In the small lake I've been fishing in, there ARE cats going up to 7 or 8 pounds, mostly channels. It's probably 6-10 acres, a little-used county park with a couple of "fishing piers" that are really nice to fish from. I would estimate it's 15-20 feet deep in the middle. I sit on the pier and cast out to the middle, about 40 yards, using a standard bottom slip rig. I've been using CJ's or Danny King's on #4 trebles, usually with a shot of Baitmate attractant, but miss about 90% of the strikes, so I'm planning to change to chicken breast chunks on #5 circle hooks, maybe on a drop rig, to get a better hookup ratio.

One problem remains, however: it seems like the INSTANT your bait hits the bottom, it gets mobbed by 10-12 inch channels. You don't even have time to sit down before your rod tip starts bobbing. I mean, sheesh, you can't even relax!!! And of course, it's a drag re-baiting every 5 minutes. Apparently they don't have much to eat in there; they're like a bunch of freaking piranhas.

So, as the post Title says, is there any thing I can do to sort of "filter out" those 11-inchers and have a better chance of hooking an eater? Bigger baits and hooks, maybe, but I'm thinking those buggers would just swarm all over it and nibble it to pieces.

FWIW, I don't have access to any nearby bait shop; it's just whatever I can get at the small-town grocery store, or maybe the Walmart 15 miles down the road.

Use a hot dog chunk with a #6 treble pushed through the middle of it. They pretty much have to bite where the hook is, to get the bait.

Cut bait will work the best to get the big ones. You can use any non-game fish as bait. Start with a piece about the size of your palm and work your way down till you start catching big fish. The little guys will mess with the bait but it will last a long time before you need to replace it. If you can’t get cut bait then go to the store and get gizzards. Get rid of the treble hooks for a 5 plus pound fish. Go with a big circle hook or J hook. Good luck and let us know how you do.

I would try to use chicken hearts as baits. They sit good on double hooks.