Winter Blue Catfish In Texas Anglers come out in masses on lakes and rivers when Spring arrives and the weather gets nice thinking that is the best time of year to catch fish. These "fair-weather fishermen" often times have put their rods, reels and tackle away for the winter and spent the colder months warmer by the fire.
Die hard catfishermen however have been on the lakes and rivers all for months catching winter blue catfish in Texas. It is common knowledge to these die hard catters that catching winter blue catfish in Texas is hands down the best time for catching big blues, and many do so with great success. The coldest months of the year are known to many as "trophy season" or the time to catch BIG winter blue catfish in Texas.
There are a variety of catfishing techniques that anglers use to catch winter blue catfish in Texas, let's take a look at a few.
Drift fishing - Drift fishing or "drifting" as some call it is the technique where multiple rods are deployed from rod holders down the side of the boat and through the use of drift socks the boat is slowed down and kept straight. The Texas catfishermen drag their baits across the bottom or just off the bottom of the lake using a variety of catfish rigs like the santee rig or the three way rig.
Anchored fishing - Anchored fishing is exactly like it sounds. Texas catfishermen use sonar fish finders to locate catfish at or near the bottom of the lake and anchor their boats near these fish as they find them. Casting chunks of cut bait using again the santee rig, three way rig or slip sinker rig waiting for the big cats to come along and bite.
Shallow water fishing - At times the winter blue catfish in Texas can be found in shallow waters. Anglers use sonar fish finders, knowledge of the lakes, and natures "tattletales" to help find and locate the blues and anchor up near these potential areas and cast their baits into these areas, again waiting for the blues to come along and bite.
There are many great lakes and rivers to go catfishing in Texas and certainly you can catch catfish in any Texas lake or river during the winter but here are a few of the more popular lakes.
Lake Tawakoni in east Texas has been dubbed the "catfish capital of Texas" and is known for amazing numbers and monster blue catfish, Lake Tawakoni is a great place to have on your winter catfishing short list.
Lake Lewisville located in Denton County just north of Dallas is home to an excellent blue catfish population and consistently produces monster blue cats every winter.
Cedar Creek Lake located in East Texas between Athens and Corsicana is a catfishing mecca and holds excellent populations of catfish and gives up good numbers of trophy class blue cats during the cooler months.
Lake Lavon in north Texas is a younger lake than most of the others but the blue catfish population has exploded there and Lavon produces good to excellent numbers of trophy class cats each winter.
Next time you settle in with a warm cup of coffee next to the fire on a cold winter day, you should be giving a strong consideration to going catfishing, because there is no doubt that catfishing is red hot for winter blue catfish in Texas and if you want to have the best chances to catch a big one, this is the time to go.
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