Regardless of the lake you fish, channel cats are staples of the action. Photo by John E. Phillips.

From the eastern portion of the state in the Chattahoochee River to the western section in the Tombigbee River, fishermen find August the most productive time of the year to catch catfish in Alabama. Catfishing provides fun and fast action for old and young, as well as a treat on the dinner table.

CATFISH TACTICS
No doubt, the most popular tactic for catching catfish in the Cotton State is using a rod and reel. Whether for eating-sized channel cats for the table, or a giant blue or flathead catfish for bragging rights, hook-and-line action is generally favored.

But those aren't the only options. It's also possible to catch a mess of cats jug-fishing or running trotlines.

How To Jug For Catfish
My family always has enjoyed jugging for cats. Even as young children, my daughter and son considered themselves masters of the sport of jugging for catfish.

To jug for catfish, you first need to locate a supply of jugs. In fact, we're very particular about the jugs we use. We don't like big gallon plastic bleach or milk jugs. The wind blows those big ones all over the lake or river. We prefer to use smaller pint and quart bottles. Generally, we spray paint fluorescent-orange on our jugs to help us locate them, especially at night.

Next. we tie lines on the jugs. We use 25-pound-test line tied to the neck or the handle of our jugs. We tie various lengths of lines onto the jugs, ranging from 3 to 12 feet long. We also make up extra lines -- both long and short. Then we can change out the lines on our jugs, once we establish how deep the fish are holding.

After tying the lines, we attach a medium-sized weight about 8 to 10 inches from the end of the line. Next, a No. 1 hook is added. They're small enough to catch catfish that weigh about a pound, yet large enough to hold a 20- or a 30-pound cat.

The day before we head for the lake, we catch our bait. Often, we go to a creek and catch crawfish. Sometimes we seine or put out traps to take minnows. We may even dig worms or catch grasshoppers. But for convenience, we also use commercial baits that are purchased at bait shops.

At the lake, once all the jugs are floating, we watch them like a shepherd tends his flock. When a catfish attacks, the jug tips up, dives down or runs off across the surface. That's when we chase the jug with our boat.

Landing the cats requires a bit of skill. Don't try to horse the fish over the gunnels. The hook may pull loose. If it makes a strong run when you pick up the jug, just let it go. You can always chase it and pick up the jug again after the fish tires.

How To Trotline For Catfish
Trotlining also can pay off big for you during the summer, particularly on rivers. Although trotliners basically all may put out their lines in the same way and even use the same baits, some anglers catch more catfish than others. There are reasons for that.