When Channel Cats Get Tough
By Rob Neumann
LATE SEASON LOCATIONS: SMALL RIVERS
LATE SEASON PATTERNS REFINED
Small Rivers -- In early fall, catfish are likely to inhabit the same holes where they spend the summer. But once water cools to around 60F, most evidence points to movement downstream to deeper wintering holes with slow current. Downstream transitions likely dominate movement now because these areas contain relatively deeper water. Don't overlook suitable wintering habitat that may be upstream or in the general river stretches where catfish spend warmer months. They congregate at these wintering spots, particularly once the water temperature drops below the 45F to 50F range, and there they remain from late fall throughout the winter.
In early fall, traveling catfish gather where shallow water or other obstructions block movement. Many catfish anglers enjoy success by fishing riffle and run areas upstream of deeper holes. Eventually, the biggest, deepest holes concentrate catfish.

No hard evidence exists to suggest what the minimum depth of a suitable wintering site is in smaller rivers. It appears to be relative to what depths are available -- a deep pool in a big river is generally deeper than a deep pool in a small river, and the shallowest rivers are likely to be vacated. Fish the deepest holes, especially those with some form of cover, and the cats should be there or at least on their way. If they're not, keep moving. The most successful anglers are those who fish as many holes as possible. If a river-run reservoir is within reach, Stange suggests the best late-season strategy is to fish deeper areas of a reservoir from a boat.

 "There's no doubt weather influences catfish in fall, so watching weather patterns is critical," he says. "October has been a consistent bite month in the smaller rivers I fish in the Upper Midwest. Then the weather gets colder and the nasty late October and November rains and snow slow the bite. I've found that a bout of warm, moderate weather for several days gets fish active again, sometimes even into early winter."

According to Stange, temperature isn't the only factor. "High water can be a disaster. The best bet is if stable mild temperatures are accompanied by stable flows, especially on the moderate to low end of the spectrum. High water and cold weather stimulate movement of channel catfish to wintering areas. If you get a week of moderate weather afterward, fish those wintering holes catfish likely moved to.

"In the South, opportunities for channel catfish are more flexible, even through winter. Fairly mild temperatures won't confine catfish to winter locations typical of more northern rivers. You can catch channel catfish all year down there but, in winter, the best bets might be in reservoirs," he says.

Large Rivers -- Studies indicate that big-river catfish emulate their small-river counterparts late in the season, moving mostly downstream to deeper winter quarters protected from heavy flows. Deep holes near the mouths of tributaries attract catfish that migrated out of tributaries, as well as river residents. Scour-holes associated with wing dams also congregate catfish.

Late-season habitat use by channel catfish was examined by radio tracking in Pool 13 of the Mississippi River: biologist Douglas Stang noted that catfish during the fall-winter period were primarily found in main-channel border areas. Bottom areas that contained sand waves were also used frequently, likely providing current breaks near bottom. Scour-holes near wing dams also were an important late-season habitat. As river flows changed, current modified the location of sand waves; catfish responded by moving to new sand waves and different wing dams. Average depths of catfish locations increased from about 8 feet during the spring-summer period to about 14 feet in fall and winter, but catfish were found in water as deep as 40 feet.
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