Today I added to my list of surprise catfish catches while smallmouth fishing. Perch colored Rat L Trap in about 8 feet of water. When I set the hook I thought I had foul hooked a carp or something. Just a hair under 8lb channel cat hooked right in the mouth. I had to paddle to shore (luckily I wasn't far) to land the thing.

 

My list is Dinger, dry fly, spoon, and now this. I don't know why, but I am still shocked every time this happens. I just don't give them enough credit.

I get a bruiser cat once in awhile on the river with husky jerks and squarebills.  I've gotten one on a hollow body frog, which was crazy.

Catch a lot of channels at the dams on my river when fishing squarebills. 

Don't underestimate the channel cat! They are fantastic fighters, especially on lighter gear. I love that fight. It's been better for me than any bass so far.

Wait until you have one hit a topwater. I've never seen an explosion like every time a channel cat hits a buzzbait, like someone dropping cinder blocks in the water. 

 

This one wasn't on a topwater, but my bladed jig was just below the surface when it exploded on it. They were corralling bluegills against this shoreline, just like bass do, and my bladed jig was almost this cat's next victim.

 

A few week back, I got a good size catfish 5-7 lbs hit my Texas rig brush hog right after it hit the water. This was happen at night and after a few run of it I know right away it was a catfish. I shouted to my fishing buddy, I got catfish on the line even before I saw it, so he can help me land that thing(I hate touching catfish, LOL). 

Saturday on a Little John Crankbait.  Just about jerked the rod right outta my hands.  

 

 

Got my first spinnerbaits cat Sunday.   Chatterbaits frequently, but for some reason, hadn't hooked one on a spinnerbait before.

Could not keep them off our bladed jigs Thursday night during our tournament. Probably 15 of them in an hour as it was getting dark just ticking them over the weeds. The bites are distinctly different from a bass bite.