Family-Owned Dealers

ritory as they spawn and guard the nest and young of the year. Look for structure. During the day, fish seek deep water away from shore. As the water cools, they move to the flats and to shallow water structure. In areas that were once part of the main channel, fish the structure that is closest to the flow of the current. In backwaters, look for the current to boil. Anchor above the boil and cast to it. The fish will be tight up against the structure.

From the spawn in June through the post-spawn months of summer, catfish provide anglers with fishing action that puts fish on the table that is second to none.

Fishing Wing Dams

On rivers with wing dams, fish the outside of the eddy at the end of a wing dam. Fish like the wing dams because there is less current for them to fight. Dams silted in are less productive due to the catfish’s love of clean hard bottoms. A damaged wing dam can create two current breaks, one at the end and one where the break has occurred.

Finding Structure

At fishing lakes or reservoirs, fish tend to prefer the old main channel, as it brings food to them. Look for structure in current areas. By looking at the shoreline, one can often find old roadways that lead right down into the water. In the water, the rocks and blacktop of the old roadway provide structure. Additionally, roadbeds lead to old farmsteads. Farmsteads mean old building foundations and

• Ramblings

together.

An Answer Appears

Crawling toward the breeze, I found that over time, one of the HVAC air ducts had come loose and was down on the ground, opening access to the ventilation trunks for the whole house. This is how the varmint – or poltergeist – was making such a loud presence. It had a perfect echo chamber.

Working closer to the access, I heard the sound again and saw the eyes within the duct. The light was just strong enough to look inside, and I saw the haunting spirit.

Holding the light steady on my target, and with reflexes as quick as any 66-year-old man, I thrust my arm into the access and hauled out the mystery – a fully grown bullfrog!

more structure.

Depth finders are good for locating structure. Catfish like clean bottom and structure like rock and hard surfaces. In looking at wood structure, remember that catfish want current.

While fishing in the current, look for wood, usually in the form of trees. The bigger the tree, the more fish will hold near it. Smaller fish feed on the outside of the tree. Larger fish will be down in the lower branches of the tree.

Big cats are in deep brush or an exposed root system at the base of large trees. Just move the boat up into the brush and jig the bait down to them. Go after them and yank ‘em out. It is important to position the boat so you can get the fish out of the brush.

These tips may be what you need to haul in that big one this year.

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THE GHOST LIVES ON I stuffed the wiggling imp into my coat and re-attached the ductwork, sealing off any chance for a repeat performance from possible future amphibious acts.

Later, I explained the ordeal to the couple. They were amazed and stunned that a bullfrog could be so scary. They were delighted to know what was really causing all the creepy audio exasperations, and yet a bit sad that Aunt Jenny’s ghost might no longer be present. So I reminded them of the other oddities of the house –the doors closing and dishes moving. And I told them about the moonshine.

They grinned – maybe with a little mist in their eyes. And with that, she was still part of the house and she still lives on. Case closed!