Heading to Gibbons on Thursday for some catfishing and wanted to see if the catfish are still close to the bank like they were back earlier in June? Last time we found them on the wind blown shore in about 2-3 feet of water and really hauled them in using punchbait under a cork.

My kids had a blast and ae dying to go back.

Yesterday catfish were close to the bank, especially the ones belly-up "ON" the downwind shores.....

Hundreds of 'blues dead and floating' most all about 10-12 inches. Lake smelled bad in some areas but vultures were happy. See this every year out there, this summer catfish dieoff is just happening a little earlier.

The ones still alive may still bite, but I don't see how as they are so stressed.

Why do they die off out there?? Water too hot?

Dave

I don't know.

As it happens each year only mid/late summer when the plant and the weather pushes the lake waters into the 90's, it must be related somehow to the water temp. The dead catfish are never underweight or otherwise strange looking. Most always they are blues all about the same length.

Other than sometimes shad bait fish also dying off in the summer, I doubt catfish kill could be solely due to poor oxygen levels. I always thought catfish tolerate lower dissolved O2 levels than bass or crappie which are doing fine.

Perhaps it is bacteria affecting the catfish. It is a mystery.

Guys,
Don't let any of the fish kills stop you from fishing at Gibbons Creek. We made one stop this morning and caught 42 really nice channel and blue cats using Big Marv's Cheese bait. Fish seemed to be healthy and all put up a good fight on the way to the boat.