I am going to be fishing Travis this Sunday night. Had real good luck fishing lighted boat docks in late march up the perd. with Crappie and White bass. Do ya'll still think I should target those areas? Also where will I find the cats? Will they be shallow or deep?

"I am going to be fishing Travis this Sunday night"

How'd it go?

Haven't fished cats in Travis during the late Spring or Summer months but I've had good luck during the Winter and early Spring in the 10-15 ft range. Hopefully when I head out there Wed or Thurs I can give a better report.

Well here is how it went: I got to the lake and launched at about 745pm, still quite a few boats out there with the typical memorial crowd. Most people were heading back. My friend and I fished around resort ranch area and caught about 20 crappie and white bass although they were all very small. We went further up river and fished some lights. There was have been thousands of small minnows schooling in a hurricane under the lights and some real nice Crappie and Sandbass were coming to the surface throughout the night. For some reason the Crappie were real hard to keep on the hook but I still caught several smaller ones and some more sandies. Around 145am I got a decant channel 3-4lbs fishing a minnow on the bottom.

Then It hit! At about 3am a fished nailed my minnows and I could see it in the light, it was clearly a HUGE yellow cat. I estimate it to be about 35-45 inches in length. I was using a light action spinning rod with a crappie hook and 6-8lb test. It stripped yards and yards of line without stopping. I fought this fish for about 60-90 minutes. Finally I started gaining ground and little by little I was getting him closer to the boat. By now it was almost 5am, getting tired, I began really it in a little faster getting more and more aggressive trying to get it in. Buddy falling asleep at this point. I pulled too hard and suddenly the fish was gone. Cranked up the motor, went to get the jugs which were empty. Then back to Resort Ranch to pick up the lawn chairs we stowed and to the ramp. I was back in Kyle by 630am. I wish I would have landed that fish. Maybe next time.

Thanks for the detailed post and I wish you could have landed that fish as well. I haven't fished Travis myself but this post inspires me to do so.

It's my own fault for not upgrading my tackle, I seem to always get outmatched on Travis when I fish at night and next time I will have heavier tackle. This fish would have been my personal best. Fishing at night is awesome as you can see the fish and their is a ton of activity on the surface. Last night winds were a little gusty and I was catching fish in about 18 feet.

Man, that is a tough break -- at least you got a chance to see it.

I caught a nice 17 lb blue cat on light tackle out at Volente about a year or so ago and was lucky enough to bring it all the way in.

"I fought this fish for about 60-90 minutes."

I could seriously go for a session like that right about now. You'll get 'em next time.