I live right off of the Edisto River near Givhans. I just bought a small boat and I am trying to find some good catfishing. What is the best way to target catfish and what’s the best to use? I am not looking for giants, but just something around 3-15 pounds. All though the ocasional 30-40lber would be nice. Really looking forward to getting done info.
Position down current of a nice “bend” in the river where there are normally deeper holes and pockets. Structure near by is good as well, trees/log jams etc. I prefer cut bait, shad, herring, bream. There are some good dip baits that are pretty good, they seem to attract Channel Cats more. Here is where that good-ol floppy Shakespeare rod really shines, very strong with a soft tip. Not gonna say alot on the “type” of line, but 20-30# at least, you WILL get hung up in the right spot. Carolina/Slider/Fish Finder/Slip/Slide rig, what ever you call it with enough weight (No Roll/ Egg) to hold tight. Hook size is dictated buy the bait you use (4/0-6/0?) just make sure it is strong.
Caught a good mess of channels today in the Congaree. Carolina Rig, outside bends of turns,catalpa worms.
I thought catalpa worms were extinct , haven’t seen one in years…[:0]
Thanks for the ■■■■■■■■. Really looking forward to trying out these tactics. And I also haven’t seen the worms in years.
You are in a prime location for catfish! River is a little high right now but still good and catchable.
I like bush lines in the Edisto. (see DNR regs) What’s cool about the edisto is you can use live bream. Pick a day you are off work the next. Pick up some crickets and small gold hook about 18" with small split shot under a cork. Start pitching close to bank and look for eddes. If you don’t catch any bait my next go to bait is Beef heart. You can usually get one from IGA by asking the butcher. Chicken livers don’t hold up well in the current. CUt your heart into 1"x 3" strips, get some parachute cord from a hardware store and then get some 3 way swivels. use what ever you want for a weight (even old spark plugs) and then bait your hook. Find a suitable branch to tie to around dusk and run them again in a few hours up until your ready for bed. Some leave them all night and return in the morning. I’ve lost too many that way. I like to “work” them.
Do not think the parachute cord is too big or visible, you’ll need it for some of the cats that are in that river.
and if you don’t want to do the bush line thing, a good rod some earth worms and patience on the bottom will surely produce those 3-15lbs ers.
Talk to some of the locals after you get to know some and most will help…
“Why Bruce?”
Had a house there and grew up fishing it
Deep hole just downriver of Four Hole and any of the rock walls down from there have deep holes next to them
If we couldnt catch bream we would tie up chicken liver in little pouches of pantyhose and hook that on the limb lines
Have pulled some in the 75+ lb range into the boat
Little advice tho… if you plan to use set hooks at night watch out for snakes that like to rest in the trees you are tying off to !!
84 HYDRA SPORT 1800SS
89 Yamaha 150
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‘OL LEAKY’
The gattors are thick to! Also watch out for jumping sturgen,the are thick up there sometimes.
Can you catch any of the sturgeon? If so, how?
quote:
Originally posted by DipNetFishingCan you catch any of the sturgeon? If so, how?
All sturgeon are under federal protection. If you do hook one,you cannot remove it from the water for any reason. They are endangered in coastal rivers. If you still want to try to catch one cut bait on the bottom just like catfish rigs
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PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
I was in edisto one spring and rode until I got tired of riding. Anchored in front of a few blowdowns using mud minnows and cut mullet. I couldn’t believe the amount of 5-8# catfish I caught. Almost every cast on mudminnows. Honey hole was a sunken dock. Carolina rig.
Yes, the gator population is strong.
Years ago, I used to fish the Edisto a lot. We would run bush hooks for flatheads and have caught quite a few in the 50+lb size. Lots of fun especially for the kids.
We quit doing it 10-12+ years ago when DHEC issued a “DO NOT EAT ANY” advisory for flatheads and channels and a “1 meal a month” advisory for blues caught in the river. These advisories are still in place today. No fun if you can’t eat the fish anymore.
2016 South Carolina Fish Consumption Advisories:
https://www.scdhec.gov/library/ML-004042.pdf
Scroll down to page 24 for advisories specific to the Edisto.
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad (1/13/37 - 9/27/16 I love you Pops)
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish