1/11/07

Cold weather catfishing – a different way
By Terry Madewell

Terry Madewell Photo

Cold weather catfishing can be a challenge but still a great outdoor adventure. Just ask fishing guide Rodger Taylor!

Whether blue catfish were supposed to be stocked in Lake Wateree which lies just to the north of Camden, or not, they are there. While our catfish action here locally at lakes Marion and Moultrie is certainly very good right now as it is most every winter, this new, big-catfish fishery may offer a bit of a change of pace and adventure to your fishing. If you like to occasionally fish new water, but still have the opportunity to catch huge blue catfish in cold weather, this is an easy, close and fun trip.
Rodger Taylor has been fishing Lake Wateree for the big blues for several years now and has learned how to hook the big blues.

“This lake is an ideal setting for blue catfish,” Taylor begins. “Of course, Lake Wateree and the Wateree River empties into Lake Marion, where blue catfish have grown to outlandish sizes for years. There’s a great forage base of shad in this lake and the blue catfish are growing to huge sizes very fast.

“I’m not sure how they got in Lake Wateree, but it is fast becoming a super catfish fishery,” Taylor begins.

Right now, continuing through April, will be the peak time to catch the super-sized blue catfish at Lake Wateree. Taylor and I recently fished the upper end of the lake, his favorite area for cold weather, and caught a big blue while fishing only a few hours.
“During January, a typical day will be one-to-three big fish bites. But I’m talking fish that may be in the 25-30 pound plus category. Maybe a lot larger. Later on, as the spring progresses, the big fish bite will continue to increase and by late March, April and even into early May, the odds of hooking into several big fish each day is outstanding. Plus, there’s usually plenty of 5-15 pound fish hooked that keep my clients from getting bored,” Taylor adds with a big grin.

The upper third of the lake seems to be the prime area for the blues during the first few months of the year. According to Taylor, the blues like to move upstream in their pre-spawn migration and begin to stack up in the upper end of the lake. The very upper portion of Lake Wateree gets back into a river type situation, where a series of deep holes, scored out in the old Catawba river channel, are the places to begin your search.

“I don’t’ catch a lot of the big catfish right in the middle of the deep holes. But there are the key areas. I like to fish along the edges of the holes where the old Catawba River channel winds through the upper end of the lake,” Taylor says.

“I look for the edge lines where the river drops into deep holes and the combination of shad or forage along the area. It’s even better if I see some huge fish marked on the graph, but that’s not a requirement. If you’ve got the deep-water access and plenty of forage, the big blues are likely to be in the area.

“I’ll anchor just above the spot I want to fish. Usually, the best fishing is where there is some current, when water is begin released upstream from Great Falls Dam. This current does seem to put the blues in a better feeding mode. It’s not essential for success, but I like current when hunting the big blues.

“Once I’m set with the anchors, I put our a number of rods. If I’ve got a couple people fishing, I may put out six or eight rods. But it also depends on how fast the fish are biting. Later on in the spring the action can get fast and furious and it’s hard to keep up with too many rods,” Taylor adds.

Taylor has a specific type rod and reel combo that seems to work best for these big blues in Lake Wateree. He uses a 7-foot, Ugly Stick Tiger Rod. “I want my catfish rod to have a medium light action. I think the light tip is very important for catfish. But I need the rod to have a heavy butt section for power,” he adds.

Taylor also uses a 6500C3 Ambassador reel with 20-pound test line. He will use a number 3-barrel swivel and an 8-0 circle hook attached to 50-pound test leader. He uses a 3-ounce, flat no-roll type sinker.

Once Taylor gets his rigs out, he’ll give the area at least thirty minutes to produce.

“You need to have some patience, but not too much. If I’m not getting any fish activity, not even catching smaller fish or not getting small fish tugs on the big-fish rigs, then I’ll seldom give a spot much more than 30 minutes. I may not move far, but I’ll move locations. Sometimes, if things just don’t look right, I’ll make a big move and go up or down the lake a good bit. They key is to remember you’re actually fishing for big game and it’s important to give the fish time to bite,” Taylor adds.

Taylor’s biggest fish to date is a 58-pound blue on Lake Wateree and he has caught a lot of blues over 40 pounds.

“Not a lot of fishermen have found out about this fishery yet, but it’s a great catfish fishery, close to a lot of people. And some of the best fishing of the year is when most fishermen aren’t thinking about catfish,” he concludes.

If you’re interested in a fun and productive catfish trip with Rodger Taylor (he guides year round) check out his great website at www.catfishon.com.