I am reaching out to all the TFF'rs on this catfish forum to try and gather some sound advice on what I seem to be doing wrong, b/c I am far from an experienced pro, but I would classify myself as a descent all around fisherman, but always eager to learn new advice.

I normally bank fish on Lake Lewisville, and drink a few cold ones as my personal getaway. I bought three open face spinning reels and rigged them each up w/ 20lb line as follows:
# 1) Slip sinker rig w/ one circle hook (Normally frozen shad cut bait)
# 2) 3-way rig with a large trot line type hook (normally green fish cut bait)
# 3) 3-way rig with 2 hooks, one hook is a circle hook and the other is a treble hook (circle hook will have large minnows, and the treble hook will have chicken liver)

I know that I hear that frozen shad or any frozen cat bait is useless, as I need to use a cast net to find fresh gizzard or threadfin shad, but I have had a hard time finding them on my last couple trips from the bank. I am new to catching my own bait, so any advice on this from the bank is also greatly appreciated.

Recently, I have tried a few different places. Fishing times have varied from early mornings to night fishing from hours of 9pm - 1am. I have fished a cove that probably had the deepest water at 5 ft, with trees, and also around a bridge in Little Elm near the rocks casting out towards the columns and off points.

I have only managed to catch a few small blues...that's it. I see you guys hauling in the masses of nice cats, so I am hoping that I can earn some of you wisdom and advice to put to use to help fill the freezer. ANY and ALL advice is GREATLY appreciated.

Hope everyone had a good Easter!

God Bless,

Gunn

If you are not catching shad then there are other good baits to use such as cut perch that are easier to catch, today was the first day that I found shad in shallower water so they should be around the banks soon, as far as your setups keep it simple, the first two rigs that you mentioned are good but the third one seems a little odd with a circle hook and treble at the same time, on a treble you have to set the hook and a circle it sets itself by reeling down, below are the three setups that I use and even though I fish from a boat they can be used successfully from the bank
First one is Santee setup
Second one is a three way with the cork pegged above a swivel, at times I will get slack in my line and the float keeps the bait a foot or two off the bottom even with slack in the line
Third is a basic slip float setup
These setups can be used for blues or channels
Biggest advice I can give you is to keep on fishing and best of luck to you

Mike, thanks a bunch for the pics and advice! I actually had never seen the Santee rig, but I did some Google research and will definitely try this out. I have never used a peg float before, but it seems super easy from what I just read, and that makes send to keep the bait up in the "strike zone."

My idea of have a 3-way rig with a circle hook and a treble hook below that circle, was just an idea I decided to rig up for the chicken liver. I never knew that the circle hooks actually set the hook when you reel down. I have been setting the hook each time.

Sound advice and I will put it to use this coming weekend on my next outing!

Thanks again!

Circle hooks takes a little patience to use when you use them at first, your first reaction is to set the hook like we were taught when we were kids, but once you hook the first couple of fish on it you will see how effective they are, when you see your rod bend then leave it in its holder and start cranking reel a few times, then take it out of its holder and keep cranking, the hook will usually turn and set itself in the corner of its mouth, also make sure that your drag is tightened down, this will help set the hook, in my third rod with a slip cork that is pictured I have a circle hook but I was experimenting with it, I wouldn't recommend it on a slip cork, I prefer a khale hook so that when I see the cork go down I can set the hook, today I had several good take downs with it and I reeled in fast but only caught two, the rest seem to spit it out before I could catch up to it. You had mentioned that you were using circle hooks and setting the hook, basically when you do this you are pulling it out if the fishes mouth, like I said it takes a little getting used to at first but trust the hook and what it was designed to do and you will catch more fish, good luck on your next trip.

What do you mean by "green fish cut bait"?

Why is frozen bait useless? I buy all the chicken hearts I can at one time and keep them frozen until use. Have found that to be the bait of choice with fresh caught shad a very close second. Not to mention, chicken hearts are really cheap for the fish you catch with them. Give them a try.....I don't think you will be disappointed.

I think they're primarily talking about frozen shad/baitfish, when you freeze the shad they basically desentigrate when tryin to hook em

My opinion based on my limited knowledge and experience.
Bait is important most bait will catch fish, just some a lot better than others. I fish for blue cat and shad is the ticket the majority of the time. Blue cat make a living on shad.
Where you are putting the bait is very important. If you are not placing the bait where the fish are you will most likely catch all the fish that are there.

+1 well said

Thanks for the feedback from all - greatly appreciated.

As for the question "green fish" I was meaning perch/blue gill....I have heard guys lump all of those species of fish as "green fish." Not sure if I used that term correctly.

Also, by frozen shad, I mean that I have both purchased packaged shad that is frozen and also caught a few shad in a cast bet and cut them up as cut bait. When I was done fishing and had leftover bait, I would put it in the freezer for my next outing or trot line bait. Guys have told me that "frozen" shad is not near as good of bait as fresh caught/cut shad.

I know fish will be fish, and eat anything at times, but it seems like some folks I see have better luck than others so I simply trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible.

Thanks again!