Got to the spot at 5 am. Conditions were perfect for throwing some big baits. Rain with light wind. I was fishing from the bank so I just focused on one main point. Threw the baby wake in shad and on the third cast I couldn't even see anything, just heard a loud splash and my rod went heavy. Whoo hoo, fish on. I could tell it was a decent fish because of the great fight, but when I got it to shore noticed it was a three pound cat.   :-? After a few more cast, I decided to switch it up to a 6 inch mission fish. On my Third or fourth cast, my line got heavy so I set the hook. Nothing for a second, thought I got snagged until my rod jumped. Pulled back and started reeling, whoa its big! Ended up being another cat but this one was 7.5 pounds   .

Well I can't say I walked away disapointed, but I'm still waiting for my first big bait bass. Live and learn I guess.

Hey Slomoe,

Catching catfish is a good sign.

The biat is working.

Now, the trick is to place it in the vicinity of a bass.

I catch catfish on my crankbaits so I know they are working.

The secret is to find the depth, color and speed retrieve to attract the bass, and not the catfish.  

Nice fish Allyn! I'm afraid to try swimbaits, it looks like an expensive bait monkey trap. Keep it up and you'll catch those bass, but that 7lbs. cat sounds like it would have been fun too.

       Nice! When I get a chance we will need to go to the "confidence ponds" and have you thro it there.

Hey Slomoe,

Catching catfish is a good sign.

The biat is working.

Now, the trick is to place it in the vicinity of a bass.

I catch catfish on my crankbaits so I know they are working.

The secret is to find the depth, color and speed retrieve to attract the bass, and not the catfish.

Thats what I'm thinking. I know I can catch fish with these, but I need to find the bass big enough to take em'

Nice fish Allyn! I'm afraid to try swimbaits, it looks like an expensive bait monkey trap. Keep it up and you'll catch those bass, but that 7lbs. cat sounds like it would have been fun too.

Don't be scuurrrdd ;D The cat was very strong!

Nice! When I get a chance we will need to go to the "confidence ponds" and have you thro it there.

Sounds good. Shoot me a PM whenever

Man, Very nice cat..

Swimbait huh...  err.. i have a 40$ giftcard to dickssportinggoods...  

hehehe...

Man, Very nice cat..

Swimbait huh... err.. i have a 40$ giftcard to dickssportinggoods...

hehehe...

Thanks man. You reminded me, dicks in fair lakes is having that expo this weekend. Try out the canoes, and see the bass tank. They also have a pro there giving a seminar, I just can't remember his name. Funny guy though.

Nice cats!  I need a rod to fish those big swim baits first as well as the baits themselves...I feel the bait monkey digging around in my wallet already!  :'(

Nice looking cat! I was throwing a deep diving crankbait about a week ago and I landed a 7lb 15oz cat on it. I thought I had a hell of a bass!!! But who would have guessed tha I would end up being disaapointed. :o

nice fish.

how are you holding it? looks like you got it by the whiskers!

Nice fish man.  Cat or not, it still counts as a swimbait fish.

Thanks for all the comments guys. Its funny because growing up my dad used to take me cat fishing, and we would just soak chicken livers all day. I never knew catfish were such hunters. My Fishing partner and I have been catching these fish all summer on spinnerbaits, jigs and cranks.  

Dave I'm holding by the hook. ;D

I would be filleting those baby's.  

I thought about it, but I didn't have a cooler and I didn't want that guy floppin aroung in my trunk.  ;D

Whoa! Awesome catch bro! Must have been a fun fight.

Thanks man. Yea, it was pretty intense, even with an 8 foot rod.

I accually had to wade out a bit because the shoreline was covered by trees and brush, so it was pretty crazy seeing that fish break the surface right in front of me.