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Professional anglers have told me that jig fishing is a go to system for big bass.  On Crab Orchard Lak ein southern Illinois it is probably the most popular lure in the tackle box.

This popular impoundment in Williamson County, near Marion ,Illinois is a known bass factory.  The 7,000-acre lake has a rather featureless bottom due to years of silting action.  What structure is available is in the form of some rip rap and a lot of buck brush and weeds.  The latter is the most popular with the bass and anglers.

You can fish this versatile bait in a variety of ways and in many situations.  The simplicity of the lure allows an angler to cover a lot of water.  That is an important factor to the time pressured tournament fisherman.

When working shallow water near rip rap along the western shore of the lake you can move along the bank pitching to targets that are likely to hold fish.  This is usually sticks or vegetation.  Pockets in the rocks also are good targets.  Most bites come on the fall so it is important to watch the line as the lure enters the water.

The weed guard on a jig helps to keep it from snagging in vegetation or becoming wedged between the rocks.  The key is to be able to maintain sufficient accuracy to enter the water without making a big splash.

Try to find water that has either rock or wood associated with it.  Bass prefer cover and there is not a lot of it in this lake.  The rather shallow (maximum 18 feet) bowl shape of the lake is not conducive to finding a lot of structure.  Local anglers report that fish are in the shallows almost all year.

Shallows located close to cheek channels such as those in the north western part of the lake are desirable.  One can cast a jig and swim it.  Work it like a crankbait and let it occasionally fall.  This allows one to cover a lot of water.

If that fails to produce action try slowing down.  Just hop or drag the bait in and around the vegetation.  Pitch to any irregular feature.

Fishing a jig in the brush or among the racks may not be the most glamorous way to fish.  It can be downright frustrating with the hang ups that occur.  The pickings may be slim but what you do catch is well worth the effort.

Spring is coming and you should put away the hunting gear until next fall.  NOT!  For the dyed-in-the-wool hunter the season is never over.  Just the quarry changes from season to season. 

Flexible hunters with a good imagination can always find another quarry to pursue.  You just have to keep an open mind.  True, hunting rats or pigeons is not as glamorous as hunting that big whitetail.  It can be equally as challenging and helps to hone skills that might come in handy next fall. 

Remember that dispatching a woodchuck with a clean, humane shot still is vital to the hunting experience as would be a trophy whitetail deer.  It is a self-imposed moral responsibility to maintain the same high standard of ethics all year around. 

When one speaks of varmint hunting the mind conjures up a view of a coyote coming to a call.  There are other varmints out there to hunt.  Do not forget the pigeons, rats, gophers, and woodchucks that are available.  Except for the woodchuck, they all can be hunted the year around. Illinois does have a specific and generous season for woodchuck hunting.  It does not conflict with other hunting seasons.

Among the game birds that can be hunted in what is traditionally the off-season is the turkey.  With both a spring and fall season this bird provides ample opportunity to polish hunting skills and a chance to be in the woods. 

For the bowhunter there is bowfishing for rough fish and frogs.  Frogs have a specific season but rough fish can be pursued all year.  The extra tackle for bowfishing can be purchased at a local archery pro shop or by mail order.  The cost is minimal and the equipment can be used for years of enjoyment. 

Coyotes are probably one of the most challenging of the off-season quarry inIllinois.  Huntable in good numbers the entire year, the sun dog requires skill in hunting, scouting and calling.  It is a chance to try out that new camo pattern and perhaps a new deer weapon.  The small size of this canine makes proper shot placement a must. 

Pigeon shooting helps to control their numbers and is a good warm up for pheasant, partridge, dove and quail seasons.  The darting flight of these birds presents and interesting challenge to even the most skilled of shooters.  Pigeons are available to the hunter all year around.  They make an interesting fill in for the more popular game birds. 

As if there are not enough game animals available in the state one can also go to a shooting preserve to pursue such game animals as wild boar.  This European immigrant to the country has been stocked into a number of locations throughout the Midwest.  It is one of the most popular big game animals hunted by bowhunters.  If the preserve is large enough a very challenging hunt can be had for a minimal cost.  Ads for these hunts can be found in outdoor publications and online.

During the summer months the “grass rat” is king.  In addition to the woodchuck, other rodents in this category include: Norway rat, thirteen-lined ground squirrels, and gophers.  All of these rodents present difficult and challenging targets.  Hunting them also is beneficial to landowners upon whose grain crops they feed. 

