
Another situation common throughout the catfishing kingdom is moving water during the spring, which attracts forage and catfish. The source may be rivers or the upper ends of lakes with a continuous influx of water. Dams along major rivers create tailwater areas where catfish migrate upstream, often following forage.
The key is that moving water is attractive to prespawn catfish and some of the forage species they eat.
“I find this a consistent pattern in the upper end of lakes during the spring prespawn period,” Taylor said. “It’s a two-fold process. One is the forage in the area that moves up the lake. For us, it’s shad. Other species that catfish eat do the same. In our area, it’s often white perch, also a prime catfish forage. Food and current serve as attractors, and catfish of all sizes are concentrated below the dams.”
Taylor said it’s not just immediately below the productive dam.
“My target area is from the dam downstream for a few miles below where the current is typically strong,” he said. “Here, as in any tailwater situation, it’s best to target unusual bottom features such as channel ledges, creek junctions and high spots.”
Taylor (803-517-7828; Catfish On! Guide Service) graphs the area and anchors in a setup where he can cast his rigs into different water depths to determine a bite pattern for the day.
“I’ve found giving an area 30 minutes is ample, and sometimes the action starts quickly and stays continuous,” he said. “Other times, it slows after a quick flurry of action.”
Big catfish are available, along with an assortment of catfish sizes attracted to this spring-moving water situation.
“I want clients to catch fish, and using current to find catfish is an important part of my prespawn strategy.”
Wind Created Current
Most catfish guides and tournament anglers have developed an affinity for fishing downwind areas pummeled by winds from a consistent direction for an extended period. It’s common for catfish to congregate in these places, and the fishing can be exceptional, including trophy-sized catfish. Most anglers anchor in shallow water, fan cast around the boat and frequently find catfish piled in skinny water, only a few feet deep.
The action is fast-paced but often short-lived because the forage and fish scatter when the wind pattern changes.
The hotspots are moving targets because they can change based on wind direction, but they’re well worth the time spent locating them.
Remember, prespawn catfish are a prime target because they’re loading up on forage.
It’s the feeding sizzle before the spawning fizzle.
(Terry Madewell of Ridgeway, S.C., has been an outdoor communicator for nearly 50 years. He holds a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management and has a long career as a professional wildlife biologist/natural resources manager. He’s passionate about sharing outdoor adventures with others.)
