Morning All,

Anyone have any advice for good flies for channel catfish? I've count them countless times on clousers in the deep holes in the Brazos. However I've found a few places over the summer holding big ones that get very active in the early am and late pm cruising the crystal clear shallows. They will without fail chase a clouser or a crayfish imitation to within 3-4 inches before suddenly refusing and turning. I've tried quick retrieves, glacially slow retrieves, fluorocarbon, longer leaders, being extra careful with the sunscreen and bug spray, but still to no avail. They chase and then refuse. Anyhow, sight casting to big cats is pretty exciting, would be more exciting if I could get them to take.

Thanks in advance for any pointers

Little squirt of WD-40 on the fly might go a long way.

It's funny you say that, Robin.
I've heard of using WD-40 for catfish bait all of my life, but have never tried it or seen it tried.
I may have to invest in some noodles and do an experiment next summer. In the interest of science, of course.

Kirk

How about a #6 hopper?

Most of the fly caught catfish that I've caught have been on olive woolly buggers. I did catch one in a pond one time right at dark on a black dragonfly nymph with red eyes. If you're fishing in low-light situations, maybe try going with a black fly? Or you could rub it in stink bait

I catch a lot of catfish on fly rod using a 1" gulp minnow (soft plastic scented) in chartruse on a N. 6 or sometimes No. 8 bait-keeper style hook. That's the hook with a couple of small barbs on the long shaft.

It might not be fishing with a fly exactly but it sure works. I'll try to add a photo of one I caught just that way this past Saturday.

Thanks all! Sounds like smell/taste might be the issue here......
Just curious why they will take so readily in more stained water, but seem so picky in
when the visibility is high.

Thanks for the fly suggestions. I've only had one take one off the top.
I cast a wooly bugger into some lily pads in an oxbow off the trinity.
I guess he was just right there under one as the water just exploded
the moment it his the water. Very exciting. Almost had to change my shorts.

Thanks again all! Good looking fish Lloyd.

My own personal theory about clear water is that clear water makes fish paranoid because there are so many birds that prey on fish. Since I live on the river I see it all the time. There must be ten gazillion birds constantly on the prowl for a fish meal. All - Day - Long. Every day. No holidays.

I catch a lot more fish when the water is rippled up by wind and on overcast days. Rain pocking the surface helps too. Also deep water when it is clear.

Just my two cents :-) And catfish just love those gulp minnows.

Just a heads up. It is against TX state law to fly fish with scented flies.

http://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_br_t3200_0349b.pdf Under: Fly Fishing Equipment.

I think that's just in order to qualify for a state record. I don't think you'd actually get fined for fishing with scented fly on a fly rod.

You are correct, this only pertains to fly rod records.

True - if you are after a record you have to stay within the rules to make it fair for everyone after that record. If you're just out to catch fish you just have to be legal about it, and scented flys are legal.

It's a terribly humbling to discover something you believed for so long is wrong. I stand corrected. It is for records only. I have misunderstood that for a long time. Personally, I feel that you never know if the next cast is a record so why risk it. Unless you don't care. Not that the people at the weigh station would know or be able to tell anyway. For that matter, who would know if you swapped out the fly before you got there? Just ranting.

You weren't 100% wrong so don't feel 100% humble :-)

I'm not a trophy interested person so it doesn't matter to me, I just like to catch fish. If I was after a trophy though, I'd do it by the rules because I'd know if I didn't. I'll bet that 99.9% of fly fishermen are the same way. Maybe even more than that...

YouTube wd40 catfish. It may not work as it is said to. I've never tried it myself.