Only your imagination limits your off-season hunting opportunities.  For the truly dedicated hunter off-season hunting is fun and worthwhile in itself.  Besides it gets one away from the lawnmower or painting the family home.

Spring is a good time to get rid of winter blues with some fishing action. Crappie fishing really puts fillets on the table and heals the soul dimed by winter.

Of the two crappie sub-species the White Crappie prefers the larger more open water. Both the white and black sub-species will suspend in relation to the points, sunken islands, bars, creek beds and debris. Both can and do inhabit the same waters.

Early in spring the fish feed constantly. They bulk up for the spawn. When the air starts warming fish move to colder parts of the water. They are somewhat lethargic and are tougher to catch.

Both species have roughly the same spawning habits, laying eggs in water 3 to 8 feet in depth, once temperatures near the mid-sixty degree range near cover. Whites tend to like brush piles, bushes, or sunken logs. The blacks like reeds or other weeds. There is a great deal of pre spawn angling in main lake channels and bays due to warming water.

Deep creek channels are the key to cold water crappie locations. Begin by searching for likely summer holding areas and then back track to the nearest deep creek channel. Follow the channel to the best available holding area. It can be a considerable distance. Some areas are more promising than others. Wood in or near the deep water is best. Rock and sunken brush or weeds are excellent. Even stumps will do the trick. The more densely wooded places have the best chance of holding crappie.

If the bays or creek channels do not seem to have any wood available, either visible or hidden beneath the surface, try submerged points, bends and intersections. A good topo map helps here. Dark bottoms are good sources of fish. They get the early sun and hold warmth. Channels that dead end minimize current flow that draws off warm water.

Good bays should have no channels, or at least not adequate ones. If all else fails try the deep water and fish deep. Follow an old creek channel and pull up on deep stumps. There are many anglers who catch crappie out in 20 to 40 foot of water all year around.

Jigs are the bread and butter of crappie lures. A good assortment of leadhead jigs, in 1/16 to 1/64th ounce, in colors of white, black and yellow are basic tools of the crappie fisherman. Some of us are confirmed fishers of artificial lures and prefer red hooks on our lures. Black/chartreuse to watermelon/chartreuse, red/chartreuse and June bug/chartreuse are popular colors for lures. We cast them around trees and shallow grass. Then reel back the lure very slowly. The idea is to stay in contact with the cover at all times.

Try to stay over the top of weeds. Many of us like to use 1/8th ounce jigs but we tend to reel a little faster. That is where many people go wrong because crappie will not go down to feed. They are always looking up so you must keep the bait above them.  For those who prefer natural baits the basic is a minnow or wax worm.

Fishing for crappie in the warming water of spring is very productive. It is also a time to unlimber that old casting arm and get rid of the winter blues.

It is not sufficient to cast to a bed and retrieve the lure, one must find the sweet spot in the bed to either antagonize or seduce the fish into striking.  That is the basic theory of Zell Rowland, veteran bass tournament angler.  Rowland’s theory centers on their being a spot the size of a half dollar somewhere in that bed.  It is the heart of the bed. 

A while back I visited with Roland on the deck of his Skeeter bass boat.  It was spring and we were on Lake Fork in Texas.  The lake is known for the excellent bass fishing in the spring of the year.  He gave me the following advice for fishing bedding bass. 

The spot may not be in the center of the bedding area.  It may be off to the side, in front, or behind.  It is probably the spot on the bed where the female first deposits her eggs.  The male becomes very protective of this location. 

Bass may not be feeding but one can still antagonize fish into striking a lure.  It may require numerous casts over a lengthy period of time to a specific fish.  The patient angler can work a fish’s bed over and over again until he finds the sweet spot.

 As Rowland works his boat along the shore in semicircles around the particular fish he is targeting.  He casts to the fish from three sides.  He concentrates most upon bedding fish and the sweet spot. 

“When we travel down the bank,” stresses Rowland, “we may want the boat to stay in anywhere from 5 to 6 foot of water and follow that contour line with it.”  This way the boat actively changes positions as it travels down the bank.  “The most important thing if you going to structure fish is to keep the boat in position by constantly watching the fish locater. 

Windy conditions make it more difficult but do not change the pattern. 

When fishing a point in the summer, throwing a Carolina rig on windy days, it makes it a lot harder to keep the boat in the position so that you can fish the drop off as you desire.

 When not sight fishing you are actually doing is the same thing you just can not see it.  Rowland explains that he looks for a spot on the point and once he gets the bite he knows where the fish are going to bite.  As he moves from point to point Zell looks for the same scenario to set up on each point.

