Lake Chatuge Catfish

Joey Youngblood · Jul 5, 2015

The catfish were biting up on Lake Chatuge last night. Used cut bait. Caught 13, had already cleaned a couple before I thought to get a pic made. Midway back in a creek about 20 ft deep at night, enjoying all the fireworks shows. Not too shabby for a mountain lake.

The mtn man · Jul 5, 2015

Way to go!!

greg_n_clayton · Jul 5, 2015

Cut what fer bait may I ask ?

Joey Youngblood · Jul 5, 2015

Cut bream from the boat dock and jumbo minnows from the store at jack rabbit. Herring usually work the best but I didn't have time to try to catch any nor did I want to make a Blairsville run. I don't know of anywhere in Towns Co. to buy herring?

Joey Youngblood · Jul 5, 2015

Has anyone ever caught any blue cats out of Chatuge?

All I ever catch, other than an occasional bullhead, are channels up to about 12 pounds. You would think being in the Tennessee River system Chatuge would be blue cat central? I usually only catfish there in the summer and that may explain why I don't catch blues, perhaps they're super deep by the time I get there. What are y'all's thoughts?

The mtn man · Jul 5, 2015

Joey Youngblood said:
Has anyone ever caught any blue cats out of Chatuge?

All I ever catch, other than an occasional bullhead, are channels up to about 12 pounds. You would think being in the Tennessee River system Chatuge would be blue cat central? I usually only catfish there in the summer and that may explain why I don't catch blues, perhaps they're super deep by the time I get there. What are y'all's thoughts?

Chatuge doesn't really have blue cats, 13 eatin sized cats in one night is a great night on chatuge. Be careful using those bream if you cross into nc. Ga license are good if your in a boat, but other laws don't cross the state line.

Joey Youngblood · Jul 5, 2015

I was in GA. Are bream not legal in NC?

The mtn man · Jul 5, 2015

Joey Youngblood said:
I was in GA. Are bream not legal in NC?

No, highly illegal as a matter of fact. Bass limit is different too, along with bass size limit.

Joey Youngblood · Jul 5, 2015

I did not know that. Interesting.

Klag · Jul 5, 2015

You can use bream in NC as long as caught on rod and reel, no?

Klag · Jul 5, 2015

I just double checked the 2015 regs, you can use bream as bait as long as caught on rod/reel.

6. Inland game fish may be used as bait if they are legally taken
and are in agreement with the size and creel limits of the waters
being fished and other regulations.

http://www.ncwildlife.org/Fishing/SeasonsLimits.aspx

The mtn man · Jul 5, 2015

Klag said:
I just double checked the 2015 regs, you can use bream as bait as long as caught on rod/reel.

6. Inland game fish may be used as bait if they are legally taken
and are in agreement with the size and creel limits of the waters
being fished and other regulations.

http://www.ncwildlife.org/Fishing/SeasonsLimits.aspx

Thanks for correcting me, I didn't know they changed the law, it use to read no game fish allowed for bait, thAt was a dumb rule anyways. Had a buddy get a ticket several years ago for catfishing with small bream.

Joey Youngblood · Jul 5, 2015

Well... In that case, I was on the NC side. Haha!

The mtn man · Jul 5, 2015

Joey Youngblood said:
Well... In that case, I was on the NC side. Haha!

Haha, I hear ya!!!

Klag · Jul 6, 2015

cklem said:
Thanks for correcting me, I didn't know they changed the law, it use to read no game fish allowed for bait, thAt was a dumb rule anyways. Had a buddy get a ticket several years ago for catfishing with small bream.

Yep! I don't know when they changed it, sometime after 2011. I saw people posted in 2011 on another forum about getting in trouble for using bream for bass fishing.

NCHillbilly · Jul 7, 2015

Nice mess of cats! I've never caught a blue cat out of any lake in western NC. Flatheads and channels are native in most of our rivers that drain into the Tennessee system, and are in most of our lakes here, along with bullheads and the occasional white catfish.

mlandrum · Jul 7, 2015

Fine Supper catch right there!!! :biggrin3:

The mtn man · Jul 7, 2015

Klag said:
Yep! I don't know when they changed it, sometime after 2011. I saw people posted in 2011 on another forum about getting in trouble for using bream for bass fishing.

Yea, we use to have a GW around chatuge that would make you real in your lines if you were catfishing at night to see what you were using as bait. Was a dumb law.

Joey Youngblood · Jul 7, 2015

You'd think the GW would have better things to do with his time.

LTZ25 · Jul 7, 2015

Joey Youngblood said:
You'd think the GW would have better things to do with his time.

He might have wanted to see what you were catching them with .

Lake Chatuge Catfish

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