The following areas were selected by Florida's freshwater fisheries biologists as being the most likely to be highly productive for catfish during 2010. Apalachicola River  Species: Channel, flathead, and blue catfish.
Big channel catfish can be caught April into early July near the dam. Flathead fishing picks up in April and runs into the summer months. Small catfish can be caught year-round, but spring and summer months are best.
Try the Jim Woodruff Dam south to Owl Creek, and deep holes with structure, old creek channels, and around mouths of tributaries. Live bream on the bottom will work for big flatheads. Stink baits or night crawlers on the bottom should do the trick for channels. Try some type of fresh cut bait, such as mullet, for blue cats.
Choctawhatchee River Species: Channel and flathead catfish.
Big channel catfish can be caught late May through early July, and October into November if the water stays warm. Small cats are available year-round, but expect them to bite slow when it is cold. Anglers can fish the Alabama line south to West Bay, and around the mouth of Holmes Creek and other tributaries. Most of the larger catfish are found in the northern portion of the river within deep bends, and in holes containing large woody debris throughout the river. Live bream fished on the bottom can produce flatheads up to 30 lbs. Stink baits or night crawlers on the bottom should do well for channels.
Yellow River Species: Flathead catfish.
The biggest flatheads can be found April through October. Anywhere from the Alabama line to the I-10 Bridge may produce fish. Try live bream on the bottom as your best choice for big flatheads. Concentrate on deep holes with structure.
Escambia River Species: Blue, channel, and flathead catfish.
Large channel catfish and big flatheads can be caught April through October. Smaller catfish are available year-round, but expect them to bite slow when it is cold. Catfish will be found from the Alabama line south to the I-10 Bridge. Try live bream on the bottom if pursuing big flatheads. Otherwise, stink baits or night crawlers on the bottom should produce channels or blues.
St. Johns River and Dunn's CreekSpecies: Bullhead, channel catfish, and white catfish.
Big channel catfish are available from early May through June. Small catfish of all species can be caught year-round, but the best fishing occurs in spring and fall months. Good places to try are Dunn's Creek to Lake Crescent, Murphy's Creek from the St. Johns River to Dunn's Creek, and the river from Palatka to Little Lake George. Try the hole on the North side of Buffalo Bluff Bridge, but bring plenty of hooks and weights due to the many snags. Stink baits or night crawlers on the bottom should produce action from any of these species.
Ochlockonee River Species: Bullhead, channel, flathead, and white catfish.
Beginning April is good for flathead catfish, and mid-May into early summer for channel catfish. Both channels and flatheads bite until the water turns cold in October or November. Small catfish bite year-round but slow down in cold months. These species can be found throughout the entire river, especially in the Talquin tail race area for whites and flatheads. Try deep river bends with structure further downstream for flatheads as well. Try live bream on the bottom for flatheads, and stink baits or night crawlers on the bottom for the smaller species.
Clermont Chain of Lakes Species: Channel and white catfish.
Spring and fall are best but fish can be taken year-round. Offshore, open-water areas, particularly near drop-offs or around bottom structure, should hold fish. Canals and channels may also be attractive to catfish if there is some flow. Cut bait or stink bait should work well for both species.
Haines CreekSpecies: Bullhead, channel catfish, and white catfish.
Big channel catfish can be caught mid-April through June, and October and November as water temperatures begin to drop. Small cats provide action year-round, especially when there is water flow. Anglers should target the creek between Lakes Eustis and Griffin, especially below the lock and dam. Fishing stink baits or night crawlers on the bottom should produce action from any of these species. Upper Kissimmee Chain of LakesSpecies: Bullhead, channel catfish, and white catfish.
Big channel catfish experience peak spawning periods between April and June. Bullheads primarily spawn from October into November, but can spawn year-round. Water flow will concentrate catfish and make them easier to pursue and catch. Anglers should concentrate on C-31 (East Lake Canal), C-35 (Southport Canal), C-36 (canal between Lake Cypress and Lake Hatchineha) and C-37 (canal between Lake Hatchineha and Lake Kissimmee), below the Kissimmee River structure (S-65), around the mouth of and in Shingle Creek, and in the lake proper around fish attractors. Catfish are often found near drop-offs or around bottom structure in the canals. Stink baits or night crawlers on the bottom will produce action from all three species. Southwest Florida LakesSpecies: Channel catfish and bullheads.
Catfish angling is best during the warmer months but these fish can be caught year-round. While fishing can be good throughout the day, catfish are usually most active in the morning and evening. Fishing at night can reward anglers with some outstanding fishing. Many locations in southwest Florida offer excellent opportunities for catfish angling, including:
• Lakes 2-5, B, and Picnic at Tenoroc Fish Management Area (Polk County)
• Lakes LP2 West, Haul Road Pit, and Pine East at Mosaic Fish Management Area (Polk County)
• Lakes 1 and 3 at Hardee Lakes Park (Hardee County)
• Lake Manatee (Manatee County)
• Ponds managed under the Tampa Bay Urban Fishery Program, particularly Dover District Park and Stephen J. Wortham Park.
Fish are usually best caught fishing on the bottom using a wide variety of baits from chicken livers to commercial stinkbaits. Larger catfish can be caught on small shiners and minnows fished near the bottom. Catfish in lakes and ponds managed with automatic fish feeders concentrate near the feeders and can be caught on small pieces of dog food, bread, and hot dogs. Channel catfish typically school where the bottom drops off sharply to deeper water. They usually do not hide within vegetation but can be found outside on the deepwater side of weed beds.
Joe Budd Pond (Gadsden County)Species: Channel catfish.
This 20-acre impoundment is only open to the public on weekends beginning the first Saturday in July through the Labor Day weekend, including the Labor Day holiday. Catfish can be found throughout the lake, particularly around the fishing fingers and along the dam. Fishing worms or night crawlers on the bottom should be all you need to do. Fish can be caught from shore or from a boat. Gasoline motors are not permitted. Fish are typically 9 to 14 inches. A harvest limit of 6 channel catfish per person, per day is strictly enforced.
 Go Fishing!
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