Catfish Man's News and Views

Joe Crumpton, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
601 West Woodward Avenue, Eustis, FL 32726
Phone: 352/742/6438  Fax: 352/742/6461 
E-mail: joe.crumpton@MyFWC.com

Volume II                 July, 2001

Editorial:
It seems the first CatFish Man's News and Views was a Hit!  Thanks for all the positive comments.  In the next few newsletters I will be "Featuring" a species of catfish found in Florida.  Hope you will enjoy.  Oh yeah!  Keep those comments coming in.
~Joe

CATFISH ARE COOL!
Who says its all about bass?

David Dean thinks the catfish doesn't get enough R-E-S-P-E-C-T as Aretha says in her song.
The Clermont, Florida catfisherman thinks the whiskered wonders are overlooked by the majority of an angling community that is ignorant of their attributes.
He wants to correct that oversight.
David's wish is to have a fishing club that is devoted solely to catfishing.  Another wish is to stir up enough interest to create a local "Catfish Tournament Trail."
David says, "The catfish has always taken a back seat to sports fish such as bass and crappie.  But if you try catching a 15-pound catfish fighting against a current -- you've got a fight on your hands."
David has caught plenty of the so-called "glamour species," but he still likes catfish the best.
So when David praises the fighting ability of the catfish, he speaks from experience.
Part of his attraction is that catfish can be caught by just about everyone -- young, old, novice or pro -- with a minimal investment in tackle.
"It's something families can do together --  parents with children or grandparents with grandchildren," says David.

David has fished mostly for channel catfish in the Clermont Chain of Lakes and Palatlaka River.  Chances are he will be fishing there again in the future when the drought is over and the water comes back.
David has several secrets he uses to land the big channels, but the CatFish Man will reveal only one.  David uses Bowker's Dip Bait.  The Bait, which is lovingly called "stink bait," comes in several "flavors" - original, blood, shad, and shrimp.  David says, "They all work, but the shrimp flavor is the best."
The bait is paste-like and has the consistency of peanut butter.  The bait holder is "dipped" into the mixture.  It is best not to do it with your fingers, because the smell doesn't wash off, it wears off.  It is recommended the bait be carried in a container, because if you spill it in the car, its value goes to "0."