The Drifting bite for Channel Cats is heating up. It was a pleasure to fish with Dodge Boy once again who made the trip down from up Nort der hey, to jump in my boat and chase Cats. JPMason and his Uncle Denny joined in on some of the action from JP’s boat. The first thing we did was load up on Blue Gills for bait hoping to get into a Flathead or two for the night. On the way to Flathead country we pulled over and made a drift in one of my favorite Channel Cat spots with cut bait and Denny boated a dandy Channel Cat right away making the back up plan to catch cats look promising. Put that picture up Mr. Mason!
Pictured here is Dodge Boy with a solid 15lb Channel Cat.
After the drift, we headed down river and set up on the first Flathead spot of the night before dark. Dodge Boy and I headed into one snag while JP and his Uncle headed to another. With in 15 minutes DB had his hands full with one big Flatty that battled its way into the wood only to break off 
We hung around there and then hit another spot only to be giving the Gills some exercise on the end of the lines. After a radio call to JP the plan was to head back and see if the Channels were still in the mood to play, an they were 
Pictured here is JPMason with a good 13lb Channel Cat.
The fish we found were hanging around in 15-20fow on an outside bend of the main channel near wing dams. The ticket was the rigging Steve DeMars introduced us all to last year. A 24inch leader tied to a 1/0 Barrel swivel then attached to a 1/0 Snap swivel which is tied to the main line, NO SINKER NEEDED. I know Steve likes a 5/0 but my preference is a 1/0 Daiichi Catfish Wide circle hook. The set up is almost snag free and with cut bait, it is killer on the Channel Cats this time of year. The hits varied through the night from a charging bull to the fish picking up the cut bait and following along.
Every drift one boat or the other was getting into a nice fish late into the evening/early morning. It was hard to tare ourselves away from drifting but the call was made to give the Flatheads a try one more time before light. JPMason was hit on the last spot of the night only to be dropped. Hardly able to keep the eyeballs open anymore we all called it a night/morning at 4:15am. The Flatheads might have been a bit slow but the Channel Cats saved the night It was a good time with good friends and believe it or not, we had an 8 mile stretch of river all to ourselves, you just can’t beat that. Thanks for the laughs friends 
Bret
Great job guys
Sounds like it was a good time had by all 
Great report, Bret. I’ve been spending my time chasing flats with nothing but skunks to show for it. After reading your report it is time to switch to drifting. Those were some pretty channel cats. I’m heading out Sunday night – I hope the action is as good as you’ve seen.
Thanks for the report bret!
Nice pics, nice kittys and very nice report Bret.
I think I’m going to try drifting on P4 with the wife tomorrow.
I’m confused on the rig. Does the cut bait sink the rig down? Are you bumping it along the bottom or suspending it off a little? That drifting tactic looks like a killer.
The size of the swivel and snap is all that is needed to get to the bottom. You can feel the bait tick the bottom while drifting now and then but the bait is not clued to the bottom.
Bret,
Here is the picture of Uncle Den with the first channel of the night. I still have alot to learn on Catfishing, but it sure was a blast.
DB, it was nice meeting you again.
Had a great time down there ya know der hey. Good friends and great conversations. Good to see you guys again and fish that big muddy river. Can’t wait till next time.
Great report on the drifting. Sounds like you had a great evening of fishing.