Big baits for big February catfish

Jason Knight said he is a big believer in big bait for big fish year-round, especially in February.

“In February and most of the winter, I’ll use big gizzard shad and white perch as my primary baits,” Knight said. “I’ll often use the whole head of a 2-pound gizzard shad or maybe a whole 8- to 10-inch white perch. But whether I use a big slab off the side of a shad or perch, or a whole perch or giant shad head or even a whole perch filet, I think a big bait is going to get more bites from really big fish, especially when anchored.

“If we’re in a tournament, we can only weigh three fish so they all need to be big. But even fishing for fun, I’d rather catch one 40-pounder than a box of small fish. It’s a lot like hunting for big game, because you have to plan it right, have a lot of patience and in this case, use the right bait in a big portion.