I mainly fish for crappie and have learned how to fish for them in timber pretty good. Fishing for cats in timber I don't have a clue. Which depths are best? Do you get in an area and cast around? Do you fish on the bottom? What's the best rig. I'm thinking a treble hook and some punch bait, but am open to suggestions. I would like to catch a cat or two this season.


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Calvin

When I fish lakes with timber I normally just do a Carolina rig with a treble hook and some sure shot, cjs, or Stubbys. Just cast in open areas around some timber and near the shore line with some trees fallen in the water. Should catch a few.

Thanks Ryan,

What depths do you concentrate on?

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Calvin

If you are fishing from a boat try tying up in the timber and throwing out some soured maize or hang a chum bag full of maize from the side of the boat. You can fish straight down with shad or punch bait or try a slip cork with punch bait. We usually fish in 25-30ft of water give or take.

Thanks jwells36. I do fish from a boat. That gives me an idea.

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Calvin

Fishing under the bird roosts is my favorite place. Always fish there. Them water turkeys keep them chummed pretty good. You can use a white pork rind jig on a treble hook, live bait or one of the many stink baits. Winter time is best fishing.

Fork is pretty good in 25-30 ft in timber Ive learned Stubbys on a treble hook weightless is pretty hard to hang up ( that little ball wont hang)I have had a few fish wrap up but what the heck gonna loose a few. Mite wanna give 20% cattle cubes a try for me they work just as good as the stinky stuff and a lot less hassle and Ive used sour grain for 20+ yrs(guess ya can teach an old dog)

I agree with Muzzlebrake. At Richland Chambers there is always cats under the big trees with birds or "poop" on em. We use Danny Kings, Carolina rigged. Works great!

Thanks fellas. I mainly fish Lake Graham and I've seen egrets roosting in some trees, but not water turkeys. Do y'all fish near the tree right off of the bottom?

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Calvin

I slip cork um bout 2ft deep under tree branches where birds were shrimp works real good for this

Thanks Opus,

I'll keep that in mind.

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Calvin

I fish off the bottom under the trees.

I use a peg cork on mine Carolina style in the brush with secret 7 & sudden impact / or you can use shad or whatever just change hooks