Collins Lake

The summer heat is on and we’ve got the catfish to prove it! Most of the cats our campers pulled up were caught on chicken or beef liver although they seem to be biting just about anything including rubber worms typically used for bass.  Even shore fishermen out for trout with powerbait and night-crawlers have been catching these whiskered bottom feeders.

Amaia showing us which fish are biting

Noah Konz 6, pound cat on powerbait

Joe Rice 8 1/2 pounder caught on beef liver

Brit & Brad and a pair of cats

Steven with a slick 4 3/4lb cat caught on nightcrawlers

Denise & Joe with a hefty 6 1/2 pounder caught on Beef Livers

Tommy caught his cat on a rubber worm

Cameron slaughtered the cats with chicken liver, biggest 9 pounds

Noah & Cameron caught these two on chicken livers

Amelia make this catfish look cute

It seems to me that the extreme heat has signaled the catfish that it’s their turn but unfortunately has also led to slowdown with the crappie and trout.  We’re still seeing a handful of other panfish especially redears and bluegill but the explosive crappie bite from last month seems to have quieted down considerably.

That being said sometimes the ones hit hardest by the heat aren’t fish at all but fishermen. The sparse trout and crappie balanced by the increase in cats could simply mean more people are escaping the sun by fishing evening and night. In fact last time I was out on the lake with my kids we abandoned ship and jumped in with the fishes.

Besides catfish we’ve also seen a number bass including some trophy sized fish.  There’s enough of them biting to make it worth a shot, even if you have to brave the heat.  Here’s some folks who did, and it payed off:

Gunner & Owen and their 3.5 pound largemouth

The Meehan Family and their beautiful bass

Camden’s Catch

Antonio caught a Redear

Dylan caught some of the few trout this week

Abby & Mason

Ferman Layos from San Jose with a monster 9 pound bass!

Jullian and his panfish

Henley worked hard for this trout

Roman’s son showing off his 7 1/4 pound bass they caught on powerbait

Roman’s sons showing off a trout they reeled in on powerbait

Mark Zaski didn’t disappoint, he caught a 4 pound trout

Conner Steen

Sam Provenzano caught three trout on corn powerbait

Rylee standing proud with her first fish

Makai didn’t let the crappie escape

None of the bass fishermen would say anything other than “Secret Lure” or “Secret Bait” but that’s par for the course. I’m just happy they’re still biting. If it’s just too hot not one is going to call you crazy for jumping in or else happy fishing until next time,

Ed