Do any of you guys fish bridge pillars or other manmade stucture for cats?
This is about the only type of structure I have not fished alot, besides Ford Dam. I know wing dams are manmade but I don’t consider it the same as a concrete or steel pillar. Just curious if I should be dedicating more time to this structure or just keep on fishing traditional cat structure.
There is one bridge pillar I fish from time to time. Its never my first choice, but it does produce fish here and there. I’ve caught mostly channels there as until this year thats all I had targeted. However, I’ve heard of flats be pulled from the same location. The spot I’ve fished has relatively deeper water downstream of the pillar and nice swirling eddy as well as a small flat inbetween shore and the pillar. In response to your question regarding manmade structure, I would think anything that creates a current break next to moving water has a good chance of holding fish or maybe more importantly anything that brings in baifish. However, I’m sure some spots are better than others.
I have pulled a few from under 35W bridge on the Minnesota. There seems to be a rather deep scour hole there. I can’t really put my finger on a pattern, though.
Yes, I fish everytype of manmade structure for cats. Concrete walls, steel walls, pilars of all sorts… you name it. Some of my spots I anchor with a magnet to a steel wall.
They all hold fish, some way more than you would think.. but some are obviously better than others. The fish dont care if its man made or natural. There is usually a cut out area tight to most man made walls and structures. Even in the heaviest of currents, fish will get right into these little dugouts and wait for easy prey, or rest out of the current.
If it alters the current, or creates any type of structure.. FISH IT.
Down here anything that slows the current holds baitfish. Anywhere wheres theres deeper water near by would be a good bet to fish, here fishing these spots at night for catfish produces well. During the day its crappies, especially whitebass, smallies etc. that come into these baitspots. Catfish are the night prowlers where theres baitfish for something to eat. Here they use cut shad, chubs, bluegills for cats arounds pillars at night, they usually hit it once or twice then run.
On the Black (pool 8) this time of the year with low water conditions…….most all fish are on bridge pilings 
Good current flow and tons of bait fish! Pool 8 is low and the water temps are hot. Look for current flow with breaks, gills (bait fish) and a hole near by.
Wish I had more time to spend cattin’ myself 
Been a busy year 
Well ok then. I guess I am going to be adding a few spots to the list. Thanks guys 
Dave- How big of a magnet do you have to hold your boat?
boey anchors are also a good spot.
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