ALL ABOUT EATER CATFISH – 21 FISH @ BELTON

WHO I FISHED WITH:  This past Friday evening, May 1st, I welcomed returning guests Rick Powell and Ricardo Cisneros aboard.  During the Coronavirus shutdown, I took my wife, Rebecca, and a handful of friends out fishing specifically for blue catfish on Lake Belton.  Ricardo, who regularly follows my Facebook posts, saw this and hoped to duplicate the effort on occasions where he hoped to catch a few “eating-sized” catfish (12+ inches).

He requested I take he and his friend (and boss) Rick Powell out to show them what I’d learned.

No, I’m not starting to guide for catfish and don’t intend to do so in the future, but, as the fishery offers consistency and as the quality of these fish continue to improve on Lake Belton (due to zebra mussel consumption, I suspect), I will no doubt routinely mix in some catfishing in my multi-species trips. Additionally, my 100% C&R policy still pertains to this species.

 

PHOTO CAPTION: This is what the methods I’ve pieced together (with a good bit of help from Steve Webb) typically produce – smaller “eater-sized” blue catfish, two of which provide 4 fillets — just enough for a 1-person serving if kept and cleaned properly. Most fish are 12-15 inches, like this one held by Ricardo Cisneros.

WHEN WE FISHED:  01 May, 2020, PM

HOW WE FISHED: First, I search for blue catfish concentrations on sonar.  Next, I Spot-Lock and chum with range cubes, then get right down to fishing vertically with my “Catfish Plumb” bait holders tipped with fresh, dead shad or non-stink doughbait.  To enhance things, I’ve brought Garmin LiveScope to bear, which allows slightly suspended fish to be targeted.  Otherwise, the default bait position is just inches off bottom.

Concentration is a must, as the catfish typically take only one swipe at the bait, during which time a quick, hard hookset is a must.

In 3.5 hours’ time, some of which was set aside for Humminbird side-imaging explanation and Garmin LiveScope explanation, we put 22 blue cat over the side of the boat with just as many missed on the hookset.

 

TALLY: 22 fish caught and released

OBSERVATIONS: As I searched for spawning shad, a definite, shallow-water and shad-oriented fishery is also ripe for picking, albeit short-lived with the action drying up about the time the direct sun peeks over the eastern horizon.

 

TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:

Start Time:   4:00P

End Time:  7:30P

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 82F

Elevation:  0.77′  high, 0.06 foot 24-hour rise, 17 CFS flow

Water Surface Temp:  70F

Wind Speed & Direction:  S17 at trip’s start, tapering to S14 by trip’s end

Sky Conditions: 30% high white haze on blue skies

GT =28

 

Wx SNAPSHOT:   

 

AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

**Area vic B0073C (fished it at start of trip and end of trip with 2 other non-productive stops in between)

 

Bob Maindelle

Full-time, Professional Fishing Guide and Owner of Holding the Line Guide Service

Belton Lake Fishing Guide, Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide

254.368.7411 (call or text)

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Website: www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

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A Bit Slow After the Big Blow — 70 Fish, Belton

WHO I FISHED WITH: This past Monday morning I fished with Gabe Carreras, his son, Christian, and Gabe’s father-in-law, Chris Melson, of Alabama who came in for a holiday visit.

IMG_4432

9-year-old Christian put his first and largest fish of the trip in the boat within minutes of our arrival at our first stop of the morning.  This smallmouth buffalo weighed 6.25 pounds.  That’s his dad, Gabe, helping with the heavy lifting.

IMG_4437

For his next trick, Christian landed the largest hybrid striper of the trip.  This 19.75″ fish went right at 3.25 pounds.

IMG_4439

And Papa Chris put his own hybrid in the boat, as well.

WHAT WE FISHED FOR: This was a multi-species trip focused on white bass.

WHERE WE FISHED: Lake Belton

WHEN WE FISHED: Monday morning, 20 November 2017

HOW WE FISHED:  The big blow on Saturday definitely shook up the fishery, moved the bait, stained the water, and scattered the fish.  We went nearly 2 hours catching only 3 fish, but then found relief in deeper, clearer water as the south wind began to move the water around 9am.  I extended the trip by an hour to try to make up for the slow start, and we were able to put a total of 70 fish in the boat.  Deep, slow vertical jigging using an easing tactic with light, 3/8 oz. slabs with Hazy Eye Stinger hooks attached did the trick.  We caught the majority of our fish on just two similar locations, both in 42-44 feet of water on a breakline.

OBSERVATIONS/NOTES:   1) There was no helpful bird action today. 2) There were a lot of scattered, small fish up high in the water column (10-15 feet down) which we confirmed were white bass via downrigging. 3) The sustained high winds on Sat./Sun. left all but the main basin of the lake temporarily stained with silt. 4) Bite was poor until the south wind began to move the water. 5) We had a ~4.0F drop from Saturday AM to this AM.

TALLY: 70 FISH, all caught and released

TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:

Start Time: 6:45a

End Time: 11:45a

Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 36F

Water Surface Temp: 64.4F

Wind Speed & Direction: WNW breeze under 3 until 8:15, then calm until 9, then a light S. breeze tapered quickly up to S11 for the last 2+ hours on the water.

Sky Conditions: 10% cloud cover

Water Level: 2.40 feet low

GT = 50

Wx SNAPSHOT:

20NOV17

AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:

**Area triangulated by 1318-346-085 smoking & easing with 3/8 oz. slabs with Hazy Eye Stinger Hook attached

**Area 1389 right on the breakline smoking & easing with 3/8 oz. slabs with Hazy Eye Stinger Hook attached

**Area 1486/787 right on the breakline smoking & easing with 3/8 oz. slabs with Hazy Eye Stinger Hook attached

**Area 2053 right on the breakline smoking & easing with 3/8 oz. slabs with Hazy Eye Stinger Hook attached

 

Bob Maindelle, Central Texas Fishing Guide

Owner, Holding the Line Guide Service

254.368.7411 (call or text)

Website: www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

E-mail: Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bobmaindelle

Twitter: www/twitter.com/bobmaindelle