Schuylkill River Shore Fishing Advice for Catfish?

[fishermansteve]

My buddy and I want to check out the Schuylkill River for Flathead and Channel Catfish, we have heard that they grow big and are abundant there. Neither of us know the area very well, and were looking for some advice of where on the river cat-fishing is productive. Preferably a spot where both day and night fishing are good, and with parking near by, either located by street name or bridge. The range we would consider travelling to would be between King of Prussia and South Philadelphia. Also if anyone wants to throw in bait/rig tips that would be greatly appreciated also. 

[Deleted]

I don't fish below norristown but there's a lot of good fishing down there. For an easy to get to spot with parking you could start fishing canal street below black rock dam in Phoenixville.. You'll see all the little pull offs where people park and fish. It's a bit over fished but you can do good. I don't fish that area anymore but have done well. My spots are a little harder to get to. Go very heavy in your line. Big flats run for cover and break light mono and heavy braid. I've had them shred 80 lb braid on rocks. A top shot of heavy mono helps a lot. I use 65-80 lb braid with a 10-12 ft piece of 50 lb mono tied with an imp Albright knot, sinker slide, 1-4 oz cushion sinker, 100 lb swivel, 18-24 inches of 50 lb mono, then I generally use a size 8 team catfish circle hook. Don't mess with stink baits or livers. You'll only catch channels. Use live bait like bluegills or cut some fish up. People will tell you flatheads only eat live bait but it's not true. Cut bait works just as well. Keep it fresh. I use baitcasters in freespool with the clicker on mostly. Hope this helps.

[fishermansteve]

Thanks for all the advice, I have seen videos on YouTube of people catching live perch when they go out then cutting them up or putting them right on the line with a 2 lb sinker, rod holder and wait. My friend and I bought these premade carp/catfish dough balls, I was wondering if they would work or not. The highest pound line I have is 25 lb, so I'll have to take the risk of getting it cut. For hooking fish live, which method works best, through the back or the eyes?

[sgrim]

The dough balls will probably get you more channels that flatheads.
Yellowlab's rigging is a winner. If you do nothing else today, re-spool your 25lb mono with 80lb powerpro.

[Deleted]

Yeah I wouldn't use the dough. Bluegills are easy to catch. Light current I like to hook through the tail so they swim well. Heavy current through the snout,

[bassbum]

Everything the guys have already said is true. I live in King of Prussia and fish the river often for flatheads. Live bait is the winner for large fish. Cut bait works great as well as long as it is very fresh. I seem to catch smaller fish with cut bait but that may just be coincidental. I also like to use a shorter leader between the swivel and hook. Between 3 and 6 inches works well to keep the live bait on the bottom without allowing it room to find a rock to hide under. Also casts better if you are throwing further out to reach areas that hold fish. If you want to PM me I can give you some more info. They can be caught both day and night in areas that I fish. Here is a fish I caught about 3 weeks ago that bottomed by 30 lb scale out. Good fish, but they get a lot larger

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[kopfishing]

Watch Sea-money Fishing he has a bunch of flathead fishing videos

[Akdupweirdo]

is there any way someone can share a spot location or 2 because I'm not familiar with area but would love to catch a big flathead