What month do catfish spawn, and do they spawn in shallow places like bass or crappie, and are live baits better during spawn?

I'm far from an expert on this subject but I did catch a few good blues back in late April that were full of eggs.

if you're talking about all catfish then the males will be on the nests from about june 7th to about mid july depending on the species ... channels and blues nest before flathead. I've found channels, blues and flathead nesting overlap somewhat and when they're actually on the nests then it don't matter what bait you use ... you're not going to catch them unless you get in the water cause usually they're backed up in holes. they won't come off their eggs unless they've been disturbed. or at least I don't think they will. I've seen um get disturbed and not come off the nest and the only way to get them out is to grab hold of them and pull them out ... the one that ended my noodling carrier did come off the eggs just long enough to give me the mother of all nipple twisters ... turnt me into a C-Cup for several weeks and I thought I was deformed for life but with the aid of a wide Ace bandage the swelling finally started going down. I only know of one or two people that I'd wish that kinda pain on hahaha.

I'm not a great catfisher ... but I have a question ... since right now is within the time period you mentioned, does this mean that now is not a good time at all to do catfishing? I primarily use a bobber and bait under the bobber and Ive noticed that for the last two weeks I have pretty much skunked when normally I at least get a few.

Neil

I don't really like to catch em right now as a lot of them are in rough shape from the spawn. However You can stil catch a lot of cats in the riprap along the dam at lake Arlington bobber fishing with punch bait in water 5 feet or less deep.

Tiny, that is hilarious...I laughed till I turned blue.

Kolban, I am fishing them now and having pretty good luck, about 25 a night, but I am releasing all because I heard spawn may be running behind this year and do not want to take any eggs out of the gene pool. Had a bad night last night, high pressure system skunked me. Your bobber fishing and I am fishing with hook and weight on bottom at 3' to 7' deep in the lake/river channel. Bout all I can tell you.

tiny is this your knew technique to catching cats!!! I laughed my arse off just picturing you jumping out of the water hallering.

Thanks guys.

I've caught 1 channel and no blues the last 3 weeks that had eggs, and they were last weekend, been catchin mostly blues, but at least 1 or 2 channels every time I go.

usually in shallow near the banks. for channels i would use a grasshopper. and for blues i would use herring. for flats sunfish.

Are the herring and large shiners the same thing some times called skipjacks?

skip jacks get huge almost like a bass.