Is there anything inparticular yall use to catch bigger channel cats? Might be a dumber question than it sounds in my head. Dont be afraid to tell me so or what you think. Thanks

This really just depends on the lake you are fishing.. I mean, channel cats do not normally get near the size down hear as they do up in the more northern US. But for example I can go to my local lake (Somerville) and catch a lot of nice quality 1-3 pound catfish, or I can go 2 hours west of here (Fayette County) and catch a lot of nice quality 2-7 pounders.... all on the exact same bait and presentation. Now down here it is much more popular to fish with prepared baits for channel catfish than it is in the north (I dont know that for a fact). So if you are looking for BIG channel cats like 15+ pounds.. go north... but if you are looking for just a little bigger than normal (4+) than just find a lake with a better population of big cats. Sorry this probably wasnt much help.

Catfish Crack, aka Big Marv's Punch bait.

Okay thanks guys, because I've caught quality blues around five pounds but the channels cats always seem to be quite a bit smaller, thanks

Cut bait will normally catch larger fish then the punch baits, in my experience.

Try to use Large shad heads and see if your average weights don't increase.

Okay, I try that and I usually catch some what I condsider decent blues and there's nothing wron with that I am just curious as to if there is a special way, obviously blues are just naturally bigger fish and I guess I kinda want to just catch a big channel, but thanks for yalls input, I think I do most of these things so I guess it's subject to what they feel like doing of course

The largest channels I have caught, have come from Lake Nacogdoches on live perch/sunfish about 2"-4" long on trotlines. My largest channel cat caught was just at 18 lbs. and many from 10-14 lbs. which had been feeding on Junebugs, their bellies were jammed-packed full of them! This was back in 82, my last year at SFASU.

Good luck!

Those were nice fish, I need to start putting some on my jugs, I'll find a big un one of these days, I figure I've got a long life ahead of me since I'm not even out of highschool, no rush.

I just thought the lake's population and development of channel cats also play a big role I imagine.

it is. What lake are you fishing? There is a very good chance that there is not a channel cat bigger than 5 pounds in the whole lake. No bait will catch it if it's not there.

I fish Lavon, Tawakoni, Ray Hubbard, and Palestine and Ive seen pics of them out of all these lakes. But I wonder if the population size effects how many big ones, I would think the more fish the better the chance for bigger fish?

Not necessarily... too many fish causes competition to go up and size to decrease.

Oh okay, I was thinking that could be the case too, I guess nothing ultimately is going to catch me a big channel uless they just want to take my bait and I play my cards right and land it. My grandpa has caught several 7lbers out of Lavon, and I know by no means is that a big fish, I've caught lots of blues like that, but my biggest channel probably went three pounds so one 7 lbs would seem to be big to me in the sense of it being a channel cat

cut bait. pcs about 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 square work for me.
thats what i use at the river and i catch 5-6lbrs pretty
often. when im able to go. i sometimes will use bigger pcs
by the way

Ultimately, if there are big channels in the lake you are fishing than just put your time in and you will hook into one. A 7 pounder is big down here.. My PB channel is 6 1/2 pounds out of my home lake (Somerville)... this is the same lake that I average 2 pounds at. When going for channel cats I prefer numbers over size... if I want size I fish for blues or gar.