Current, cut bait and catfish

Try these rivers for high quality catfish

July is a great month for catching catfish, and it offers some premium night fishing opportunities. In North Carolina, the Yadkin River and the Neuse River both offer excellent summer opportunities for catfish anglers. In South Carolina, the Wateree River and Fishing Creek provide similar potential for memorable catches.

North Carolina

The Yadkin River is well-known for its healthy flathead population. These fish prefer deep holes, rocky structure, and areas near submerged timber or steep banks. Anglers should focus on dusk-to-dawn fishing using sturdy gear, strong leaders, and large live bait such as bream, which flatheads prefer over cut bait. Targeting undercut banks, the downstream side of rock piles, and river bends can lead to exciting strikes. This river holds plenty of blue cats and channels as well.

The Neuse River, especially from the Piedmont region down through Kinston and Goldsboro, has quietly become one of North Carolina’s premier flathead catfish destinations.

Flatheads were introduced here decades ago and have since established a strong population. These fish thrive in the Neuse’s deep, slow-moving bends, log-infested backwaters, and stretches of undercut bank. July is prime time for catching them as they feed more aggressively during warm nights. Successful anglers often fish after dark using live sunfish or bullhead catfish as bait, presented near structure with a slip sinker rig and heavy tackle. Flatheads in the Neuse are known for their size and power, with 20- to 40-pound fish not uncommon. Patience is key. Flatheads are ambush predators and may take time to fully commit to the bait before striking.

South Carolina

In South Carolina, the Wateree River below the Lake Wateree Dam offers classic catfish habitat: strong current, deep holes, and abundant woody debris. Anchoring just outside the main current and placing baits along eddy lines or at the base of drop-offs can be highly effective. Catfish here often prefer live bait and will respond best to a natural presentation, but cut bait works just fine too. Keeping your bait off the bottom just enough to remain lively is often the difference-maker.

Fishing Creek, a quieter, lesser-known tributary of the Catawba River, provides a more remote experience for catfish anglers. Accessing it often requires some effort, but the payoff is fewer anglers and undisturbed catfish. Focus on deep, shaded pools and slow-moving stretches near fallen timber or bluff walls. Fish day or night with live or cut bait.