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Outdoors: Big blues on the prowl

Photo Courtesy of Luke Clayton - Lawrance Rice with one of many eater-size blue catfish landed on a recent outing. Pictured is one of the Uncle Josh Lil� Stinker noodles the guide uses.

By Luke Clayton, Special to the Courier-Gazette

Published: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 3:42 PM CST

Lawrance Rice is certainly not a newcomer to catching big fish.

He began his career guiding salmon fishermen on the Tsiu River, located on the Alaskan coast at the base of the Chugach Mountains, about 100 miles southeast of Cordova.

Lawrance is still putting clients on big fish, but in a much different setting.

For the past several years, he�s worked on his family�s sand and gravel operation at Seven Points, Texas, located adjacent the Trinity River.

What does sand and gravel have to do with catching big catfish, you might be thinking.

During the mining process to remove the sand and gravel, a 350-acre lake was created on the property. Several deep cuts and submerged islands were left, providing prime fish-holding bottom structure. The excavations that were mined decades ago filled with water and, during periods of heavy rainfall on the Trinity watershed above the lake, were regularly stocked with big catfish and the shad they love to feed upon. The Trinity is well known for producing big catfish and when the river crests its banks during high water, blue cats follow a feeder creek into Rice Lake. They become permanent residents when the water recedes.

Thanks to this natural stocking on an almost yearly basis, Rice Lake has become a premier destination for catching not only trophy class blue catfish, but lots of eater-size catfish. Rice, who lives a stone�s throw from these catfish-rich waters, decided to take clients out to enjoy the bounty provided by the Trinity.

The cold weather months are known as the best time for catching big blues.

Blue cats become much more active when the water temperature drops into the 50s and lower. A recent phone call from Rice followed by the image of several monster blues sent to my phone, had me packing up and making tracks to Seven Points.

I love all sorts of fishing, but blue catfish really get my adrenaline pumping.

The conservation when something like this, �Luke, take a look at the picture I just sent to your phone. The big blues are on a steady bite; I�m fishing with Uncle Josh�s Lil� Stinker noodles (a jug line of sorts) and rod and reel. Our biggest so far is just over 60 pounds, but I�ve seen this lake produce bigger fish. Better get out here tomorrow if possible.�

At 4 pm., I pulled up to the ramp and found Rice rigged and ready for catfish action.

�I�ve tried all sorts of jug lines.� Rice said. �I�ve used everything from PVC pipe with end caps to plastic coke bottles and these Lil� Stinker noodles work best. When a fish hits them, they stand upright in the water and can be seen from a great distance. I rig each noodle with two small, but strong circle hooks on Power Pro braided line. Four- to five-foot leads work best in the shallow flats where we�ve been catching most of the fish.�

Rice prefers fresh cut bait for catching big blues.

�I�ve used everything from cut shad and sunfish to fillets from carp and buffalo fish with good success,� he said. �When using the larger rough fish, I fillet them first and leave the skin on, making sure to penetrate the tough skin a couple times when I thread the bait on the circle hook.�

We motored a quarter mile to a section of the lake that has been especially productive recently. Ten noodles were baited and put on a slow drift across a big flat. Some jug fishermen put enough weight on their sets to keep them stationary, but Rice prefers lighter weights that allow the noodles to slowly drift. This approach ensures the baits cover more water.

�Blue catfish are much like sharks; they will follow a scent trail through the water,� Rice said. �This is one reason I like to allow the noodles to drift.�

Technique is important when jug line fishing.

Sometimes it�s the subtle things that equate a successful trip. In this style of fishing, boat position in relation to the sun is very important, especially if there is a little chop on the water. With the sun at your back, the noodles are easy to spot, even from a distance. But if you�re looking into the sun, the surface floats are difficult to spot, especially when the water�s surface is dimpled by waves.

I brought along a couple of rods I use for catching bigger catfish and at the beginning of the trip, Rice and I baited up, positioned the boat 100 yards or so above the noodles� drift and tried some rod and reel fishing. The instant I watched our first noodle bounce around in place and then head off for the distant shore, I abandoned my rod and reel for the net.

For the next couple hours, Rice and I chased down the noodles, netting catfish and re-baiting the noodles. We were using a Red Head brand net constructed of a rubberized material that worked perfectly and made removing fish/hooks a breeze.

Our trip didn�t produce any monster blues, but we did watch one of the noodles being towed away in a manner that resembled a plow horse pulling a plow.

When we caught up with the Noodle, the only indication of the size of the fish was its tail near the surface. It was as wide a boat paddle. The big fish pulled loose at the boat and was gone with a splash.

We left them biting with the onset of darkness.

In the cooler were the makings of a big catfish fry. The snow white fillets from blue cats weighing 3-15 pounds make for some mighty fine eating. Back at the dock, I made plans for a return trip this coming week.

To contact Rice and plan a catfish outing, call: 903-880-9788. He�s offering afternoon trips that begin around 4 pm and weekend outings.

Listen to Outdoors with Luke Clayton at: catfishradio.com. Luke�s also doing an outdoor show for public radio at: ketr.org. Contact Luke with hunting and fishing news from your area via email at: lukeclayton@prodigy.net.

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