 “I start on the side of a point and thoroughly fish that point,” says Zell.  “I will want to cover every 4, 5 or 6 feet of that point as I move around it.”  Roland keeps his boat in the same depth of water as he moves around the point.  That makes fishing deep water structure more effective.  He does not go in with a pre-conceived idea but rather responds to the first bite.

 “What the fish do is tell me that they are at this depth, on this type of bottom, and they are either on the right side or the left side of this point,” says Roland.  It also tells him if they are out on the main drop off.  Zell points out that a lot of times in the spring he will position on a drop off and cast parallel right down the bank.  It allows him to cover twice as much water in a lot less time.

 Roland will use a number of different styles of baits.  “Fish hit a lure, shad or crayfish for one of four reasons,” says Zell.  The reasons are sight, sound, smell or vibration.  He maintains that vibration is the reason bass anglers have more than two baits in their tackle box.  They have big crankbaits; they have medium size crankbaits and small crankbaits.  “Normally a fish is going to tell you if he wants to take the big, medium or small bait today,” states the pro. 

Rolland is quick to point out that one should change the action and speed of each lure before switching to a different bait. 

Boat position is the key to catching bedding bass.  Attention to such detail makes for successful angling.

Ever since man first began his love affair with those bony protrusions on the top of male deer, he has been collecting them. First he hunted them and used the antlers for tools and weapons as well as trophies. Today, he also collects racks after the deer discard them.

Sheds, as they are called are dropped by deer following the end of the mating season. Most are allowed to decay anonymously in the woods. But, a growing number of hunters have found that collecting deer sheds is a fun way to extend the deer hunting season. It also is a great way to tell what deer made it through the hunting season and will be available on the land next year. It reflects the health of the deer herd in general.

Shed antler gathering is like being on a treasure hunt. You never know what you will find.

There are some tips that will aid in finding the sheds of trophy bucks. The big guys are usually the first to drop their antlers. Beginning in late December or early January, the bucks are in a worn down physical condition. They have been through the rut that takes a tremendous toll.

During the rut, they are breeding and fighting to defend territory. There is little time to eat. As a result their body condition suffers greatly. Their lack of good nutrition contributes to the dropping of the antlers.

By following deer trails one can pattern the activity of the herd. Big bucks will often remain just off of these trails but still in contact with them. Since bucks will have similar patterns of antler points from one year to the next, it is possible to pattern individual bucks from one year to the next.

After the buck gets to be eight or 10 years of age, his antler size begins to decline but the configuration remains much the same. In the wild, deer do not often get to be that age. But, if one finds one, he may be a wonderful trophy.

Key to finding sheds to know deer habitats that are in use during this period. One can drive the roads and observe deer in fields and woods. A good pair of binoculars will allow one to observe the animals without spooking them.

It helps to keep a record of deer sightings in a notebook or on a map of the area. Do not rely upon your memory. Of particular interest are bedding areas. Since the animals spend most of the day in them, the bedding areas are good locations to find sheds. Easy travel areas between feeding and bedding areas are also important. These are usually changes in vegetation or cover which make it easier for the deer to travel through them.

Once the game plan has been worked out by watching deer behavior during this period, it is time to take to the field. In the field, look for signs of bucks in the area. These can be old scrapes or rubs. Often the best location for antler finds is in an area where rubs are found.

Walk slowly and scan every inch of the ground. Often only a point or two of the rack will be visible in the first sighting. It is exciting to see a point protruding out of the grass or snow. It becomes like Christmas to pull it out of its hidden location and find much more than you expected.

Who knows, perhaps you will find the rack of a monster buck that you did not even know existed. And if you can find both sides, and they will be near one another, you will have the trophy of a lifetime.

Shed hunting helps one to pattern deer activity for next year’s hunting season. One can see the growth of a particular buck and know that he will be there for you to pursue during hunting season. Finding the same buck’s rack year after year whets the desire to finding him during the season next year.

A fishing rod has two purposes: to cast and to retrieve. In casting, the rod is a launching platform. It guides the line, provide a lever and spring action that gets the bait out. Then the rod guides, lever and spring are used to retrieve fish.

Fishing probably began with a spear. That was followed by nets, poison, hooks and then came the fishing rod. We trace fishing rods back to ancient Egypt when reeds or light flexible wood was used to catch fish in about 500 A.D. In the 1840′s, lighter more flexible and durable bamboo rods replaced wooden rods. They remained the choice of anglers for over a hundred years.

