After the spawn, Catfish are generally the most active when the water temperature is above 70deg and are very active feeders up to 85deg. In early spring and late fall when the water tempeartures are below 65 catfish are generally not very active, however they are still feeding. If you have a power plant close with cats in the cooling lake, the outlet during the winter will really concentrate the large fish.
Food Source
Channel catfish will generally take dead bait, unlike flatheads, which prefer live bait. There are endless combination of catfish bait out there, and every catfish angler has their favorite. Try fishing frogs, clam meat animal entrails, liver, soap chunks, doughballs, limburger cheese, live and dead fish, and the list goes on.
Channel Cats can live up to 40 years, but grow slowly compared to flatheads and blues. It can take between 8 and 15 years for channel cats to reach 5 lbs.
Smallmouth bass are generally the most active and more catch-able when the water temp is between 62 and 73. But don’t limit your fishing to when the water temp is just right. Most pro’s and experienced fisherman will tell you the largest fish they catch are during periods of extreme heat and when the water gets colder (below 55degrees). The largest reason for this is that you really have to slow your presentation down and fish in such a way for any success at all, the likelihood of catching a lunker greatly increases than if you are ripping a spinner bait in perfect water temp, clarity and weather. Most would agree that fishing for largemouth greatly falls off after the water drops below 50, they are still catch-able, but requires mind numbing patience.