Any of you catch catfish while bluegill fishing?

[Damon Toney]

I'm finding that the catfish sometimes outnumber my bluegill catch rate. At any rate I suspected there were bigger catfish in my waters and went on a handlining trip a couple week ago:

[Allen Morgan]

When I lived in Oklahoma, there was a lake I used to fish, as it was only a few miles from my home.  I quickly learned that a lot of the sunnies would hang in the water willows (weeds) that lined the banks.  I would fish for them with my fly rod, testing various patterns.  Every now and then, I would catch a small channel cat that was also in the weeds with my fly rod.  I did some asking, and found that the cats in this lake would hang in the weeds as well, for shade, oxygen, cover, and bait.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I have yet to catch a catfish on the fly

[Damon Toney]

I think the best way would be trolling dead level fly line with about 6 feet of lead core just dragging along the bottom. Either that or flay casting in the spring when they come up shallow to breed in the rocks.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Could be - you might be on to something

[Allen Morgan]

I've got a book published by In-Fisherman about fishing for cats.  They have a chapter on fly-fishing.  It's all in rivers, using streamers, Puglisi Minnows, etc.  Throw to current seams, cover, eddies, etc.  No telling what you'll actually catch, though.

[Damon Toney]

Is that book 3 in the catfish series? I remember reading it as well. Lots of streamers.

[Allen Morgan]

I believe so.  Don't know if they've come out with the fourth one, and I've never seen the first and second books.

[carl hendrix]

I catch a lot of kittie fish around- wood structure;;  proably catch the most of them there to;;  biggest ones I got on line;; never was able to land them;; fly rod bobbing like crazy;; couldnt  land them;; but they were ; NICE ones !  biggest ones I have caught; and landed on a fly rod;; around 3 to 5 pounders;; and on a 3 wt fly rod !  

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

That's on a worm, right Carl?

[Damon Toney]

5 pounder on a 3wt? That is a fight of a lifetime! I amazed at how much power catfish have, even one pounders.

[carl hendrix]

just using my rascal bug;; tipped with a small piece of nite crawler;;; seems like the kittie fish in my area love them !   I dont target kittie fish;; all of the ones I caught; were by acccident; fishing for blue gills

[carl hendrix]

Damon; really no need to go to a lead lined  fly line;; just a sinker would do it. and;; kittie fish;  can be any where in the water colum; I have seen; B I G catfish;; right at the top of the water; trying to eat a big dead fish !  one thing tho;; getting kitties on a fly rod;; you cant-- muscle it in;; have to play it a lot; tire them out before trying to land them.  guarantee;; they will put a heck of a bend in a fly rod !much better off with a fiberglass rod;; than a carbon rod if your thinking about using a fly rod for them to !!