Hello catfishing gurus!

I could really use some help. I recently moved back to Austin and live about 30 minutes from Mansfield dam so I've been fishing there quite a bit and trying to figure it out. I've been fishing it mostly at night and have been having a rough go of it. I've never caught more than 3 cats in one trip which has been pretty disheartening. I put in at Mansfield dam and have tried fishing the river channel ledges close to the dam there and up into a couple of coves.

I think part of the problem is that I've never been able to find shad shallow enough to net (I would equate that mostly to having to fish at night/not getting there at sunup/sundown). So, I've used perch, shrimp, liver, and hearts with minimal success. I did catch a nice flatty on some cut perch, though. He was the only fish I caught all night.

I guess my question is do you all have any advice on where to find shad in Travis? And any suggestions on where I might start looking for the kittys? I'm looking forward to getting out to LBJ, Buchanan and Canyon lake this summer, but at this point I'm just trying to get on the water and fish which leaves me at Travis.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Sounds like me years ago. That is, until I discovered the Catfish Calendar, as to Yellows, Blues & Gator Gars roam-feed patterns. Check out my thread on Lynn's Catfish Calendar to help assist as to when it is best to target them. Sounds like you are Rod-n-Reeling. I'm a line Catfisherman. Even bass fishermen are now using the Calendar to target Yellows. Several testimonies are in the 2016 thread. Some more are now featured in the printed 2017 Edition.

As to trying other baits, one Calendar user (for over 5 years now) soaks these items in Dead Red Spray (I assume in the Fridge, in order to keep the meat fresh)- chicken breast, turkey breast, and Bar S wieners. He sets out jugs, currently only 2 hooks each, and about 20 jugs. In a recent trip, he had 20 jugs out (40 hooks). Caught about 30. Lost a few, tossed back a few. And kept 21 really nice Blues.

Probably cut the breast meat up into about 1.5 inch chunks or cubes. Wieners, about that length or a bit more. Dead Red Spray is made by Team Catfish & others on the Forum swear by it. I have two bottles ready for my next outing to try out.

Bait a few hooks with a rag sprayed with Dead Red. Let us know the outcome.

Just so happens I have some dead red in my arsenal. I've caught more fish out there off chicken breast than anything else. Its been tough to tell whether the dead red has any effect because I've never really gotten into a mess of them.

Caught this guy on cut perch with dead red. He's the only bite I got all night. LOL

Nice flathead

thanks! They are so weird to catch sometimes. I thought it was a little channel cat playing with my line so I just let it go. When I got ready to pull anchor I thought I was hung up so I just tightened the line and started walking back in the boat with it. It came loose but was heavy so I thought I'd just hooked a log. Then he got feisty and took off - and the fun begins. :-)