Catfish Catching

[stumpedbycatfish]

I'd like to take my daughter out to catch something bigger than a sunfish this year. Catfish would be the ticket. Any advice on how to catch them out of Struble? I was there last year in May and Sept, fished it all over, deep to shallow, ramp to dam with prepared catfish bait but caught nothing. Can anyone give me some pointers?

[kboatman48]

I use shiner to git cats at struble no sinker. are you bank fishing or boat i fish out of a boat.

[bradmhendrickson]

I haven't cat fished struble much but I caught one near the dam before with some kind of prepared bait. I prefer chicken livers though. If you call around to the grocery stores someone will have them.

[GordonsOwner]

I'd PM ya if you registered and tell ya some good info...but I'll settle for the shorter end of the stick

Best thing to do, is use a slip style rig. I'll use about a size 1 or 2 hook, and about a 1oz sinker (whatever your choice either a bank singer or any kind of sliding weight.) But a stopper about a foot or so above your hook, this lets the fish take the bait without feeling the drag of the sinker....catfish USUALLY arent spooked by dragging the weight along with the bait, but it will help....

The best 'prepared' catfish bait I've used at struble is the strike king 'blood' formula (get it at...you guessed it GORDON'S!!!)

second choice would be chicken livers, no need to get them all sun-rotten and stinky, at least I dont. touching stink baits is bad enough for me...

and the Key tip is put on your hiking shoes and at least get away from the parking lot side of the lake, not necessary to walk to the d a m n, but at least to the other side is your best bet. And honestly I've caught the biggest ones in the shallower water, and only a few smaller ones along the da mn. BTW walmart usually carries chicken livers (morgantown at least) as well as IGA in honey brook. GOOD LUCK!

[stumpedbycatfish]

Fishing from a boat. I've caught cats in the Sassafras on the same prepared bait, Berkley catfish power bait in blood flavor, and they were all over it at the time. I'll bring chicken livers with me next time.

I probably should just go bass fishing with crankbaits, I always seem to catch the buggers then. Thanks guys.

[Gsseagle]

Speaking of catfish, I was out Struble wading today, trying to find some crappie or panfish action (didn't get a bite), when on the way in to shore, saw a fish along the bank. I thought it was a catfish, and I went over to investigate. It was laying belly up, and when I turned it over discovered it was a nice walleye. Looked fairly fresh, with a stick thru its gill and mouth. Took a quick hand measurement and it was a little over 20". Nice healthy fish with a fat belly. Shame somebody wasted it. Must have caught it and left it behind.

[Hawgcatcher]

Yea they were probably going to try and sneak it back to their car since their not in season. And got scared and left it.

[Terry]

I live in Honey Brook so I fish Struble Lake quite often and last year I probably catfished struble 10 times and caught atleast 4 every time. I fishe at night down by the am and I used Chicken Liver. Not many were keepers but a few were good size. My buddy took me fishing down behind philly airport and we caught catfish between 10-30 lbs.

[stumpedbycatfish]

I have read that catfish are more active at night. How about water temperature? Does that matter much?

[bradmhendrickson]

definitely night time at struble. Good news stumpedbycatfish, I was bowfishing struble last night . I saw hundreds of catfish. They are all within 20 feet of shore all around the lake. They were small, about 12-15 inches. The best spots would be if you are standing at the ramp looking at the water go right. The first sharp curve in the lake is loaded with them. You would have to cross a deep inlet to get there but right around that inlet is good. Don't cast very far out. Most of them were within 10 feet or less of land. They were feeding on minnows. Hope this helps. I might take an ultra light over there.