| Method 2 | | | | fish marks, that’s all you need. |
| The second method that works really well for me | | | | Catchin’ the Big Cats |
| is drift fishing. Lets start by explaining how drifting | | | | The speed of your drift makes a huge difference. |
| works. It’s really pretty simple: you cast | | | | A good rule to follow is the colder the water, |
| out bait and drag it behind or from the side of | | | | the slower you should go.’ A big Blue Cat |
| your boat while the wind pushes you along. | | | | will not want to chase bait that’s traveling |
| Where to Fish | | | | fast in cold water, so when you are dragging bait |
| The majority of Cat-men that I know all use the | | | | on the bottom you should use some kind of drift |
| same rig, although their tackle will differ from one | | | | sock or sea anchor. You might have to |
| guy to the next. Whatever tackle they use, they | | | | experiment with different sizes until you figure |
| are all dragging some kind of bait on the bottom. | | | | out what size slows your boat down. |
| The big difference between most drifters and | | | | Manufacturers of drift socks will usually give you |
| myself, however, is that I usually do not drift in | | | | an estimate of the size of sock compared to the |
| water any shallower than 30 feet deep while | | | | size of the boat you are using. |
| most others like to fish much shallower, such as | | | | Furthermore, just because you are a |
| 10-20 feet deep. | | | | Cat-fisherman, it doesn’t mean you |
| The shallow waters of most lakes contain a few | | | | can’t use the tools other fishermen use. |
| big fish and lots of little ones resulting in lots of | | | | Experiment with different hooks, weights, line, |
| action, but not too many that will test your string. | | | | rods and reels, but my advice would be to |
| I have said before that Blue Cats can and will live | | | | eventually work your way into having an exactly |
| and feed in deep water. My best day of drifting, | | | | matched set of at least 4 rods and reels. When |
| as far as numbers of fish weighing between 3-20 | | | | you learn what works for you, you will be much |
| lbs. goes, occurred last December. In one drift I | | | | happier with a matching set of gear. Having your |
| caught and released 47 Blue Cats. These fish all | | | | gear match might not sound like much, but when |
| came off of a huge flat that runs parallel to the | | | | you start catching Blue Cats over 20 lbs you'll |
| main river channel with an average depth of 45 | | | | know the limitations of your tackle. Furthermore, |
| ft. Its surface has a few small humps and a | | | | you wont have to worry every time you set a |
| couple of old ditches running across it. People drive | | | | hook about which rod the fish hit because they |
| by me and look in disbelief when they see me | | | | will all perform the same. |
| drifting in 30 to 50 ft of water, but when that fish | | | | Closing |
| locator shows big fish marks on the bottom at | | | | Get some good gear capable of handling big fish. |
| those kind of depths I have a pretty good idea of | | | | Get your tools so you can go out and learn your |
| what’s down there. | | | | lake. Spend time learning your water before you |
| Not all lakes are as easy to drift: some have gobs | | | | start to fish. If you can’t or don’t |
| of timber and some have tons of rock on the | | | | want to spend the amount of money necessary |
| bottom. The best lakes I have found have had | | | | to purchase all the equipment and cover all the |
| some silting or massive mud flats that were old | | | | various expenses, don’t be afraid to take |
| fields at one time. Simple structures like old | | | | guided trips. You’ll have good company |
| ditches that carve across mud flats give Blue | | | | from someone who knows the lake well and can |
| Cats a place to ambush their prey and might give | | | | teach you a great deal, plus it takes A LOT of |
| them a little relief in the water column when the | | | | guided trips to add up to the cost of equipping |
| water is at its coldest or warmest. Look at these | | | | yourself. |
| flats from different angles and ask yourself, | | | | Don’t be afraid to experiment with new |
| How does the bank look? Could the | | | | tactics after you start fishing. Always remember: |
| surface under the water look similar to the | | | | Blue Cats are Blue Cats, they don’t know |
| structures above the water? Chances are that it | | | | what lake they’re in or where they live. |
| will be pretty close. | | | | They will behave the same where I fish or where |
| These ideas are not really new. Bass and Walleye | | | | you fish. If you’d like, I can actually travel |
| fishermen all over the U.S. use land structures to | | | | to your lake to prove it, as well as show you |
| locate their fish and when it comes to locating | | | | what a professional guide would do on your lake |
| these structures, fish locators are very valuable | | | | or river. Always keep your eyes on your fish |
| tools. My opinion is that you get what you pay for | | | | finder, and get out there and try some non-typical |
| with electronics, but if you can find shad or | | | | Catfishing! |
| baitfish with your locator as well as see the big | | | | |