This is my favorite time of the year. Weather is great and catfish seem to like it. Water temps are ideal.
The catfish are here even for people not looking for them, like Angel Torralba, from Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was fishing with Hooked on Fishing Guide Service on Beaver Lake. They were using live bream trolling over midflats. They were searching for stripers and guess who popped on the line? This real nice 18.6 pound channel cat.
This time of year, how I like to catch my catfish, is either on trotlines, noodles or jug lines. It is work but rewarding. The anticipation is worth it, not knowing what’s on the end of that line. The first thing I like to do is go and catch my bream, and kids have a blast doing this.
The tug is the drug. Then you set your lines with your bream and other baits to see what is working the best. Some people like to use hotdogs, chunks of chicken breast, liver, or nightcrawlers.
After all that work, the real work starts checking them morning and evening. Surprise! It’s not always a catfish. I have caught snapping turtles, gar, and every once in a while, a bass. You can do all this from the bank with a rod and reel.
If you don’t fish all the time and you want to try it, there’s a free fishing weekend starting on June 9. If you want help planning a trip, give me a call at or Custom Adventures Guide Service (479) 244-5259 and I will get you on the water. Ask for Lisa.
On free fishing weekend, sponsored by Arkansas Game & Fish, residents and non-residents may fish anywhere in Arkansas from noon Friday, June 9, until midnight Sunday, June 11, without fishing licenses or trout permits. Regulations apply – daily limits, slot limits and length limits must be observed.
OK, get out, get in nature. If you need help getting out there give one of us a call or try Hooked On Fishing (479) 225-4849. Have a great week and take a kid fishing.