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Many area lakes and rivers are on the high side currently due to all the heavy rains.

High water levels will usually put fish in the newly flooded areas. This goes for bass, crappie and catfish. New feeding opportunities are opened up and it can be a feeding bonanza.

All the creatures previously living near the water’s edge find themselves underwater and running for their collective lives. Any terrestrial inhabitant is fair game for hunter/killer bass and catfish.

Frogs, worms, lizards and even snakes will find themselves in peril in the newly flooded water.

This week we are looking for catfish in some of the excess water.

The Sabine River has been on fire as far as rod and reel fishing. Two person limits are reportedly coming within a couple hours of fishing. Setting up on the downstream side of a sandbar and “tightlining” is one tactic that will put fish in the boat.

To rig for tightlining, tie on a 1/0 hook and leave 18-24 inches of tag end. On the tag end tie a bell sinker (current speed will determine the size of weight) Ending up with the hook being 18-20 inches above the weight. Bass fishing anglers will recognize this as a sort of a drop shot rig. Keeping your bait off the bottom but near it while stationary with the weight.

Catfish downstream will “smell” your bait and track the scent to the bait.

For lakes or non-moving water there are a couple different methods to consider. The old school hook and bobber set up has worked for centuries and still produces results. This tactic may work best for high water cats. Lake O’ the Pines reports have catfish rated as excellent in 2-6 feet of water. The bobber set up will keep your hook off the bottom and out of the newly flooded brush.

For the bobber rig many anglers will use live bait such as minnows or earth worms. The minnow route is a small way of hedging your bet. Any big crappie or bass that happens to be in the area will most likely crash your minnow.

Finally, riprap is notorious for holding catfish. Lakes like Tawakoni and Wright Patman are well known for producing large numbers of catfish on their riprap. The hook and bobber method is the preferred method for catching cats on the large stones.

Keep you bait above the rocks and out of the crevices with the proper depth of the bobber. A hook that gets lodged in these crevices will most likely be lost. Again live bait such as shiners or worms would be my first choice. Of course everyone has their favorite bait and method so use what you trust.

Get out this weekend and catch a mess of catfish for a Cinco De Mayo fish fry.