The 1940′s gave birth to tubular steel and aluminum rods. They were quickly replaced in the mid 40′s with solid fiberglass construction. By the 1950′s tubular fiberglass rods came into use followed in the 70′s by tubular graphite rods.

Graphite is a well-known conductor of electricity. During an electrical storm, put down your rod immediately. Better yet place it in the rod locker of your boat. Failure to take precautions makes a lightening rod out of you.

Making a fishing rod is a many step labor intensive process. Companies do not just turn out rods on a rod machine with raw materials going into one end and a gleaming finished rod coming out the other.

Four of the key features of the fishing rod are: the blanks, reel seats, guides and sensitivity.

There are three factors in a rod blank. The strength of the blank is the expected weight the rod can lift without breaking. The action is the deflection curve of the rod when loaded, either during the cast or retrieve. Power is the resistance of the rod to bending. A heavy power rod will begin bending at the same point of the lighter power rod of the same action, but the heavy power rod will bend less.

Strength, action and power of the rod are dependent upon several variables. The first of these is the mandrel diameter and taper(s). This is the base design of the rod, determined by the planned purpose. An ultra light is for finesse fishing and perhaps a heavy rod for a big flathead catfish. The second variable is the material used in construction, followed by the quality of the materials and placement.

While the basic processing steps used to manufacture tubular rods have remained the same for over twenty years, significant improvements have been made in the raw materials, and the ability to efficiently process the materials with consistent results.

The reinforcing fibers used are predominantly fiberglass, graphite, or a combination of both. A composite is formed of a matrix resin which binds the reinforcing fibers and holds them together. The use of graphite in rods has significantly improved the actions and functionality of the rod. Resin systems have continuously improved for adhesion to the fibers, toughness, and durability with more processing ease.

Manufacturers place great emphasis on the quality of materials and placement. The pattern shape, placement and orientation of the material positioned on the mandrel forms the action and bower of the rod. Interactive techniques are used to reach the desired design.

In consideration of the parts of a rod, you need to look at each with a discerning eye. Reel seats on a rod demonstrate a number of significant improvements. The reel seat connects the reel to the rod. One the first improvements comes with the connecting the reel seat to the blank.

Lighter weight materials and design enable one to connect the reel to the rod with a good tight fit and yet still be able to easily remove the reel with no marring of the reel foot.

Guides are aptly named in that they guide the line along the rod blank. The materials from which they are made must be wear resistant and smooth so as not to harm the line. Rods are designed with guides sized and spaced to maximize casting distance and retrieve without the line touching the rod blank. The design of the guides themselves has improved with lighter weight: double foot for strength at casting heavy lures and single foot for lighter weight and more unrestrained action.

A rods sensitivity is the ability to feel the fish strike or the bait action. It can be linked to: reduced weight, high modulus, fiber orientation and rod action.

Reduced weight begins with less overall material, the use of high modulus material, lighter reel seats with less dampening material between fingers and the rod or reel seat design. Handle material, such as cork and EVA, that is light weight, vibration carrying and non slip also contribute to the rod sensitivity. Often overlooked is the fact that the ferrules, which join sections of a multi section rod, will provide good vibration sensitivity tip to butt if crafted properly. Balance also contributes to the sensitivity of the rod. Less fatigue provides not only for better casting accuracy but also sensitivity.

High modulus is also called modulus of elasticity. It refers to the slope in a stress strain curve where deformation is reversible and time independent. In engineer language that translates to, “Bend it and it will return to the original shape.”

High modulus materials can be extremely stiff. Less overall material can be used to obtain a given action. Being able to achieve a given action with less material has the advantage of increased sensitivity.

Less material can make the rod more susceptible to damage. It is therefore very important that the rod be designed using an appropriate use of material to achieve a good casting/retrieve action, while maintaining damage resistance so that the rod can survive normal use.

Fiber orientation will transmit vibrations along the rod blank extremely well. The use of unidirectional fibers is those orientated in a longitudinal direction. They are complemented by the use of hoop fibers which are fibers laid perpendicular to the rod blank axis. These hoop fibers provide the burst strength, the resistance to splitting along the blank axis.

When it comes to rod action, the angler is looking for a faster tip with a backbone in the rod blank. Faster tip action limits most of curvature during casting to the upper portion of the rod.

Modern rod construction has provided the means to have increasingly faster tip actions. These actions provide more sensitivity but are not suited for all fishing situations.

