[Pete]

Hey all,

When do the Colorado catfish turn-on to bite?
A fishing partner tells me to look towards June, but I don't know why... I'm inclined to think they turn on much sooner than that. Whay say you, you cat fishing aficionados?

Pete

 

[epic]

I've heard a couple people saying they have caught some already but they usually start biting when water temps reach above 55 degrees.

 

[OURAY]

In a few more weeks I will go after them on the lower Colorado River between Grand Junction and Utah. They seem to bite well just before runoff using cutbait and then again in the Fall. I have never done well during midsummer. I am just glad the CO  D.O.W. and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have discontinued removal operations, at least on the Colorado. Ever seen a catfish smile.  ;D

 

[fishingkats]

catfish will bite when they are hungry and if your lucky to be
out there then they bite your line

i have cought cats in december and i have cought them when
its to hot for people to be out there in july

they eat when there hungry

 

[slayerfish]

You tell 'em cats! Ive caught most of my catts in the summer,maybe cause thats when I target them!But we caught many last april in john martin.

 

[fishingkats]

how is it i have not see you i was at j martin alot last year

but most of the time i dont talk to people all i want to do is fish the only time i talk to poeple it to find out if they have
cought anything

or to lie to them where i cought the one that was on my stringer just kidding i never lie

 

[koni]

The last cat i caught was in September, and that was around 11:30 in the morning. So much for the old " they feed at night" story. They do, feed at night, but i have caught more in the daytime than i have at night. Mornings were the best times for me, btween 7 am and noon. Maybe this year it will be different.

 

[epic]

The last cat i caught was in September, and that was around 11:30 in the morning. So much for the old " they feed at night" story. They do, feed at night, but i have caught more in the daytime than i have at night. Mornings were the best times for me, btween 7 am and noon. Maybe this year it will be different.

Maybe you've caught more in the daytime cause you fish for them more in the daytime? I've caught more channel catfish, bullhead and stone catfish in the daytime. I have caught more blue catfish and flathead catfish at night or in low light periods.

 

[slayerfish]

Hey kats,you prolly didnt see me because I only fished there 4 times.Late april and early may.Thats the firstb year I ever fished john martin!Also I dont talk too much either,I just shut up and fish!I just might hit it this sat,will post.

 

[koni]

I did fish at night and overnight till the early morning hours, and never caught a catfish. Yes, i fish in the daytime, but also night time fishing, at Union, at Chatfield and some other places.

 

[fishingkats]

all the night fishing i have done i dont think i have ever cought a cat after 2 am and before 5 am maybe im just not lucky in those hours

 

[1eyered]

Look to early April, buddy.

I like to believe that catfish start their year by looking for dead fish (from winter's wrath). Hence, cut-bait. I also like to believe that they like looking for crayfish comin' outta their holes to breed in Spring. And I also believe in Santa Clause so you might not want to trust me...... J/J, I don't believe in Santa Clause.... I believe in the tooth fairy. Ok I don't on that either, but I hope that helps. I mark my words with experience.

I dunno..... Everybody's got their favorite times for catfish. I've got my favorite times for big catfish!

 

[Pete]

Thanks for the feedback mates!

Pete

 

[fishingkats]

you know some of the big cat from last winter didnt have
crayfish in them they had small bullheads
i know down south they use them as bait for the big ones
but i have never used a small cat to catch a big cat

 

[TroutFishingBear]

The topic question is not a very good one IMO. The question should be when does the bite stop? I catch them all winter, provided the lakes I fish are frozen. Two lakes where I absolutely slam the catfish are rio blanco and highline during the ice season. I can also catch them in the river very well this time of year. The only time of year when I don't get them very well? November and early december.
To catch cats icefishing, simply find the deepest water in the lake. They will school together. They prefer the deep spot if it is a flat though.
This isn't meant to go against what anyone said, it is purely meant to throw in a new perspective because I have had excellent winter success.

 

[IceInTheVeins]

Catfish are most active from late March to Mid October, with water temps over 50 degrees. However i have caught a fair amount of them ice fishing for pike with dead anchovies on tip ups. That was at Rio Blanco Reservoir.

 

[Guest]

According to a Chatfield ranger, a few small ones have already turned up in the Chatfield ponds. I'm gonna wait till it warms up a bit to sit out there all night.

 

[Guest]

Kats knows his stuff...catfish are no different than us...they HAVE to eat to stay ALIVE.

The Lindner boys form In FIsherman did a tv special on winter fishing, and said the same thing Troutfishingbear is saying, and then he deomnstrated it. With jigs.

We caught a cat that had to go 16-17 pounds jigging for walleye, and I have caught at elast a dozen over 5 lbs trolling crankbaits for Eyes...surprised the hell outta me, but it's so common...ya owuld hardly believe it!

 

[epic]

Channel cats should be moving into their prespawn locations. Look for gravel bottoms, cover (logs ect), ledges, and dams. If river fishing go for the same above stuff and logjams, major riffles, river humps and current funnels.

 

[fishingkats]

well got a call today to tell me with all the water they are dumping right now out of j-martin that the cats are biting
and that i need to be out there this weekend
oh yea the walleye and wiper are biting to in the spillway

isnt that bad people dont see me out there so
they call to make sure everything is ok ;D