Is it common to catch catfish on top water baits? I never have before until the other night I was using a buz bait and had a big explosion my drag went crazy I got all excited thinking I had a nice 3 lb Bass and instead it was about a 21/2-3lb cat. I was so depressed I hate those fish more than anything and never would have thought that I would catch a cat along the bank. The rest of the night I caught 6 more fish all bass but every time I was hoping it wasnt a cat.

I've heard of it...in fact, I think TXBlonde's son caught a pretty good sized blue on a pencil popper.

As far as cats not being along the bank...think again. That's where ya wanna fish for 'em at night or if it's a good windblown bank.

So...wait. You had a Big Explosion on your top water...you had a great fight with your drag going crazy...you caught a 3lb fish...

And it made you depressed?

Umm...why?

I don't understand hating catfish, personally.

You could catch a limit everyday for the rest of your life (save for huge blues and flatheads) eat them, and still not put a dent in the population.

It's a great fish to eat, and usually a pretty good fight.

I loved the catch and the fight just not the tyoe of fish. I just dont like Cats. There fun to catch when big other than that they just tick me off.

i remember a few years ago going into a certain cove at lake fork and catching several cruising cats on a buzzbait, but we targeted them and casted to them. one was just under 9 lbs, the rest were about 4-6

I was fishing at the golf course a few weeks ago and caught about a 4 lb cat on a pop-r. changed spots then caught a 3lbr on a fly. That was a good fight I fought him for about 10-15 minutes to get him in. I only had about a 4 pound test leader on so I had to wear him out.

I have seen several huge blue catfish caught on pencil poppers below Denison dam.

Some things are beyond understanding....

Maybe the OP likes the taste of largemouth more than catfish.

Nothing else explains being upset when catching a harder fighting fish than one was expecting.

Well I caught a 10lb catfish at a golf course in Lubbock on a crappie jig and an ultra light.....Talk about Awesome!

Except that we're all too easily swayed by marketing and peer pressure.

I caught a 4lb Cat The other day on a rooster tail...right on the bank..hit it really hard....I was not that dissapointed though he put up a fight...Getting the treble hook out was no fun without pliers

Caught a 8# cat on Hubbard on a spinnerbait along a weed line.

a catch is a catch, i take a catfish anytime versus get nothing. Even cath and release. JUST happy to hook something and get some action.