Rod construction is a continuing process of evolution. It is a process of change from a lower simple, to a higher more complex state.

When fighting a fish, do not hold the rod above the handle area. To do so causes the load to be transferred to a small diameter section of the rod. That increases the stress on the rod rather than reduce the pressure on yourself or the fish.

Casting to the stick up, the angler sees a bass suspended just next to it. Why does he ignore the lure? The answer may be that this particular spinnerbait is the wrong color or has the wrong shaped blade for this fish at this time.

There are seemingly an endless variety of spinnerbait blades and skirts in an infinite variety of colors. All of them produce if used in the right combinations and under the proper conditions. They are used in clear as well as stained water. They work in cold water conditions and in the heat of summer.

The most popular colors are white, chartreuse, black or a combination of these colors. Both the blades and skirts are found in these colors.

Blades come in three basic shapes: Colorado, willow leaf and Indiana. The later is a kind of tear drop shape, while the Indiana is more oval and the willow leaf is more oblong. The less streamlined Indiana and Colorado have more resistance in the water and provide more vibration. The streamlined Willow leaf provides little vibration but gives off more flash.

When choosing a color the nickel or silver work well in clear to slightly stained water. The gold or brass is used in the rest of the water spectrum, up to muddy water. The colored blades work well in most water when flash is not being attempted.

Fishing spinnerbaits is a skill that the beginning bass angler should master before going on to more sophisticated lures and patterns. There are such patterns as slow rolling or bush bumping or perhaps buzzing and dropping. These techniques are too numerous to further explore here.

As you can tell by the above, there is a variety of uses for the spinner bait. Many bass anglers have a number of rods rigged up with different spinnerbait combinations of skirts and blades. When they encounter different water conditions or structure they drop one rod and pick up another. The idea is to maximize the time one has a productive lure in the water. Time spent removing one spinnerbait and tying on another, is time not spent fishing.

The Speed Bead Terminator spinnerbait is a good example of how science has made the multiple spinnerbait use simple. They have the same wire spinnerbait shaft as the other baits in their line except there are two subtle differences.

Half way up the blade portion of the shaft is a small twisted wire for attachment of a tandem blade. The difference between this and other spinnerbaits is that this one allows the blade to be twisted onto the shaft and it still spins free. Other baits would require the cutting of the section of the shaft that contains the blade in order to change blades. By allowing the shaft to be twisted on and off blades can be interchanged in seconds instead of several minutes.

At the end of the same shaft standard baits have a wire lock that holds the other blade of tandem bait. Usually this loop has to be bent out in order to remove a blade.  The blade is changed and then the loop bent back. The end result is a weakened shaft and lost fishing time. The new style bait has a small bead that can be slid back for changing of the blade. Upon the completion of the change the bead is slid back in place and you are ready for action.

Changes in spinnerbait construction allow anglers to fish different sizes, colors and configurations of blades on the same bait shaft with little or no loss of fishing time. One can effortlessly make a single blade spinnerbait into a tandem and vice versa. Couple that with the ability to change the rubber skirts. Anglers fish deep or shallow, clear or stained water, under all weather conditions.

The spinnerbait is easy to fish and one of the most versatile baits in the angler’s tackle box.

To reach Gessner, telephone him on his cell number of 618-513-0520.

Due to the discharge of water used to cool power plant turbines, Bass fishing action onLake of Egypt and Baldwin Lake heats up in February. 

Water is taken in from the lakes, used to cool the turbines, and then returned to the lake at a higher temperature.  Even in mid?winter water temperatures at the outflow can be well above those near the intake. 

Bait fish are attracted to the warmer water.  Bass are attracted to the warm water for comfort and the forage fish to eat.  Anglers find catching fish in a cooling lake is a good way to counteract cabin fever and a spring warm up. 

Power plants do not produce enough hot water to radically change an entire lake.  One area of a lake near the outflow will be known for the warm water.  A current is created as the water warms and cools.

 The pumping of warmed water creates a torrent.  The water is run through a pipe that pushes the heated water away from the shore under the surface.  Current breaks and eddies are also productive for anglers. 

One pattern for outflow areas is to cast some type of shad imitation around shoreline cover and to the first major point.  Another pattern involves flipping to wood or rock cover along the bank of the same arm.  

The biggest problem encountered can be the abundance of forage fish.  It is good to use larger brighter lures. 

For those fishing Lake of Egypt and BaldwinLake here are some site specific recommendations. 

