Channel cat pattern?

After my first catfishing adventure, I am hooked! Problem is, I know very little about how their feeding habits change through the year since they are a fish I never paid attention to. A buddy of mine was “intrigued” after I shared my first cat fishing experience with him and now wants to go this weekend. My question is, are the channels still going on stinkbait (sudden impact)or is that only a midsummer bite. Is it now better on cut bait, crawlers, or some other bait I know nothing about? Just looking for some tips as things progress into the fall.

Turn down the volume if you don’t like the music…but check out the water temp…

I had my best luck last weekend around submerged wood with Sudden Impact.

Opps…wrong video…one moment please….

Channel cats will bite year round if you fish in the right place. I’ve taken fish on stink bait in 38 degree water. They have a winter pattern, prespawn (ice out until the water hits around 70) then they spawn in warmer water bays and swamps and up feeder creeks. After the spawn the females leave the nest and the males stay to guard them. There is a short period after the spawn when they go nuts around here. The summer pattern goes until September when they start thinking about wintering up. If you know where they winter and where they spawn you can setup an ambush along likely routes of travel. If you hit paydirt doubles like this one are not uncommon. Bait choice is one of the fun things about channel cats. I like to give them some options. I can use three lines so I like to have at least one cut sucker and usually Sonny’s blood bait. The Catfish sudden impact is a good bait too. I’ve had times in the spring where only a crawler would get a bite. Give them some options and then switch all of your rigs to what is working.

Leeches or cut suckers.