Catfish are probably the most cooperative species of fish that can be caught during hot weather. Catfish like other game fish are affected by hot weather but seem to tolerate temperature extremes better. That is not to say that anglers targeting catfish do not have to understand how hot weather affects the catfish.

Bigger catfish look for cooler more comfortable water during hot weather and that often means deeper water. Now let me hasten to say that smaller catfish seem to ignore the idea that deeper is better. You can usually catch small good eating size catfish throughout the day and nighttime hours in relatively shallow water around docks on both Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee during summer.

However if your looking for bigger catfish and especially trophy size catfish, the angler must consider deeper water. Deeper water locations around humps, points and creek/river ledges will provide the best opportunity for anglers looking to catch bigger catfish.

Also dedicated catfish anglers will tell you that their best times to catch catfish during hot weather is at night. They say that the absolute best times are 2-3 hours before daylight and 2-3 hours after daylight. However, good fishing can also occur two hours before dark and two hours after dark.

Bigger catfish will also venture into shallower water during those times but most catfish anglers will choose to target deeper water even during those times. Catfish will often be found in the same deep water locations that hold schools of largemouth bass and crappie during hot weather.

Some of the bigger catfish I have caught came while fishing for largemouth bass using plastic baits on a Carolina rig. Those locations were humps, ledges and deep points and those are the same places that catfish anglers should target catfish.

Year-round the best bait for larger trophy catfish is shad baitfish and small bluegill. I am partial to using the heads of freshly caught bluegill. Flathead catfish, blue catfish and occasionally channel catfish will all take a live shad or bluegill and all will take cuts of bait taken from either shad or bream. Lake Oconee has for some time had all three species of catfish and now more recently Lake Sinclair also has all three species.

It is legal to use both shad and bluegill (either dead or alive) for bait in Georgia. However anglers can only catch shad with a cast net. If you intend to use bluegill for bait you must catch them on hook and line. This can easily be done with crickets or worms around docks.

The practice of using trotlines and jugs is legal but specific requirements apply to their use. First they can only be used to take catfish and nongame fish in Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair. All trotlines and jugs must be marked with the owner’s name and address and must be marked with visible buoys.

Anglers are restricted to fifty jugs with hooks or fifty hooks attached to a trotline. Anything greater than fifty hooks is considered commercial fishing which requires a commercial license. Additionally trotlines must be at least three feet below the water’s surface and both trotlines and jugs are to be attended regularly and removed after fishing. Unattended trotlines and jugs can be confiscated by the Department of Natural Resources and anglers will be given a citation for violating the laws governing the use of trotlines and jugs.

If you witness these laws being broken you can report the incident to the Turn In Poachers (T.I.P.) hotline at 1-800-241-4113. I have personally found jugs floating freely without identification and often with either a live or dead catfish dangling from the hook. That is unethical and breaking the law.

Catching catfish can be fun and there are many ways to legally catch catfish in both Lake Oconee and Lake Oconee during the summer. So whether you’re after a tasty meal of catfish filets or trying to catch a trophy catfish, anglers can expect some good summer fishing for catfish. Good fishing and see you next week.

Bobby Peoples can be reached by e-mail at brpeoples@windstream.net.