Hey guys, most the fishing I do is bass fishing, but the wife and son are looking to get out too, so figured it was time my 3 year old caught his first catfish. We are headed to Calaveras, but I don't have the slightest idea where to start fishing for cats. I figured I'd buy some Big Marv's or DK's and see what happens. Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for your help!
Jeff

If you can throw a cast net, and catch fresh shad you don't even need to buy bait.

A few casts around the boat ramp before daylight is usually enough to catch enough bait for a morning of catfishing.

You can also pick up a jar of Big Marv's there at the concession stand.

After you have your bait go straight across to the crappie wall and fish your way from the wall end back toward the power plant and reed bed, and set your bait under a pencil cork about eighteen inches to two feet under the cork using a Kahle hook and of course the fresh dead shad.

Same rig using a #6 trebble with Big Marv's bait will get about the same results.

I usually fish fresh shad if I'm beating the bank because it doesn't easily come off the hook like the Big Marv's will do.

I mainly use the Big Marv's if I decide to fish deeper water camping on a spot and just let out line, and fish it straight down. (hint: Fish same structure as you would for bass)

You will know when you find the fish because you won't have to wait long.

Throw about a foot or two from the rocks and especially around any over hanging trees and keep an eye on the cork.

Cast it out and let it set a short while, and if nothing reel in and cast again to a new likely spot.

Just work your way down the bank just like you would do bass fishing and you should have plenty of action.

Similar to top water fishing for bass.

BTW: Kid's and corks go hand in hand, and watching a cork will help the 3 year old stay a little more focused with their short attention span.

When you catch a fish anchor and fish that area for a while as they sometimes stack up in one spot and you might catch several from one area.

Catfishing is very addictive, and they taste pretty good too!

I HAVNT fished there yet, but will be there on the 18th, or 19th, I posted same post and was told about the 181 cove so you might try there, let us know how you do!

First timers fishing Calaveras I'd do a search and just type in "Calaveras" and have a little time to do a lot of reading.

There are so many tips, and actual directions and a map with spots marked floating around somewhere posted by Texas Alien "Don" that would be of tremendous help to a first timer.

I've been fishing the lake for many, many years so I probably can't put myself into a newbies shoes, but I'll say there isn't very many areas or spots on the lake where you can't catch some catfish.

Right now for some reason they are running pretty small in size, but they are in good numbers, and will bite just about anything you offer.

That 181 cove can be dynamite if the conditions are right and water is pumping into the lake, and don't overlook the railroad bridge or any of the rip rap areas, and don't be afraid to fish shallow early and during the morning if it's overcast.

Bright sunshine fish closer to the cover.

Drop offs near the main channel, always seem to hold some fish as well as the reedbeds.

Thanks, Jimbo.... You are a pioneer at these lakes. You are right about working along the riprap...(rocks along the jetty)

I assume Jeff and Eddie are bringing boats, so here is a repost of a google map I did a while back...kinda busy, but



It is pretty easy to catch small cats at the railroad bridge. It is 12-16 feet deep and it is easy to tie up. Most any bait works. and is fun for kids little and big. Earthworms are good there too.

I sat in the 181 cove for a couple of hours on Tuesday and only caught one...the pump was not running. I did much better along the west shore line between the cove and the swallow bridge.

With no boat, I would go left at the gate and fish along the south edge of the first cove. Bobbers are alot better there because of the moss, but there are plenty of fish in there.

Have fun...wish I were there.

Thanks Don for the map!

I knew you had posted this not long ago, and you had some good starting points posted which took some time put together.

Wish there was a way to have easier access to a map like that, for those unfamiliar with the lake.

Last week was my first chance to get on the lake since all the new ramp improvements, and parking areas were finished, and it sure looks great out there!

Jeff and Eddie: Be sure to post up a report on how ya'll did!

Jimbo & Don,

Thanks so much for the information. Getting info like that from bass fisherman is nearly unheard of, so again it's much appreciated. Jimbo, the map you provided will be a great resource. I've read other posts where people mention some of the spots, but without the map I would never know where those places were. Like I mentioned in my original post, this will be my son's first catfishing experience, so as long as the action is steady, size won't make a bit of difference. I'll post our results on Monday morning. Thanks again for all the help!

I put it on the top right of my 2008 web log.

