What is the best way to go about drifting for cats? It sounds easy enough but I had a hard time with it.

Tell us more about what problems you have had. To me the biggest problem is the wind. You can't drift if there is none, and if there is too much you must have a way to slow your boat down. I use a home made chute and can drift in wind up to 25 mph with no problem. Give us some more info.

Jerry www.LakeLavonGuideService.com

I guess my bigest problem is simply boat control. The wind usually moves me along to quickly and my lines wont stay at their appropriate depth. They end up trailing way behind the boat. I guess I need one of those chutes you mentioned.

those chutes Jerry mentioend are extremely helpful and they are easy to build. I took a trip wiht jerry back in may and we used the chute, I after the trip I stopped and got the materials and built one that evening.

just need some outdoor shading material from home depot, a length of pipe (to weigh the chute down) and some 1/4 inch or similar rope to put it all together.
when I drift I keep the lines on the bottom, cast out and let them free spool until you get them right where you want them, carolina rig them too, (learned that from jerry too ) i like rod holders also too but you ll find many catmen who dont, made mine homemade outta 4 inch pvc. work great caught cats upwards of 17 lbs with them so they are tough. hers a pic of the chute.



there is also are several good threads on whiskerkitty about drifting . This one has a post by acats thats a whole different approach to it. You might like it.
http://whiskerkitty.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&am...0411#3886050411

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TEXAS HOOVES AND HORNS

[This message has been edited by jasonthehunted (edited 11-10-2002).]

A poor mans drift chute is two 5 Gallon pails tied to each end of your boat. They have to be identical and the length of line has to be identical. 10' is good.

This wont' slow you uniformly like a chut, but it does the trick for us weekend warriors.

Thanks you guys, you have been more than helpful. I will definetly try some of your suggestions.

I have never tried to drift fish for cats. I dont have a boat at this time, but if things work out I may pretty soon. What is the best bait to use drifting-- and about how long a leader and drop on the sinker--- do you use a three way swivel etc. Thanks for the info in advance.

Well I've learned something!

Shad is the best bait by far. Shrimp will work if you have no Shad. I like a Carolina rig with 12-18 inch leaders and just enough weight to keep your baits on the bottom.

Jerry www.LakeLavonGuideservice.com

Jerry thanks for the tips--do you use whole shad and if you do about what size or can you use cut shad. Thanks

whole shad threaded on the hook and then squeezed (to pop the guts open).



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The Texas Catfishing Resource
www.whiskerkitty.com

Thanks RNT--I guess you could slice open the belly a little and let the blood and guts leave a trail. Out of curiosity, could a person use shad that had been frozen since the last trip. I have used frozen shad whole and cut from the bank and have had some success. Just wanted to know if it would work here or do I really need live shad. Thanks

Live or "Fresh Dead" shad (less then 24 hours old) is always best. The shad seem to lose something when they are dead more than 24 hours. Then there is the issue of them getting mushy.

If you can get fresh shad you are better of but frozen will work in a pinch, just hard to keep on the hook.

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The Texas Catfishing Resource
www.whiskerkitty.com

Fresh dead has outproduced live 10-1 for me. I like 2-3 inch smashed, but cut will work too. Frozen is just a little better than nothing but if its all you got then its better than nothing?

Jerry www.LakeLavonGuideService.com

Unless!!!! You vacuum pack them after dipping them in a double strength (no sugar added) mixture of cherry Kool-Aide.

I still don't know if it was the vacuum packing, the cherry kool-aide mixture RickT recommended, or a combination of both?? But, the kitties liked it all night long one night this last summer.

And, the only time my rod sat idle all night was when one of the guys in the boat netted a live threadfin swimming by the boat and gave it to me for bait. Not a bite for fifteen minutes, until I went back to using my frozen shad.

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Mike
www.WhiskerKitty.com