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Catfish Three giant blue catfish were
caught at Lake Gaston in 2008. The first of them all which gained the biggest cat out of gaston honors was 66lbs 6oz
and was caught using cut bluegill near the mouth of Holly Grove. Following that, a 78lb blue cat was caught also near
Holly Grove and topped the 66lb fish by 12lbs a few months later. This fish was caught in January using cut bluegill
and shad. Just a few weeks ago another monster fish was caught that weighed in at 62lbs. Not as
big as the others but still a massive fish. Good job guys! Catfish are classified as warmwater gamefish, prefering
water temperatures from the mid 70s to 80s. They're found naturally in large warmwater rivers, including large tributaries
of those waters, and have been stocked in many lakes and ponds. Catfish can tolerate muddy water but, contrary to popular
belief, cannot survive where pollution levels are high or dissolved oxygen levels, low. Blue cats prefer clearer, faster
water than the other catfish species. Catfish spawn in late spring or early summer, when the water temperature is in the low
to mid 70s. One or both of the parents build a nest in the shade of a log or boulder or in other dark, secluded areas,
such as holes in the bank or sunken barrels. The male guards the nest until the fry are ready to leave.
Many anglers believe
that catfish feed mainly on dead or rottingfood, explaining why "stinkbaits" are so popular. It is true that
channels and, to a lesser extent, blues, consume foods of this type. But live foods, such as fish, clams, snails, crayfish
and aquatic insect larvae,comprise most of their diet. In face, flatheads rarely eat dead or rotting food.
Catfish do some feeding
during the day, but they feed more heavily at night, especially in waters that are relatively clear. Compared to most
freshwater gamefish, catfish have poor eyesight. But their barbels have a good supply of taste buds, enabling them
to find food in muddy water or after dark. Channel Cats have been known to live up to 40 years but, compared to blues and flatheads,
they grow slowly. It takes 9 to 15 years for a channel cat to reach 5 pounds. Blues and flatheads, on the
other hand, may reach weights of 20 to 30 pounds in only 10 years. It is not known how long blues and flatheads live,
but their life span is surely in excess of 20 years. Popular Catfish Baits
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