School Me On Westside Catfish

[chukar hunter]

My 4YO has taken an affinity to catfish fishing for some reason.  Never fished for them, but I think we've watched most of the youtube videos available.  All/most are from the deep south.  Where, when, how in WA?  Bait, Rigs, any tips?  He's turning 5 in May and wants his birthday to be catfishing.  Issaquah area, but willing to drive an hour or two.  Help!

[The Marquis]

I know what it's like to pose a question and get silence in return, and while I can't help you for the area you mention, I can say that cutbait (Shad is GREAT) and worms have caught me catfish in Southwest Washington warm water lakes, and a few not so warm.  They aren't extremely abundant like in the south and you'll find more very small Brown Bullheads than you'd probably prefer, but they are still out there and it's good fun. 

Weird note that I've found more Catfish caught in my crawdad traps baited with cut shad than I have gotten on a hook.  It's always very weird.  I do a LOT of crawdad fishing though, so that's how it should be.

[WildBear]

Haven’t caught any in years. Lake Stevens, when I was a kid we caught many decent sized. Believe it was just worms on the bottom. Did start fishing at dusk, south end of the lake.

[h20hunter]

I've swam quite a bit in Lake Stevens often covering up to a half mile in shoreline. Seen bass, panfish, critters.....never seen a single cat layed up by a log or in the grass. Grew up in the midwest....love some night fishing by lantern.

[h20hunter]

I was just past 18 and lived for the summer sun baby.....

[Goldeneye]

If your gonna try Lake Stevens as said above about south end of the lake is best.  Been 5 or 6 years since I tried for them.  Just off the weed line.  Also used to catch them at Big Lake up in Skagit county.  Also, done best at the south end of the lake.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Lake Terell has Channel and bullhead cats. Google it.

[Bullkllr]

About any of the mixed species lakes and a worm on the bottom should get you into brown bullhead catfish.

Some lakes have had channel cat planted - not sure if that is ongoing or not. You can play with the WDFW "Find lowland Lakes" tool for some specific info.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/locations/lowland-lakes

[brokentrail]

Harts Lake here in the south end has both channel catfish and bullheads.  I've caught a few incidentally while fishing for other things and some of the channel cats get decent sized, over 10lbs.

[fast60eddie]

 Lake Sammamish just west of the boat launch can produce those little bullhead catfish. Worms is what my neighbor used to use. I would recommend cut bait if you can find Mackerel.  The twin ponds up on I five used to be stocked with channel cats I never tried it but if you want to catfish it worth eating it may be worth your time. Again I would recommend cut mackerel.
Ed

[Mudman]

Cats out of bag.  Harts lake.  Bullhead easy $ and plenty of em.  Good sized.  Channels tough to catch, Stinky chicken is a    30+lb in there but might take ya few years.  Fish at dark hours, move around and use stink.

[7mmfan]

I was just past 18 and lived for the summer sun baby.....

Wasn't this picture just taken last Tuesday? I swear you haven't aged a day...

[h20hunter]

Aww....you are sweet. Psh.....I wish!

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

I know you said Westside but....

When I hear catfish I think of the palouse... 3.5 hrs from Issaquah so a stretch. But Vantage and the Columbia are closer. Don't know if their are cats in that area, maybe someone else knows? 1hr 50min from Issaquah.

I go to Lyons Ferry over memorial weekend and fish the the snake river from the mouth of the Tucannon up the Palouse river....

Fun trip always. Sleep in late, go catch bait (sqawfish, peamouth, etc.) with worms in the afternoon, cut them up into chunks about the size of your thumb and get to catfishing at sunset. Usually pulled gear around 10pm-12am depending on the bite. Get those flowsticks for the tip of your rod. Fun watching those bounce when a fish hits.

When: For me has been late May
Bait: What ever we could catch with a worm that was a "trash" fish
Where: Above
How: 2 foot leader to a circle hook or octopus hook, barbell swivel, that slide thing that holds a weight above it (think we used about an oz...maybe 2oz weight, and glow stick (at night) or bell (day) on the tip of the rod. Rod was sized a little bigger when on the bank to sling the lead. When we had a boat we used a lighter rod because you didn't have to cast....

If it were me, I'd plan a Camping trip around his birthday, take Friday off, and go to the snake....

There is a Palouse thread on hear pinned at the top if you want to get hyped about it....

[chukar hunter]

Thanks for the input.  I did some research on the wdfw site and seemed there was a stocking program in a few local lakes.  Good start with all the input.