While fishermen who frequent warm-water discharges are most often targeting largemouth bass, spotted bass or striped bass, there’s no doubt that fishermen targeting catfish can get just as much benefit out of the artificially warm water.
“At Wylie and Norman, the warm-water discharges help the catfishing, absolutely,” guide Chris Nichols said. “They’re great places to catch catfish, and some of the largest catfish are caught from those places.
“They’re constantly generating water through those places, and the water that’s affected will generally stay several degrees warmer, which concentrates the baitfish, and the catfish are going to be close behind them.
“If I’m fishing warm water, I’m going to be anchored up, fishing big baits. What you might be sacrificing in numbers, you’ll make up for catching big fish. You’ve got a good chance to catch a 20- or 30-pound blue.”
Nichols said he’ll try to fish a mile or so downcurrent from the warm-water discharge canal. Even though the water might be warmer closer to the discharge, it will be warm enough to attract shad — which are very temperature-sensitive during the winter and often die off in very cold water.
“The other thing is, when the fish feel that warm water, they think it’s spring, and they turn their noses into it and head up to spawn,” he said.
Be the first to comment