It’s spring in Texas. Time to gather the youngsters and head out to a Neighborhood Fishin’ Lake near you. The cats are coming.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department launched its annual Neighborhood Fishin’ Lake catfish stocking program on April 11.
Founded in the early 2000s, the program centers on 18 small lakes and ponds where kids 16 and under can fish for free with no license required.
The lakes -- which range in size from 1/2 acre to 7 acres -- are located in close proximity to larger cities including Dallas, Houston, Tyler, Amarillo, Austin, College Station, San Angelo San Antonio and Waco, usually in welllit park locations that offer easy access.
Each year, TPWD stocks the lakes with thousands of hatchery-raised channel catfish and rainbow trout. This year’s catfishing stockings will include nearly 119,000 fish that will be released at two week intervals through the end of October (excluding August), according to Todd Engeling, TPWD inland fisheries deputy division director. Most cats are around 12 inches long.
Adults 17 and older are required to have a fishing license and freshwater fishing stamp to fish in the neighborhood lakes. You will need your own gear and bait, too. Fishing is allowed with pole and line only with the limit of two poles per person.
Each person fishing is allowed to keep five catfish per day. Other species count towards the five-fish limit. Only one bass (14 inches or more) per day may be retained. For more information about stocking locations, www.neighborhoodfishin. org. Fishing For Cats One of the neat things about fishing for channel cat is they don’t require much skill to catch, no matter if you are fishing in small or big water. Fishing with a cork or with a Carolina style rig are the most common tactics. The cork serves a dual purpose. It suspends the bait off bottom and allows the angler to visibly detect strikes without having to rely on feel. When a fish bites the bait, the cork lets you know it.
There are two styles of corks - a fixed and slip cork. A fixed cork secures to the line using clips that suspend the bait at a constant depth. The slip cork allows the cork to slide up and down the line until it comes in contact with a bobber stopper. This makes it easier to control the depth of the bait presentation. Plus, it is easier to cast.
The standard Carolina rig is built by sliding a 1/2 or 3/4 ounce slip sinker onto the main line, then adding a barrel swivel and a leader beneath it. Many anglers like a short leader about 12-14 inches to make it easier to detect the light bite of channel cat.
Catfish will eat assorted baits ranging from manufactured punch baits, cheese, chicken livers, cut bait or live night crawlers.
Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches, mattwillwrite4u@ yahoo.com.
