In the extreme upper end of Lake Marion, above where the convergence of the Congaree and Wateree rivers to form the Santee River, Whitey Outlaw from St. Matthews regularly mauls catfish in the Congaree.
“I fish the Congaree because it’s closer to where I live, but the Wateree is good, too,” Outlaw said. “My bait of choice during hot weather is catalpa worms. Using catalpa worms, I realistically expect to catch blue, channel and flatheads catfish on any given trip. We typically catch fish in the 15-pound class up to 30 pounds.”
Outlaw said a key to catching the Congaree cats is fishing targets such as the outside bends of the river where the water is often slightly deeper, as well as the inside bends where there are sandbars, specifically where the banks are lined with willows.
“I keep it simple, usually no anchor, I tie up to one of the many snags or the willow bushes along the edge,” Outlaw said. “My technique is to use a catalpa worm, shrimp — or cut shad are good if you don’t have catalpa worms — and cast to both deep and shallow water. I move frequently because I occasionally hit a super hot spot and catch a bunch of 5- to 15-pound class cats real quick. Multiple big cats hooked at once with a rod in each hand create exciting times.”
“I use the 8-foot B’&’M Silver Cat catfish rods because the light tip enables me to detect bites without spooking fish in the current, but has backbone muscle to handle huge fish,” he said. “I spool 14-pound Vicious line, use an 18-inch leader of 50-pound test and a 2/0 hook at the terminal end. Based on the current, I’ll have a 3/4- to 1-ounce sinker above the swivel.”
“When you thread a catalpa worm on the hook, hold on tight, because the catfish bites will come rapidly and repeatedly,” Outlaw said. “When you’re in the right place, a few seconds after the worm hits the water, you’ll get a bite.”
Be the first to comment