santee cooper, SC

Question
I'm headed to lake Marion this week. The weather will be mostly sunny, 60 degrees daily. I think there's a weak cold front pushing through. I've heard the fish are in 30-50 feet of water now, but that's about it. What about bait, and should we drift and let bait drag the bottom or suspend a few feet? Thanks a LOT!

Tony

Answer
Well, Tony, no matter where you fish or under what conditions, my all tiem favorite bait for catfish is big live creek chubs...they are similar to shad.  The bigger you can find em, the better, although the smaller ones work too.  I hook em thru the back, lip, or tail..just however you prefer.  And dont throw them away if they die...they will still catch fish when they are dead, they are just a little bit better alive though.  I dont reccomend dragging live minnows as it tends to kill them faster and also catfish prefer to not have to run down their pray. Just pick a nice spot where you think you can catch some fish and throw a few lines out. I usually fish the chubs on the bottom and on bobbers, but since you say they are in 30-50 feet, youll have to forget about usin bobbers. Just throw out a bottom rig with a creek cub on it. I like to use a barrel swivel about 3-4 foot up from the hook and then a 1/4 to 1/2 egg sinker above the swivel...this lets the fish pull the line right thru the sinker without resitence. Oh and youll have to keep your reels freespooled here...and turn on the bait clicker if your reels have em. Let the fish run for a few seconds and then lower you rod and click the spool out of free spool and set the hook baby!  

Hope I helped!
Write again if you have any more question in the future!

Thanks,
"Cat Man" Caleb