Lake Sonoma cat fishing
California Fishing
Jul 13, 2022 14:26:31 #
Woolf
Loc: Santa Rosa
I wanted to ask if anyone has been having good success at Lake Sonoma with catfish?
Jul 13, 2022 14:52:12 #
Saw1 is the expert on Lake Sonoma, but he's a bass guy. He may know a little about cat fish?
Jul 14, 2022 14:19:16 #
Woolf wrote:
I wanted to ask if anyone has been having good success at Lake Sonoma with catfish?
Hey Woolf. I've caught several cats out at Sonoma, however, they've all been by accident while Bass fishin.
I know they have some good ones in there. The largest one I caught was 13 1/2 pounds. She was beautiful.
Just as I released her my fishin partner said " We should have taken a photo of her. " I said, Now you tell me!"
That was before I was on the fishin stage. Back then I NEVER took pics of my fish.
Anyway, I have never specifically targeted cats before. Wish I could help you more. Good luck and post pics.
Jul 14, 2022 14:25:30 #
And just so you know, I have targeted cats, quite a lot actually, just not on that lake.
Jul 14, 2022 15:13:59 #
Fish Whisperer xyz
Loc: Rescue, CA
I tried cats yesterday on Folsom from 1000-1700 using fresh procured chicken liver and on other rod smelly old anchovies. 30 to 70 ft. 4 different locations. Not a bite.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
Jul 14, 2022 15:22:18 #
Fish Whisperer xyz wrote:
I tried cats yesterday on Folsom from 1000-1700 using fresh procured chicken liver and on other rod smelly old anchovies. 30 to 70 ft. 4 different locations. Not a bite.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
Either try a different location, different lake/body of water OR start fishin more in the evenin/night.
Jul 14, 2022 17:55:04 #
Time of day is critical. You want to catch em while the sun's shining, you got to put your bait right on top of where ever they're hanging out. Cats are nocturnal hunters for the most part, they'll find some cover during the day and don't come out much til it gets dark.
I like fresh mackerel for bait. It's bloody and oily and plenty smelly without smelling like death. And it stays on the hook.
And I don't fish on the bottom. Put your mackerel under a bobber and keep it low but off the bottom and let it drift.
I like fresh mackerel for bait. It's bloody and oily and plenty smelly without smelling like death. And it stays on the hook.
And I don't fish on the bottom. Put your mackerel under a bobber and keep it low but off the bottom and let it drift.
Jul 16, 2022 02:09:48 #
Fish Whisperer xyz
Loc: Rescue, CA
Good info. Thanks. I used to catch them in daytime in the lower Colorado, so was hoping to get lucky at Folsom. I have also caught some on rapalas there during the day while bass fishing. But night is better. They dont allow overnight boating there though!
Jul 16, 2022 17:06:13 #
You can do well from the bank at night. They come out to hunt and they'll home right in on your stinky bloody mackerel. Just throw it out there under a bobber.
Jul 16, 2022 17:34:08 #
Fish Whisperer xyz wrote:
I tried cats yesterday on Folsom from 1000-1700 using fresh procured chicken liver and on other rod smelly old anchovies. 30 to 70 ft. 4 different locations. Not a bite.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
Different bait would be my first suggestion for catfish anywhere. Just my experience. I’ve never done well on chicken livers, fresh or not. Never tried anchovies but my experience with cat fishing is night crawlers, crawdads or Mormon crickets. Super big crickets work great. Good luck. PLUS!!! You gotta be where the catfish are.
Jul 16, 2022 20:41:53 #
Fish Whisperer xyz
Loc: Rescue, CA
Yep. I’ll try night crawlers and sardines or mackerel next time.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Jul 16, 2022 20:43:59 #
Fish Whisperer xyz
Loc: Rescue, CA
I was using a fly fishing bobber on a 2 ft leader. The bobber about 3 inches above the bait. Sound about right? I think the bait was about 1 foot off bottom.
Jul 17, 2022 14:23:09 #
That makes no sense at all to me. First off, what's a "fly fishing bobber"? Do you mean an indicator? Indicators are normally very very light.
Jul 17, 2022 21:24:06 #
Fish Whisperer xyz
Loc: Rescue, CA
Yes indicator. About the size of a large grape. Styrofoam. Pegged on both sides to keep it in place.
How deep do you fish bait under a bobber, and over what depth?
How deep do you fish bait under a bobber, and over what depth?
Jul 17, 2022 21:32:44 #
Well first I try figure out how deep it is, then just suspend it under the bobber. I tried doing what you're talking about, never had any luck. I try to keep it a foot or so off the bottom. I know lots of folks just fish off the bottom, but I've always had better luck the other way. Works in current too.
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