Go to http://Texasalien.com and click on 2008 in the upper left hand corner...Maybe it will be more accessible now.

Great idea Don, and thanks for a great web site!

Keep us up to date on his first catch Jeff, and a picture would be great!

Catch a bunch!

sweet info, thanks guys, good luck dorf!

Hey guys, thanks for all the info. Unfortunately, we were not able to go on Saturday as I had some unexpected travel relating to my job. However, when I get back in a couple of weeks we are going to give it another shot. I'll keep you guys posted.

Thanks again for all the help!

Jeff

Ok, after about 3 weeks in Vermont, I'm ready to give this another try. Is the above information still good? My little boy is pretty excited about catching a catfish. We'll be on the lake on Saturday from about 9 am to 1 pm. I'll post pics!

Thanks again,

Jeff

Fish the wind blown points and bank lines,look for birds along these wind blown banks and fish there.

Thanks for the info! About how deep should we fish? Also, what setup would you recommend (i.e. fish on bottom, under cork, drop shot style)? And I'm assuming by the presence of birds that means baitfish are in the area?

You should be fishing in about 2'-3' of water.I use slip corks and fish on bottom with big marvs or danny kings.

Do what Stikshooter says-I fished windblown points this morning and caught 29. My friend Alex doesn't like to fish in the wind even though he has a bigger boat than I do, caught 8 fishing in coves with no wind. Catfish love current, that's why fishing is so much better when the power plant is running than when it isn't.
Jess

So what is the advantage of using a slip cork as opposed to a regular bobber? I guess I just don't understand the methodology behind a slip cork. Not that I'm trying to challenge anybody's fishing setup, I'm just ignorant when it comes to setups outside of bass fishing. I just can't grasp how the slip cork is different than setting a regular bobber at a certain depth. If you know the water is 2 ft deep, and you set your bobber 20-22 inches above the bait, aren't you effectively fishing the same as if you had a slip cork?

Thanks,

Jeff

unclejess...is the plant currently running, and if so, how long does it usually run? do they run it for extended periods of time, and then shut if off for an extended period (i.e. week on, week off), or is it like an 8am to 5pm deal?

Thanks for your input,

Jeff

The plants are always running. The water flow that most of us think of is from the pump in the 181 cove on the map above. The pump runs at the pleasure of the maintenance guys from CPS...we never know. Usually the water always circulates west through the crappie wall intake and comes out at the orange buoys (hot) and travels east under the swallow bridge to begin the cycle again.

Fish shallow along rock jetty riprap (anywhere you find some) with a cork. The slip bobber is a preference, but it is not necessary. Use some Marv's cheese bait that you can buy at the store with a #6 treble and a small weight.

Just on the other side of the swallow bridge to the left is a nice sheltered riprap cove along the railroad track where the kids can catch a boatload of small cats on the bottom in about 15 feet of water. There is a good current running there along the riprap toward the bridge. I usually throw out shrimp on a #2/0 kahle hook free lining and let it drift to the bottom with the current.

Good luck..

Bump.......
Id like to know the answer to this question too

A slip cork allows you to not only make more organized casts (the bobber rests near the weight during the cast so no bolo type erratic casts) but also allows you to adjust the depth you want to fish beyond the depth a standard cork will allow. It also enables you to get better hooksets since the cork slides down the line instead of creating water resistance by dragging during the hook set. So effectively you are setting the hook through the cork. You get a much better hookup:miss ratio.

Thanks for that Kat....you are right about the ease of casting...

OK guys, we started at the railroad bridge with Big Marv's about 8 a.m., only got 1 fish. At about 10:00 a.m., we moved to a nearby windblown point and had much better luck. We were fishing in about 1-2 ft water, caught about 15...but only 3 were over 12". Sun was out pretty heavy at about 11:30...got hot quickly...we were off the water by 1:00 p.m. Big Marv's appeared to be their bait of choice, but we also caught some on shrimp. Thanks to all of you for offering your expertise. My son had a great time! He seemed to be more interested in throwing out the range cubes than fishing, but he did manage 1 small catfish on his spiderman fishing pole. I took pictures with a disposable camera, hopefully get them put on disc here in the next few days, and I'll post.

Thanks again,

Jeff

I have noticed that I am not catching the bigger cats also,alot of the smaller ones.I usually throw 90% back,and just keep the bigger ones.