Furthermore, just because you are a Cat-fisherman, it doesn’t mean you can’t use tools other fishermen use. Experiment with different hooks, weights, line, rods and reels, but my advice would be to eventually work your way into having an exactly matched set of at least 4 rods and reels. When you learn what works for you, you will be much happier with a matching set of gear. Having your gear match might not sound like much, but when you start catching Blue Cats over 20 lbs you'll know limitations of your tackle. Furthermore, you wont have to worry every time you set a hook about which rod fish hit because they will all perform same.

Closing

Get some good gear capable of handling big fish. Get your tools so you can go out and learn your lake. Spend time learning your water before you start to fish. If you can’t or don’t want to spend amount of money necessary to purchase all equipment and cover all various expenses, don’t be afraid to take guided trips. You’ll have good company from someone who knows lake well and can teach you a great deal, plus it takes A LOT of guided trips to add up to cost of equipping yourself.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with new tactics after you start fishing. Always remember: Blue Cats are Blue Cats, they don’t know what lake they’re in or where they live. They will behave same where I fish or where you fish. If you’d like, I can actually travel to your lake to prove it, as well as show you what a professional guide would do on your lake or river. Always keep your eyes on your fish finder, and get out there and try some non-typical Catfishing!

If you missed either of first 2 parts of this article, head to this URL for complete article: http://www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com/nontypical-catfishing.htm

Copyright © 2002-2005 Jeff Williams

You have permission to publish this article free of charge as long as you are not selling it and that you include author bylines immediately visible with article and, if published in an electronic medium such as on a web site, you provide a link back to www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com in author bylines, both where web address is listed as well as well as with text “Lake of Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service”...

The Blue Catfish

The Blue Cat is truly an amazing fish. I have caught these fish as deep as 96 feet at bottom of a river channel in cold water conditions. I have also seen them come right up to top and smash a school of shad just as a Striper or White Bass would do in warm water conditions. As far as I can tell, these fish feed aggressive all year, which in my opinion sets them apart from Flatheads and Channel Cats. Reports of Blues falling for lead spoons, jigs, crank baits, and many other artificial lures are not uncommon any time of year. The other Blue Cat bonus is their size, growing much larger than Channel Cats and a smidge larger than Flatheads. That makes your chances of catching a Blue Cat over 20 pounds a big time reality. Fish over 50 pounds are not that hard to find in reservoirs and rivers that have had time to produce that size of Catfish.

These fish grow to be over 100 pounds - it’s exception and not rule, but it does happen. That’s beauty in setting up and fishing for Blue Cats: your next fish might be 1 pound, 51 pounds, or 101 pounds.

Make sure to read Part 2 and 3 of this article to learn about Capt. Jeff's non-typical techniques!

Copyright © 2002-2005 Jeff Williams

You have permission to publish this article free of charge as long as you are not selling it and that you include author bylines immediately visible with article and, if published in an electronic medium such as on a web site, you provide a link back to www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com in author bylines, both where web address is listed as well as well as with text “Lake of Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service”...