Back in the day before they drained Erie lake there was a big walleye fisherman who would go out to Erie lake and catch cats on the south east corner of the lake. The thing was he would burn his initals into there heads with a lighter.  Most of the cats that I caught in that area had his initals burned into them still.
I dont know for sure how territorial they are and if big ones chase one another off or not. Like you said it is true that the big ones push out the smaller ones.
As far as I have been able to tell the fish follow the food, however I have a couple of spots on a couple lakes that only produce big cats, that is when I find the fish hanging out in that area.  50 yds in either direction you can start to get into eater cats. Strange.
IMO they are territorial to a certain extent in that some of the areas you always find cats in always hold bait fish too
Good question and Im anxious to see what everyone else thinks

 

im not sure about them being territorial, maybe in smaller bodys of water, but im a firm believer about the same spots holding fish year after year, at the same times of year! theres one place we go, that your almost garrunted a big fish every time u go, in the same spot, year after year! some times two! im sure some get atached to areas, that oferr some cover and easy acses to food, but as the food moves so do the cats!

 

I know this answer isn't going to specifically address your question, but here's how I fish for cats in general.

I know that male channels are very territorial during the spawn. After the spawn not so much so. Channel cats tend to raom. Not really a schooling fish, they will actively search an area of shoreline looking for any opportunistic meal, dead or alive. That's why the windward side of the lake tends to fish the best, anything pushed towards shore is fair game. I've mentioned in previous posts that I've caught catfish with carp scales in them from much larger fish than the catfish could have ever possibly eaten whole. I've also seen, and you may have also, dead carp, with their sides eaten away, lying on the beach.

I've caught quite a few large cats, up to 25 lbs, my largest, all in Colorado, and lost some larger. But, I've been fishing for them for over thirty years. The best advice I can give, and I know everyone has his own methods, is to keep on moving around. I know it's difficult at night, so try to figure out a system that makes it easy to stay mobile. A half an hour in one spot without a bite is more than long enough. If they are there, they will hit your bait. If not keep on moving until you find them. Fish any downed trees, or brush, including tumble weeds alone the edge of the shoreline. This structure attracts bait which in turn attracts cats. Unless fishing a flat, I rarely fish very far out. I've caught most of my cats within fifteen feet of shore.

If fishing from a boat, slow drifting the flats is a good method. Dams will hold cats all year long. So anchor next to the dam and fish a slip bobber at night and if no bites within a half hour of casting to all the spots you can reach, move down the dam and try again. If walking the dam, do the same.

I know this didn't answer your particular question, but it's what I know to do.

Good Luck and Good Fishing!

Dave

 

I've caught quite a few large cats, up to 25 lbs, my largest, all in Colorado, and lost some larger.  But, I've been fishing for them for over thirty years.   The best advice I can give, and I know everyone has his own methods, is to keep on moving around.  I know it's difficult at night, so try to figure out a system that makes it easy to stay mobile.  A half an hour in one spot without a bite is more than long enough.  If they are there, they will hit your bait.  If not keep on moving until you find them.  Fish any downed trees, or brush, including tumble weeds alone the edge of the shoreline. This structure attracts bait which in turn attracts cats. Unless fishing a flat, I rarely fish very far out.  I've caught most of my cats within fifteen feet of shore. 

Dave

I think ill take your advice and move on...ive hooked that fish twice for sure from the same spot and maybe even one other time (it got off after a brief struggle). All hits were extremely hard and aggressive. I usually move around a bit when i fish from shore, and in this particular case i think its time to move on if i want to find others. Ive never had this happen before, but im guessing this fish has that area staked out as his own...

 

Well I have learned that I dont move enough when fishing for cats at night when I dont get bit...I have always waited for them to come to me...often they dont...I have always kept on the move for other fish...guess I didnt think about it with cats...the thought of anchoring the dam at Pueblo sounds pretty interesting...thanks for the tips guys...

 

rain,rain and more rain is what i want for tonight! it seems after a giant rain storm the cats and wipers are in the same spots, feeding on the same stuff washed into a lake by the rain, the more rain the better!