Lake of Egyptis located in southeasternWilliamson County, near Interstate 57.  This 2,300-acre lake is owned by Southern Illinois Power Cooperative, U.S. Forest Service and some local land holders. Lake of Egypt has 93 miles of shoreline with an average depth of 18.3 feet and a maximum depth of 52 feet.  The power plant is in the northwest corner of the lake. 

Weather on this lake is a challenge to anglers.  It can be 80 degrees one day and have snow the next.  Anglers can fish in shorts one day and have to put on long johns the next.  The stabilizing influence of the power plant keeps the surface water temperature about 56 to 57 degrees.  On sunny days water in the backs of coves can be warmer. 

The best fishing seems to be in the grass weed beds off points.  They have sandbars in the middle that attract bass.  The best areas are in the north end of the lake closer to the power plant.  The water there warms more quickly in the spring. 

Some anglers find topwater lures work well early as the water near the surface warms.  However fish have been taken with darker colored plastic worms.  

There are four boat ramps onLake o fEgypt.  A nominal launch fee is charged.  Three are to be found at the marinas and a fourth is a U.S. Forest Service facility.  Although there is no motor limit on the lake, there is a 35 mile per hour speed limit that is enforced. 

Baldwin Lake lies in the Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area.  Although the Illinois Department of Natural Resources manages the area, the lake is the property of Illinois Power Company which operates the electric generating station. 

Water is taken in near the southwest corner of the lake from the Kaskaskia River. The hot water is discharged back into the lake in the northeast corner.  This arrangement allows for the stable elevation of the lake the entire year.  The warm water is also good for the development of the threadfin shad that are the lakes main forage.  Many of them are taken from the lake by IDNR for stocking in other lakes within Illinois. 

Water temperatures tend to be in the mid 50′s to 60′s with air temperatures running in the 30′s and 40′s. 

The lake averages 8 feet in depth but areas as deep as 20 to 50 feet can be found in the old creek channels. 

Located in Randolph and St. Clair counties, the shoreline has little cover to break the wind.  Because the lake was designed to catch wind to cool the water more quickly it can be risky on windy days.  There is one boat ramp on the lake in the northwest corner where site specific fishing regulations are posted. Boat motors are limited to less than 50 horsepower. 

Working the north shoreline rip rap with deep running shad imitation crankbaits is recommended.  Another good area is in the northeast corner where the warm water from the power plant is discharged into the lake.  Third choice is the area near the bridge. 

Power plant fishing is a great way to begin the new year of fun on the water.  Why not give it a try this year?

Silently drifting though the air, the line snakes its way across the water. Dawn is just breaking through the mists when the streamer drops delicately on the surface and sinks.

The line tightens as a forked-tail fish mouths the streamer and moves off to deeper water. Catfish like to eat their prize in the safety of deep water. Using a streamer to catch catfish? Streamers are for fly fishing. Catfish don’t bite a fly. Or do they?

Today’s fly angler has expands his list of prey. Catfish are the most recent to join the list of the hardcore fly fisherman, and the most fun. The prolific catfish can be found in almost any body of water in the middle of the country.

Catfish prefer a drop off areas where a riffle meets a pool. In the evening they move up to the shallow eddies and flats where they feed through the cooler nighttime temperatures. It is during these feeding periods that they are most vulnerable.

For those interested in catching catfish with a fly rod, a good starting point in the choice of tackle. Begin with a long, rather stiff, rod with a weight forward line to match. For the more bulky fly a bass taper weight-forward line would be good. A good tackle shop helps with the choice.

If more than one line is to be used, store them on extra spools so that the lines can be changed in response to lure selection and varying water conditions.

Monofilament of about five-pound test works well in a length of three to four feet for the tippet. If seeing the line is a problem, then a colored mono line is OK. A float indicator or a small ultra-light float can help identify a light bite.

For choice of fly lean toward anything that imitates a crayfish, leech or night crawler. Channel catfish tend to be bottom feeders. To match the hatch one has to match what is swimming or crawling on the bottom.

Fishing time is early morning up until about an hour after sun up. This bite does not last a long time.  It can be done for a while and then one can move on to other types of fishing.

You can fly fish for catfish on just about any lake, river or pond. If wadding, do so with great care as holes in the bottom can cause serious problems.

Catfish are a muscle with whiskers on one end and a forked tail on the other. On the light tackle of a fly rod and line it is a formidable challenge. And it is a fun way to begin the day.