The elusive westside channel catfish

[Pete112288]

For years I hunted and pecked my way around SW Wa trying to find good catfishing. I find a ton of places chock full of brown or yellow bullheads, but yet came up empty handed for any channel catfish besides a couple 4 or 5 inchers. After picking the brains of a few ol'timers I know and what they have heard from others I finally thought I had a good lead. I had tried the places that others knee-jerkedly told me about with no luck. I discovered for the one supposed best place, I just had my timing off. I was trying late July into August. Last year I finally took the gamble and tried early May. Started fishing an hour before light. Then right as it got light enough to see my line without a headlamp. BOOM. And boy was it no joke. Rod doubled over in the holder and 2 more within 10 minutes. All 5-7 pounds. I never had experience with cats over 6 inches or so, man my  is that pound for pound they fight harder than any coho I have ever caught. The next weekend my mom and I got 3 more of similar sizes. This year the weather was a bit different and I didnt get out until this last week. And all the holes I found in my previous years, when I could load up on bullhead but no channels. Now the right timing and a morning fish gave me these 4 beauties. 4.5lbs smallest, 6.5lbs biggest.
Its so gratifying when hard work comes together. And the wife couldnt be happier to have it in the freezer. Its her favorite fish to eat.
Now if I could just figure out where to find them come later in the summer.

[NorseNW]

That's impressive.  Congrats on sticking with it and figuring it out.  I've only caught 2 channel cats that I can remember.  That was in Pennsylvania.  Never touched one out here.  The do put up an awesome fight.

[grundy53]

Nice work!

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

[Alchase]

Here is a link to where they can be found and where the WDFW plants Channel Catfish in Washington.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/ictalurus-punctatus#locations

[metlhead]

Great write up. The ending must have got cut off or didn't load. It was right at the part you were mentioning the exact body of water and location. I would love to have closure.

[WildBear]

That’s awesome!! I’ll be over in Richland next month trying to catch some. Empty handed last year. No clue what I’m doing really. 😂

[syoungs]

That’s awesome!! I’ll be over in Richland next month trying to catch some. Empty handed last year. No clue what I’m doing really. 😂

Where are you going in Richland?

[22shtur]

Great write up. The ending must have got cut off or didn't load. It was right at the part you were mentioning the exact body of water and location. I would love to have closure.

That's pretty funny, and I can keep a secret if you want to PM that info.

[Blacklab]

Outstanding.

[wadu1]

Great write up. The ending must have got cut off or didn't load. It was right at the part you were mentioning the exact body of water and location. I would love to have closure.

That's pretty funny, and I can keep a secret if you want to PM that info.

s

You know guys, Pete puts a lot of boot leather and rubber on the ground.  He's bringing in the deer and elk and now cat's because of his hard work. We should be emulating his efforts. 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

 

[Pete112288]

Great write up. The ending must have got cut off or didn't load. It was right at the part you were mentioning the exact body of water and location. I would love to have closure.

That's pretty funny, and I can keep a secret if you want to PM that info.

s

You know guys, Pete puts a lot of boot leather and rubber on the ground.  He's bringing in the deer and elk and now cat's because of his hard work. We should be emulating his efforts. 

I appreciate the kind words.
The jovial prodding about locations is all good fun.
Really the body of water is not a huge secret, its the timing and scouting of specific small spots this time that took the work.
That being said, I seem to have a bout of amnesia and cant for the life of me remember the name for the water..... 

[pd]

That’s awesome!! I’ll be over in Richland next month trying to catch some. Empty handed last year. No clue what I’m doing really. 😂

Where are you going in Richland?

Forty years ago the best spot was the mouth of the Yakima below the railroad trestle, into the delta towards the main body of the big river.

[Buckhunter24]

Great post, thanks for sharing

[WildBear]

That’s awesome!! I’ll be over in Richland next month trying to catch some. Empty handed last year. No clue what I’m doing really. 😂

Where are you going in Richland?

Forty years ago the best spot was the mouth of the Yakima below the railroad trestle, into the delta towards the main body of the big river.

I’ll be staying in West Richland July 1st-8th. I fished just down stream from the trestle last year. Nothing caught but there was a 5-6 pounder someone caught and left on the shore… 😂

[dilleytech]

Is this Columbia river fishing or lake, you don’t have to be specific? I have caught one around 10# sturgeon fishing once but always wondered how to target them.

[Pete112288]

Is this Columbia river fishing or lake, you don’t have to be specific? I have caught one around 10# sturgeon fishing once but always wondered how to target them.

River backwater / sloughs