Lake & Reservoir catfishing tips
From a guides point of veiw
Drifting
Above is a few examples of different styles of drifting.Click the zoom button in your windows tool bar if your having a hard time reading it.
Drift speed- For the most part you want to be going slower than 6/10ths of a mile an hour, I prefer slower than that, from late summer all the way till early summer.In the warmer months, 7 or 8/10ths will catch fish but most of the time under 6/10ths is the place to be.
When to use a drift sock-When the wind is pushing you faster than the ideal drift speed or if the wind is to strong to power troll into it with the trolling motor.When it gets that strong, its best to just put the sock out and go with it, that way you save your trolling motor battery.Theres all kinds of different sized socks, boats and styles of drifting so experimentation is needed to determine the size and how many socks are needed.
What is a power turn- A power turn is a way you can turn 180 degrees fairly quickly and not have to reel your lines in, which can save alot of time in most situations.
How to do a power turn- Always make sure your lines are staggered, in other words, no two rods have the same amount of line out(which should be done in any drifting situation).When you get to the area you want to turn, kick your bow mount trolling motor all the way up in high.This will speed the boat up enough that it will pull the baits and rigs off the bottom.Make a long gradual sweep until you are headed in the direction you want to go.Once you get the boat headed in the right direction, maintain high speed until your lines all get back parallel with each other and then bring it back down to normal speed.
Drift speed- For the most part you want to be going slower than 6/10ths of a mile an hour, I prefer slower than that, from late summer all the way till early summer.In the warmer months, 7 or 8/10ths will catch fish but most of the time under 6/10ths is the place to be.
When to use a drift sock-When the wind is pushing you faster than the ideal drift speed or if the wind is to strong to power troll into it with the trolling motor.When it gets that strong, its best to just put the sock out and go with it, that way you save your trolling motor battery.Theres all kinds of different sized socks, boats and styles of drifting so experimentation is needed to determine the size and how many socks are needed.
What is a power turn- A power turn is a way you can turn 180 degrees fairly quickly and not have to reel your lines in, which can save alot of time in most situations.
How to do a power turn- Always make sure your lines are staggered, in other words, no two rods have the same amount of line out(which should be done in any drifting situation).When you get to the area you want to turn, kick your bow mount trolling motor all the way up in high.This will speed the boat up enough that it will pull the baits and rigs off the bottom.Make a long gradual sweep until you are headed in the direction you want to go.Once you get the boat headed in the right direction, maintain high speed until your lines all get back parallel with each other and then bring it back down to normal speed.
Above is just a general example of a good area to drift accross.A hump is in the picture above but you apply the same concept to points, flats, creek channels, river channels, ditches and depressions and everything in between.An ideal drift is to set up where you can drift accross several of these areas in one drift.
Drifting is about the most fail proof way of locating aggressive fish.Drifting can get very precise when you are trying to drift accross small or certain areas but for the most part, you dont have to be as precise with drifting as you do anchoring.Its one of the most popular and easiest ways to put catfish in the boat.
When using the drift rig thats pictured in the basic rigs section.The weight drags the bottom, the float on the leader holds the hook and bait off the bottom far enough to prevent most hang ups.There will be a good deal of rod action, slowly going down and popping back up as the weight drags on the bottom.When a fish hits, theres usually no mistaking.Its alot more violent and sometimes drag immediately starts coming off the reel, when that happens, its a good one.
Drifting is about the most fail proof way of locating aggressive fish.Drifting can get very precise when you are trying to drift accross small or certain areas but for the most part, you dont have to be as precise with drifting as you do anchoring.Its one of the most popular and easiest ways to put catfish in the boat.
When using the drift rig thats pictured in the basic rigs section.The weight drags the bottom, the float on the leader holds the hook and bait off the bottom far enough to prevent most hang ups.There will be a good deal of rod action, slowly going down and popping back up as the weight drags on the bottom.When a fish hits, theres usually no mistaking.Its alot more violent and sometimes drag immediately starts coming off the reel, when that happens, its a good one.
