New Year cats

Catfish bite predictably in cold water

January can deliver some of the most reliable catfishing of the year for anglers who understand how cold water reshapes fish behavior. Two Carolina lakes that shine in winter, each with its own personality, are Lake Wateree in South Carolina and High Rock Lake in North Carolina. Although they fish differently, success on both hinges on smart boat positioning and the right cold-water bait choices.

Lake Wateree

Lake Wateree is known for its strong blue and channel cat populations, and winter concentrates these fish near predictable structure. In January, baitfish pack tightly along creek channels and deeper coves, which makes precise boat placement critical. One of the best strategies is to anchor at the mouths of major creeks, positioning your boat so that your baits land on the drop from 15 to 30 feet.

Set up just outside the channel, not directly in it. Catfish often travel along the edge rather than inside the deepest cut. Use your sonar to find the breakline, then anchor so that your back rods sit on the slope while your front rods cover the flatter transition. This spreads your presentation across multiple feeding zones.

Drift fishing can also be effective on Wateree during stable weather. If you drift, maintain a slow pace in the neighborhood of 0.4 to 0.7 mph, and align your boat with the wind so your baits move naturally down the channel edge.

Fresh cut shad is the premier winter bait on Wateree. Shad heads, in particular, give off a strong scent trail in cold water. When shad are hard to come by, cut white perch makes an excellent replacement.

High Rock Lake

High Rock fishes differently due to its shallower depths and abundant stump-filled flats. In January, catfish often hold on deep brush, submerged timber edges, and the lower sections of creeks where bait gathers. Boat positioning here is all about staying just outside heavy cover while placing baits close enough that fish can slip out and feed.

Anchoring is usually more productive than drifting because winter catfish relate tightly to structure. Position your boat so baits sit on the outside edges of brushpiles in 18 to 30 feet. If you’re fishing a point, anchor off the tip and fan-cast across multiple depth lines.

Cut baitfish is the top choice for winter cats on High Rock Lake, but some anglers also find pieces of chicken to be productive on especially cold days

Patience is key this month on both of these lakes. For anglers who don’t mind settling in, the rewards are usually worth the wait.